The Best Spider-Man Comics / Where to Start 

Ultimate Spider-Man will always be my favorite Spider-Man comic series. Not only did I literally grow up right alongside it, but it successfully reinvented the character while staying true to the source material of who the character is and what his character represents. Plus, the edgier, more modern take on Spider-Man’s legacy made him super appealing to new fans and older fans alike.

Absolutely love Ultimate Spider-Man, if you want a nice reboot that you can actually read from start to finish without getting burned out I highly recommend it. It takes the traditional stories that everyone already knows and just shakes it up and makes its own while staying faithful to the OG line.

My reading recommendations: 1. All of Lee/Ditko. If you like the feel, read Busiek's Untold Tales of Spider-Man beside it. Tons of fun. 2. Read Lee/Romita. Weirdly, a lot of fans haven't read this, which is crazy because it's what really shaped Peter into who he became. 3. Gerry Conway's run. This run straight up changed comics. Best of spider-man in the bronze age, if you ask me. 4. I'd recommend Amazing Spider-Man 189-200. It's not crucial, but it's really fun. Introduces Black Cat and brings back the burgler that shot Uncle Ben too. 5. Def read Stern's Amazing Spider-Man. His run beforehand on Spectacular is less important. Actually, if you want to speed through, just start halfway through Amazing with the introduction of the Hobgoblin. Complete change in mood. This is when Spidey starts to go Copper age. 6. Definitely read DeFalco, but feel free to skip anything after 261 that isn't hobgoblin related. Besides the Commuter Cometh. DO NOT SKIP THE COMMUTER COMETH! 7. On that note, read any Peter David you can get you hands on, particularly his Spectacular run. Don't skip Death of Jean DeWolf, it's brilliant. 8. After Defalco, just keep reading. Some plotlines will be tied up (albeit poorly) and then things will get started with Kraven's Last Hunt and David Michelinie's stuff. 9. Conway's Spectacular and Web runs (which are at the same time) are tons of fun and really good, but not crucial. Read any of JM DeMatteis on spectacular that you can find as well, particularly Spec 189 and 200. Maximum Carnage is not necessary and mostly a mess. Clone Saga is pretty mediocre, but if you can get through it, you'll at least know why it's so unpopular. Not a must for fans, but a must for super fans. 10. Ultimate is all good, but as the video stated, it's a different character. Just keep that in mind and read it whenever you want.

Me watching this when I'm already 30 issues into Ultimate Spider-Man --

My first Spider-Man series was Todd McFarlane's Spider-Man. While some people doesn't like this, it's still my favorite Spider-Man series.

Thanks man! So much Spider-Man content it's great to hear your opinion!!! Keep up the good work

I love the classic Amazing Spider-Man series, but at 800+ issues, the problem becomes, as with so many other comic series, that there is no ending - just a beginning and a perpetually drawn out middle. Sure, there are points that can serve as endings if you want them to, like Straczinsky's issue 500, but even so, it's just too much, with a lot of inconsistency. For that reason, Ultimate Spider-Man remains my favourite comics incarnation of the character and go-to suggestion for new readers. Over the course of 120-ish issues, it tells a self-contained story by a single author with a satisfying ending. It helps that it is also very well-written and imaginative, while remaining true to the thematic core of the character.

Marvel is really good about collecting old Spiderman material, the "Epic Collection" line is a great way to get into them. Kravens' Last Hunt comes in an epic collection and contains the material leading up to that storyline.

Issue #1 of Amazing or Ultimate is the only way to go for a new comic reader. For the other suggestions you'll need Wikipedia open to look up every new face.

Tip: while listening, us viewers are more interested in seeing the stuff you talk about a little bit more than seeing you talk . it helps us immerse, just like documentaries

when I was teenager I collected the Todd McFarland Spider Man comics leading up to when Peter Parker became cosmic Spider Man.

My Dad started me off on the original run when I was eight years old. It was lit.

I read aggressively throughout high school and a bit into college. This will def help me catch up

I’ve started on the original Stan Lee Spiderman comics and I plan to work my way up to some of the modern Spidey comics. He’s quickly become one of my favorite superheroes, so much that I’ve been binging everything Spiderman (watching the ‘94 animated series, playing the Marvel videogame)

I’ve actually started with The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Really enjoying it so far. Decided to start with this line since it’s new for 2019 and there are only 6 issues so far

Yo he wasn't wearing the symbiote in Death of Jean Dewoulf and Kraven's Last Hunt, that was a cloth black suit made by Black Cat before they broke up.

I love the Superior Spider-Man series. But you know me, I loved the Clone Saga. Yeah, both of those go into the crazy zone. Maximum Carnage is still up there on good storylines. Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut is also pretty noteworthy.

