Best Spider-Man Stories By Decade

[Mister Mets]

This is inspired by a Time Magazine Article. Feel free to criticize, or post your own.

60's- Amazing Spider-Man #31-33
Writer- Stan Lee
Artist- Steve Ditko
This story's most famous for the opening sequence of the third chapter, but I also loved Peter's horrific first day in college, the depth of his love for Aunt May, Spider-Man getting really pissed off, the return of Curt Connors, how Peter upset Betty, Peter's relationship with the Bugle, and a doctor asking why teenagers can't idolize Peter, instead of someone like Spider-Man, which I just realized is the perfect response to critics who wonder why people like comic book characters so much.

70's- Amazing Spider-Man #121-122
Writer- Gerry Conway
Artist- Gil Kane
It's almost unfair that Conway got to write a comic book story this good. It includes probably the two most memorable deaths in the MArvel Universe, "snap", excellent battles between the hero and villain, and perfectly alters the relationships between Peter, and MJ, and Peter, and Harry. My favorite Spider-Man story ever.

80's- Amazing Spider-Man #248 "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man"
Writer- Roger Stern
Artist- Ron Frenz
The 80's were a very good decade for Spider-Man with Peter David's run on Spectacular, Kraven's Last Hunt, Spider-Man VS. Wolverine, the introduction of Venom before he became overused, and Roger Stern's stories pitting Spider-Man against villains he'd never fought before. But my favorite story from this time period has Spidey talking with a young fan. Great moments include the fan comforting Spider-Man after hearing about Uncle Ben, the "retractions" album, and the last 2 panels.

90's- Amazing Fantasy #16-18
Writer= Kurt Busiek
Artists- Various
This is the decade when I came into Spider-Man, and the decade I care the least for. This mini series was set between the never explored period between Amazing Fantasy #15, and Amazing Spider-Man #1, introduced compelling new villains, and perfectly portrayed a grief-stricken Peter pondering what to do with his future, as the other superheroes were emerging.

2000's- Spider-Man 2
Director- Sam Raimi
Writers- Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon, Alvin Sargent
Actors- Tobey Maquire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, JK Simmons
An unorthodox choice, and not meant to imply that the current comic books are bad. I loved the special effects, resolution of Peter and Mary Jane's romance, cameos of the dead from the first movie, the continuing story of Harry Osborn, the best movie battles ever, Rosemary Harris's performance as Aunt May, and more.

[Charagon]

::Sees Spider-Man 2 on the list::


Nope. Not even worth it.

[Mister Mets]

Note- The point of this thread is to list the stories you really like, rather than attack the stories others post.

::Sees Spider-Man 2 on the list::


Nope. Not even worth it.

I had a hard time choosing between the second Spider-Man movie, Millar's 12 issue run, or Paul Jenkins's Fusion arc. I really liked the movie, and so did a lot of others. Just check out reviews on http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spiderman_2/
or the many best of the year lists it made (Ebert for instance considered it the 4th best movie of 2004.)

If you have different choices, I'd be happy to read them.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

I really disagree with your last two choices....

Well the 90's, I can't think of much that was good.

But the 2000's? Unscheduled Stop, for sure.

[remoteman]

I'm trying to think of another possibility for the 90's. As good as those Amazing Fantasy issues were, they can't be the only classic issues from that decade. Possibly Revelations actually. Amazing Spider-Man #400 is a fairly obvious choice but I haven't actually had a chance to read it

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

My List:


60's: ASM #31-33
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Steve Ditko

This one is too good to pass up. Lee had a lot of other good stories with Romita Sr., but I think I like this even more than the Death of Captain Stacy.

70's: The Death of Gwen Stacy ASM #121-122
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Gil Kane
One of the best battles in comics. A death that would forever hurt Peter. And the end of the Silver Age.

80's: Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut ASM #229-230
Writer: Roger Stern
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Truly a battle between David and Goliath. Definitely one of Spidey's top 10 battles.

90's: Return of the Sinister Six ASM #334-339
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Erik Larsen
A pretty good story, but the others on my list are better.

2000's: Unscheduled Stop ASM #578-579
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Marcos Martin
This is a classic. Straight superheroism, and probably the best Shocker story ever. Martin knocked it out of the park on the art, and Waid perfectly writes Peter Parker.

[NickFury90]

I don't think a like enough stories pre-2000 to make up this list. Most of the stories I read were dated and unsophisticated in their dialog and storytelling. Meh.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

I don't think a like enough stories pre-2000 to make up this list. Most of the stories I read were dated and unsophisticated in their dialog and storytelling. Meh.

Choosing a 90's story was a bit hard.

[Schmed]

60's-ASM #39-40
Featuring the first JRSr on ASM(he drew him first in Daredevil 16-17). Not letting the story be tainted by anything current, this was amazing, Best cover of all time possibly on 39, the first time a villain unmasked Spidey, and the reveal of the Green Goblin! Not to mention a spectacular fight! Perfect! THough Amazing Fantasy #15 is roughly tied with this issue, for obvious reasons.


70's- (of course) ASM 121-122
I can't say it better than it has already been said above

80's
ASM #238-239
The introduction of one of Spidey's greatest foes, the Hobgoblin, written by one of best Spider scribes ever, Roger Stern and drawn by my personal all time fav, John Romita Junior. This would mark the beginning of another great villain mystery, who is the Hobgoblin!?!

