The Marvel Comics character Spider-Man first appeared in 1962 in Amazing Fantasy #15. Creator Stan Lee said the idea came from a "desire to create a character with whom teens could identify".
The character's various appearances have been collated into thousands of trade paperback, hardcover and omnibus collections.
Collected editions by era
The core title for Spider-Man has been The Amazing Spider-Man, since the title's launch in 1963. After issue #1's launch in January, the book was released monthly.
Marvel's first attempt at chronologically collecting the core title was in 1987, with the Marvel Masterworks premium hardcover line, which reprinted 10-12 comics per book.
The next attempt was the Essential Marvel line, which reproduced comics in black and white. These books were released from 1996 to 2013, before being replaced by full-color Epic Collections.
Other than these two series, many other issues have been republished in collected form.
Volume 1 (1962-1998)
Creator Stan Lee wrote the first 110 issues of Spider-Man, initially with Steve Ditko, then with John Romita Sr. before being replaced by Gerry Conway. Then just 19, Conway delivered "some of the boldest stories of the era", including "The Night Gwen Stacy Died" and "The Goblin's Last Stand".
By the mid-1990s, Spider-Man was in the midst of the "worst era in the character’s history”. The Clone Saga was a crossover event "involving five titles: The Amazing Spider-Man; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man; Spider-Man; Web of Spider-Man; and Spider-Man Unlimited. It also included Giant-Size books, one-shots, and others, leaving most readers unable to follow the story."
The storyline dominated multiple titles for two years and involved Ben Reilly replacing Peter Parker as the titular character.
As well as the below, the full run of Volume 1 is being reprinted through Marvel's Epic Collection line.
Volume 2 (1998-2013)
After relaunching in November 1998 (with a cover date of January 1999), Volume 2 of The Amazing Spider-Man was dominated by six years of J. Michael Straczynski (2001-2007) and then 10 years of Dan Slott (2008-2018).
The One More Day story arc saw Peter Parker lose Mary Jane from his life, before a three times-a-month Brand New Day relaunch. Despite criticism of the change in direction, writer Slott said: "I see a lot of online fans out there saying that 20 years of continuity have been wiped. And that's so not the case. This isn't a 'Crisis' or a reboot."
As well as the below, the full run of Volume 2 is being reprinted through Marvel's Modern Era Epic Collection line.
The Superior Spider-Man (2013-2014)
Superior Spider-Man launched in 2013, with writer Dan Slott; and artists Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos and Giuseppe Camuncoli. It followed the apparent death of Peter Parker, with the mind of Otto Octavius (a.k.a. Doctor Octopus) taking over Parker's body.
Volume 3 (2014-2015)
Following the conclusion of Superior Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man was relaunched with a new No.1 and Peter Parker back as the titular character. Dan Slott continued as writer and insisted that he wouldn't be undoing anything that had gone before. "If we woke up in a world where J. Jonah Jameson was in the Bugle, and Peter Parker was taking pictures for a living, and Aunt May was in the hospital, I would shoot myself," he told Comic Book Resources. "It's the ongoing story of Peter Parker, Spider-Man. His life moves forward.
"The cool thing is, I get to write the Spider-Man that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created, that John Romita Sr. worked on, Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman, Len Wein, Roger Stern -- everybody adds to the tapestry, and it's kind of fun to be the current guy in the line."
Volume 4 (2015-2018)
Marvel Comics relaunched their entire line in 2015, offering something "All-New, All-Different". Dan Slott remained the Spider-Man writer, but promised a new suit and a new global company for Peter Parker. He told MTV: “Peter Parker has stepped up. He’s grown. He’s become the Peter Parker we’ve always hoped he was going to be. This company, with Peter’s inventions and Peter’s gumption has gone to new heights.”
Volume 5 (2018-2022)
After Dan Slott's run on Spider-Man, the series was relaunched in 2018, with Nick Spencer as writer and Ryan Ottley as penciller.
Spencer said: "A lot of what I'll be doing is reconnecting Peter with some very classic, quintessential elements of the story that fans and readers are going to recognize. It's exciting to bring the character back to basics." He added that the book would provide a "fun, funny, human character-driven story".
Volume 6 (2022-2025)
Spider-Man was relaunched in 2022, with Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr. A Marvel press release said: "Wells and Romita Jr.'s run will bring all of the classic elements fans love, along with surprising new takes on classic supervillains from Spider-Man's rogues gallery."
Volume 7 (2025-present)
April 2025 saw The Amazing Spider-Man relaunched with a new number one for the sixth time in 12 years. Joe Kelly continued his run from the previous volume, and was joined by pencillers Pepe Larraz and John Romita, Jr.
Collected editions by type
Core Omnibuses
Event Omnibuses
Oversized hardcovers
Marvel Masterworks
Launched in 1987, Marvel Masterworks was Marvel Comics' first attempt at republishing a series in full color, beginning with a character's first appearance.
Mighty Marvel Masterworks
In 2021, Marvel launched a new version of Masterworks books as "more affordable versions of this once high-priced line". These paperbacks are sized at 6-by-9in. digest editions.