Back in Black is great the original hobgoblin run was lit. About to read spidervesre :)

Straczynski wrote my favorite spider-man storyline of all time, Back in Black

Dan Slott's Superior Spider-Man was got me back into comics a few years ago. Definitely not something to start of with, but a great run nonetheless. (Basically starts of with a dying Doc Ock switching minds with Peter Parker, and as Peter dies in Doc Ock's body, Doc Ock now has the memories of Peter and sees why he was a hero in the first place. So he now accepts his new role, and will beat spider-man in a new way. By being a SUPERIOR Spider-Man)

Excuse me, but Spider-Man did not have the Symbiote Suit during the Death Of Jean DeWolff, he had stopped wearing that outfit a year before. Besides the black suit didn't change Spidey's personaltiy in the comics, that was just something the 90's cartoon made up that caught on. No, this story is pure Peter.

Wait. This was only 2 years ago? The channel is so different.

Thanks for the Spidey recommends - can’t wait to see the new movie

i just started to read comics and i started with ultimate spiderman its so nice and its amazing to see spiderman as a modern guy

1:15 “He’s had random *one* *shots* that have dramatically change who he was as a character” So was the pun intended

I had only watched recent Wulffden videos and getting to see this is a spiritual experience

Ultimate Spider-Man by Bendis & Bagley might honestly be my personal favourite Spider-Man run out there I love how it perfectly captures the essence of Spidey while also sets it in a modern day 21st century setting It is a great way for new readers to discover Spider-Man and his mythos

I would start with Kurt Busiek's _Untold Tales of Spider-Man_ or some of the '80s stuff by Roger Stern or David Michelinie's '90s run. They're mostly done-in-one stories that focus on the classic rogues with nice character moments from Peter and his cast. Neither try to upend the status quo or create stupid retcons like most current writers regularly do.

yay spider-man comics ;)

Love that young justice poster in the background 😍😍

I love nick Spencer amazing Spider-Man it was really awesome and really great.

I would recommend emotional comics like maybe the kid who collects Spider-Man or maybe something inspirational like if this be my destiny

Ever since I was a kid I've been a Spiderman fanboy.

The only problem I found in this video is when you completely spoil the twist of The amazing spider man 698 like that's an incredible twist and I wish you wouldn't have spoiled it in a RECOMMENDATION vid when new readers are obviously coming along

Hey man this is the first video I've watched from you and I was really satisfied. I wanna encourage you to keep on being this same guy here, the way you talk, the way you do you. Usually I only understand about 30% of a RU-vid video cus the hosts are always overdoing it but this was time well spent. Am probably speaking out of ignorance since this is my first but, keep doing it! You've got a new subscriber

Dude this has got to be the best video about spider-man comics. Spider-man is my favourite superhero but Ive never read the comics and I couldnt wrap my head around the comics for such a long time so thank you for this great explanation on where to start. Keep it up my man.

When I read Spider-Man comic issue 1 to 100 i was like wow spectacular Spider-Man is exactly like the original

I'm starting out with the Nick Spencer run as it appeals to me the most.

The classic spider man runs w lee, ditko and romita are the definitive spiderman comics and how I was introduced to the character. I got the first 100 issues in trades when I was a kid. Then I moved to Ultimate spiderman which is great

Conway, stern, defalco, David, Michaeline, all have essential stories I'd ad, like the green goblin arc in spectacular Spiderman, but one writer who really never seems to get mentioned probably because he was on "side" books and really didn't have a lingering effect is Paul Jenkins. Told some fantastic stories many of which really hit different emotions than the main titles, a little more heartfelt. A great slightly different angle on the wallcrawler

Start from amazing fantasy 15 and then issue 1 from amazing spider man. Stan Lee and Ditko's run is just great.

I enjoyed the Ultimate spiderman comics growing up, but I was often annoyed by Peter's immature attitude at times, granted, he is 15/16 in the stories but still. Spiderverse and spider island were fun, as well as the current spiderman run. I would like to read the stan Lee , Steve ditko run since those guys probably know spiderman better than any of us ever will. The spiderman comics dealing with venom and later Carnage look like good reads as well, especially from what I can tell, Peter seems to be in a very difficult situation during that time. Thanks for the recommendations

Btw ultimate Spider-Man is the bestttt run!!

Ultimate spider-man is the best spider-man ever for me and the best comic.

Really good picks imo. (Except for the Slott stuff :P )

I really never had the patience to read comics or anything for that matter but I've finally started. I appreciate this video

I totally agree and I would also say that old comics can be not so good, or not good at all, for starters, but when we get a little more used to the media and we start learning more deeply why things are how they are, the way comics have been done through time, how it's been evolving, reading old comics can be such a delightful experience. I know there are many people who read comics for s long time and still don't like old comics, but o definitely do.