90's
I wish ASM #300 had come out in the 90's but it didn't So yes I would vote ASM #400 the best, not thinking about how ruined it was later, but what a tragic moment made even more tragic by the fact Ben could not be in the room, and was left on the roof..."Second star to the right..." If I wasn't so damn tough I'd be choking up even thinking about it!

2000's
ASM Vol 2 #50 Doomed Affairs.
I simply loved this issue, a great Spidey story and a great Peter Parker story. Once again I loved the art and I loved the writing. But I will give Unscheduled Stop on honorable mention!


This is not only my personal opinion its a fact! I keed I keed. But this is what I would choose!

[Chris N]

This is inspired by a Time Magazine Article. Feel free to criticize, or post your own.

60's- Amazing Spider-Man #31-33
Writer- Stan lee
Artist- Steve Ditko
This story's most famous for the opening sequence of the third chapter, but I also loved Peter's horrific first day in college, the depth of his love for Aunt May, Spider-Man getting really pissed off, the return of Curt Connors, how Peter upset Betty, Peter's relationship with the Bugle, and a doctor asking why teenagers can't idolize Peter, instead of someone like Spider-Man, which I just realized is the perfect response to critics who wonder why people like comic book characters so much.

Agreed. Close contenders are Amazing Fantasy #15 and Amazing Spider-Man #50.

70's- Amazing Spider-Man #121-122
Writer- Gerry Conway
Artist- Gil Kane
It's almost unfair that Conway got to write a comic book story this good. It includes probably the two most memorable deaths in the MArvel Universe, "snap", excellent battles between the hero and villain, and perfectly alters the relationships between Peter, and MJ, and Peter, and Harry. My favorite Spider-Man story ever.

Seems a clear enough choice. I suspect this would be the least debatable decade.

80's- Amazing Spider-Man #248 "The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man"
Writer- Roger Stern
Artist- Ron Frenz
The 80's were a very good decade for Spider-Man with Peter David's run on Spectacular, Kraven's Last Hunt, Spider-Man VS. Wolverine, the introduction of Venom before he became overused, and Roger Stern's stories pitting Spider-Man against villains he'd never fought before. But my favorite story from this time period has Spidey talking with a young fan. Great moments include the fan comforting Spider-Man after hearing about Uncle Ben, the "retractions" album, and the last 2 panels.

Solid choice. I'd pick Kraven's Last Hunt, but it's debatable.

This decade has the most contenders, I think. Death of Jean Dewolffe. Nothing can stop the Juggernaut. The Spider and the Burglar.

90's- Amazing Fantasy #16-18
Writer= Kurt Busiek
Artists- Various
This is the decade when I came into Spider-Man, and the decade I care the least for. This mini series was set between the never explored period between Amazing Fantasy #15, and Amazing Spider-Man #1, introduced compelling new villains, and perfectly portrayed a grief-stricken Peter pondering what to do with his future, as the other superheroes were emerging.

The newer we get the more debatable we'll get. Distance and history helps with a more objective view.

I'd pick Dematteis/Buscma's Harry Osborn Saga, or some subset of it.

2000's- Spider-MAn 2
Director- Sam Raimi
Writers- Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Michael Chabon, Alvin Sargent
Actors- Tobey Maquire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, JK Simmons
An unorthodox choice, and not meant to imply that the current comic books are bad. I loved the special effects, resolution of Peter and Mary Jane's romance, cameos of the dead from the first movie, the continuing story of Harry Osborn, the best movie battles ever, Rosemary Harris's performance as Aunt May, and more.

I don't disagree per se; I'm just far less comfortable with the intermedia comparions. My vote for the decade is Ultimate Spider-Man #1-13. But I say that with caution and uncertainty.


*******

I realize I didn't explain myself well. But I have too much work to do to hang out on the forums. So just dropping by to give notes on the list off the top of my head.

[Schmed]

Choosing a 90's story was a bit hard.

I agree. I think if I would go back and read a bunch of stories from then, I might come up with something different than ASM #400 but that would be right up there no matter what.

[Chris N]

Feel free to criticize..

Note- The point of this thread is to list the stories you really like, rather than attack the stories others post.

I'm getting mixed signals.

[Gabe De Los Muertos]

I agree. I think if I would go back and read a bunch of stories from then, I might come up with something different than ASM #400 but that would be right up there no matter what.

Yeah, I'm sure there was better stuff but there is so much less that was good in that decade than the rest.

[Schmed]

I'm getting mixed signals.

Feel free to criticize, except me.

[PabloD]

60's- Amazing Spider-Man #31-33

Yes.

70's- Amazing Spider-Man #121-122

I...don't know. I'm going to go with 'yes' for now, but it's...very tentative.

80's- Amazing Spider-Man #248 "The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man"

Kraven's Last Hunt, son.

90's- Amazing Fantasy #16-18

Amazing #400, for me.

2000's- Spider-MAn 2

Now this one's a bit of a toughie. From JMS' run, I'd be tempted to mention either his first arc or Amazing #50, but the early part of this decade was also when Paul Jenkins really flourished as a Spider-Man writer, and his Peter Parker: Spider-Man really brought some amazing things to the table. For now I'll tentatively go for the issue starring the black boy who is a fan of Spider-Man.

And as for the 2010s...well, we're quite early into the decade still, but I would probably go for the Slott/Martin "Mysterious" three-parter and its epilogue with Michael Lark.