The Indispensable Spider-Man continues again with this week’s installment. Just as last week’s group of Chronological Spider-man issues was perhaps one of the best runs ever, we delve into one of most notoriously self-indulgent runs.
This set of essential chronological Spider-Man issues spans from a short period between 1994-1995, but don’t be fooled; this is perhaps one of the eras with the most issues published per month.
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 1994-1995 : What You Need To Know
What makes the cut? What doesn’t?
Like the Clone Saga or not, there are some important moments falling out of that storyline that can’t be denied. The introduction of Ben Reilly and Kaine are still important to this day. And while much of this has been rendered moot by One More Day, Mary Jane’s pregnancy, Aunt May’s “death” and the introduction of Kaine and Ben Reilly still have lasting effects for years, and are unavoidable. The bulk of the “excess” of the Clone saga occurs in our next installment, when the Spider-Man titles focus almost solely on Ben Reilly.
Creators of the 1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Issues
Michelinie ends his run on Amazing Spider-Man as Bagley teams up with DeMatteis, who moves over from Spectacular Spider-Man. Sal Buscema remains on the latter title, with DeZago, DeFalco and lackey filling in on plots. Kavanagh remains on Web of Spider-Man, but Saviuk hands over pencilling shortly in this Chronological Spider-Man list to Butler. Mackie and Tom Lyle round out the team, with Romita Jr filling in occasionally on Spider-Man. Ron Lim does a few pencils for “extra” stories, such as Maximum Clonage and Unlimited.
1991-1994 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Titles
Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, Spider-Man and Spider-Man Unlimited are the core titles of Chronological Spider-Man era.
Events within the 1994-1995 Chronological Spider-Man Essential Issues
Here are the most important events in this Chronological Spider-Man period:
- Vulture becomes young
- Spider-Man’s parents revealed as “synthetic beings”, under the mastermind of the Chameleon and the Green Goblin
- Spider-Man goes grim
- The Hobgoblin gains Kraven’s powers, kills the Demogoblin
- Kraven’s son becomes the Grim Hunter
- Aunt May goes into coma, dies
- Peter’s original Clone returns, becomes the Scarlet Spider
- Doctor Octopus cures Spider-Man from a poison
- Kaine kills Doctor Octopus
- Peter goes to Jail after being suspected for murder committed by Kaine, his failed Clone
- Mary Jane becomes pregnant
- Peter revealed to be the clone, quits being Spider-Man
- Black and Flash break up
Collections of the 1994-1995 Chronological Spider-Man era
The Back end of this list is available in trade paperback form, though it isn’t as edited down than our list:
Various Trade Paperbacks
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic, Book 1
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic, Book 2
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic, Book 3
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic, Book 4
Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga Epic, Book 5
The Indispensable Chronological Spider-Man Master List
| Order | Year | Age | Issue | Creators | Details | ** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 386.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #386 | Michelinie, Bagley | Lifetheft, Vulture, Peter revealed! identity to his parents | ** |
| 387.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #387 | Michelinie, Bagley | Lifetheft, Vulture | ** |
| 387.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #44 | Mackie, Lyle | Hobgoblin | * |
| 388.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #388 | Michelinie, Bagley | Lifetheft, Vulture, Chameleon | ** |
| 388.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #45 | Mackie, Lyle | Pursuit, Chameleon | * |
| 388.03 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #211 | Lackey, Buscema | Pursuit, Chameleon | * |
| 388.04 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #112 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Pursuit, Chameleon | * |
| 389.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #389 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Pursuit, Chameleon | ** |
| 389.04 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man Annual #10 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Black Cat, Ravencroft | * |
| 389.08 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #46 | Mackie, Lyle | Beware the Rage of a Desperate Man, Hobgoblin II, Demogoblin | * |
| 389.09 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #47 | Mackie, Lyle | Beware the Rage of a Desperate Man, Hobgoblin II, Demogoblin, 1st GrIron Man Hunter | ** |
| 389.10 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #113 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Live and Let Die, Gambit, Black Cat | * |
| 389.11 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #114 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Live and Let Die, Bannon dies, 1st Reilly Reappearance | * |
| 390.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #390 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Shrieking, Carrion | ** |
| 391.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #391 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Shrieking, Carrion, Aunt May collapses | ** |
| 392.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #392 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Shrieking, Carrion, Peter discovers May's collapse | ** |
| 392.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #48 | Mackie, Lyle | Beware the Rage of a Desperate Man, Hobgoblin II, Demogoblin dies, 2nd Reilly Reappearance | ** |
| 392.03 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #115 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Live and Let Die, Reilly leaves for NY | * |
| 392.04 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #116 | Kavanagh, Saviuk | Live and Let Die | * |
| 392.05 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #49 | Mackie, Lyle | Beware the Rage of a Desperate Man, Hobgoblin II, Demogoblin, GrIron Man Hunter | ** |
| 393.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #393 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Shrieking, Carrion, MJ leaves | ** |
| 393.03 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #215 | Lackey, Sal Buscema | Scorpion | * |
| 393.04 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #216 | DeZago, Sal Buscema | Scorpion, Peter meets Reilly | ** |
| 393.05 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #117 | Kavanagh, Butler | Power and Responsibility, Clone Saga, Revealed! Traveler knows, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 394.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #394 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Power and Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 394.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #51 | Mackie, Lyle | Power and Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Electro | ** |
| 394.03 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #217 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Power and Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 394.05 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #118 | Kavanagh, Butler | The Exile Returns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly becomes Scarlet Spider, Venom | * |
| 394.06 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #52 | Mackie, Lyle | The Exile Returns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Venom | * |
| 394.07 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #119 | Kavanagh, Butler | The Exile Returns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Venom | * |