Superior spiderman was awesome. Spiderman blue is one of my all time favorite stories.

Obviously It's Renew Your Vows

This is awesome as a comic reader who only started a few months ago, you should do videos for a bunch of superheroes

Hello, just a little correction in your video, during the story "the death of jean dewolf" and "kraven last hunt" spider man isn't wearing the symbiote suit, he is wearing a replic because he liked the black suit. Even thou great video man :)

Silver age for new readers, those coming directly over from the mcu. If you start with the silver age you will have access to everything and really appreciate all the evolutions of the medium. Let’s also not not kid ourselves that modern books are cash grabs. The art is better than the storytelling in modern books and jumping into modern books or starting with the best of the medium ends up making everything else seem mediocre. Thor-lee Kirby, spiderman-lee Ditko, f4-lee Kirby, iron man-lee Kirby, avengers-lee Kirby. X-men-Claremont. What I’m really saying is that starting at the beginning when you first get into comics allows you to avoid all the money making bs for subpar retellings of classic storylines. Dc comics I’d start with the 80s and go forward but marvel revolutionized the medium in the 60s. Only reason people warn everyone about the 60s is because they’ve read the best of the medium. Silver age-early 90s were the best runs and events. 2000s brought on major changes but great storylines pre civil war, however dc killed it from 95-2011. Right now marvel is doing a really great job of collecting all of their major runs from the begginning in omnibuses. Another reason why i highly recommend starting with omnibuses reprinting the silver age in the best format. This year all the xmen books are releasing.

I am checking into this for my brother who loves spiderman! Thanks for the info!

here bc of me and my friends talking about comics and how i need to start reading em and i'm coming fresh off of a rewatch of sam raimi's first spider-man movie.

I’m really sad this only has 6.6K views. This is a great video!

I started with ultimate spiderman. Really like it

sins past and one more day is more editorial meddling than strazynski. akin to avi arad in spider-man 3s creation.

I loved Superior Spider-Man and the Spider-Verse is one of the best Spidey events ever!

The older comics aren’t “dated”, they’re different. And I mean, better. The creative bullpen of that era and up until the 90s sand even early 2000s were simply more talented than today’s writers. Modern comic readers would have a hard time adjusting to them because they’re used to 3 bubbles per page, not per panel. Those books made the reader have to actually think and follow a story line.

As a dedicated Wulff Den fan I must say... READ THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN, IT'S THE BOMB. I'll send you my short box of it if you send it back after you're done, Will.

Spider-girl by tom defaco is a really great legacy series that gave us Spider-girl mayday parker the daughter of peter parker and mary jane who's really awesome and adorable.

I just got back into comics, mostly spiderman and i got a bunch of the volumes of the masterworks and they are so good

Please keep doing this for more comics!

K id say its a bit misleading to say JMS was responsible Sins Pats and OMD, cuz he was not. The Marvel Editorial was behind them.

I prefer the older comics, they had a run of the first 20 that were re-distributed with our local newspaper some years ago and I loved them. I just wish they were easier to get ahold of.

Video begins at 2:26

I'm gonna start with the superior spiderman series

I get why people shit on the clone saga, but as a kid I loved it. Thats what got me into spiderman.

Just wanted to note that Sins Past has finally been retconned! We learn that the whole Norman sleeping with Gwen and her having his babies were manipulations created by Mysterio under Kindreds command. The twins are also just clones of Harry and Gwen which that’s a whole other topic but yeah. Definitely needed to be retconned that story was terrible. Hopefully the horrible Silk and Spider-Man arc is retconned bc it’s just weird. Their story needs an entire fresh start.

Funny you would happen to mention Ultimate Spider-Man and the clone saga fairly close together,cuz I have so much love for Bendis' Ultimate treatment of the latter. It was such an effective culmination of the entire series up to that point. It almost reads like an extended nightmare that Peter is having,and you keep waiting for the dream sequence to end,because SURELY all of these things aren't ACTUALLY happening to him like this. But no dream sequence,and no subsequent retcons to soften the various ways the events in the story have impacted Spider-Man's status quo. Man,I loved Ultimate Spider-Man!

