Spider-man has had a variety of stories over the years. Some good, others not so good. But there is no denying that the core essence is there, responsibilty. Peter's Uncle died because he failed to stop the criminal who would go on to kill his uncle and out of that guilt he decided that he would never let his powers be used for anything other that good. So I have put together my top 5 stories of spider-man:
5 Introducing Spider-man
Amazing Fantasy 15
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
The story that started a legend. When it was announced that amazing adult fantasy was to be cancelled Stan Lee decided to try something new. A hero who was just a kid and had ordinary problems. Stan Lee had nothing to lose as the title was going to be cancelled anyway. Spider-man was a hit and was soon gifted his own title that is still going today.
4 Venom
Amazing Spider-man 300, 315-317
David Michelinie and Todd Mcfarlane
Never before was there a villian like this. One who had identical powers to spider-man and was immune to his spider sense. Venom became a fan favourite and Todd Mcfarlane became a superstar artist during his run on amazing and founded image comics and started Mcfarlane toys which made him serious money. In short he is richer that us.
3 If this be my destiny
Amazing Spider-man 31-33
Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
A Stan Lee and Steve Ditko classic. The ultimate feel good spidey story. Never have I read a comic where I have stood up and cheered for spider-man. Never has a villian pushed spidey to his limits as Doc Ock in this story, as add in the first appearences of Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy and you have a masterpiece.
2 The night Gwen Stacy died
Amazing Spider-man 121-122
Gerry Conway and Gil Kane
The story that ended the silver age. Never before had a character so important and so popular been killed off. The famed damesil in distress plot has been used a thousand times before but it always ends with the hero resucing them just in the nick of time. Nobody saw this coming. Spider-man may has saved her but when he pulled her up she was already dead! This left poor web head to ponder whether it was his web line that killed her or if the goblin had killed her prior to this. In the original story there was the word snap by her neck which has since been removed in reprints.
1 Kravens Last Hunt
Amazing spider-man 293-294
Spectacular spider-man 131-132
Web of spider-man 32-33
Hands down my favourite spider-man story ever. The story takes the once laughable villian Kraven and makes him a chilling victim of society. Having hunted every other prey on earth decided to beat spider-man in one of the worst ways. By shooting him and burying him alive. But as the final insult he lets him live, leting spider-man live knowing that he only lives because Kraven lets him. Each main character,(spider-man, Kraven and vermin),are dark reflections of each other, each dealing with mortality in different ways. Finally at peace Kraven ends his hunt, a beautifully written and drawn story which touched me more than I thought it would.