So...when did Spidey become an Avenger?

[Martin Finlay]

I just bought three volumes of Amazing Spider-Man, Sins Past, Skin deep, and New Avengers. At the end of Skin deep Spidey goes to Stark towers to ask Tony a favour, he refers to him as boss, and Tony knows his secret identity. In the opening issue of new Avengers, Tony takes in the parker family, saying that because Spider-Man is Avenger it is fine.

Okay, now I knew that Spidey becomes an Avenger, but I read NOWHERE in the two volumes about this actually happening, so when, and where did it happen?

[Dark Soul # 7]

New Avengers #3.

[Martin Finlay]

I see.

Do you think it was a smart move to keep a development like that in New Avengers, and assume that Spider-Man readers would know?

[Dark Soul # 7]

I see.

Do you think it was a smart move to keep a development like that in New Avengers, and assume that Spider-Man readers would know?Marvel had told us about the line-up in NA and shown us pictures months before New Avengers #1. So we were well informed beforehand.
Plus, the Spider-man comics were doing their own thing at the moment.

[Kevinroc]

In the issues of Amazing Spider-Man during Skin Deep, there was an editorial note regarding issues of New Avengers for details on how Tony learned Peter was Spider-Man.

I'm guessing those notes weren't in the Skin Deep tpb, right?

[Nick MB]

It is an interesting point, should more of a big deal have been made of Spidey actually joining the Avengers in the Spidey titles, rather than it just happening between panels? Particular since ASM in particular is kinda preoccupied with stories involving the Avengers/Stark.
Personally, I wouldn't have minded seeing the Spidey/Cap chat from NA
#3 reproduced somewhere in the main Spidey titles, from Pete's POV.

[Martin Finlay]

Marvel had told us about the line-up in NA and shown us pictures months before New Avengers #1. So we were well informed beforehand.

Yeah I suppose, I didn't get that because I'm not from the US.

I'm guessing those notes weren't in the Skin Deep tpb, right?

I didn't see any..

It is an interesting point, should more of a big deal have been made of Spidey actually joining the Avengers in the Spidey titles, rather than it just happening between panels?

I think so, because people who aren't from the US, or don't follow comic news via forums and things could be confused. Hell even I was confused, and I KNEW that he became an Avenger. I still don't know exactly when it happened. (In Amazing)

[Harlock]

Spidey had worked with the Avengers before. I am not entirely certain, but was he not even a reserve Avenger at some point? I seem to recall that in my youth he was. It wasn't a big leap for him to join the new team when Tony and Cap decided it was time.

[Martin Finlay]

Yeah it wasn't the actual development, it was just that, in my opinion, people who don't keep up with comic news, and only read Amazing Spider-Man could be confused.

[phantom1592]

Spidey had worked with the Avengers before. I am not entirely certain, but was he not even a reserve Avenger at some point? I seem to recall that in my youth he was. It wasn't a big leap for him to join the new team when Tony and Cap decided it was time.

Yeah he was an actively a reserve avenger back in the 90's with Communication card and everything.

He also showed up that the ALL avengers meeting in Avengers vol3 #1 or 2.

[Jake V]

I see.

Do you think it was a smart move to keep a development like that in New Avengers, and assume that Spider-Man readers would know?
That's a good point. On the one hand, you need a scene in New Avengers of each team member being recruited, and on the other there needs to be some confirmation of it in the solo books just in case the reader isn't reading New Avengers.

Kind of a hard thing to do. I dunno which is the better idea.

[Sean McQuaid]

Okay, now I knew that Spidey becomes an Avenger, but I read NOWHERE in the two volumes about this actually happening, so when, and where did it happen?

Spidey first joins the team in AVENGERS #316 (1990), but steps down from active duty almost immediately in AVENGERS #318 (also 1990) after a harrowing cosmic adventure convinces him he might be out of his element.

He then attends the general membership meeting in AVENGERS #329 (1991) along with most of the other past and present members of the team. During this meeting, they're deciding on how best to reorganize the group under its then-new United Nations charter. Spidey agrees to be part of a "reserve substitute roster" who will fill in should the active roster be unavailable.

He makes a number of scattered, mostly minor appearances after that as an occasional Avengers reservist, up to and including the beginning of the Busiek-Perez AVENGERS volume 3 run, but Marvel editorial had generally never been wild about Spidey-as-Avenger and they eventually had him resign his Avengers status altogether (first referenced in one of the late 1990s Spidey comics, though the specific issue escapes me).

Then, more recently, Marvel changed its mind about the wisdom of Spidey-as-Avenger and had him join the team as a full member in the NEW AVENGERS series.

-Sean