I actually dig a lot of spider man writers Stan lee with steve ditko and john romita was really good I never read a lot after issue 100 But for the jms run i had mixed feelings for it. The stories were good but not friendly for me as a 14 year old. But Dan slott gave me the spider man i loved Stories like big time, no one dies, spider island, ends of the earth, dying wish, and superior spider man all gave me gawks, joy and excitement reading them, especially spider verse However, when world wide started i kinda skipped a lot mostly due to the cover art (sorry alex ross) but after nick spencers run started i started reading the rest of dan slotts run of worldwide and acutally enjoyed it, especially how it ended So now with nick spencer, it kinda feels like spider man but they aren’t major big hits like dan slott written but who knows, maybe he might turn it around someday and maybe perfect spider man again Or maybe another writer will take his place

Spider-Man Life Story is really cool too 😁

This should be a regular feature, Will, even if you do a quickie like you did She-Hulk. I would really like your recommendations on other characters.

Finally the start to freaking Spider-Man

I am sorry but superior spider man is like top 10 spider-man stories. It was just SO good

Last Hunt is a work of art

Spider-Man is the 3rd best-selling comic series with 380,000,000 copies worldwide x $32.29 = $12,270,200,000.00, or ₩14,635,281,050,000.00 in South Korea, or Ksh 1,248,002,042,000.00 in Kenya!!

Should i read ASM after issue 100 and before 2001?..i really really like the character...i've read Dan Slott's run..

After issue 100, Spider-Man get something more mature over it. In the 70s characters like Morbius and Punisher is introduced. Also there are subplots about drug issues and children going to prison. So yaer. The first 100 issues are good, if you want to read the iconic first appearences of Mysteorio, Chameleon and Lizard. But if you want some stories with more mature themes i can only recommend 70s Spider-man. Speaking of mature SM reading. Roger Sterns run is also a good starting point if you are famillir with the Hobgobling from the animated series. Yes it is around 250 issues in and crossovers with other spidey tittles, but Roger Stern still manage to tell a good story with alot of suspence and mysterie in it, while not lost you regarding who SPidey and all the other characters are. :) Regarding Brand New Day by Dan Slott. Personally i do not like it as an grown up due to the amount of fan service and lack of new stuff to the spidey character, but i loved it as a kid, because it was my entry point to the character. But i can see it value in being a good entry point for new readers. :) ;)

I never read a old time comic but now that I saw this im trading my new comics for old ones.

I highly recommend J. Michael Straczynski's initial run of Amazing Spider-man and concur with your opinions. However, I disagree with your opinion on Ultimate Spider-man by Bendis. I f*ckin hate it. The writing/dialogue is mind numbingly dumb and probably geared towards younger children. I'm also a fan of Jeph Loeb so his Spider-man Blue was pretty good but I really liked his writing on Batman drawn by one of my all-time favorite comic book artists, Jim Lee.

Thanks for that video and that clone saga ref.. I'm a big spidy fan forgive mii Will.. Not one web of or sensational Spider-Man? Or scarletspider? Lol i haven't read much be spidy except Spider-Man 2099. I also think they should use the clone saga in the mcu just to get Toby as Ben Reilly and Andrew as Kaine

I wanna start with Nick Spencer’s the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN. I’ve read Spidery comics before, but never owned them and I never read them in a certain order.

Thanks for the recommendations

I honestly prefer the older style of comics. They feel more, comfortable

I think I liked Spider-Man as a good in-between to going from other media to comics. It's a much quicker read than amazing and has only one writer, so it's easier to consume. THEN you get to the original amazing run and appreciate things much more with the best stories.

Where do I get the stan lee comics tho ? are there reissues

Can I just read amazing spiderman from volume 1 to the last one 🤔 I know that's a ridiculous question but I'm just getting into comics 😅

The Sam rami movies directly based off its movie and tasm on the ultimate spider man comics like that part in spider man 2 were dic ock kill the doctor that’s was based off on the ultimate comics

I’m biased in saying this cause it was the first main spider man story I read but to me superior spider man is my favorite spider man comic.

Please do this as often as possible!

I’m having trouble getting hold of the Stan Lee era of Amazing Spider-Man comics. Any suggestions?

I'm here because of the PS4 spider-man game. It's AMAZING.

Superior spiderman was dope.

How can we read comics do we actually have to buy them or is there some way I can read them on my phone

I have to disagree with the suggestions on the basis that someone who wants to get into spider man comics probably never really read comics and to start them off with such a dated style that they will most likely not enjoy, can put them off comics

I just started reading it, but I’m loving the Amazing Spider-man Comics after peter got his body back from doc ocl

Something that still isn't clear in any of these types of videos is continuity. All of my life, I've been told about retcons and reboots and only recently have I heard some discussion that actually, the spiderman series has a full continuity all the way through to now. Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane existed in the same timeline and it coherent?

started reading back to basic amazing spiderman a few weeks ago, great timing? whats your thoughts on the kraven trapping everyone in central park?

Where can I get a collection of the Stan Lee Spider-Man comics? (Preferably off of Amazon)