The Amazing Spider-Man was created in 1962 by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee. Its release helped launched the “Marvel Age” of comics, along with the X-Men and Fantastic Four. As a result, Peter Parker has become one of the most beloved superheroes in comics, but he didn’t earn that title through just one run.
In his 60+ years of publication, the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man has been crafted by some of the best comic book writers and artists in the business. Ditko and Lee may have created the character, but future comic runs by people like Gerry Conway, Roger Stern, and Dan Slott expanded the Spidey lore and took the character to new heights.
UPDATE: 2024/09/12 10:49 EST BY BRIAN CRONIN
I’ve updated this list to add five more great Spider-Man runs to the list, as well as updated the list to current CBR posting standards. As an aside, I personally wouldn’t consider miniseries as being “runs,” but since that was the definition established by the original writer of this piece, then I will update it with that definition in mind. Hence, one of my additional runs will be a great Spider-Man miniseries.
25 Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #62-89
By Writer Bill Mantlo and Artist Al Milgrom
Bill Mantlo’s first run on Spectacular Spider-Man came early in the series run, but it wasn’t as much of a standout (although, notably, he was the first writer to hint that Mary Jane Watson had some dark stuff in her personal life, as Mantlo did a fine job softening Mary Jane after the writer on Amazing Spider-Man, Marv Wolfman, had Mary Jane turn down a marriage proposal by Peter Parker pretty harshly).
His second run, where he was mostly paired with artist Al Milgrom, was a lot more notable. This run introduced Cloak and Dagger, had a memorable Punisher story arc, and also dealt with the relationship between Spider-Man and Black Cat a lot, including an iconic storyline where Spider-Man fights Doctor Octopus nearly to the death. Milgrom took over the book as writer after Mantlo left the series.
24 The Sensational Spider-Man #7-24
By Writer Todd Dezago and Artist Mike Wieringo (and Richard Case)
Dan Jurgens launched Sensational Spider-Man as writer and artist with the introduction of Ben Reilly as Spider-Man (along with his brand-new costume), but Jurgens was never all that interested in doing a series about this new Spider-Man, and so Todd Dezago took over as writer with a fill-in issue with #7, and then the late, great Mike Wieringo joined as artist with the following issue.
Dezago and Wieringo were close collaborators, and Dezago geared his run around stuff that Wieringo wanted to draw, which led to an absolutely delightfully fun series, with a great usage of the broader Marvel Universe (visits to the Savage Land, team-ups with the Hulk, Doctor Strange, and more).
23 Spider-Man and the Human Torch #1-6
By Writer Dan Slott and Artist Ty Templeton
As you’ll see later on this list, Dan Slott is one of the most memorable Spider-Man writers of all-time, and his work on the character began with this excellent miniseries with artist Ty Templeton that explored the friendship between Spider-Man and Human Torch over the course of their respective superhero careers.
What was notable about this series, especially, was that despite being “only” a miniseries, it actually made a major change to the Spider-Man mythos, as the Human Torch discovered Spider-Man’s secret identity, and soon, Spider-Man revealed it to the rest of the Fantastic Four, as well.
22 Amazing Spider-Man Vol.5 #1-74 (Plus miniseries)
By Writer Nick Spencer and Artists Ryan Ottley, Patrick Gleason, Mark Bagley, Bryan Hitch, and More
Nick Spencer had written the excellent Spider-Man tie-in series, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, spotlighting some of the low-level Spider-Man villains, and he then graduated to the main series with an excellent run that saw Spider-Man seemingly gong back to basics, including a return to academia for Peter Parker, and a reintroduction of a romance between Peter and Mary Jane Watson.
Spencer’s run featured a number of miniseries and one-shot tie-ins. His run introduced a redeemed Norman Osborn, as well as the retcon of the reviled “Sins Past” storyline (a story that even the writer who did the original story, J. Michal Straczynski, wanted to retcon himself).
21 Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #43-59
By Writer Roger Stern and Artists Marie Severin, Mike Zeck, Jim Shooter, John Byrne, and More
A lot of people know about Roger Stern’s iconic Amazing Spider-Man run (you’ll, of course, see it on this list later), but he spent over a year writing the SECONDARY Spider-Man series, Spectacular Spider-Man, before graduating to the main series, and really, besides the lack of John Romita Jr. on art, these Spectacular Spider-Man issues by Stern are everything that his later work on Amazing Spider-Man was, thoughtful, clever, and character-driven work. John Byrne did an issue on art, and it was a particularly gorgeous looking issue.
These stories also introduced the brothers Roderick and Daniel Kingsley, who, of course, would later play a major role in Stern’s Amazing Spider-Man run as the secret identity (identities!) of the Hobgoblin (although it would take a number of years for Stern to have that revelation become official).
20 Amazing Spider-Man #253-285
By Writer Tom DeFalco Artist Ron Frenz
There’s a lot to love about Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz’s collaboration on Amazing Spider-Man. This era featured lots of riveting storylines, such as Spider-Man’s ongoing rivalry with Hobgoblin. DeFalco and Frenz’s stint on Amazing Spider-Man featured plenty of fun additions.
DeFalco and Frenz notably introduced a mysterious mob boss called the Rose and the iconic Bombastic Bag-Man costume. Bounty hunter Silver Sable also made her first appearance here, and would become a recurring character in the Marvel universe. DeFalco and Frenz’s Amazing Spider-Man run also gave Mary Jane some great character development, expanding on her family background.
19 Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1-12
By Writer Mark Millar and Artists Terry Dodson and Frank Cho
Part of the more mature Marvel Knights line, Millar, Dodson, and Cho provided readers with a darker take on Spider-Man. Throughout these pages, Peter Parker was truly pushed to the edge. Aunt May was kidnapped, and Uncle Ben’s headstone was destroyed by an unknown culprit.
Marvel Knights: Spider-Man took on an epic scope. Spanning three different arcs, the series pit Peter Parker against various classic foes while searching for Aunt May. The series did a good job showcasing Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, giving Venom, Electro, and Vulture a chance to shine.
18 Peter Parker: Spider-Man #20-50
By Writer Paul Jenkins and Artists Mark Buckingham, Joe Bennett, Charlie Adlard, Staz Johnson and Humberto Ramos
Paul Jenkins’ Spider-Man run stands out because of how grounded it was. Jenkins’s small-scale stories really delved into Peter Parker’s headspace, and gave the series some nice variety. Peter Parker: Spider-Man #20 (by Paul Jenkins, Mark Buckingham, Dan Green, Joe Rosas, Richard Starkings, and Troy Peteri) was a good example of this, centering on the title hero as he grappled with his biggest losses.
Along with multiple artists, Jenkins delivered a fresh take on the Spider-Man mythos, taking the series in a new direction. The series featured some dramatic developments, including the death of Sandman and Flash Thompson’s coma. Jenkins and Buckingham also introduced some new villains, such as Typeface, a foe with letter-shaped weapons.
17 Spider-Man: Blue #1-6
By Writer Jeph Loeb and Artist Tim Sale
From Hulk: Grey to Daredevil: Yellow, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s “color” series did a phenomenal job reinterpreting moments from classic Marvel series. Though Spider-Man: Blue is arguably the most popular entry in the “color” series. Spanning six issues, the series served as a heartfelt exploration of Peter’s relationship with Gwen Stacy.
The creative team behind Spider-Man: Blue was really firing on all cylinders. Jeph Loeb’s script gives this story a really personal feel, packing a strong emotional punch. Similarly, Tim Sale’s clean, crisp artwork is truly a sight to behold, reimagining Spider-Man’s early days in style.
16 Spider-Man 2099 #1-44
By Writer Peter David and Multiple Artists
Recently starring in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Miguel O’Hara’s debut series is well worth reading. Set in a future ruled by corporations, Spider-Man 2099 really pushed the boundaries of the Spidey franchise. The series felt like a love letter to science-fiction, taking influence from the likes of Judge Dredd and Blade Runner with its cyberpunk-fuelled narrative.
Spider-Man 2099 gave Miguel some stellar character development, including flashbacks as the series went on. The title also boasts a strong cast, from Miguel’s family and love interests to his rivals and iconic villains. Peter David’s world-building is well done, conveying the sense that Spider-Man 2099 inhabited a living, breathing world.
15 Astonishing Spider-Man And Wolverine #1-6
By Writer Jason Aaron, Artist Adam Kubert, Inkers Dexter Vines And Mark Morales, Color Artist Justin Ponsor, And Letterer Rob Steen
The miniseries Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine takes Wolverine and Spider-Man on an adventure through time and space, one that takes them to the end of the world and the beginning. The two heroes had never seen eye to eye, but this story highlight the beginning of a greater alliance.
In this action-packed time travel story, Marvel’s two most popular characters finally become friends. Aaron and Kubert positively kill it with every single issue. Astonishing Spider-Man and Wolverine never really gets the credit it deserves, but it’s great for Spider-Man and Wolverine fans alike.
14 Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1-27
By Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artists Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee, David Marquez, And Pepe Larraz
Miles Morales is a multimedia star. The main character of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, he first appeared after the death of the Ultimate Universe Spider-Man. Miles soon got his own series from writer Brian Michael Bendis, who created the character. Over the twenty-seven issue run of Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, Bendis created the holy writ of Miles Morales.
Working with artists like Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee, David Marquez, and Pepe Larraz, Bendis did something few creators had done. Bendis created an entirely new version of a fan-favorite character and turned Miles Morales into an icon. Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man’s opening run helped make that possible.
13 Spider-Verse
By Writers Dan Slott, Peter David, Dennis Hopeless, Christos Gage, And More And Artists Olivier Coipel, Giuseppe Camuncoli, And More
The Spider-Verse movies are massively popular, and all they stemmed from one story. Dan Slott’s run writing The Amazing Spider-Man lasted a long time, and he did something very special in 2014 and 2015. Slott, working with writers Christos Gage, Peter David, Dennis Hopeless, and more, brought readers Spider-Verse. When energy vampires who feed on spider-powered heroes attack, Peter Parker has to team up with Spider-Men from across the universe.
Basically every Spider-Man who appeared in the Spider-Verse movies has their genesis in the Spider-Verse comics. It’s not exactly the same as the movies, but that’s the glory of it. Pitting Spider-Man and his team against the Inheritors, many consider Spider-Verse the best story of Slott’s run. Every Spider-fan needs to check out this one.
12 Spider-Man: Life Story
By Writer Chip Zdarsky, Artist Mark Bagley, Inker John Dell, And Letterer Travis Lanham
Spider-Man’s origin has changed a lot. Over the years, multiple reboots and retcons added and subtracted details from the Wall-Crawler’s beginnings. The most ambitious of these was Spider-Man: Life Story. This miniseries took a different approach to Spider-Man and his life, as it all happened in real time.
The story concentrates on the various decades of Spider-Man’s life, taking familiar villains and events, but tweaking them by making the story about an aging Spider-Man. This beautiful Spider-Man book takes Peter Parker to new places. It’s as good for long time fans as it is for new ones.
11 Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017-2019) #1-6, #297-310
By Writer Chip Zdarsky, Artists Adam Kubert, Michael Walsh, Juan Frigeri, Joe Quinones, Chris Bachalo, and Chip Zdarsky
Chip Zdarsky got his first chance to write Spider-Man in 2017. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man had a venerable legacy from the old Spectacular, and Zdarsky was standing on the shoulders of giants. Luckily, he knocked it out of the park, working with an amazing artistic team headed up by series artist Adam Kubert. Amazing was the flagship, but Zdarsky’s Spectacular was the soul.
Launched as part of the Legacy publishing initiative, it took up legacy numbering after the sixth issue, a milestone where Spider-Man told J. Jonah Jameson the truth of his identity. Zdarsky wrote the book for nineteen issues, starting with #1-6 and then #297 to #310 of the legacy numbering.
10 Amazing Spider-Man #1-38
By Writer Stan Lee, Writer/Artist Steve Ditko, And Letterer Artie Rosen
No Spidey fan’s must-read list would be complete without the comic run that started it all. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko worked on Amazing Spider-Man for the first 38 issues before Ditko left the book. During that time, they crafted one of the best characters in comic book history. They also created some of the greatest villains in comics, including Doctor Octopus, Lizard, and Green Goblin.
Spider-Man’s heroic origin is memorable and impactful, and his mission and motives are clear. The character would grow beyond what Lee and Ditko originally created, but his evolution was only possible because of the incredible foundation of their initial run.
9 Amazing Spider-Man #39-58
By Writer Stan Lee, Artist John Romita, Inker Mike Esposito, And Letterer Artie Simek
Comic books seamlessly combine words and art into one medium. The art is just as important as the words on the page, and the artist is just as important as the writer. John Romita Sr. proved this when he joined Amazing Spider-Man after Ditko left.
Romita Sr. drew romance comics and brought a lot of those elements to Spidey’s mythos. He and Lee fleshed out characters like Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn. They also introduced Mary Jane Watson. Romita Sr. and Lee crafted beloved stories like “Goblin Unmasked” and “Spider-Man: No More.” Romita Sr. brought warmth and relatability during his run from issues #39-58.
8 Amazing Spider-Man #111-149
By Writer Gerry Conway, Artists John Romita And Gil Kane, Inkers Tony Mortellaro And Jim Starlin, And Letterer Artie Simek
Gerry Conway wrote Amazing Spider-Man from issues #111-149. His run is legendary because of the exciting narrative choices he made, which affected Spider-Man for decades to come. Conway wrote “Turning Point,” which depicted the deaths of both Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn.
Years later, Conway introduced the Jackal, a villain who’d torment Peter Parker’s life many times. The Jackal created clones of Gwen and Peter in what’s now called “The Original Clone Saga.” The seeds of the 90s Clone Saga and Peter and MJ’s relationship were planted during Conway’s run, and it’s a chapter every fan should read to understand all of Spidey’s history.
7 Amazing Spider-Man #229-252
By Writer Roger Stern, Artists John Romita Jr., Bob Hall, Jim Mooney, John Romita Sr., And Many Other Creators
Roger Stern wrote a few odd issues of Amazing Spider-Man before starting his first official run on the book from issues #229-252. During his run, Stern worked with legendary artists like John Romita Jr. and Ron Frenz, crafting memorable Spider-Man stories like the thrilling, “Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut” and the emotional, “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man.”
In the world of Spider-Man, Stern is perhaps best known for co-creating the Hobgoblin. The Hobgoblin’s backstory — in-universe and in real-world publication — is one of the most interesting aspects of the character. As a result, Hobgoblin quickly became a deadly foe and a hit villain.
6 Amazing Spider-Man #296-352, #359-388
By Writer David Michelinie And Artists Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, And Mark Bagley
David Michelinie wrote Amazing Spider-Man for two spectacular runs. During his first run (issues #296-352), Michelinie worked with Todd McFarlane, who brought an energetic new art style to the medium. They created Venom, who debuted in the centennial issue #300, which became one of the best Spider-Man comics of all time.
During his second ASM run (issues #359-388), Michelinie worked with Erik Larson and Mark Bagley: two more legendary comic artists. Michelinie co-created Carnage and wrote the return of Peter’s parents in a somewhat controversial arc. However, it led directly into the ’90s Clone Saga. Venom and Carnage have become integral parts of Spidey’s mythos, and Michelinie’s runs provided their origins and some of their best stories.