We’re back! Summer’s back and so is the indispensable Spider-Man. With a new era of Spider-Man now ongoing, we’re able to move the ball down the field a bit further in selecting a list of essential Spider-Man comics.
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 1999-2005: What You Need To Know
What makes the cut? What doesn’t?
This era sees the renumbering of the Amazing Spider-Man and its subsequent “denumbering” at the milestone 500th issue. This era is marked by Peter and MJ’s crumbling relationship, whether it’s secrets driving them apart, or things like, say, getting kidnapped and faked deaths.
The renumbering only caught on when J. Michael Straczynski started on Amazing Spider-Man with a story that put into question his very origins. This era includes this first arc JMS put together regarding Spider-Man’s hidden origin and his relation with Ezekiel.
One thing purposeful omitted from this reading order is the “Sin’s Past” storyline. Though we generally hate to leave out important stories because of not liking the outcome or the quality, but this storyline, which involves revealing Norman Osborn father twins with Gwen Stacy, is all but forgotten in subsequent issues. Since it is so easy to gloss over this without impacting comprehension further down the road, we say “Skip It!”.
Creators of the 1999-2005 Spider-Man Timeline Essential Issues
The renumbering began with Howard Mackie writing the new Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker, Spider-Man, with John Byrne and John Romita Jr penciling those titles, respectively. However, the story really took off when J. Michael Straczynski and Paul Jenkins took over writing duty on those titles. Romita Jr moves over to Amazing while Humberto Ramos begins his nearly decades long career with Spider-Man over in Peter Parker.
1996-1998 Spider-Man Timeline Essential Titles
Amazing Spider-Man starts anew, as does Peter Parker, Spider-Man, which (sort-of) switches over to the tnew Spectacular Spider-Man.
Events within the 1996-1998 Spider-Man Timeline Essential Issues
Here are the most important events in this Spider-Man Timeline period:
- Mattie Franklin takes on the Spider-Man mantle
- Peter secretly returns as Spider-Man, leaving Mattie her own “Spider-Woman” identity
- MJ and Peter have shaky relationship, and fail to reconcile before her plane explodes
- MJ is found alive, though she and Peter separate as she leaves on her own to restart her career in LA
- Peter leaves photography to become a high school teacher
- Ezekiel, and man with similar powers, convinces Peter his powers are “Totemic”, based on legend, and he must face his toughest villains.
- Eddie Brock gets cancer, and needs the venom symbiote to live
- MJ and Peter finally reconcile
- Spider-Man overcomes his totemic foes
Collections of the 1999-2005 Spider-Man Timeline era
There is a bit of a gap between Mackie’s run and JMS, so might have to go to floppies to read the stories where Peter finds Mary Jane after her kidnapping/faked death:
Spider-Man: The Next Chapter – Volume 1
Spider-Man: The Next Chapter – Volume 2
Spider-Man: The Next Chapter – Volume 3
Amazing Spider-Man by JMS – Ultimate Collection, Book 1
Amazing Spider-Man by JMS – Ultimate Collection, Book 2
Amazing Spider-Man by JMS – Ultimate Collection, Book 3
Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1: The Hunger (Venom)
Spider-Man: Blue
The Indispensable Spider-Man Timeline ’99-’05
| Order | Year | Age | Issue | Creators | Details | ** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 442.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #1 | Mackie, Byrne | Human Torch, Fantastic Four, Avengers , Scorpion, Mattie | ** |
| 442.02 | 1999 | Modern | Daredevil 2nd Series #7 | Kevin Smith, Quesada | Mysterio, Daredevil | * |
| 442.03 | 1999 | Modern | Daredevil 2nd Series #8 | Kevin Smith, Quesada | Mysterio, Daredevil | * |
| 443.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #2 | Mackie, Byrne | 1st Shadrac, Override, Mattie, Peter becomes Spider-Man | ** |
| 444.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #3 | Mackie, Byrne | Shadrac, Override, Ward, Iceman | ** |
| 444.02 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #3 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Shadrac, Override, Iceman | ** |
| 445.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #4 | Mackie, Byrne | Trapster, Sandman, Ward | * |
| 447.02 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #6 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Bullseye, Kingpin | * |
| 449.06 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #7 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Blade | * |
| 449.07 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #8 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Blade, Morbius | * |
| 450.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #9 | Mackie, Byrne | Doc Ock, stalker calls MJ! | * |
| 451.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #10 | Mackie, Byrne | Doc Ock | * |
| 451.02 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #9 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Venom | * |
| 451.03 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #10 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Venom | * |
| 452.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #11 | Mackie, Byrne | Blob, Revealed! to MJ | ** |
| 452.02 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #11 | Mackie, Romita Jr | ** | |
| 453.01 | 1999 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #12 | Mackie, Byrne | Sinsiter Six, Sandman, Vulture, Electro, Doc Ock, Mysterio, Venom, Ward | ** |
| 453.02 | 1999 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #12 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Sinsiter Six, Sandman, Vulture, Electro, Doc Ock, Mysterio, Venom, Ward | ** |
| 454.01 | 2000 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #13 | Mackie, Romita Jr | MJ! plane explodes | ** |
| 454.02 | 2000 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #13 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Carnage, Peter learns of MJ! death | ** |
| 454.03 | 2000 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #14 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Hulk, MJ! Claimed alive | ** |
| 455.01 | 2000 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #14 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Mattie | * |
| 456.01 | 2000 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #15 | Mackie, Byrne | Doom | ** |
| 456.02 | 2000 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #15 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Doom | ** |
| 457.01 | 2000 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #16 | Mackie, Byrne | Peter and May evicted | * |