| 394.08 | 1994 | Modern | Spider-Man #53 | Mackie, Lyle | The Exile Returns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Venom | * |
| 395.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #395 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Back from the Edge, Clone Saga, Puma | * |
| 395.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #218 | DeZago, Sal Buscema | Back from the Edge, Clone Saga, Puma | * |
| 396.01 | 1994 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #396 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Back from the Edge, Clone Saga, Vulture, Peter is poisoned | ** |
| 396.02 | 1994 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #219 | DeZago, Sal Buscema | Back from the Edge, Clone Saga, Vulture | ** |
| 396.03 | 1994 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #120 | Kavanagh, Butler | Web of Life, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine gets vision of MJ | ** |
| 396.04 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #54 | Mackie, Lyle | Web of Life, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine | ** |
| 396.05 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #121 | DeZago | Web of Life, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly meets Kaine, GrIron Man Hunter | ** |
| 396.06 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #55 | Mackie, Manley | Web of Life, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine kills GrIron Man Hunter | ** |
| 397.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #397 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Web of Death, Clone Saga, Revealed! Doc Ock cures Peter | ** |
| 397.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #220 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Web of Death, Clone Saga, Doc Ock, MJ announces she's pregnant | ** |
| 398.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #398 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Web of Death, Clone Saga, Doc Ock | ** |
| 398.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #221 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Web of Death, Clone Saga, Doc Ock dies | ** |
| 398.11 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #122 | DeZago, Butler | Smoke and Mirrors, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Kaine | ** |
| 399.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #399 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Smoke and Mirrors, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal | ** |
| 399.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #56 | Mackie, Lyle | Smoke and Mirrors, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal | ** |
| 399.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #222 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Players and Pawns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal | ** |
| 399.04 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #123 | Kavanagh, Butler | Players and Pawns, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Kaine | ** |
| 400.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #400 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Best! Death of Aunt May, Clone Saga, Revealed! by Aunt May, Ben Reilly, Peter goes to jail | ** |
| 400.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #57 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Electro | ** |
| 400.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #223 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 400.04 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #124 | Kavanagh, Butler | The Mark of Kaine, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal | ** |
| 401.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #401 | DeMatteis, Bagley | The Mark of Kaine, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 401.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #58 | Mackie, Lyle | The Mark of Kaine, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 401.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #224 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | The Mark of Kaine, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly switches with Peter | ** |
| 401.04 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man Unlimited #9 | Lyle, Lim | The Mark of Kaine, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Black Cat, Electro | * |
| 401.05 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #125 | Kavanagh, Butler | Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Gwen Stacy Clone | * |
| 402.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #402 | DeMatteis, Bagley | Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Traveler | * |
| 402.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #59 | Mackie, Lyle | Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Traveler | * |
| 402.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #225 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Clone Saga, Jackal | * |
| 402.04 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #126 | DeZago, Burdine | The Trial of Peter Parker, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Kaine | ** |
| 403.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #403 | DeMatteis, Bagley | The Trial of Peter Parker, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Traveller | ** |
| 403.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #60 | Mackie, Lyle | The Trial of Peter Parker, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine revealed as clone | ** |
| 403.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #226 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | The Trial of Peter Parker, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine, Jackal, Peter revealed as clone | ** |
| 403.05 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Alpha #1 | DeZago, Lim | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Kaine, Punisher | ** |
| 403.06 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #127 | DeZago, Butler | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Jackal, Kaine, Punisher | ** |
| 404.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #404 | DeZago, Bagley | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine, Jackal | ** |
| 404.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #61 | Mackie, Lyle | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine, Jackal | ** |
| 404.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #227 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine "dies", Jackal | ** |
| 404.04 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man: Maximum Clonage Omega #1 | Lyle | Maximum Clonage, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Kaine, Jackal "dies", Gwen Stacy Clone | ** |
| 404.05 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #128 | DeZago, Butler | Exiled, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly, Black Cat | * |
| 405.09 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #228 | DeZago, Sal Buscema | Time Bomb, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | * |
| 405.10 | 1995 | Modern | Web of Spider-Man #129 | DeZago, Butler | Time Bomb, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | * |
| 406.01 | 1995 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #406 | DMatteis | The Greatest Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 406.02 | 1995 | Modern | Spider-Man #63 | Mackie, Kane | The Greatest Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
| 406.03 | 1995 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man #229 | DeFalco, Sal Buscema | Quits! The Greatest Responsibility, Clone Saga, Ben Reilly | ** |
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: