Well, folks, this will be the last time we blog on the Indispensable Spider-Man timeline for this year.  The period covered in our final spans between the tail end of 1996 to the end of 1998, which includes a tidily wrapped Spider-Man timeline from the return of Peter Parker as Spider-Man until he eventually quits again, which spurs the (temporary) renumbering of Amazing Spider-Man.

But before we get down to the dirty, gritty details, here’s the how we decided which issues make our list:

• What are considered the best issues in the main Spider-Man Timeline 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 asterisks (*).

Spider-Man Timeline from 1996-1998 : What You Need To Know

What makes the cut? What doesn’t?

As this part of the Spider-Man timeline returns to the status quo, it also represents a more tepid era as it strives almost too much to return to that Bronze and Copper age feel.  This Spider-Man timeline of essential issues also includes a number of one-shots and mini-series, such as Hobgoblin Lives, that were planned to bring closure to many dangling storylines while leaving each title to their own.

This return to the status quo also brings back the notion that each title run their own stories, after years of endless crossovers.  However, this means that certain titles make the cut much more than others.  With J.M. DeMatteis returning to Spectacular Spider-Man, this popular writer places this title among the most essential, not to mention he pens many issues pertaining to the return of Norman Osborn.

Creators of the 1996-1998s Spider-Man Timeline Essential Issues

Mackie and Romita Jr are the veterans of this portion of the Spider-Man timeline as they continue their streak on the adjectiveless Spider-title.  Star Spider-Man writer J.M. DeMatteis returns to take over Spectacular Spider-Man once again, teamed-up with Luke Ross this time.  DeZago and Wieringo (and many fill-in artists)  do their thing again on Sensational Spider-Man.  DeFalco continues to write the flagship Amazing Spider-Man, with Steve Skroce (and also many fill-in artists).  Finally, Ron Frenz and Roger Stern team-up again to bring closure to their Saga in the Hobgoblin Lives.

1996-1998 Spider-Man Timeline Essential Titles

Web of Spider-Man is replaced by Sensational Spider-Man, which joins Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man, , Spider-Man and Spider-Man Unlimited are the core titles of Spider-Man Timeline of this era.

Events within the 1996-1998 Spider-Man Timeline Essential Issues

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

• Peter returns as Spider-Man
• Peter and Mary-Jane return to Empire State University
• Jill and Paul Stacy, Gwen’s cousins, make their way into MJ and Peter’s lives
• Chameleon learns of Spider-Man’s identity, gets beaten by MJ
• Spider-Man gets bitten by Morbius
• Norman Osborn returns as Green Goblin, buys the Daily Bugle
• Doctor Octopus is revived
• Robbie Robertson Resigns
• Spider-Man framed by Norman Osborn, adopts four different identities
• Roderick Kingsley outed as Hobgoblin, sprung from Jail by Norman Osborn
• MJ quits school to model
• Norman Osborn goes mad from the Gathering of the Five, Madame Webb dies from it
• Peter quits as Spider-Man

Collections of the 1996-1998 Spider-Man Timeline era

You just can’t read many of these issues through trade paperbacks.  Still, there is some interesting stuff in the few trades available.  Consider filling-in your reading list with a few floppies, especially for the DeMatteis/Spectacular run and the Final Chapter:

Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives
Spider-Man: Spider-Hunt
Spider-Man: Identity Crisis

The Indispensable Spider-Man Timeline Master List

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 Spider-Man Timeline, which will be reflected in our larger Spider-Man Timeline list here:

Click Here For the complete Spider-Man Timeline