| 459.01 | 2000 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #18 | Mackie, Byrne | Green Goblin, Costume stolen | * |
| 459.02 | 2000 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #18 | Mackie, Nolan | Green Goblin | * |
| 460.02 | 2000 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #19 | Mackie, Romita Jr | * | |
| 466.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #36 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | 9/11 issue | ** |
| 467.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #25 | Mackie, Romita Jr | Green Goblin | ** |
| 467.02 | 2001 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #25 | Jenkins, Buckingham | Green Goblin | ** |
| 470.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #28 | Mackie, Joe Bennett | Enforcers | ** |
| 471.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #29 | Mackie, Lee Weeks | MJ! returns, Revealed! | ** |
| 471.02 | 2001 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #29 | Jenkins, Adlard | MJ! and Peter reunited | ** |
| 471.03 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2nd series #2001 | Mackie, Bennett | MJ! leaves | ** |
| 472.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #30 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! 1st Ezekiel, 1st Morlun, Revealed! | ** |
| 472.07 | 2001 | Modern | Tangled Web #5 | Fegredo | best! Flowers for Rhino | ** |
| 472.08 | 2001 | Modern | Tangled Web #6 | Fegredo | best! Flowers for Rhino | ** |
| 473.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #31 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! Ezekiel, Morlun | ** |
| 474.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #32 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! Ezekiel, Morlun | ** |
| 475.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #33 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! Ezekiel, Morlun | ** |
| 476.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #34 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! Ezekiel, Morlun | ** |
| 477.01 | 2001 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #35 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Best! Ezekiel, Morlun | ** |
| 478.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #37 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | ** | |
| 479.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #38 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Revealed! by Aunt May | ** |
| 479.25 | 2002 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #44 | Jenkins, Ramos | A Death in the Family, Green Goblin | * |
| 479.26 | 2002 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #45 | Jenkins, Ramos | A Death in the Family, Green Goblin | * |
| 479.27 | 2002 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #46 | Jenkins, Ramos | A Death in the Family, Green Goblin | * |
| 479.28 | 2002 | Modern | Peter Parker Spider-Man #47 | Jenkins, Ramos | A Death in the Family, Green Goblin | * |
| 480.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #39 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | MJ!, 'Nuff Said | ** |
| 480.10 | 2003 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man 2nd series #1 | Jenkins, Ramos | The Hunger, Venom | * |
| 480.11 | 2003 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man 2nd series #2 | Jenkins, Ramos | The Hunger, Venom | * |
| 480.12 | 2003 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man 2nd series #3 | Jenkins, Ramos | The Hunger, Venom | * |
| 480.13 | 2003 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man 2nd series #4 | Jenkins, Ramos | The Hunger, Venom, Fantastic Four, Eddie Brock has cancer | * |
| 480.14 | 2003 | Modern | Spectacular Spider-Man 2nd series #5 | Jenkins, Ramos | The Hunger, Venom | * |
| 484.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #43 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Doc Ock | * |
| 485.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #44 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Doc Ock | * |
| 486.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #45 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Doc Ock | * |
| 487.01 | 2002 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #46 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | 1st Shathra | ** |
| 488.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #47 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Shathra | ** |
| 489.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #48 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Shathra, Ezekiel | ** |
| 490.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #49 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | MJ! Best! Doomed Affairs | ** |
| 491.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #50 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | MJ! Best! Doomed Affairs, Doom | ** |
| 495.02 | 2002 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #1 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Green Goblin | ** |
| 495.03 | 2002 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #2 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Lizard | ** |
| 495.04 | 2002 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #3 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Lizard | ** |
| 495.05 | 2002 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #4 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Vulture | ** |
| 495.06 | 2002 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #5 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Vulture | ** |
| 495.07 | 2003 | Modern | Spider-Man Blue #6 | Loeb, Sale | Best! Green Goblin, Kraven | ** |
| 498.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #57 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Dormammu | * |
| 499.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #58 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Dr Strange | * |
| 500.01 | 2003 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #500 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | Dr Strange | * |
| 505.01 | 2004 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #505 | Avery, Romita Jr | MJ! drops movie career | * |
| 506.01 | 2004 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #506 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | The Book of Ezekiel | ** |
| 507.01 | 2004 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #507 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | The Book of Ezekiel | ** |
| 508.01 | 2004 | Modern | Amazing Spider-Man 2nd Series #508 | Straczynski, Romita Jr | The Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel dies | ** |
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: