Where to start with Spider-Man
Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and has appeared in an ongoing series ever since. With decades of relaunches and alternate versions, there is no single issue one to begin with. The simplest plan is to pick a complete story in one book and let it show you whether you like the tone.
These four starting books each need no earlier reading. Between them they cover a modern origin, a short emotional story, a mid-2000s run and a history of the character told in decade jumps.
Ultimate Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility
Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley
A modernized Peter Parker origin, written to be easy to jump into.
Spider-Man: Blue
Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
A reflective story about Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.
Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Straczynski Vol. 1
J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr.
A mid-2000s run that reintroduces Peter Parker as a teacher with new mysteries.
Spider-Man: Life Story
Chip Zdarsky, Mark Bagley
Peter Parker ages in real time across six decades.
The modern origin: Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley began in 2000 and retold Peter Parker’s origin for a modern reader, in a continuity separate from the main Marvel Universe. Because it carries less history, it is often recommended as an easier start than the 1960s issues.
That separate continuity also produced Miles Morales, who was created by Bendis and Sara Pichelli and has his own collected volumes. They do not require earlier Peter Parker reading.
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection Book 1
Brian Michael Bendis, Sara Pichelli
The start of Miles Morales as Spider-Man in the original Ultimate line.
A fresh start in 2024
Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto began in January 2024 as the first ongoing series of Marvel’s newer Ultimate Universe. It shows an older Peter Parker who is already married to Mary Jane, with children. It shares a name with the older Ultimate line but is a separate story.
Our Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) guide lists the collected volumes in order, with a checklist.
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Married with Children
Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto
A new Ultimate Universe take with a married Peter Parker.
Short, self-contained stories
Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale looks back at Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy in a reflective story that works as a short, emotional read. If you want something very different, Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck is a self-contained 1987 story and one of the darkest in the character’s history.
Kraven’s Last Hunt deals with mortality and obsession, so it is for older readers. Look through it first if you are buying for someone younger.
Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt
J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck
A self-contained 1987 story and one of the darkest Spider-Man tales.
Beyond Peter Parker
Gwen Stacy has her own alternate-universe series, Spider-Gwen, created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez, and a first collected volume called Greater Power. Like Miles Morales, it works without earlier Peter Parker stories, so it is a good way in if you are more interested in a different Spider-hero.
For a modern run of the main character, Amazing Spider-Man by J. Michael Straczynski with John Romita Jr. is a mid-2000s run that reintroduces Peter Parker as a teacher.
Spider-Gwen: Greater Power
Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez
Gwen Stacy as Spider-Woman in an alternate universe.
Why there are so many versions of Spider-Man
Marvel has used alternate universes to let writers reinvent Spider-Man without disturbing decades of continuity. You will see names such as the Ultimate line, and Earth-616, which is the label fans use for Marvel’s main universe.
For a new reader, the practical lesson is that the alternate versions are often easier to start with, because they carry less baggage. That is why this guide lists Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen alongside the main character.
How to pick your starting point
Use this as a short decision list.
- You want a modern origin that is easy to follow: Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1.
- You want a short, emotional story: Spider-Man: Blue.
- You want the history of the character: Spider-Man: Life Story.
- You want a fresh start with a married Peter Parker: Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) Vol. 1.
- You want a darker story and you are an older reader: Kraven’s Last Hunt.
- You are more interested in another Spider-hero: Miles Morales or Spider-Gwen.
Reading the original 1960s run
The first Spider-Man stories by Lee and Ditko, and later John Romita Sr., established Peter Parker’s supporting cast and his main enemies, and every later writer builds on them. They reflect the pace and style of their time, so some modern readers find them slower. They are worth reading once you know you like the character, through the collected editions Marvel publishes of the early issues.
Spider-Man’s supporting cast, in brief
Aunt May and Uncle Ben shape Peter’s sense of responsibility from the first story. Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy are two long-running figures in his life, and Gwen’s storyline is the subject of Spider-Man: Blue. J. Jonah Jameson, the publisher of the Daily Bugle, is a recurring thorn in Peter’s civilian life. You do not need to memorize any of this before you start, because each book above introduces who it needs.
Which format to buy first
Every book in this guide is a collected edition, which gathers a full story arc in one volume. A single softcover is the lowest-commitment way to try a character, and it is the simplest way to read an arc without tracking down individual back issues. Large omnibus and deluxe editions hold much more material, and they suit readers who already know they like a run.
We show no prices, because they change. The Amazon listing shows the format, the page count and the current price on the day you buy. A library copy is another easy way to sample a book before you buy.
Where to go after Spider-Man
Readers who like Spider-Man’s street-level stories often enjoy Daredevil, another New York hero with a grounded rogues’ gallery. See our best Marvel comics guide for more starting points, or open the Comic Finder and search a title you liked.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start with Spider-Man comics?
Start with a complete story in one book. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1 is a modern origin in its own continuity, Spider-Man: Blue is a short and emotional read, and the 2024 Ultimate Spider-Man is a fresh start with a married Peter Parker. Pick by tone, then use the Comic Finder for more.
Is Ultimate Spider-Man the same continuity as Amazing Spider-Man?
No. The original Ultimate Spider-Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, which began in 2000, is set in a separate continuity from the main Marvel Universe. That is part of why it is often recommended as an easy start. The 2024 Ultimate Spider-Man is a different, newer story with the same title.
Do I need to read Amazing Spider-Man before Miles Morales or Spider-Gwen?
No. Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen both have collected editions that are written to be read without earlier Peter Parker stories. Each is set in an alternate universe, so they carry less continuity than the main series. They are a good choice if you are more interested in those characters than in Peter.
Which Spider-Man comic is best for kids?
Most Spider-Man books here are written for teens and older, and we place them in our teen band or above. Kraven’s Last Hunt is the darkest. Look through a book and check the publisher’s age rating before you buy for a child, or browse our kids hub for series written for younger readers.
Should I read the original 1960s Spider-Man first?
It is not necessary. The 1960s stories by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko are the foundation, but they follow the pace and style of their time. Many readers start with a modern story, then go back to the early issues once they know they like the character. Both routes work.
Is the 2024 Ultimate Spider-Man a reboot of the old one?
No. It shares a name with the older Ultimate line but is a new story from Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, set in Marvel’s newer Ultimate Universe. It has an older, married Peter Parker. You can read it without having read the 2000 series, and our guide to it lists the volumes in order.