What are the top three definitive Spider-man stories?

[Tom Morris]

Since this got brought up during the discussion on Dark Knight Returns, what do you think are the top three definitive Spider-man stories?

Here is my list:

1.  Kraven's Last Hunt
2.  The Gauntlet (its a cheat since its a collection of a lot of stories but all tied together)
3.  The Night Gwen Stacy Died

(honorable mentions:  Revenge of the Sinister Six, Maximum Carnage, The Death of Jean DeWolf, Six-Armed Saga, Spider-Island)

[InspectorSpacetime]

kravens last hunt
death of the stacys
birth of venom


but the new epic collection softcovers of jms run, clone saga and the omnis are good

[Christopher Stark]

I agree that Kraven's Last Hunt should be on the list but after that, it's really a crapshoot

[mguy1977]

1.  Kraven's Last Hunt
2.  The Night Gwen Stacy Died
3.  Amazing Spider Man Annual 21 -- The wedding of Peter Parker & Mary Jane Watson

Matthew

[Derek G]

Normally Spider-Man just isn't my cuppa. That being said, there have been some Spidey stories that I've really enjoyed:

1- That period of time where Ben Riley was Spider-man. That really worked for me. I enjoyed the interaction with his supporting cast, we didn't seem to beat himself up so much, and I still think that costume is sweet.

2- The first story arc with Carnage. Three issues of Marvel madness. I really remember being sucked into those issues as a kid. Bagley was beating up the art chores.

3- The Ditko era. That stuff was wonky in the best possible way. 

[David]

...but after that, it's really a crapshoot

You need to read more Spider-Man stories.

[evaD]

The death of Gwen Stacy
The death of Jean DeWulf
The introduction of Venom

I have to ask, though, why three, Tom?

[David]

Nice list, Dave.  Is that Eddie Brock Venom or going back to the first appearance of the symbiote?

[Sampsa_G]

Nice list, Dave.  Is that Eddie Brock Venom or going back to the first appearance of the symbiote?

Wait, but that first appearance of the symbiote would be the Secret Wars wouldn't it ?

[David]

Wait, but that first appearance of the symbiote would be the Secret Wars wouldn't it ?

Amazing Spider-Man 252, actually, but its story began in Secret Wars.

[Jay Tomio - Part Deux]

For ME:

While I acknowledge Kraven's Last Hunt as perhaps the best Spider-Man arc, I'm not sure that means the same thing as definitive. I'm not sure I took anything out of that beyond that it was pretty badass.

I think Gwen Stacy's death is the must mention. I don't follow Spiderman anymore but Stacy's importance was always tied into MJ for for me, and frankly what made Spidey interesting to me was MJ and that relationship. I think when you mention Gwen Stacy you also mean Green Goblin, so two birds, one stone.

I've always loved Gang War. As a reader it introduced and gave the rogue's gallery so much to do. I am completely in love with that whole era, with the Hobgoblin/Ned Leeds/Jason Macendale situation. Please note, someone my age is a Hobgoblin fan. Green Goblin is old and busted. If you knew nothing coming into this arc, you met Kingspin, The Rose, Hobgoblin, Punisher, Jack O' Lantern, EVERYONE. It's the sauce.

Amazing Spiderman #300. Why 300 and not 298? 300 is the first time you saw McFarlane's Spider-Man totally. He inked that bitch (Bob Mcleod had been successfully holding him back for awhile), and this is the beginning of  - fuck just Spider-Man - one of the most successful creator runs in the history of comics. I was there on the ground floor and vividly remember the tangible buzz on base (grown men) when McFarlane was doing Spider-man. Just exciting times in comics, LOVED every issue. If you are a creator of comics, it's hard for me to believe people didn't appreciate a compleltely different style given to the franchise character in comics (at this time it was ASM, Uncanny X-Men, and everything else) and PULLED IT OFF.

I want to add something, The Amazing Spider-Man #42. My aforementioned affection for Mary Jane makes me have to mention this, because while I'm not at all an overly emotional animal, I have to admit that when MJ did the whole "Go Get'm tiger" in the movie, even by an actress I found somewhat off putting, I MIGHT have THOUGHT about tearing. While ASM 42 is not that line, it is the spirit of that, and that theme was very apparent in "my era" of Spider-Man.

[Jay Tomio - Part Deux]

Amazing Spider-Man 252, actually, but its story began in Secret Wars.

Marvel Team Up #141 came out the same month as ASM#252 and featured the Black Costume.

You can see early designs for it however in  Marvel Age #12, which came out before both.

[evaD]

Nice list, Dave.  Is that Eddie Brock Venom or going back to the first appearance of the symbiote?

Thanks. That's why I was asking about Tom focusing on only three. I absolutely loved the first appearance of the black costume and think that was a great story, but as Jay points out, the story that introduces Venom altered so much, not just for Spidey but for the industry as well. So, as far as definitive, I'd have to go with the Brock Venom since McFarlane's take on Spidey changed how he was drawn, introduced a major villain, and brought major attention to the artistic end of things for a whole new generation, ushering in an era of superstardom.

I also have to applaud Jay's mention of Gang War - great story.

[Steve Raker]

ASM Annual #1 sinister six

ASM #39-40 where the goblin unmasks Peter and drags him around by his glider

ASM #229-230 nothing can stop juggernaut

My honorable mention is:

ASM #33 lifting the rubble in the sewer

[Jay Tomio - Part Deux]

Also:

Spider-man beating up a Herald of Galactus
Cosmic Spidey
...and the Thanos Copter

Are all classics and definitively funny.

[Tom Morris]

The death of Gwen Stacy
The death of Jean DeWulf
The introduction of Venom

I have to ask, though, why three, Tom?

This week during the podcast, David and Chris argued about the top 3 Batman stories and this got mentioned and no one had a suggestion.

[jdudley]

Controversial here but the entire USM run is my favorite superhero run ever (and I include the new USM run as a continuation of that)

[Tom Morris]

Controversial here but the entire USM run is my favorite superhero run ever (and I include the new USM run as a continuation of that)

I considered that but that's so long and has many lulls.

[glwarm76]

Controversial here but the entire USM run is my favorite superhero run ever (and I include the new USM run as a continuation of that)

Completely agree. I love USM. Death of a Goblin, Carnage, Spiderman and His Amazing Friends are my favorite arcs of the series.

[Jim B.]

ASM Annual #1 sinister six

ASM #39-40 where the goblin unmasks Peter and drags him around by his glider

ASM #229-230 nothing can stop juggernaut

My honorable mention is:

ASM #33 lifting the rubble in the sewer

 

I love you, man.

ASM Annual #1 is my favorite comic of all time.  The dastardly villains -- worst strategists on the planet, BTW -- all the supporting cast getting their moments, and super-hero cameo-rama!  
One of the funnest comic books ever created.

And what else do these comics have in common?  No one dies, they are not complete downers.  Don't get me wrong, I love Kraven's Last Hunt and The Night Gwen Stacy Died as much as the next Spider-phile, and I know Pete's the original hard luck hero, but....

It is more fun when he wins, ain't it?


Third Millenium Honorable Mentions: Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara's Rhino stories from ASM 617 and 625.
(Not as definitive Spidey tales, obviously, but some of the most memorable character pieces done recently.)

And ASM 655 by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin: