History ComicBook / SpiderMan

One of Creator/MarvelComics' most popular superheroes, Spider-Man is a comic book character created by Creator/StanLee and Creator/SteveDitko. He first appeared in ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August, 1962), which contained his origin story. Geeky OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Peter Parker attends a scientific demonstration and is bitten by a spider made radioactive by the experimental device, passing on the proportionate strength, speed, agility, and senses of a spider. At first [[PersonalGainHurts he uses his power for self gain]]. After his Uncle Ben is shot by a mugger that Peter could have stopped, he learns that with great power must also [[ComesGreatResponsibility come great responsibility]], and becomes the amazing Spider-Man!

At its debut, this Creator/MarvelComics tale was a landmark in comic book characterization. He actually [[CharacterDevelopment seemed like a real person]], with day-to-day worries. Peter Parker was unpopular in his high school (though not without his supporting cast of friends). He and his aunt were poor, due to the death of their breadwinner. To get by, he had to sell pictures of his super-hero self to a man who only used them as a way to [[HeroWithBadPublicity smear and tear down Spider-Man's reputation]], in a nice inversion of the Clark Kent[=/=]{{Franchise/Superman}} situation. Of course, he persevered, and with his powers, his native intelligence, and his nifty [[AppliedPhlebotinum web-shooters]], he went on to battle a bevy of strange supervillains. Spider-Man was in many ways JackOfAllStats of the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. While he wasn't the fastest, strongest, smartest or most skilled hero there was, Spidey possessed enough of all these qualities to be able to handle a wide variety of situations and villains.

Initially Spider-Man had a strongly serialized continuity during the era of [[UsefulNotes/MarvelComicsEditorsInChief EIC Stan Lee]] where Marvel as a whole told stories in near real-time. ComicBookTime was gradually introduced under his successors but still, Spider-Man's stories remained on the realistic side, a place where characters who died stayed dead, and supporting characters and fixtures from one era died in the next, new supporting characters coming in while old ones were either PutOnABus only [[TheBusCameBack to return later]] in a new role and new form. Status-quo changes had impact and lasting consequences. Spider-Man started out as a high school student, went to college, worked as an adult, had a series of girlfriends, before having long-term relationships with first Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, Felicia Hardy, before finally reuniting with MJ and getting married to her. In TheNineties, falling in line with the general trends in other Marvel titles, as well as tendencies in superhero titles from other companies, Spider-Man gradually came to be affected by retcons, characters coming BackFromTheDead, KudzuPlot and in 2007-2008, a CosmicRetcon that reversed 20 years of real-life continuity to tell a new altered status-quo that is in fact a composite of elements from different parts of Spider-Man's publication history.

Originally Spider-Man was published in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' which is still considered the flagship title and center of gravity. Due to his immense popularity and fame however, he became a tri-monthly title in TheSeventies and TheEighties with ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' and ''Web of Spider-Man'' being published alongside ''Amazing'' three times a month. Amazing dealt with the main story and series in general, while Spectacular and Web of Spider-Man dealt with smaller stories, one-shots and provided ADayInTheLimelight to supporting characters or villains. As time passed, other titles such as ''Peter Parker: Spider-Man'', ''The Sensational Spider-Man'', ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' also took over as sister titles, as did some miniseries and AlternateUniverse spinoffs. These titles also came to acquire significant prestige in their own right with many iconic stories first featured there, and a story-arc that takes place across all monthly titles, which first happened in 1987, became a regular occurrence in later years.

* '''ComicBook/LeeDitkoSpiderMan''' (1962-1966) -- The original run of Spider-Man by its co-creators has many of the most iconic and often reproduced elements of the entire mythos. This includes ''Amazing Fantasy #15'', Spider-Man's iconic OriginsEpisode originally published in the last issue of an anthology comic but an immediate success and hit. The iconic cover by Creator/JackKirby, the art by Creator/SteveDitko and Creator/StanLee's dialogues created one of the greatest stories, with a fable like simplicity about how Peter's life goes on a rollercoaster from nobody to somebody and then comes crashing down when tragedy strikes him. The success of this story led to Spidey's flagship title, ''Amazing Spider-Man #1-38.'' It featured the first and seminal appearances of many classic Spider-Man villains, Spider-Man's supporting cast, and showing the character growing and maturing almost in real time from high school student to college student which happened in what's considered the masterpiece of this era, ''If This Be My Destiny'', aka the Master Planner arc.

* '''Lee and Romita Sr's Spider-Man''' (1966-1972) -- John Romita Sr. took over Ditko's role as artist and plotter after he left. As in the case of Ditko, the works were in the Marvel Method and Lee adapted himself to Romita Sr's strength and wavelength (i.e. romance comics) albeit Lee also took a more stronger hand in this time owing to the latter's unfamiliarity with plotting out stories by himself. Comprising Issues #39-110, this marked the end of Creator/StanLee's involvement with the regular Spider-Man continuity, he would contribute to the ComicStrip/SpiderMan newspaper strip (and indeed write far more for that then he ever did in the main comics). This era codified Peter Parker's dominant comic look, crystallized his supporting-cast (Harry Osborn as his best friend, Flash Thompson as VitriolicBestBuds) and the BreakoutCharacter that is Mary Jane Watson, as well as ComicBook/TheKingpin.

** Romita Sr. initially tried to be consistent with Ditko's art-style. It was with ''Issues 42-44'' however, which had ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson's first appearance that Romita really established the new style. Spider-Man would no longer be the story of just Peter Parker and his closed world as in the Lee-Ditko era but it would now encompass a regular supporting cast, love triangles, and a more social and less hostile atmosphere. In short, Spider-Man would be LighterAndSofter and later Spider-Man runs often [[NostalgiaFilter celebrated this college era as a time of innocence and sweetness]] embodied by the LoveTriangle of Peter, Mary Jane, and Gwen Stacy, he latter of whom became Peter's FirstLove. However, [[UnbuiltTrope this is only the most famous part]].
** ''Spider-Man No More'': Spider-Man's 50th Issue is legendary for its famous cover and for its single panel splash image of Peter throwing his costume in trash as he walks away (recreated in ''Film/SpiderMan2'' among other places). It also featured the first appearance of the Kingpin, who in time would become the major crime boss of the Marvel Universe menacing Spider-Man, the Punisher, and especially Daredevil. Not able to take the stress of being Spider-Man, Peter decides to quit once and for all. Unfortunately the costume he dumps in the trash reaches Jonah who prints it on the front page. News of Spider-Man quitting electrifies the underworld starting a crime-wave which the Kingpin exploits to finally become ruler of the criminal underworld.
** ''The Death of Captain George Stacy'': The first major CharacterDeath since ''Amazing Fantasy #15'' albeit overshadowed by the one that came after that. It happened in Issues #88-90 and its fallout shaped the end of the era. Doctor Octopus escapes and holds a plane hostage but after a confrontation with Spider-Man he flees. A tense battle takes place across New York between the foes. While fighting on a rooftop, Spider-Man pours chemicals on Ock's arms that short-circuit it and drive it out of control making it knock a chimney. The rubble would have hit a nearby child but Captain George Stacy pushes the kid away at the cost of his life. He dies, but not before telling Peter that he knows his secret identity, while asking him to look after Gwen.

** The other notable element of the Lee-Romita era was the decision to start including greater diversity. Issue #51 saw the introduction of Joe "Robbie" Robertson, the first and still the most notable and important African-American supporting character in the series, who was the HypercompetentSidekick to Jonah and in the course of the series would become another important ParentalSubstitute and mentor to Peter Parker. The other major character was [[ComicBook/ProwlerMarvelComics the Prowler]], aka Hobie Brown, a small time hood who Spider-Man converts into an ally and friend. In Issue #87, the Prowler became the first character other than Peter to wear ''the'' Spider-Man outfit (no costume replicas), and certainly the first POC to do so. When Creator/BrianMichaelBendis created ComicBook/MilesMorales, Spider-Man's most prominent AffirmativeActionLegacy character, he made his character's ArchEnemy into Prowler II, Aaron Davis, in allusion to the original Hobie (whose heroic aspect was given to Jefferson and Miles Morales).

* '''Creator/GerryConway's Spider-Man''' (1972-1975) -- Stan Lee was followed by Gerry Conway, a former fan turned writer who at the age of 18-19 had the daunting task of stepping in Stan Lee's foot-steps. Where Lee worked via the Marvel Method, Conway had a strong voice as writer and while working with artists it was his views and ideas that really made it to the story. As such he's seen by some as Spider-Man's first actual writer in the traditional sense. He wrote issues 110-149, nearly the same amount of issues that Ditko did, and in many ways the issues were just as important and defining for stories going forward. Conway introduced a slew of iconic characters and concepts -- Hammerhead, The Punisher (who ultimately became his own sub-franchise), the Jackal, and the now-infamous Spider-Mobile.
** ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied'' -- Conway's most important contribution. A landmark story that ended the Silver Age of Comics, published in 1973. Peter Parker's life had settled down a bit. He was in a steady relationship with Gwen, and started getting some respect from the people around him but there was that snag. Norman Osborn was part of his supporting cast, demoted to an amnesiac lame dad for most of the previous run (save the drug issue) but a walking time bomb waiting to go off as far as Peter was concerned. For issues 121-122, Osborn relapsed into the Green Goblin and decided to hurt Spider-Man again, and then he just happened to run into Gwen Stacy... leading to a confrontation atop the George Washington Bridge. Spider-Man arrives, just in the nick of time, like the song goes... except this time he ''doesn't'' save the victim. Gwen Stacy dies. ''Never'' before had a superhero failed like this. This also resulted in the first major fan backlash among Spider-Man readers and arguably the first real fan controversy about a superhero storyline ever.
** ''The First Clone Saga'' -- Conway's other lasting contribution, including the elevation of Mary Jane Watson as Spider-Man's long-term LoveInterest. His run documented the slow maturity of MJ, and Peter's growing feelings for her, with the two falling in love with each other around the time of the major story that closed Conway's original run, which Conway created as a response to the Gwen Stacy backlash and as a {{Bookend}} to his major story. A clone of Gwen returns to Peter's life just when he and MJ are moving on. This tests their bond and feelings but in the course of a crazy mind-bending adventure that somehow combines the Silver and Bronze Age (intense scenes of longing, grief, and guilt mixed with goofy confrontation with villains in empty stadiums), Peter realizes that he's no longer the same man who fell for Gwen. He goes back to Mary Jane and the two of them commit to their love for each other at the end of ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #149. Conway's final run is by and large considered the end of Spider-Man's ComingOfAgeStory from teenager to man (what with the final panel implying that he crossed the final [[SexAsARiteOfPassage rite of passage]]).
** ''ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan'' (1976) -- After completing his run, Conway wrote and edited the first ever inter-company non-continuity crossover, where Spider-Man and Superman fight and team up against Luthor and Doc Ock. At the end, Peter, Clark, MJ and Lois go on a double date. The story confirmed Spider-Man's status as one of the big three, or rather big two[[note]]At that time Superman was more popular than Batman. Spider-Man is granted equal stature in this comic, whereas Batman was still treated as second banana in Superman team-ups, a situation which Creator/FrankMiller overturned later[[/note]].

* '''''Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man''''': The title "''The Spectacular Spider-Man''" was originally used for a short-lived magazine in late 1968, in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of ''Amazing'' during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, dropping the "Peter Parker" portion with #134 {January 1988}; Volume 2 lasted from 2003 -- 2005; and Volume 3 -- with the re-added "Peter Parker" prefix -- from 2017 -- 2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title, but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which were often innovative. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79), which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, getting Black Cat injured in the process; the battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. Another notable issue is when Peter revealed his identity to Black Cat, to her consternation that her supposed "idealized match" was a simple guy from Queens. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on ''Spectacular'' include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrated as a proving ground.

* '''Creator/RogerStern's Spider-Man''' (1981-1984) : Roger Stern originally worked on the smaller, character-centric ''Spectacular'' title before taking over ''Amazing''. He had contributed a fill-in issue (#206) between Wolfman and O'Neill's runs, but officially took over from #224 onwards. His run is notable for pitting Spider-Man [[RoguesGalleryTransplant against other villains in the Marvel Universe]], including the Foolkiller (an enemy of ComicBook/TheDefenders), the Juggernaut (from the ComicBook/XMen) Mr. Hyde (an enemy of ComicBook/TheAvengers) and The Mad Thinker (an enemy of ComicBook/FantasticFour). He also outlined the origin of the Vulture, introduced the Felicia and Peter romance, and brought Mary Jane back to the regular continuity, dropping the first hints of her backstory (which Stern conceptualized and outlined):
** ''Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut'' (Issue #229-230): One of the greatest battle issues and fights in Spider-Man's career. The Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy hunt for Madame Web, with Marko causing destruction along the path. Spider-Man does his best to halt him and save Madame Web's life.
** ''The Hobgoblin'' (ASM #238-251): A StoryArc the sustained the closing issues of Stern's run, featuring the major signature villain that Stern created. Low-rent hood Georgie Hill stumbles onto one of Norman Osborn's hideouts across the city, alerting his unseen and mysterious partner about his findings. Said partner kills Georgie and, over the issues, steadily hijacks Osborn's gear and resources to make himself the Hobgoblin as authorities and Spider-Man try and solve his identity. Stern decided to quit before revealing the Hobgoblin's secret, starting a problem for the character under later writers that resulted in a mess that would not be resolved until Stern returned in in TheNineties to write ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' [[note]]According to Stern, he told [=DeFalco=] that it was Roderick Kingsley, but the latter and other writers were disappointed by the culprit's identity and so they, with Stern's half-hearted consent, milked and spun wheels within the mystery until the story became confusing, waiting for him to return later and fix it.[[/note]]
** ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man'': A small side story published in a single issue (''Amazing'' #248), it ended up over-shadowing the A-Story and is celebrated as one of the most humanistic and stirring moments in the entire mythos. Spidey visits one of his young fans and just spends time chatting, even revealing himself as Peter Parker and explaining his origins to a total stranger. It's only at the end that we learn that the boy is a LittlestCancerPatient with days left to live, wishing to meet his hero before he passed on. Notably, the story was adapted for ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', with the patient being {{Gender Flip}}ped.

* '''Creator/TomDeFalco's Spider-Man''' (1984-1987): [=DeFalco=] originally served as an editor to Stern, before succeeding him as writer and worked with Ron Frenz (who also collaborated with Stern, most notably on ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man'') on an extended run. The period of this run was affected by editors such as Jim Owsley (better known as Creator/ChristopherPriestComics, more celebrated for his work on ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'') and EIC Creator/JimShooter. Working with artist Ron Frenz, Defalco's biggest contributions are #257-259, the storylines expanding on Mary Jane's past and backstory (revealing that she was Peter's SecretSecretKeeper for some time) and making her Peter's confidant and best friend. He also incorporated Spider-Man's major costume change, starting ''The Alien Costume Saga''. He and later writers would make this costume into a symbiote that was attempting to permanently merge with Peter. He also co-created Silver Sable in this time, who would become a Spider-Man fixture and spinoff character in her own right. Also notable is the battle issue with Firelord, the herald of Galactus, and a story that expanded on the backstory of Crusher Hogan, the wrestler Peter fought in AF #15. [=DeFalco=] and Frenz were abruptly removed from the title before the end of their run, with many loose threads and elements halted in place, most notably the Hobgoblin mystery which Defalco had inherited from Stern and whose wheels he had been carefully spinning. Instead, Jim Owsley, through his one-shot ''Spider-Man V. Wolverine'' and ''Gang War'', randomly revealed the Hobgoblin's identity to be Ned Leeds, to the confusion of Peter, the fandom, and fellow writers. This created a mess that would only be resolved when Creator/RogerStern completed his ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' miniseries in TheNineties. A year or so later, [=DeFalco=] took over as EIC, a position he would occupy until the Mid-90s, ending when he oversaw the Clone Saga. He continued with the Spider-books afterwards for a time, working on ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl''.

** '''The Death of Jean [=DeWolff=]''': Published in ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #107-110, the story arc finds Spider-Man's friend, police captain Jean [=DeWolff=], murdered in her apartment. The hunt for [=DeWolff=]'s murderer becomes the impetus for an exploration of [[WhatIsEvil moral relativism]] among superheroes, the [[OffOnATechnicality flaws of the criminal justice system]], the [[{{Revenge}} desire for vengeance]], and the clash of values between the idealistic Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} and the pragmatic Spider-Man. This was Creator/PeterDavid's first professional ComicBook writing assignment, and is noted for subverting the comic-book stereotype of HeroicSacrifice in character deaths. Likewise, it made Daredevil and Spider-Man comrades in the superhero community, with both of them learning the other's identity in the course of the story.

* '''David Michelinie's Spider-Man''': Fresh off his extended run on ''ComicBook/IronMan'', Michelinie, who worked on the then-new ''Web of Spider-Man'', was handed the keys to the kingdom starting with ''Amazing'' #290. His run on the title lasted until ''Amazing'' #388, and coupled with his earlier issues on ''Web of Spider-Man'', Michelinie ended up breaking Stan Lee's record as the writer of the most Spider-Man stories, a position he held until Dan Slott's tenure. Michelinie's run also marked a new trend in Spider-Man titles. Before, writers had short runs and short periods, but afterwards Marvel preferred writers to work extensively on one title, setting the pattern for Michelinie, JMS and Dan Slott. His run is most notable for his collaborations with artists (and future Creator/ImageComics founders) Creator/ToddMcFarlane and Erik Larsen (of ''ComicBook/SavageDragon'' fame), as well as for introducing characters like ComicBook/{{Venom}} and others. His run also saw many events overlapping with his title.
** '''The Spider-Marriage''': The biggest change in Spider-Man's continuity since Issue #28 (when Peter graduated from high school) happened when Peter got married to his long-time love interest Mary Jane Watson. This marked the start of an extended run on the title by David Michelinie who took over from Issue #290 and whose run on the title lasted until Issue #388. Michelinie wrote "The Big Question", the three-part issues (#290-#292) that showed Peter proposing to MJ a second time, her initial rejection, their adventure in MJ's hometown dealing with her sister Gail and her father Philip, and MJ finally saying "Yes" after a confrontation with a Spider-Slayer. This was followed by "The Wedding" (''Amazing'' Annual #21). At a convention Stan Lee and EIC Jim Shooter had been asked by fans if they would have Peter get married to Mary Jane (referring to the newspaper continuity where the two were long the OfficialCouple as opposed to the regular continuity which stuck to a permanent melodrama and rotating love-interest model). Lee, crowd-pleaser that he was, shrugged and said he was okay with it, and Shooter, having been put on the spot, said he was okay with it too. The response was picked up by the media and it was widely popular among fans and general readers, including those who had long given up on reading Spider-Man in the regular continuity for years having grown tired of the StaticCharacter nature of his stories[[note]]Both Shooter and Lee hashed out a plan immediately for the big event to coincide together. For brand reasons, Shooter felt that having Peter Parker marry in the newspaper strip and not in the regular continuity, with the former having a general readership beyond comics fans at the time and Lee's own name, potentially delegitimized the regular continuity and led to Marvel losing a major coup with the first major superhero wedding ever (at a time when Superman and Batman in their main continuities were still single). Besides it was also a very popular decision among fans since this was a major status-quo they wanted but it was polarizing among writers and regular comics readers (a smaller number in terms of demographics but more regular and reliable in the long run).[[/note]]. So the marriage had to happen in the regular continuity, even if Peter and MJ at this time were friends with strong feelings for one another but also hesitant about starting a relationship again leave alone a marriage. The result was a series of issues in 1987 that saw MJ over three issues resolving her family baggage and saying yes to Peter followed by the famous Annual, published in 1987, plotted by Jim Shooter himself, scripted by David Michelinie, featuring cover art by John Romita Sr, and artwork by Paul Ryan[[note]]Not to be confused with the politician of the same name[[/note]].

** ''Venom'': This landmark StoryArc (beginning from ASM #299-300) introduced Spider-Man's third great ArchNemesis and the most influential Spider-Man villain since Creator/SteveDitko's departure. The Symbiote that Spider-Man had driven away by exploiting its AchillesHeel, sonic attacks and loud noise in general, whereupon it merged with a reporter Eddie Brock who felt Spider-Man had wronged him and became the recurring villain Venom. Venom was a runaway hit but he went from villain to AntiHeroSubstitute, leading writers to create Venom's own Venom, leading to Carnage, who debuted in ASM #361, albeit his alter-ego Cletus Kasady had debuted in ASM #344.

** ''ComicBook/MaximumCarnage'': An event from 1993; Carnage recruits C-list villains into a LegionOfDoom, and Spidey recruits a number of heroes ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Venom]]) to stop them. Mainly of note for being the highest-selling multi-title comic series in History (displacing ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'') until ''Comicbook/CivilWar'' - the reason for such a large mega-run was summarized by writer/E.I.C. Tom [=DeFalco=] as being a test to see how a multi-title series would function in the Spidey-verse, something that was tried before, but with a much smaller cast.

* '''ComicBook/TheCloneSaga''' (1994-1996): Gerry Conway's original Clone Saga was an emotional roller-coaster and farewell to Gwen Stacy and the nostalgia she represented. That was what he intended at any rate and that was how it was received originally. But near the end of his story there was a bit where Spider-Man fought a clone of himself in a stadium and for a brief moment Peter had CloningBlues and readers wondered if [[OpeningACanOfClones the Peter we saw was the clone all along]][[note]]In the actual story, Peter reasons logically that since he's in love with MJ and the clones are fixated on Gwen Stacy and were created after Gwen's death, that meant he was the real deal, since if he was a clone he would be stuck in the past and not able to get over, grow and mature. A moment of emotional truth about the nature of CharacterDevelopment and not fixating on the past expressed in comic book metaphors, that unfortunately got lost in the shuffle of fan theories about logistics[[/note]]. Inspired by ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' and ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' stories which expressed a tragic attitude to its iconic heroes by temporarily removing them and replacing them with AntiHeroSubstitute, an attempt was made to give Spider-Man his own equivalent. It was also felt that this would be "back to basics" and temporary. Peter was now married and a new character could be the hip former single Spider-Man of the past and contrast with Peter's present. That was the original idea for a six month story. What followed, thanks to a period where marketing and merchandising was inspiring creative as well as a period of weak editorial oversight was a story stretched out for three years with endless backtracking, padding and spinning of wheels as Ben Reilly, Kaine, the Jackal (the villain of the original Saga who died at the end of it and was totally forgotten until the second one) returned to wreak havoc on Spider-Man's life along with a slew of characters that were hard to keep track off. Mary Jane also became pregnant, Aunt May died in ''Issue #400'' written by J. M. [=DeMatteis=] (which despite later retcons is still considered a classic story in its own right, and works as a standalone). Meanwhile, Marvel dropped the bombshell and triggered the second backlash in its creative history (the first being Gwen's death). The Spider-Man we'd been following for the past twenty years [[ActuallyADoombot was a clone]][[note]] Conway's response on this retcon from a story that hilariously misread his own story to start with: "When I did find the gist of the story, that the previous ten years of Spider-Man stories didn't happen, I thought, this is a wonderful thing for a writer, because it means when I left the title, the book stopped."[[/note]]. The response to this story (that the Spider-Man who fought the Juggernaut, romanced Black Cat, met the Kid who Collected Spider-Man, wore the Black Suit, grieved over the death of Captain [=DeWolff=], married MJ and survived Kraven and fought Venom and Carnage wasn't the real deal) was loud and negative. Even if Ben Reilly was positively received by some, the entire project fell apart and the whole thing was hastily undone through a series of {{retcon}}s and quietly swept under the rug -- with the main consequence that the original Green Goblin was [[BackFromTheDead back among the living]]. (Oh, and providing a possibly-dead baby to become ComicBook/SpiderGirl in an alternate timeline.) Aunt May also came back at the end.

* '''Post-Clone Saga''' (1996-2000): The immediate aftermath of the era saw writers trying to grapple with Norman Osborn returning to Spider-Man titles, while at the same time downplaying the events of the Clone Saga itself. A notable story in this period is ''Identity Crisis'' where Norman Osborn who has bought out the Daily Bugle and is now technically Peter's boss, frames Spider-Man for murder. To clear up his name and get payback, Peter, with the help of Mary Jane who designed the costumes, creates a new series of costumed alter-egos with power-sets that he can fake as Spider-Man -- Hornet, Prodigy, Dusk, Ricochet. These alter-egos in time actually became picked up and spun off into legacies in their own right. This period was also notable for a brief attempt at a ContinuityReboot SettingUpdate, John Byrne's ''ComicBook/SpiderManChapterOne'' which despite initial notices was quickly retconned and canceled over to fears that it was an attempt to replace the original story. It was followed by Howard Mackie's run which led to the brief death of Mary Jane Watson at the demand of editors, followed by Peter Parker at his lowest and most depressed period in his life. Green Goblin, the revived Norman Osborn decided to catch up and get his ArchEnemy mojo back in ''ComicBook/RevengeOfTheGreenGoblin'' by Roger Stern, a bleak, angsty and violent story where the Goblin tortures and gaslights Peter Parker into becoming his heir only for him to refuse. Near the end Mary Jane was alive after all and she and Peter returned, but the trauma of her period of captivity and resulting PTSD leads her and Peter to separate for a brief period. She would leave New York and go to LA and recover in the meantime. In 2000, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis wrote ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' another attempt at a ''Chapter One'' SettingUpdate but this one proved popular and influential, starting the ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' sub-franchise which dominated the turn of the millennium.

* '''ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan'''(2001-2008): Creator/JMichaelStraczynski took over from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 #30 and would continue a run that lasted for 7 years, the longest since David Michelinie. He introduced a series of new concepts and ideas. Namely the MythArc of the Spider-Totem, which was unfurled in the opening "Coming Home" storyline that pitched Spider-Man against Morlun, his new villain who was tougher, relentless, and mysterious than many of the villains Spider-Man was used to. Peter also became a high school teacher in this time, returning to his original roots but now from the other side and often spending much of his time helping students and others in the friendly neighborhood even as his stories started flirting with MagicRealism. He also wrote the ''9/11 response issue'' in ASM-36, V2 (which became famous for the entirely black cover by John Romita Jr). His run became celebrated for "The Conversation" (ASM-38), the comic where Aunt May after discovering Peter is Spider-Man finally has a heart to heart talk with her nephew about the lies he has told her since the age of 15 (which much like the retconned Aunt May death issue[[note]]where it was revealed she knew Peter was Spider-Man all along and intended as such in that story[[/note]] is still considered a classic). In Issue #50, Spider-Man and MJ reunite and commit to their relationship again. His later run was affected by a series of stories by other writers, such as Spider-Man officially becoming an Avenger, and having his identity revealed to the world in ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' by Mark Millar which revealed Spider-Man's identity to the world and the consequences of that story led to ''Back in Black'' where Spider-Man and his family became outlaws on the lam. His run ended with ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' (co-written by EIC Joe Quesada who wrote the final two issues) which sparked the third major backlash of Spider-Man history culminating in the end of the Spider-Marriage via an editorially mandated DealWithTheDevil. Supplementing the main series were other storylines in satellite titles:
** ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' by Paul Jenkins, was the second volume of the longest lasting second series which lasted until 2005. Jenkins' important stories include his villain Fusion who is angered by Spider-Man out of MisplacedRetribution. He also wrote flashback issues showing Uncle Ben's backstory, as well as one-shots such as "Read 'Em and Weep" which involves Spider-Man meeting other superheroes on poker-night. ''A Death in the Family'' was also a notable Green Goblin and Spider-Man story, being a sequel to the Revenge of the Green Goblin story.

** ''ComicBook/ThePulse'' and ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' by Creator/BrianMichaelBendis involved Spider-Man joining the Avengers for the first time in his publication history. Jessica Jones at the same time gets involved with the Daily Bugle's new supplement "The Pulse" and her first big scoop involves teaming up with Luke Cage and Spidey to take down Norman Osborn and put him in prison for the first time in his 40 year real-time publication history. A decision which would ultimately lead to Norman becoming a Marvel wide villain.
** ''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' by Mark Millar. A 12 issue series that has Peter, Aunt May and MJ engage in a conspiracy headed by the imprisoned Norman Osborn, his catspaw Mac Gargan, several other rogues, and maybe a sinister cabal of businessmen who fund supervillains to keep Spider-Man from going after white collar crime. Maybe. MK was later converted into ''The Sensational Spider-Man'' volume 2 briefly written by Reggie Hudlin followed later by Robert Aguirre-Sacassia who wrote from #32-40 tying in to the Civil War and Back in Black era in particular. ''Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1'' ("To Have and to Hold") was written by Creator/MattFraction, being a coda about Peter and Mary Jane's marriage and its history and legacy.

* '''ComicBook/BrandNewDay''' (2008-2010): The era immediately following OMD was headed by a team of writers (Dan Slott, Marc Guggenheim, Creator/MarkWaid, Fred van Lente, Bob Gale, Zeb Wells). The decision was taken to cancel the second series (Sensational Spider-Man and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) and instead publish ASM three times a month. Different writers would rotate and contribute different arcs and stories. Important developments in this time was the introduction of new members to Peter's supporting cast -- Lilly Hollister, Norah Winters, Carlie Cooper, and J. Jonah Jameson Sr. (Flat Top's Dad, and the future Mr. Aunt May, which meant that Peter and Jonah were officially related, to their mutual chagrin). New villains introduced are Screwball, Mr. Negative, Jackpot, Menace, Overdrive. Other important developments are Flash Thompson whose origins were now retconned, changing him from a Vietnam veteran to a veteran of the Iraq War and a paraplegic, setting the foundation for his conversion to Agent Venom. Notable stories include Mark Waid's "Unscheduled Stop" (ASM #578-579) and Dan Slott's "New Ways to Die", "The Gauntlet and Grim Hunt" which saw the resurrection of Kraven the Hunter, several classic rogues returning in a DarkerAndEdgier fashion, as well as a revival of the Sinister Six led by a Doctor Octopus whose body was now decaying, driving him to go postal. The retcon of the removal of the marriage led to Mary Jane being PutOnABus for some 40 odd issues (the second time following the Wolfman-O'Neill era), and the mechanics of the new status-quo was explained in ''ComicBook/OneMomentInTime'' by Creator/JoeQuesada. By the end of this era, many of the original writers moved on to other projects, while Dan Slott was given the go-ahead to become the main writer of ASM. Another notable feature was Creator/StanLee writing back-up stories -- "Spidey Super Sundays" (art by Marcos Martin) which were non-canon short strips printed as a backup feature (and later printed as a separate volume collecting all of it). These stories often had Lee making jokes about the ambiguity of Spider-Man's continuity and its many changes.

* '''ComicBook/DanSlottSpiderMan''' (2010-2018): Writing bi-monthly, Dan Slott ultimately became the major writer of Spider-Man and with more than 200+issues on Spider-Man in main titles, secondary titles, mini-series and other stuff, he has become ''the most'' Spider-Man writer ever on 616. His arc began with "Big Time", which saw Peter join Horizon Labs and work as a scientist under Max Modell. Slott followed this up with a number of event stories, including ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'', an event story from 2011 which spanned all of the ongoing Spider-Man satellite books as well as much of the Marvel Universe. The aftermath saw Kaine acquire his own ongoing book series (''Scarlet Spider''). This was followed by ''Ends of the Earth'' and ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'', a 2012-2014 Spider-Man event that saw Peter Parker disappear from his own title for the longest gap in his history. This was followed by the ''Worldwide'' arc which saw Peter Parker elevated to a rich businessman. Following that, there was ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' where Spider-Man teams up with many, ''many'' other people with Spider-powers as well as AlternateUniverse counterparts of himself in order to stop a danger that threatens them all. Features massive amount of ContinuityPorn as Spider-Men from previous AU storylines (such as ComicBook/TheCloneSaga and ComicBook/HouseOfM), Spider-themed spin-off books, '''ComicBook/WhatIf''' one-shots and from animated adaptations. Slott ended his run with ''ComicBook/GoDownSwinging'' published in 2018, stopping at Issue #801.

** Creator/GerryConway, Spider-Man veteran, likewise returned with ''Spiral'' printed as a limited series that serves as a LowerDeckEpisode to Slott's Worldwide arc (printed as ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #16.1, 17.1, 18.1, 19.1, 20.1), that focused on Spider-Man's relationship with Captain Yuri Watanabe as they investigate and cover a gang war, a storyline that was ultimately adapted in part for the DLC of ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4''.
** Nick Spencer also wrote the highly popular cult series ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' to show the LowerDeckEpisode of Spider-Man's RoguesGallery. Eventually Spencer would succeed Slott [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan at the end of 2018 as the mainline Spider-Man writer]].

* '''ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan''': Following on from Slott's extended run. Spencer's first story arc promised "Back to Basics" with Peter Parker downgraded back to graduate student after a plagiarism scandal undoes some of his recent successes, though Peter acknowledges that said successes were unearned. Spencer also reignited the Peter and Mary Jane love story in the mainline continuity after a ten year absence (the longest period in which Peter and Mary Jane were apart after they started dating in earnest in the Conway era). A new mysterious villain, and a story-arc dealing with Boomerang, a villain Spencer had touched on in his ''Superior Foes'' series forms the focus of the initial arc. 2019 introduces ''ComicBook/{{Hunted}}'', Spencer's first event.

* Following Zdarsky's success on Spectacular Spider-Man, Marvel stated that it continue its commitment to the second series, with ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'', a title that had last been written by Peter David during the JMS era, revived under Tom Taylor starting from 2019. Meanwhile Spider-Man's legacy characters will continue their adventures under new teams, with Creator/SaladinAhmed writing ''ComicBook/MilesMoralesSpiderMan'' and Christos Gage writing the sequel series to ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan''.

** After OMD, Peter and MJ were on the outs. She moved on and developed a relationship with others while Peter wasn't ready to move on. Peter eventually decided to start a relationship with Carlie Cooper, while MJ started to reevaluate her feelings for Peter and eventually came to the realization that she still loved him during ''Spider-Island''. The pair slowly tried getting back together, only for the events of ''Superior Spider-Man'' to drive them apart again. After Peter got his body back, MJ had already moved on and started a relationship with another man before again flirting with each during "Go Down Swinging" until she saw his Spider-Man outfit, but they are back in Nick Spencer's run.

----

** ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man'': A small side story published in a single issue (''Amazing'' #248), it ended up over-shadowing the A-Story and is celebrated as one of the most humanistic and stirring moments in the entire mythos. Spidey visits one of his young fans and just spends time chatting, even revealing himself as Peter Parker and explaining his origins to a total stranger. It's only at the end that we learn that the boy is a LittlestCancerPatient with days left to live, wishing to meet his hero before he passed on. Notably, the story was adapted for ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'', with the patient being {{Gender Flip}}ed.

* '''ComicBook/SecretWars1984''' : This landmark first crossover event had Spider-Man play a major role in it. Tie-in issues by Roger Stern leading-in and leading-out of the event proved to be his final issues, while plot threads dealing with its major developments became the opening story arc of the succeeding run. The Beyonder plucks Spider-Man and other heroes by drawing them to the sheep farm in Central Park where an alien construct and transporter takes them to the edge of the galaxy to Battleworld. Spider-Man and his rogues Dr. Octopus and the Lizard feature in the story. After one major fight with supervillains maxes out his web-shooters and tears his costume, Spider-Man goes to a secret room in the conquered Doombase, where a machine in response to his desire to fix his costume drops a black goo instead. This ends up covering Spider-Man completely and changing his outfit into an all-black outfit with a giant white spider, and also unlimited webbing. The symbiote was originally a proposed new costume design pitched by a fan, which EIC (and writer of Secret Wars), Creator/JimShooter purchased, and since ''Secret Wars'' was a merch-driven tie-in, having Spider-Man get a new costume made sense. The actual nature of the Symbiote, its mysterious powers and origins would become the major StoryArc of Spider-Man titles for the next 15 years or so.

* '''Creator/TomDeFalco's Spider-Man''' (1984-1987): [=DeFalco=] originally served as an editor to Stern, before succeeding him as writer and worked with Ron Frenz (who also collaborated with Stern, most notably on ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man'') on an extended run. The period of this run was affected by editors such as Jim Owsley (better known as Creator/ChristopherPriestComics more celebrated for his work on ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'') and EIC Creator/JimShooter. Working with artist Ron Frenz, Defalco's biggest contributions are #257-259, the storylines expanding on Mary Jane's past and backstory (revealing that she was Peter's SecretSecretKeeper for some time now) and making her Peter's confidant and best friend. He also incorporated the major costume change in Spider-Man, starting ''The Alien Costume Saga''. Eventually later writers would make this costume into a symbiote who was attempting to permanently merge with Peter. He also co-created Silver Sable in this time, who would become a Spider-Man fixture and spinoff character in her own right. Also notable is the battle issue with Firelord, the herald of Galactus, and a story that expanded on the backstory of Crusher Hogan, the wrestler Peter fought in AF #15. [=DeFalco=] and Frenz were abruptly removed from the title before the end of their run, with many loose threads and elements halted in place. Most notably the Hobgoblin mystery which Defalco had inherited from Stern and whose wheels he had been carefully spinning only for editor Jim Owsley in his one-shot stories (''Spider-Man V. Wolverine'' #1 and ''Gang War'') to randomly reveal that it was Ned Leeds to the confusion of Peter, the fandom, and fellow writers, creating a mess that would only be resolved when Creator/RogerStern completed his ''Hobgoblin Lives'' miniseries in TheNineties. A year or so later however, [=DeFalco=] took over as EIC, taking over from Shooter in 1987, a position he would occupy until the Mid-90s ending when he oversaw the Clone Saga, and continuing after that by working on ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl''.

** '''The Commuter Commuteth''': A fill in-issue published during Defalco-Frenz's run (Amazing Spider-Man #267), this is still the iconic Spider-Man outside Manhattan story whose gimmick, i.e. New York suburbs don't have the high buildings that are easy for web-swinging, was adapted scene-for-scene in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming''.
** '''The Death of Jean [=DeWolff=]''': which was published in ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' between Issues 107-110 in 1986 when Spider-Man's friend, police captain Jean [=DeWolff=], was found murdered in her apartment. The hunt for [=DeWolff=]'s murderer becomes the impetus for an exploration of [[WhatIsEvil moral relativism]] among superheroes, the [[OffOnATechnicality flaws of the criminal justice system]], the [[{{Revenge}} desire for vengeance]], and the clash of values between the idealistic Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} and the pragmatic Spider-Man. This was Creator/PeterDavid's first professional ComicBook writing assignment, and is noted for subverting the comic-book stereotype of HeroicSacrifice in character deaths. Likewise, it made Daredevil and Spider-Man comrades in the superhero community, with both of them learning the other's identity in the course of the story.

* '''David Michelinie's Spider-Man''': Fresh of his extended run on ''ComicBook/IronMan'', Michelinie who worked on ''Web of Spider-Man'' was handed the keys to the kingdom starting his run from ASM #290. His run on the title lasted until ASM #388, and coupled with his earlier issues on Web of Spider-Man, allowed Michelinie to break Stan Lee's record as the writer of most Spider-Man stories, a position he held until Dan Slott's tenure. Michelinie's run also marked a new trend in Spider-Man titles. Before writers had short runs and short periods, but afterwards, Marvel preferred writers to work extensively on a title, setting the pattern for Michelinie, JMS and Dan Slott. His run is most notable for his collaborations with artists, and future Creator/ImageComics founders, Creator/ToddMcFarlane and Erik Larsen (of ComicBook/SavageDragon fame), as well as for introducing characters like ComicBook/{{Venom}} and others. His run also saw many event overlapping with and filling in his title.
** '''The Spider-Marriage''': The biggest change in Spider-Man's continuity since Issue #28 (when Peter graduated from high school) happened when Peter got married to his long-time love interest Mary Jane Watson. This marked the start of an extended run on the title by David Michelinie who took over from Issue #290 and whose run on the title lasted until Issue #388. Michelinie wrote "The Big Question", the three-part issues (#290-#292) that showed Peter proposing to MJ a second time, her initial rejection, their adventure in MJ's hometown dealing with her sister Gail and her father Philip, and after a confrontation with a Spider-Slayer, MJ says "Yes". This was followed by ''The Wedding (The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21)''. At a convention Stan Lee and EIC Jim Shooter had been asked by fans if they would have Peter get married to Mary Jane (referring to the newspaper continuity where the two were long the OfficialCouple as opposed to the regular continuity which stuck to a permanent melodrama and rotating love-interest model). Lee, crowd-pleaser that he was shrugged and said he was okay with it, and Shooter having been put on the spot said he was okay with it too. The response was picked up by the media and it was widely popular among fans and general readers, including those who had long given up on reading Spider-Man in the regular continuity for years having grown tired of the StaticCharacter nature of his stories[[note]]Both Shooter and Lee hashed out a plan immediately for the big event to coincide together. For brand reasons, Shooter felt that having Peter Parker marry in the newspaper strip and not in the regular continuity, with the former having a general readership beyond comics fans at the time and Lee's own name, potentially delegitimized the regular continuity and led to Marvel losing a major coup with the first major superhero wedding ever (at a time when Superman and Batman in their main continuities were still single). Besides it was also a very popular decision among fans since this was a major status-quo they wanted but it was polarizing among writers and regular comics readers (a smaller number in terms of demographics but more regular and reliable in the long run).[[/note]]. So the marriage had to happen in the regular continuity, even if Peter and MJ at this time were friends with strong feelings for one another but also hesitant about starting a relationship again leave alone a marriage. The result was a series of issues in 1987 that saw MJ over three issues resolving her family baggage and saying yes to Peter followed by the famous Annual, published in 1987, plotted by Jim Shooter himself, scripted by David Michelinie, featuring cover art by John Romita Sr, and artwork by Paul Ryan[[note]]Not to be confused with the politician of the same name[[/note]].

* '''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man''': The latter part of the title was originally the title for a short-lived magazine in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of ''Amazing'' during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, Volume 2 from 2003 -- 2005, and Volume 3, from 2017 -- 2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer in the pages of Spectacular during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which often had innovative layouts and stories. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79) which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, during which Black Cat would get injured, the battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. Another notable issue is when Peter revealed his identity to her to her consternation that her idealized match was a simple guy from Queens. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on Spectacular include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrated as a proving ground.

* '''Dennis O'Neill's Spider-Man''' (1980-1981) : A brief run of 16 issues between ASM #207-223, O'Neill (known for his work on ''Franchise/{{Batman}}''), moved Peter Parker to the Daily Globe a rival of the Bugle and shuffled his regular cast. His run is mainly notable for introducing the villains Hydro Man and Calypso, as well as Madame Web, a blind psychic who would in later stories and adaptations become an occult center in Spider-Man's mythos.

* '''Creator/RogerStern's Spider-Man''' (1981-1984) : Roger Stern originally worked on the smaller character-centric ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' before taking over the main title. He had contributed a fill-in issue (206) between Wolfman and O'Neill's run but officially took over from ASM #224 onwards. His run is notable for pitting Spider-Man [[RoguesGalleryTransplant against other villains in the Marvel Universe]], including the Foolkiller (an enemy of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders''), the Juggernaut (from the ''ComicBook/XMen'') Mr. Hyde (an enemy of ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'') and The Mad Thinker (an enemy of ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''). He also outlined the origin of the Vulture, introduced the Felicia and Peter romance, as well as bringing Mary Jane back to the regular continuity and dropping the first hints of her backstory (which Stern conceptualized and outlined):
** ''Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut'' (Issue #229-230): One of the greatest battle issues and fights in Spider-Man's career. The Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy hunt for Madame Web with Marko causing destruction along the path. Spider-Man does his best to halt him and save Madame Web's life.
** ''The Hobgoblin'' (ASM #238-251): A StoryArc the sustained the closing issues of Stern's run featuring the major signature villain that Stern created. A low-rent hood Georgie Hill stumbles on to one of Norman Osborn's hideouts across the city, alerting his unseen and mysterious partner about his findings. Said partner kills Georgie and over the issues, steadily hijacks Osborn's gear and resources to make himself the Hobgoblin as authorities and Spider-Man try and solve his identity. Stern decided to quit before revealing the Hobgoblin's secret, starting a problem for the character under later writers that resulted in a mess that would not be resolved until Stern returned in in TheNineties to write ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' [[note]]According to Stern, he told [=DeFalco=] that it was Roderick Kingsley but he and other writers were disappointed by the culprit's identity and so they, with Stern's half-hearted consent, milked and spun wheels within the mystery until the story became confusing waiting for him to return later and fix it[[/note]].
** ''The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man'': A small story published as a side-story in a single issue (''Amazing'' #248) it ended up over-shadowing the A-Story and celebrated as one of the most humanistic and stirring moments in the entire mythos where Spidey visits one of his fans and just spends time chatting, even revealing himself as Peter Parker and explaining his origins to a total stranger. It's only at the end that we learn that the boy is a LittlestCancerPatient with days left to live, wishing to meet his hero before he passed on.

** ''The Six Arms Saga'': Where Peter decides to go Spider-Man No More [[RunningGag one more time]] and creates a potion that removes his powers [[EpicFail only to give himself extra hands]]. This story is notable for introducing Morbius the Vampire and for taking place on ASM #100.
** The other notable element of the Lee-Romita era was the decision to start including greater diversity. Issue #51 saw the introduction of Robbie Robertson, the first and still the most notable and important African-American supporting character in the series, who was the HypercompetentSidekick to Jonah and in the course of the series would become another important ParentalSubstitute and mentor to Peter Parker. The other major character was [[ComicBook/ProwlerMarvelComics Prowler I]], aka Hobie Brown, a small time hood who Spider-Man converts into an ally and friend. The Prowler in Issue #87 became the first character other than Peter to wear the Spider-Man outfit, and certainly the first POC to do so. When Creator/BrianMichaelBendis created ComicBook/MilesMorales, Spider-Man's most prominent AffirmativeActionLegacy he made his character's ArchEnemy into Prowler II, Aaron Davis, in allusion to the original Hobie (whose heroic aspect was given to Jefferson and Miles Morales).

* '''Creator/GerryConway's Spider-Man''' (1972-1975) -- Stan Lee was followed by Gerry Conway, a former fan turned writer who at the age of 18-19 had the daunting task of stepping in Stan Lee's foot-steps. Where Lee worked via the Marvel Method, Conway had a strong voice as writer and while working with artists it was his views and ideas that really made it to the story. As such he's seen by some as Spider-Man's first actual writer in the traditional sense. He wrote 110-149 nearly the same amount of issues that Ditko did and in many ways just as important and defining for stories going forward. Conway introduced a slew of iconic characters and concepts -- Hammerhead, The Punisher (who ultimately became his own sub-franchise), the Jackal, the Spider-Mobile.
** ''ComicBook/TheNightGwenStacyDied'' -- Conway's most important contribution. A landmark story that ended the Silver Age of Comics, published in 1973. Peter Parker's life had settled down a bit. He was in a steady relationship with Gwen, and started getting some respect from the people around him but there was that snag. Norman Osborn was part of his supporting cast, demoted to an amnesiac lame dad for most of the previous run (save the drug issue) but a walking time bomb waiting to go off as far as Peter was concerned. In issue 121-122, Osborn relapsed into the Green Goblin and decided to hurt Spider-Man and then he just happened to run into Gwen Stacy and this led to a confrontation on the George Washington Bridge. Spider-Man arrives, just in the nick of time, like the song goes...except this time he ''doesn't''. Gwen Stacy dies. ''Never'' before had a superhero failed like this. This also resulted in the first major fan backlash among Spider-Man readers and arguably the first real fan controversy about a superhero storyline ever.
** ''The First Clone Saga'' -- Conway's other lasting contribution, is the elevation of Mary Jane Watson as Spider-Man's long-term LoveInterest. His run documented the slow maturity of MJ, and Peter's growing feelings for her, with the two falling in love with each other around the time of the major story that closed Conway's original run, which Conway created as a response to the Gwen Stacy backlash and as a {{Bookend}} to his major story. A clone of Gwen returns to Peter's life just when he and MJ are moving on. This tests their bond and feelings but in the course of a crazy mind-bending adventure that somehow combines the Silver and Bronze Age (intense scenes of longing, grief, and guilt mixed with goofy confrontation with villains in empty stadiums), Peter realizes that he's no longer the same man who fell for Gwen. He goes back to Mary Jane and the two of them at the close of Issue #149 commit to their love for each other. Conway's final run is often considered a kind of ending to ''Spider-Man'' since it marked the end of his ComingOfAgeStory from teenager to man (what with the final panel implying that he crossed the final [[SexAsARiteOfPassage rite of passage]]).
** ''ComicBook/SupermanVsTheAmazingSpiderMan'' (1976) -- After completing his run, Conway wrote and edited the first ever inter-company non-continuity crossover where Spider-Man and Superman fight, team up against Luthor and Doc Ock and at the end, Peter, Clark, MJ and Lois go on a double date. The story confirmed Spider-Man's status as one of the big three, or rather big two[[note]]At that time Superman was more popular than Batman, Spider-Man is granted equal stature in this comic whereas Batman in Superman team-ups was still treated as second banana, a situation which Creator/FrankMiller overturned later[[/note]].

