Collectors: What are ASM's "must have" issues?

[stergios]

Curious to know.


Ive got a pretty nice collection of ASM and i wanted to know if I was below or above the norm. I'm most likely below, but what is the definative collection on spider man? I mean, in order to consider yourself collecting or a collector of spider man, which issues would be consider absolutely essential?


Thanks in advance.

[mrc1214]

Curious to know.


Ive got a pretty nice collection of ASM and i wanted to know if I was below or above the norm. I'm most likely below, but what is the definative collection on spider man? I mean, in order to consider yourself collecting or a collector of spider man, which issues would be consider absolutely essential?


Thanks in advance.


I would say ASM 121-122 but i think thats in a trade. The whole Roger Stern run i think its 224-227, 229-252.

[Effect]

I would add #500 to the list a well. That's the issue where he and Aunt May finally talk after she's found out he's Spider-man and shows just how strong she really is. I really love that issue.

[Tony Peanuts]

I would add #500 to the list a well. That's the issue where he and Aunt May finally talk after she's found out he's Spider-man and shows just how strong she really is. I really love that issue.

That wasn't #500. #500 was part 3 of the "Happy Birthday" story where Spidey travelled through time and relived some of his past battles. And at the end he briefly met Uncle Ben, thanks to Dr Strange.
I think the story you're thinking of was volume 2 #38.

[Magneto Rocks]

Aunt May found out Spidey's identity twice, one of them was #400.

Oh, I'm sorry- that was 'fake' May ;)

[Mister Mets]

I don't think there's any right answer for this, given the sheer amount of great Spider-Man comics produced, and the probability that everyone in this board hasn't read all of them.

The following are the big runs....
Lee/ Ditko's Amazing Spider-Man (Issues 1-38, Annuals 1-2)
It's worth noting that this will be reprinted in one massive hundred dollar hardcover.
Lee/ Romita Sr's Amazing Spider-Man (39-68 or so, Annual 3, Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #2)
Roger Stern's Amazing Spider-Man (224-227, 229-251)
Micheline & Mcfarlane's Amazing Spider-Man (298-325 or so) Far more noteworthy for the art than the writing.

The following are the big stories not included in the above runs...
Kraven's Last Hunt (recently reprinted in an excellent 20 dollar hardcover.)
Amazing Spider-Man #121-122
Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110: The Death of Jean Dewolfe

And there are plenty of great recent Spider-Man comics....
Ultimate Spider-Man
Jenkins's Peter Parker Spider-Man
Millar's Marvel Knights Spider-Man (available in one 30 dollar hardcover)
Spider-Man/ Human Torch (available in one eight dollar digest.)

[Lobo]

Amazing Spider-Man #39 - 40.
Amazing Spider-Man #50 - 52.

[Chris S.]

I think the whole McFarlane run was great. So issues 298 until I believe 328, although Larson did a couple of those I think. The stories may not be great, but I really think McFarlane completely revolutionized the way spidey was drawn.

And this may sound crazy but I love when Ben Reilly died. I thought that battle with the green goblin was great. The clone saga in all may not be worth it, but that end was epic.

[mrc1214]

I would just go with Cyberman's list. Thats everything you'd need and theres great read in there.

[The Confessor]

I'd pretty much go along with Cyberman's list, except that I'd push the envelope a bit further on those 60s/early 70s issues of ASM. In my opinion you really owe it to yourself to have read everything from issue #1 right through to issue #152.

That way you get all those classic Lee/Ditko stories which are just essential. You get all the excellent Lee/Romita stuff with Flash going off to Vietnam and the Green Goblin unmasking himself and Peter. You also get all those groovy late 60s issues with the counter culture activism and Harry Osborne's drug problems. Then you get the death of Gwen Stacy and finally winding up with the first appearance of the Gwen Stacy Clone. That's a pretty hardcore collection I know, but personally I wouldn't be without those issues of ASM.

As for more recent ASM, I'd have to include the whole storyline with Ezekiel and Peter discovering his (possible?) totemic Spider-powers (ASM:V2 #30 - #58 and then ASM:V1 #500 - #508).

And I'd also include the whole 'Sins Past' storyline (#509 - #514). That's a controversial choice I know, but personally I thought it rocked! And you can't deny that it was fairly significant to Peter's life.

[Effect]

That wasn't #500. #500 was part 3 of the "Happy Birthday" story where Spidey travelled through time and relived some of his past battles. And at the end he briefly met Uncle Ben, thanks to Dr Strange.
I think the story you're thinking of was volume 2 #38.

Thanks for the correction. I was going off the top of my head so I knew I wasn't sure.

[Lobo]

for more recent ASM, I'd have to include the whole storyline with Ezekiel and Peter discovering his (possible?) totemic Spider-powers (ASM:V2 #30 - #58 and then ASM:V1 #500 - #508).

And I'd also include the whole 'Sins Past' storyline (#509 - #514). That's a controversial choice I know, but personally I thought it rocked! And you can't deny that it was fairly significant to Peter's life.

You're kidding, right? :eek:

[nuclearman]

Personally I love Amazing Spiderman from about 245 through to about halfway through McFarlane around the 313-15 mark. So they would be my essential reads... especially the hobgoblin issues....251 is great.

Non essential...sins past or the other.

[stergios]

Thanks for the replies guys.


What about issues that are significant in a certain way? I've got 252 and others of the same nature that have a certain significance but i was wondering what the general concensus was about other issues and what are the essentials.



Does everyone have AMS 300? lol... i'd like one, but i'm not sure i'm ready to start buying pricey books.

[Chris S.]

What about issues that are significant in a certain way? I've got 252 and others of the same nature that have a certain significance but i was wondering what the general concensus was about other issues and what are the essentials.

You know as much as I like those big issue's I like a story. What I mean by this is rather then having issue 252 (which I do) I would rather have a classic story arc. I find it much more enjoyable to read three issues in a row rather then random issues all over the place.

Also concerning issue 300, I don't have it. I am attempting to get all of McFarlane's books and it is one of the few I am now missing. You can find it pretty cheap on Ebay, I just am afraid it will come in awful condition.

[Golon9977]

What no love for the original clone story?

Although not a popular character now, Carnage's first appearance should be included there, as well as the Punisher's.

Amazing Spider-Man #50 is the first time Spidey quits being Spidey.

And for all out fun reading, Larsen's run was so good to read. I miss that boy's Spidey and Venom battles.

[jsg2295]

It was sort of mentioned earlier a little but for certain issues you got to go with 31 -33......."If This Be My Destiny". Issue 33 has scenes in it that have been duplicated but will never be as good as the original.
It has defined Peter and influenced other comic writers for a long time.
It shows why he is a hero and a man. Ready to sacrifice himself for those he loves.

[aepuk]

Very selfish but Amazing Spider-Man 408 my first time

AAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh Special memories DeFalco and Bagley were gentle with me

[The Confessor]

What no love for the original clone story?

I got plenty of love for the original clone story (see my earlier post). The whole appearance of the Gwen Stacy clone and the involvement of Prof. Warren/Jackel is really good. Plus, in my eyes, this arc probably marks the end of the Silver Age of comics.

[The Confessor]

for more recent ASM, I'd have to include the whole storyline with Ezekiel and Peter discovering his (possible?) totemic Spider-powers (ASM:V2 #30 - #58 and then ASM:V1 #500 - #508).

And I'd also include the whole 'Sins Past' storyline (#509 - #514). That's a controversial choice I know, but personally I thought it rocked! And you can't deny that it was fairly significant to Peter's life.


You're kidding, right? :eek:


Hey, I said it was controversial didn't I? ;) Don't worry, it's only my opinion and opinions are like assholes.

Everybody's got one.

[jim1175]

It was sort of mentioned earlier a little but for certain issues you got to go with 31 -33......."If This Be My Destiny". Issue 33 has scenes in it that have been duplicated but will never be as good as the original.
It has defined Peter and influenced other comic writers for a long time.
It shows why he is a hero and a man. Ready to sacrifice himself for those he loves.

I had to reply to this one because it is sooo on the money & often over looked. When you hear people talk about Spiderman artists you hear; Steve Ditko started the strip but it was John Romita Sr. that did the "classic look" for the character & that it was Todd McFarlane that updated the character and gave him his best look. The problem with this is that Steve Ditko never seems to get the credit that he is owed... he is mentioned as the first guy to draw Spidey and that's about it.

My point: Take a look at AMS# 33 and honestly tell me that that isn't the greatest Spiderman you have ever seen.... Ditko Nails this one perfectly, and although I am a huge fan of Romita and others I have to say that it was Ditko that started the book, it was Ditko that gave Spidey his "classic" look and it was Ditko right there in AMS#33 that gave Spidey his best over all appearance; not Romita, not Mcfarlane.

But as was mentioned this arc is not just about the art, no in fact it is one of the greatest Spiderman stories, perfectly written by Stan Lee as only he could; reaffirming what Spiderman was all about from the start. And the story is as fresh as it was 40 something years ago. Definitely must have issues.

[Cody H]

Maybe not exactly a collectors item per se, but The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man is definetly a "must read" if you're any kind of a Spidey fan. I picked it up at a local comic shop for $10.00, but you can probably get a better deal on eBay or something.