Essential Spidey

[Iron Syndicate]

Some questions about the Essential Spidey books:

How many are there?
Which stories are covered in each?
Which are the best?

Thanks,

[Jonathan]

Essential Spider-Man 1 contains Spidey's origin from Amazing Fantasy 15, Amazing Spider-Man 1-20, and ASM Annual 1. This is my personal favorite of the lot.

Essential Spider-Man 2 contains ASM 21-43 and Annuals 2 and 3.

Essential Spider-Man 3 contains ASM 44-68.

Essential Spider-Man 4 contains ASM 69-89 and Annuals 4 and 5.

Essential Spider-Man 5 contains ASM 90-113.

Essential Spider-Man 6 contains ASM 114-137, Giant-Sized Super-Heroes 1, and Giant-Sized Spider-Man 1 and 2.

Essential Spider-Man 7 contains ASM 138-160, Giant-Sized Spider-Man 4 and 5, and Annual 10.

Essential Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man includes Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man 1-31.

And if you wanna include this one, since it stars Spider-Man - Essental Marvel-Team Up features MTU 1-29.

Edit: I should mention, ASM Annuals 6-9 weren't reprinted in the Essentials because they just reprinted other stories.

[Michael P]

There are seven.

1: Amazing Fantasy 15, Amazing Spider-Man 1-20 and Annual 1.
2: Amazing Spider-Man 21-43 and Annuals 2-3
3: Amazing Spider-Man 44-68
4: Amazing Spider-Man 69-89 and Annuals 4-5
5: Amazing Spider-Man 90-113
6: Amazing Spider-Man 114-137, Giant-Size Super Heroes 1, Giant-Size Spider-Man 1-2
7: Amazing Spider-Man 138-160, Annual 10, Giant-Size Spider-Man 3-5.

1-4 are must-reads. 5 and six are useful to round out the Stan Lee run and the Gwen Stacy era. After that, it gets sketchy.