Confession here, Spider-Friends; this is perhaps one of my favorite Chronological Spider-man runs ever.  There are two reasons for this; first, because of the great story of the rise and fall of Harry Osborn, and second, because “it’s mine”.  This is smack dab during my golden age of comic collecting.

Now that I got that off my chest: Welcome to our latest installment of the Indispensable Spider-Man, featuring the chronological Spider-Man essential issues list from 1991 to 1994.  Add this to the list of Spider-Man issues you need to read in order get everything important Spider-Man story.

Before we get down to the details, here’s the criteria to how we decide which issues make our list:

• What are considered the best issues in the main Chronological Spider-Man are central
• Storylines that include an important change in status quo are also central
• Very important issues are marked with two asterisks (**), while issues that are part of those storylines, without the major event, are also included and marked with a diminutive one asterisk (*). Search for “**” in this below to further pare down the list.

Chronological Spider-Man from 1991-1994 : What You Need To Know

What makes the cut? What doesn’t?

There is a lot of important stuff here that makes the cut, as we get the Harry Osborn Saga, Maximum Carnage and the Saga of Spider-Man’s parents.  There are, however, a lot of filler issues, mostly in the Web of Spider-Man title, though much of the earlier Amazing Spider-Man issues in this run are unessential.  We also see the trickle of Spider-Man miniseries, such as Lethal Foes, which have no bearing on our indispensable chronological Spider-Man list.

Creators of the 1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Issues

Erik Larsen succeeds Todd McFarlane once again, this time on the adjectiveless Spider-Man title, though Tom Lyle eventually replaces him as Marvel loses both former artists to Image Comics.  Howard Mackie and Alex Saviuk continue their Web of Spider-Man run.  J.M. DeMatteis joins Sal Buscema on Spectacular Spider-Man, creating one of the best Spider-Man runs ever.  Mark Bagley begins his iconic Amazing Spider-Man run with Michelinie.  We also see some Ron Lim and Terry Kavanagh peek into this list.

1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Titles

Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man and Spider-Man get an additional title to help them ensure there’s a Spider-Man title every week, as Spider-Man Unlimited becomes part of the Chronological Spider-Man by filling in those occasional 5th Wednesdays of the month.

Events within the 1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Issues

Here are the most important events in this Chronological Spider-Man period:

• The Sinister Six return
• Richard Fisk takes over as Kingpin, “dies”
• Harry Osborn becomes Green Goblin (as a villain), dies Saving Spider-Man
• Carnage debuts, goes on killing spree during “Maximum Carnage”
• The Vulture asks May for forgiveness for killing Nathan
• The Demogoblin is split from the Hobgoblin
• Peter’s parents return
• Venom and Spider-Man reach a truce
• MJ and Peter move into a new Apartment
• Black Cat and Flash break up

Collections of the 1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man era

Here are some good collected editions containing some of the best stories of this Chronological Spider-Man list of issues:

Various Trade Paperbacks
Spider-Man: Revenge of the Sinister Six
Spider-Man: Son of the Goblin
Spider-Man: The Vengeance of Venom (1st Carnage)
Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage

The Indispensable Chronological Spider-Man Master List

Order	Year	Age	Issue	Creators	Details	**
350.06	1991	Modern	Spider-Man #15 BUY	Larsen	Peter and MJ discuss kids	*
352.08	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #18 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture	**
352.09	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #19 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture	**
352.10	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #20 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture	**
352.11	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #21 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture	**
352.12	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #22 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture	**
352.13	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #23 BUY	Larsen	Revenge of the Sinister Six, Doc Ock, Electro, Hobgoblin II, Mysterio, Sandman, Vulture, Black Cat, Birthday!	**
352.14	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #84 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II, Richard Fisk	*
352.15	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #85 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II, Richard Fisk	*
352.16	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #86 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II splits into 1st Demogoblin, Richard Fisk	**
352.17	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #87 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II, Richard Fisk	*
352.18	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #88 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II, Richard Fisk becomes Kingpin	**
352.19	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #89 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	The Name of the Rose, Hobgoblin II, Richard Fisk "dies"	**
358.02	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #178 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.03	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #179 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.04	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #180 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.05	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #181 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.06	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #182 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.07	1991	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #183 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.08	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #184 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! The Child Within, Vermin, Green Goblin II	**
358.09	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #185 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema		*
359.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #359 BUY	Michelinie	Cletus Kasady escapes	*
360.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #360 BUY	Michelinie	1st Carnage cameo	*
360.02	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #186 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Funeral Arrangements, Vulture	*
360.03	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #187 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Funeral Arrangements, Vulture	*
360.04	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #188 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Funeral Arrangements, Vulture, Green Goblin II	*
360.05	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #189 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! Green Goblin II	**
360.06	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #190 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! Green Goblin II	*
361.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #361 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Best! 1st Carnage	**
362.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #362 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Best! Carnage, Venom	**
363.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #363 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Best! Carnage, Venom	**
363.07	1992	Modern	Spider-Man #24 BUY	Mackie, Alexander	Infinity War, Hobgoblin II, Demogoblin, 1st Doppelganger	**
365.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #365 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Lizard, Electro	**
366.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #366 BUY	Michelinie	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents	**
367.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #367 BUY	Michelinie	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents	*
367.06	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #194 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Death of Vermin	*
367.07	1992	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #195 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Death of Vermin	*
367.08	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #196 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Death of Vermin	*
367.09	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #93 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	Hobgoblin Reborn, Hobgoblin II	*
367.10	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #94 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	Hobgoblin Reborn, Hobgoblin II	*
367.11	1992	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #95 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	Spirits of Venom, Hobgoblin II	*
367.12	1992	Modern	Spirits of Vengeance #5 BUY		Spirits of Venom, Hobgoblin II	*
367.13	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #96 BUY	Mackie, Saviuk	Spirits of Venom, Hobgoblin II	*
367.14	1992	Modern	Spirits of Vengeance #6 BUY		Spirits of Venom, Hobgoblin II	*
368.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #368 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers, Black Cat	*
369.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #369 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers, Black Cat, Electro	*
370.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #370 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers, Black Cat	*
371.01	1992	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #371 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers, Black Cat	*
372.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #372 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers, Black Cat	*
373.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #373 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Invasion of the Spider-Slayers	*
374.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #374 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Venom	**
375.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #375 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	The Saga of Spider-Man's Parents, Venom	**
375.03	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #1 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Lethal Protector	*
375.04	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #2 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Lethal Protector	*
375.05	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #3 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Lethal Protector	*
375.06	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #4 BUY	Michelinie, Lim	Lethal Protector	*
375.07	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #5 BUY	Michelinie, Lim	Lethal Protector	*
375.08	1993	Modern	Venom: Lethal Protector #6 BUY	Michelinie, Lim	Lethal Protector	*
375.11	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #99 BUY	Kavanagh, Saviuk	My Enemy's Enemy, Richard Fisk	*
375.12	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #100 BUY	Kavanagh, Saviuk	My Enemy's Enemy, Richard Fisk	*
377.05	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #197 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	X-Men	*
377.06	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #198 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	X-Men	*
377.07	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #199 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	X-Men, Green Goblin II	**
377.08	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #200 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Best! Green Goblin II	**
377.10	1993	Modern	Spider-Man Unlimited #1 BUY	DeFalco, Lim	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Demogoblin	**
377.11	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #101 BUY	Kavanagh, Saviuk	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Cloak and Dagger	**
378.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #378 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Cloak	**
378.02	1993	Modern	Spider-Man #35 BUY	Michelinie, Lyle	Maximum Carnage, Black Cat, Venom	**
378.03	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #201 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Maximum Carnage, Black Cat, Venom, Carrion, Cloak	**
378.04	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #102 BUY	Kavanagh, Saviuk	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Carrion, Cloak, Morbius	**
379.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #379 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Carrion, Cloak, Morbius	**
379.02	1993	Modern	Spider-Man #36 BUY	Kavanagh, Lyle	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Carrion, Cloak, Iron Fist	**
379.03	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #202 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Maximum Carnage, Black Cat, Venom, Carrion	**
379.04	1993	Modern	Web of Spider-Man #103 BUY	Kavanagh, Saviuk	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Carrion	**
380.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #380 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat, Carrion	**
380.02	1993	Modern	Spider-Man #37 BUY	DeMatteis, Lyle	Maximum Carnage, Carrion, Venom, Dagger returns	**
380.03	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #203 BUY	DeMatteis, Sal Buscema	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Carrion	**
380.04	1993	Modern	Spider-Man Unlimited #2 BUY	DeFalco, Lim	Maximum Carnage, Venom, Black Cat	**
381.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #381 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Hulk, May suspects Peter's Parents	*
382.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #382 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	Hulk	*
382.06	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #204 BUY	Grant, Sal Buscema	Black Cat, Tombstone	*
382.07	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #205 BUY	Grant, Sal Buscema	Black Cat, Tombstone	*
382.08	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #206 BUY	Grant, Sal Buscema	Black Cat, Tombstone	*
383.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #383 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley		*
384.01	1993	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #384 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley		*
385.01	1994	Modern	Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #385 BUY	Michelinie, Bagley	MJ quits smoking	*
385.07	1993	Modern	Spider-Man Unlimited #3 BUY	DeFalco, Lim	Doc Ock's Life	*
385.12	1993	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #207 BUY	Grant, Sal Buscema	Black Cat	*
385.13	1994	Modern	Spectacular Spider-Man #208 BUY	Grant, Sal Buscema	MJ and Peter move into new apartment	*

Please, help us make this list better by contributing your thoughts on what should be included. We would love to pared own this list even further, though we don’t want you to miss out on some great runs. Drop us a line in the comments for changes to this Chronological Spider-Man, which will be reflected in our larger Chronological Spider-Man list here:

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