* '''Len Wein and Marv Wolfman's Spider-Man''' (1976-1980): A slew of writers took over from Conway, including Archie Goodwin (who wrote Issue #150) before Len Wein started an extended run followed in turn by Marv Wolfman. Most of Conway's story threads and plots carried forward. Important changes in this period was the wedding of Ned Leeds and Betty Brant (where Peter and MJ served as respectively Best Man and Maid of Honor), Aunt May's unexpected flirtation with Civil Rights Activism and Elderly rights, and other melodramatic turns. Wolfman wanting to shake the title up, saw fit to end the Peter and MJ romance by having Peter propose to her and having MJ turning it down as a ShipSinking (in Issue #182). The couple broke up in Issue #192 (exactly 100 issues before she and Peter would get engaged and married for real). The important landmark issue is Issue #200 where Peter confronts the Burglar who escaped from prison and achieves a measure of catharsis over Uncle Ben's death. Also important is the first appearance of Felicia Hardy, aka ''ComicBook/BlackCat'', who would go on to be Peter's third great romance.

* '''The Spectacular Spider-Man''': This was originally the title for a short-lived magazine in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of Amazing during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, Volume 2 from 2003 -- 2005, and Volume 3, from 2017 -- 2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer in the pages of Spectacular during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which often had innovative layouts and stories. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79) which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, during which Black Cat would get injured, the battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. Another notable issue is when Peter revealed his identity to her to her consternation that her idealized match was a simple guy from Queens. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on Spectacular include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrated as a proving ground.

* '''Post-Clone Saga''' (1996-2000): The immediate aftermath of the era saw writers trying to grapple with Norman Osborn returning to Spider-Man titles, while at the same time downplaying the events of the Clone Saga itself. A notable story in this period is ''Identity Crisis'' where Norman Osborn who has bought out the Daily Bugle and is now technically Peter's boss, frames Spider-Man for murder. To clear up his name and get payback, Peter, with the help of Mary Jane who designed the costumes, creates a new series of costumed alter-egos with power-sets that he can fake as Spider-Man -- Hornet, Prodigy, Dusk, Ricochet. These alter-egos in time actually became picked up and spun off into legacies in their own right. This period was also notable for a brief attempt at a ContinuityReboot SettingUpdate, John Byrne's ''ComicBook/SpiderManChapterOne'' which despite initial notices was quickly retconed and canceled over to fears that it was an attempt to replace the original story. It was followed by Howard Mackie's run which led to the brief death of Mary Jane Watson at the demand of editors, followed by Peter Parker at his lowest and most depressed period in his life. Green Goblin, the revived Norman Osborn decided to catch up and get his ArchEnemy mojo back in ''Revenge of the Green Goblin'' by Roger Stern, a bleak, angsty and violent story where the Goblin tortures and gaslights Peter Parker into becoming his heir only for him to refuse. Near the end Mary Jane was alive after all and she and Peter returned, but the trauma of her period of captivity and resulting PTSD leads her and Peter to separate for a brief period. She would leave New York and go to LA and recover in the meantime. In 2000, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis wrote ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' another attempt at a ''Chapter One'' SettingUpdate but this one proved popular and influential, starting the ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' sub-franchise which dominated the turn of the millennium.

** ''Spider-Man No More'': [[MilestoneCelebration Spider-Man's 50th Issue]] is legendary for its famous cover and for its single panel splash image of Peter throwing his costume in trash as he walks away (recreated in ''Film/SpiderMan2'' among other places). It also featured the first appearance of the Kingpin, who in time would become the major crime boss of the Marvel Universe menacing Spider-Man, the Punisher, and especially Daredevil. Not able to take the stress of being Spider-Man, Peter decides to quit once and for all. Unfortunately the costume he dumps in the trash reaches Jonah who prints it on the front page. News of Spider-Man quitting electrifies the underworld starting a crime-wave which the Kingpin exploits to finally become ruler of the criminal underworld.

** ''Green Goblin Unmasked'' Romita hit the ground running with this story which finally answered and resolved the great mystery of the previous run, the truth behind Spider-Man's most mysterious and dangerous enemy.
** Romita Sr. initially tried to be consistent with Ditko's art-style. It was with ''Issues 42-44'' however, which had ComicBook/MaryJaneWatson's first appearance that Romita really established the new style. Spider-Man would no longer be the story of just Peter Parker and his closed world as in the Lee-Ditko era but it would now encompass a regular supporting cast, love triangles, and a more social and less hostile atmosphere. In short, Spider-Man would be LighterAndSofter and later Spider-Man runs often [[NostalgiaFilter celebrated this college era as a time of innocence and sweetness]] embodied by the LoveTriangle of Peter, Mary Jane, and Gwen Stacy, he latter of whom became Peter's FirstLove. However, [[UnbuiltTrope this is only the most famous part]].
** ''Green Goblin Reborn!'': Romita Sr and Lee also put out a number of tense and dark issues, including this landmark comic published in 1971 when the U.S. Department of Health approached Marvel and asked them to do an anti-drug storyline. There was one little problem: UsefulNotes/TheComicsCode forbade drugs anywhere, both good and bad. Marvel decided to write a three-parter where Harry Osborn was shown to be popping pills and ignore Comics Code approval for those three issues. Along with ''ComicBook/GreenLantern[=/=]ComicBook/GreenArrow'' doing a heroin storyline the same year, this was one of the first signs of transition to the socially- and politically-conscious [[UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks Bronze Age of Comics]].
** ''The Death of Captain George Stacy'': The first major CharacterDeath since ''Amazing Fantasy #15'' albeit overshadowed by the one that came after that. It happened in Issue #90 and its fallout shaped the end of the era.
** ''The Six Arms Saga'': Where Peter decides to go Spider-Man No More [[RunningGag one more time]] and creates a potion that removes his powers [[EpicFail only to give himself extra hands]]. This story is notable for introducing Morbius the Vampire.

* '''Creator/RogerStern's Spider-Man''' (1981-1984) : Roger Stern originally worked on the smaller character-centric ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' before taking over the main title. He had contributed a fill-in issue (206) between Wolfman and O'Neill's run but officially took over from ASM #224 onwards. His run is notable for pitting Spider-Man [[RoguesGalleryTransplant against other villains in the Marvel Universe]], developing the origin of the Vulture, introducing the Felicia and Peter romance, as well as bringing Mary Jane back to the regular continuity and dropping the first hints of her backstory (which Stern conceptualized and outlined):

** ''Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut'' (Issue #229-230): One of the greatest battle issues and fights in Spider-Man's career.
** ''The Hobgoblin'': The major signature villain in Stern's run which created a mystery that ran for several issues. Stern decided to quit before revealing it, starting a problem for the character that he would resolve belatedly in TheNineties with ''Hobgoblin Lives!'' [[note]]According to Stern, he told [=DeFalco=] that it was Roderick Kingsley but he and other writers were disappointed by the culprit's identity and so they, with Stern's half-hearted consent, milked and spun wheels within the mystery until the story became confusing waiting for him to return later and fix it[[/note]].

** ''Venom'': This landmark story that introduced Spider-Man's third great ArchNemesis and the biggest villain in the title since Creator/SteveDitko left. The Symbiote that Spider-Man had driven away by exploiting its AchillesHeel, sonic attacks and loud noise in general, whereupon it merged with a reporter Eddie Brock who felt Spider-Man had wronged him and became the recurring villain Venom. Venom was a runaway hit but he went from villain to AntiHeroSubstitute, leading writers to create Venom's own Venom, leading to Carnage.

* '''Creator/GerryConway's Spider-Man''' (1972-1975) -- Stan Lee was followed by Gerry Conway, a former fan turned writer who at the age of 18-19 had the daunting task of stepping in Stan Lee's foot-steps. Where Lee worked via Marvel Method, Conway had a strong voice as writer and while working with artists it was his views and ideas that really made it to the story. As such he's seen by some as Spider-Man's first actual writer in the traditional sense. He wrote 110-149 nearly the same amount of issues that Ditko did and in many ways just as important and defining for stories going forward. Conway introduced a slew of iconic characters and concepts -- Hammerhead, The Punisher (who ultimately became his own sub-franchise), the Jackal, the Spider-Mobile.

* '''The Spectacular Spider-Man''': This was originally the title for a short-lived magazine in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of Amazing during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, Volume 2 from 2003 -- 2005, and Volume 3, from 2017 -- 2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer in the pages of Spectacular during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which often had innovative layouts and stories. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79) which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, during which Black Cat would get injured, and Peter would reveal his identity to her to her consternation that her idealized match was a simple guy from Queens. The battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on Spectacular include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrated as a proving ground.

* '''Creator/RogerStern's Spider-Man''' (1981-1984) : Roger Stern originally worked on the smaller character-centric ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' before taking over the main title. He had contributed a fill-in issue (206) between Wolfman and O'Neill's run but officially took over from ASM #224 onwards. His run is notable for pitting Spider-Man against other villains in the Marvel Universe, developing the origin of the Vulture, introducing the Felicia and Peter romance, as well as bringing Mary Jane back to the regular continuity and dropping the first hints of her backstory (which Stern conceptualized and outlined):

* '''Creator/TomDeFalco's Spider-Man''' (1984-1987): [=DeFalco=] originally succeeded Stern as writer and working with Ron Frenz worked intermittently on Spider-Man in a period where editors such as Jim Owsley (better known as Creator/ChristopherPriestComics more celebrated for his work on ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'') and EIC Creator/JimShooter were being nosy and interfering. Working with artist Ron Frenz, Defalco's biggest contributions are #257-259, the storylines expanding on Mary Jane's past and backstory (revealing that she was Peter's SecretSecretKeeper for some time now) and making her Peter's confidant and best friend. He also incorporated the major costume change in Spider-Man ''The Alien Costume'' when In 1984, as part of the CrisisCrossover ''ComicBook/SecretWars'', Spider-Man got a new, alien costume that responded to his thoughts. Eventually later writers would make this costume into a symbiote who was attempting to permanently merge with Peter. He also co-created Silver Sable in this time, who would become a Spider-Man fixture and spinoff character in her own right. Also notable is the battle issue with Firelord, the herald of Galactus. [=DeFalco=] would be fired and then rehired in-between this run. [=DeFalco=] returned as EIC, taking over from Shooter in 1987 as EIC on Marvel, a position he would occupy until the Mid-90s ending when he oversaw the Clone Saga, and continuing after that by working on ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl''.

* During the same era, in-between [=DeFalco=]'s firing, '''Creator/PeterDavid''' took over and contributed a few seminal Spider-Man stories. He would return periodically after from time to time during later runs, including the Mackie and Byrne era as well as JMS (where he wrote ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man''). He also created the LegacyCharacter ''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'' and worked on its original series.
** '''The Commuter Commuteth''' (Amazing Spider-Man #267): which is still the iconic Spider-Man outside Manhattan story whose gimmick, i.e. New York suburbs don't have the high buildings that are easy for web-swinging, were adapted scene-for-scene in ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming''.
** '''The Death of Jean [=DeWolff=]''': which was published in ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' between Issues 107-110 in 1986 when Spider-Man's friend, police captain Jean [=DeWolff=], was found murdered in her apartment. The hunt for [=DeWolff=]'s murderer becomes the impetus for an exploration of [[WhatIsEvil moral relativism]] among superheroes, the [[OffOnATechnicality flaws of the criminal justice system]], the [[{{Revenge}} desire for vengeance]], and the clash of values between the idealistic Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} and the pragmatic Spider-Man. This was Creator/PeterDavid's first professional ComicBook writing assignment, and is noted for subverting the comic-book stereotype of HeroicSacrifice in character deaths.

* '''The Spider-Marriage''' (1987-1994): The biggest change in Spider-Man's continuity since Issue #28 (when Peter graduated from high school) happened when Peter got married to his long-time love interest Mary Jane Watson. This marked the start of an extended run on the title by David Michelinie who took over from Issue #290 and whose run on the title lasted until Issue #388. Michelinie wrote "The Big Question", the three-part issues (#290-#292) that showed Peter proposing to MJ a second time, her initial rejection, their adventure in MJ's hometown dealing with her sister Gail and her father Philip, and after a confrontation with a Spider-Slayer, MJ says "Yes".
** ''The Wedding (The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21)'': The result of a strange series of circumstances. At a convention Stan Lee and EIC Jim Shooter had been asked by fans if they would have Peter get married to Mary Jane (referring to the newspaper continuity where the two were long the OfficialCouple as opposed to the regular continuity which stuck to a permanent melodrama and rotating love-interest model). Lee, crowd-pleaser that he was shrugged and said he was okay with it, and Shooter having been put on the spot said he was okay with it too. The response was picked up by the media and it was widely popular among fans and general readers, including those who had long given up on reading Spider-Man in the regular continuity for years having grown tired of the StaticCharacter nature of his stories. Both Shooter and Lee hashed out a plan immediately for the big event to coincide together. For brand reasons, Shooter felt that having Peter Parker marry in the newspaper strip and not in the regular continuity, with the former having a general readership beyond comics fans at the time and Lee's own name, potentially delegitimized the regular continuity and led to Marvel losing a major coup with the first major superhero wedding ever (at a time when Superman and Batman in their main continuities were still single). Besides it was also a very popular decision among fans since this was a major status-quo they wanted but it was polarizing among writers and regular comics readers (a smaller number in terms of demographics but more regular and reliable in the long run). So the marriage had to happen in the regular continuity, even if Peter and MJ at this time were friends with strong feelings for one another but also hesitant about starting a relationship again leave alone a marriage. The result was a series of issues in 1987 that saw MJ over three issues resolving her family baggage and saying yes to Peter followed by the famous Annual, published in 1987, plotted by Jim Shooter himself, scripted by David Michelinie, featuring cover art by John Romita Sr, and artwork by Paul Ryan[[note]]Not to be confused with the politician of the same name[[/note]].

* '''Post-Clone Saga''' (1996-2000): This period was notable for a brief attempt at a ContinuityReboot SettingUpdate, John Byrne's ''Chapter One'' which despite initial notices was quickly retconed and canceled over to fears that it was an attempt to replace the original story. It was followed by Howard Mackie's run which led to the brief death of Mary Jane Watson at the demand of editors, followed by Peter Parker at his lowest and most depressed period in his life. Green Goblin, the revived Norman Osborn decided to catch up and get his ArchEnemy mojo back in ''Revenge of the Green Goblin'' by Roger Stern, a bleak, angsty and violent story where the Goblin tortures and gaslights Peter Parker into becoming his heir only for him to refuse. Near the end Mary Jane was alive after all and she and Peter returned, but the trauma of her period of captivity and resulting PTSD leads her and Peter to separate for a brief period. She would leave New York and go to LA and recover in the meantime. In 2000, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis wrote ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' another attempt at a ''Chapter One'' SettingUpdate but this one proved popular and influential, starting the ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' sub-franchise which dominated the turn of the millennium.

* '''ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan'''(2001-2008): Creator/JMichaelStraczynski took over from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 #30 and would continue a run that lasted for 7 years, the longest since David Michelinie. He introduced a series of new concepts and ideas. Namely the MythArc of the Spider-Totem, which was unfurled in the opening "Coming Home" storyline that pitched Spider-Man against Morlun, his new villain who was tougher, relentless, and mysterious than many of the villains Spider-Man was used to. Peter also became a high school teacher in this time, returning to his original roots but now from the other side and often spending much of his time helping students and others in the friendly neighborhood even as his stories started flirting with MagicRealism. He also wrote the ''9/11 response issue'' in ASM-36, V2 (which became famous for the entirely black cover by John Romita Jr). His run became celebrated for "The Conversation" (ASM-38), the comic where Aunt May after discovering Peter is Spider-Man finally has a heart to heart talk with her nephew about the lies he has told her since the age of 15 (which much like the retconned Aunt May death issue[[note]]where it was revealed she knew Peter was Spider-Man all along and intended as such in that story[[/note]] is still considered a classic). In Issue #50, Spider-Man and MJ reunite and commit to their relationship again. His later run was affected by a series of stories by other writers, such as Spider-Man officially becoming an Avenger, and having his identity revealed to the world in''ComicBook/CivilWar'' by Mark Millar which revealed Spider-Man's identity to the world and the consequences of that story led to ''Back in Black'' where Spider-Man and his family became outlaws on the lam. His run ended with ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' (co-written by EIC Joe Quesada who wrote the final two issues) which sparked the third major backlash of Spider-Man history culminating in the end of the Spider-Marriage via an editorially mandated DealWithTheDevil. Supplementing the main series were other storylines in satellite titles:

* '''ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan'''(2001-2008): JMS introduced a series of new concepts and ideas. Namely the MythArc of the Spider-Totem. He also wrote the ''9/11 response issue'' in ASM-36, V2 (which became famous for the entirely black cover by John Romita Jr). His run became celebrated for "The Conversation" (ASM-38), the comic where Aunt May after discovering Peter is Spider-Man finally has a heart to heart talk with her nephew about the lies he has told her since the age of 15 (which much like the retconned Aunt May death issue[[note]]where it was revealed she knew Peter was Spider-Man all along and intended as such in that story[[/note]] is still considered a classic). Peter also became a high school teacher in this time and in Issue #50, Spider-Man and MJ reunite and commit to their relationship again. His later run was also affected by a series of stories by other writers, including Brian Michael Bendis' ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' where Spider-Man became an active member of a super-team, leading to JMS migrating the Parker family to Stark Tower. Then there was ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' by Mark Millar which revealed Spider-Man's identity to the world and the consequences of that story led to ''Back in Black'' where Spider-Man and his family became outlaws on the lam. Other important stories in this time is ''Marvel Knights'' by Mark Millar and "To Have and to Hold" by Creator/MattFraction as well as Paul Jenkins' work on Spider-Man in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man''. This run ended with the third major backlash in Spider-Man history: ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay.'' After Aunt May takes a bullet meant for him, Peter becomes so distraught that he's willing to make a DealWithTheDevil to fix things. The price for this soul-destroying bargain. His happy marriage to MJ, a future child with her, and Peter going back to the status-quo of the Post-Conway to Late-[=DeFalco=] era albeit somehow every story that happened before still happened in the same way regardless. Side-effects include, Peter's identity (which was public since ''Comicbook/CivilWar'') is a secret once more and Harry Osborn is alive again, he's free to date any random GirlOfTheWeek (or month or whatnot) again. And of course, writers can start screwing with Peter's love life again. This story marked the start of Spider-Man's current era.

* After BND and during the start of Slott's run, a decision was taken to make ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' the main series, but published bi-monthly, and cancel all second series titles. As Slott's run advanced and he developed many spin-offs a new writing team came on board to help him including Christos Gage who wrote selected issues and ''ComicBook/SpiderGeddon'', the sequel series to ''Spider-Verse''. Creator/ChipZdarsky meanwhile revived ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' as the second series starting in 2017. His run included subplots such as Teresa Durand, who might or might not be Peter's long-lost sister. His run also included "My Dinner with Jonah" (Issue #6) where Spider-Man sits down for an interview with J. Jonah Jameson and at the end of which [[spoiler:he reveals his identity to him]] after which they become allies albeit of a very [[VitriolicBestBuds vitriolic kind]]. In he mean-time, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis who had created ComicBook/MilesMorales in the Ultimate Marvel AlternateContinuity eventually imported him wholesale into the mainline 616 Universe, laying the groundwork with ''ComicBook/SpiderMen'' (a crossover between Post-OMD Peter and Post-Death of Spider-Man Miles). He then wrote a series of his adventures as the street-level Spider-Man to contrast Peter's move up the ladder to corporate super-heroics before ending his run, and his time in Marvel with ''Spider-Men II'' which ensured that Miles would remain in the 616 from here on out. Nick Spencer also wrote the highly popular cult series ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' to show the LowerDeckEpisode of Spider-Man's RoguesGallery. Eventually Spencer would succeed Slott [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan at the end of 2018 as the mainline Spider-Man writer]]. Creator/GerryConway, Spider-Man veteran, likewise returned with ''Spiral'' printed as a limited series that serves as a LowerDeckEpisode to Slott's Worldwide arc (printed as ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #16.1, 17.1, 18.1, 19.1, 20.1), that focused on Spider-Man's relationship with Captain Yuri Watanabe as they investigate and cover a gang war, a storyline that was ultimately adapted in part for the DLC of ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4''.

223

* '''Creator/RogerStern's Spider-Man''' (1980-1984) : Roger Stern originally worked on the smaller character-centric ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' before taking over the main title from Issue 206, starting an intermittent run that introduced the Hobgoblin, continued and developed Felicia Hardy and Black Cat as the third great romance in Spider-Man's life, and put out many seminal issues. Towards the end Stern returned Mary Jane to the regular continuity, and set up the love triangle between MJ-Peter-Felicia as the replacement for the classic one.

* '''ComicBook/DanSlottSpiderMan''' (2010-2018): Originally serving as one of a slew of writers on Marvel's brain trust that charted out the new status-quo in ''ComicBook/BrandNewDay'', Slott ultimately became the major writer of Spider-Man and with more than 200+issues on Spider-Man in main titles, secondary titles, mini-series and other stuff, he has become ''the most'' Spider-Man writer ever, having spilled more ink on Spider-Man than any other writer in its history. Spidey's supporting cast was expanded to new faces, while old relationships and concepts were [[ReimaginingTheArtifact updated]]. Starting from "Big Time", Slott became the main writer. His first big success was ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'', an event story from 2011 which spanned all of the ongoing Spider-Man satellite books as well as much of the Marvel Universe. A mysterious viral outbreak grants the whole of Manhattan powers similar to Peter Parker's. Anarchy soon follows, and things are complicated further as Spidey's old foe The Jackal resurfaces and takes advantage of the chaos. The aftermath saw Kaine acquire his own ongoing book series (''Scarlet Spider''). This was followed by ''Ends of the Earth'' and ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'', a 2012-2014 Spider-Man event that saw Peter Parker disappear from his own title for the longest gap in his history (the previous being ''Kraven's Last Hunt''). This was followed by the ''Parker Industries'' arc which saw Peter Parker elevated to a rich businessman. In the same period there was ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' where Spider-Man teams up with many, ''many'' other people with Spider-powers as well as AlternateUniverse counterparts of himself in order to stop a danger that threatens them all. Features massive amount of ContinuityPorn as Spider-Men from previous AU storylines (such as ComicBook/TheCloneSaga and ComicBook/HouseOfM), Spider-themed spin-off books, '''ComicBook/WhatIf''' one-shots, Animated Series, Video Games and even Live Action all interact with each other on the same page while travelling between dimensions in a desperate bid to save themselves from extinction. Slott ended his run with ''ComicBook/GoDownSwinging'' published in 2018, stopping at Issue #801.

* After BND and during the start of Slott's run, a decision was taken to make ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' the main series, but published bi-monthly, and cancel all second series titles. As Slott's run advanced and he developed many spin-offs a new writing team came on board to help him including Christos Gage who wrote selected issues and ''ComicBook/SpiderGeddon'', the sequel series to ''Spider-Verse''. Creator/ChipZdarsky meanwhile revived ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' as the second series starting in 2017. His run included subplots such as Teresa Durand, who might or might not be Peter's long-lost sister. His run also included "My Dinner with Jonah" (Issue #6) where Spider-Man sits down for an interview with J. Jonah Jameson and at the end of which [[spoiler:he reveals his identity to him]] after which they become allies albeit of a very [[VitriolicBestBuds vitriolic kind]]. In he mean-time, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis who had created ComicBook/MilesMorales in the Ultimate Marvel AlternateContinuity eventually imported him wholesale into the mainline 616 Universe, laying the groundwork with ''ComicBook/SpiderMen'' (a crossover between Post-OMD Peter and Post-Death of Spider-Man Miles). He then wrote a series of his adventures as the street-level Spider-Man to contrast Peter's move up the ladder to corporate super-heroics before ending his run, and his time in Marvel with ''Spider-Men II'' which ensured that Miles would remain in the 616 from here on out. Nick Spencer also wrote the highly popular cult series ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' to show the LowerDeckEpisode of Spider-Man's RoguesGallery. Eventually Spencer would succeed Slott [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan at the end of 2018 as the mainline Spider-Man writer]].

** This is also the case of Spider-Man's supporting cast. Most obviously Flash Thompson, Peter's high school bully who via CharacterDevelopment becomes a better person, apologizes to Peter [[spoiler:and later dies a hero]]. Then there's J. Jonah Jameson who Peter respects for his good qualities and HiddenHeartOfGold but begrudges for his dislike of Spider-Man and his smear tactics.

* '''ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan''': Following on from Slott's extended run. Spencer's first story arc promised "Back to Basics" with Peter Parker downgraded back to graduate student after a plagiarism scandal undoes some of his recent successes, though Peter acknowledges that said successes were unearned. Spencer also reignited the Peter and Mary Jane love story in the mainline continuity after a ten year absence (the longest period in which Peter and Mary Jane were apart after they started dating in earnest in the Conway era). A new mysterious villain, and a story-arc dealing with Boomerang, a villain Spencer had touched on in his ''Superior Foes'' series forms the focus of the initial arc.

** "The Kid Who Collected Spider-Man" focuses on a single shot Spider-Man character.

--> ''Peter'': [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Don't. Say. That.]]

* '''Tom [=DeFalco=]'s Spider-Man''' (1984-1987): [=DeFalco=] originally succeeded Stern as writer and working with Ron Frenz worked intermittently on Spider-Man in a period where editors such as Jim Owsley (better known as Creator/ChristopherPriestComics more celebrated for his work on ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'') and EIC Creator/JimShooter were being nosy and interfering. Working with artist Ron Frenz, Defalco's biggest contributions are #257-259, the storylines expanding on Mary Jane's past and backstory (revealing that she was Peter's SecretSecretKeeper for some time now) and making her Peter's confidant and best friend. He also incorporated the major costume change in Spider-Man ''The Alien Costume'' when In 1984, as part of the CrisisCrossover ''ComicBook/SecretWars'', Spider-Man got a new, alien costume that responded to his thoughts. Eventually later writers would make this costume into a symbiote who was attempting to permanently merge with Peter. He also co-created Silver Sable in this time, who would become a Spider-Man fixture and spinoff character in her own right. Also notable is the battle issue with Firelord, the herald of Galactus. [=DeFalco=] would be fired and then rehired in-between this run. [=DeFalco=] returned as EIC, taking over from Shooter in 1987 as EIC on Marvel, a position he would occupy until the Mid-90s ending when he oversaw the Clone Saga, and continuing after that by working on ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl''.

* After BND and during the start of Slott's run, a decision was taken to make ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' the main series, but published bi-monthly. As Slott's run advanced and he developed many spin-offs a new writing team came on board to help him including Christos Gage who wrote selected issues and ''ComicBook/SpiderGeddon'', the sequel series to ''Spider-Verse''. Creator/ChipZdarsky meanwhile revived ''Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man'' as the second series starting in 2016. His run included subplots such as Teresa Durand, who might or might not be Peter's long-lost sister. His run also included "My Dinner with Jonah" (Issue #6) where Spider-Man sits down for an interview with J. Jonah Jameson and at the end of which [[spoiler:he reveals his identity to him]] after which they become allies albeit of a very [[VitriolicBestBuds vitriolic kind]]. In he mean-time, Creator/BrianMichaelBendis who had created ComicBook/MilesMorales in the Ultimate Marvel AlternateContinuity eventually imported him wholesale into the mainline 616 Universe, laying the groundwork with ''ComicBook/SpiderMen'' (a crossover between Post-OMD Peter and Post-Death of Spider-Man Miles). He then wrote a series of his adventures as the street-level Spider-Man to contrast Peter's move up the ladder to corporate super-heroics before ending his run, and his time in Marvel with ''Spider-Men II'' which ensured that Miles would remain in the 616 from here on out. Nick Spencer also wrote the highly popular cult series ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' to show the LowerDeckEpisode of Spider-Man's RoguesGallery. Eventually Spencer would succeed Slott [[ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan at the end of 2018 as the mainline Spider-Man writer]].

* '''The Spectacular Spider-Man''': This was originally the title for a short-lived magazine in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of Amazing during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, Volume 2 from 2003 -- 2005, and Volume 3, from 2017 -- 2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer in the pages of Spectacular during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which often had innovative layouts and stories. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79) which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, during which Black Cat would get injured, and Peter would reveal his identity to her to her consternation that her idealized match was a simple guy from Queens. The battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on Spectacular include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrates as a proving ground.

* '''The Spectacular Spider-Man''': This was originally the title for a short-lived magazine in which Lee and Romita wrote black-and-white non-canon stories dealing with Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Norman Osborn. A story from this magazine was later adapted into the pages of Amazing during Conway's first issues. In 1976, owing to the greater demand for Spider-Man, and with the blessing of Stan Lee, Gerry Conway launched Spider-Man's first, and longest lasting, second title (Volume 1 lasted from 1976 -- 1998, Volume 2 from 2003 -- 2005, and Volume 3, from 2017-2018). '''Creator/BillMantlo''' became the most prominent writer in the pages of Spectacular during its first 100 issues. Mantlo would never write the main title but nonetheless he established the prestige of the second series writing smaller character-centric stories, which often had innovative layouts and stories. Mantlo's most famous story is ''The Owl/Octopus War'' (#73 -- #79) which had Spider-Man and Black Cat caught up in a gang war between The Owl and Dr. Octopus, during which Black Cat would get injured, and Peter would reveal his identity to her to her consternation that her idealized match was a simple guy from Queens. The battle between Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus is considered one of the classics. During his run, Mantlo brought in ''ComicBook/WhiteTiger'', a character he had co-created earlier, as Spider-Man's regular sidekick and ally. He also created and introduced ''Comicbook/CloakAndDagger'' in Issue #64, who later went on to become prominent side characters and spin-offs. Other writers who cut their teeth on Spectacular include Roger Stern and J. M. [=DeMatteis=], and the title became known and celebrates as a proving ground.