Marvel Premiere Classics
Beginning in 2006, the Premiere Classic hardcover line "compiled selected storylines from ... five decades of Marvel history". It was cancelled in 2012 after 107 volumes.
Marvel Gallery Edition hardcovers
Marvel's Gallery Editions are large-format hardcovers that "emphasise the size of the pages printed rather than the amount of comics within. (This means) 13in/33cm in height, and 9.3in/24cm in width".
Epic Collections
Marvel launched the Epic Collections line of collected comics in 2013. Marvel Senior Vice President of Sales David Gabriel said they were intended to be: "big, fat, color collections at the best price we can maintain."
Though the books are often published out of order, Gabriel added: "When all is said and done, the Epic volumes will fit seamlessly next to one another on readers' bookshelves, presenting a complete and unbroken run of each title!"
The first Spider-Man Epic released was Volume 20: Cosmic Adventures.
Modern Era Epic Collections
Although some of Marvel's Modern Era Epic Collection releases are from as early as 1998 in the case of characters like Daredevil, Spider-Man's era starts with J. Michael Straczynski's run.
Coming Home began in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2), which was released in April 2001, with a cover date of June 2001.
Essential Marvel
Running from 1996, Essential Marvel reprinted issues in black-and-white paperback format. It was discontinued in 2013 and replaced by the Epic Collection.
Other Spider-Man collected editions
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was initially written by Peter David, running for two years from December 2005 until November 2007.
Volume 1 (2005-2007)
Volume 2 (2019-2020)
Volume 2 was relaunched in March 2019, with Tom Taylor writing. It ran for 14 issues until February 2020. Taylor told Marvel's website: "Peter's humanity and kindness isn't ever hidden. He wants to do the right thing by everyone no matter whether he's on the ground or swinging through the sky.
"I've always loved when Peter Parker is at his most relatable. Sure, he's a guy who saves the world, but he's still struggling to pay his bills with his housemates. That's the heart of this series."
Marvel Knights Spider-Man / The Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2)
Marvel Knights Spider-Man launched in 2004 but, with issue #23, became Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2)
Marvel Platinum
The Marvel Platinum series was produced by Panini UK, focusing on a different Marvel superhero each month. Its aim was to reproduce a series of "definitive" stories, largely aimed at new readers.
Marvel Team-Up
Volume 1 (1972-1985)
Marvel Team-Up launched in 1972, running until 1985. It was the first major ongoing spin-off series for Spider-Man.
Volume 3 (2005-2006)
Marvel Team-Up (vol. 2) ran for 11 issues from 1997–98; however, none of it has been collected. Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) launched in 2005 and lasted 25 issues. It was written by Robert Kirkman while he was also writing Marvel Zombies, The Walking Dead and Invincible. Issue #14 saw Marvel Comics' Spider-Man meet Image Comics' Invincible.
The Sensational Spider-Man
The Sensational Spider-Man ran from 1996 to 1998, with almost all issues crossing over with the other core titles as part of the Clone Saga.
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man / The Spectacular Spider-Man
Volume 2 (1976-1988)
The first volume of The Spectacular Spider-Man in 1968 was a black and white magazine that only lasted two issues.
Volume 2 (1976-1988)
Eight years later, the book was relaunched as a companion comic to the main Amazing Spider-Man series and retitled Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man. After 134 issues, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man was renamed The Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2), though it kept its numbering.
The series ran for 22 years and 264 monthly issues, making it the second longest-running title behind the main title.
As well as those below, many issues are collected in crossover books. Between the five Complete Clone Saga Epic Collections and the six Complete Ben Reilly Epic Collections, everything from issue #217–241 is collected.
Volume 3 (2003-2005)
Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 3) ran for 27 issues from September 2003 to June 2005.
Volume 4 (2017-2019)
Writer Chip Zdarsky launched Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 4) in 2017. After six issues, the legacy numbering resumed at issue #297. The series ended with issue #313.
The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024-present)
This series launched in 2024, with Greg Wiseman as writer. It promised: "Peter Parker and Miles Morales are going to team up on the regular, comparing notes and using said notes to take on some of their most dangerous bad guys".
Spider-Man / Peter Parker: Spider-Man
The adjectiveless Spider-Man comic was initially launched in 1990 as a way for Todd McFarlane to take on his own book. McFarlane wrote and illustrated 15 of the first 16 issues before leaving to launch his own company, Image Comics. Many of the later issues crossed over with the other Spider-Man books.
Volume 1 (1990-1998)
Volume 2 (1999-2003)
After 98 issues, the adjectiveless Spider-Man series was relaunched as Peter Parker: Spider-Man (vol. 2). At first it was a continuation of the previous book - but with issue #20, an all-British creative team, Paul Jenkins and Mark Buckingham, took over.
Volume 3 (2022-2023)
A new adjectiveless Spider-Man series launched in 2022 to mark the character's 60th anniversary. The book was written by Dan Slott, with art from Mark Bagley. It was pitched as the pair "teaming up for the first time on Spidey to unleash the full potential of the Spider-Verse."
After 11 issues, the series relaunched as Spider-Boy.
Spider-Man/Deadpool
Spider-Man Family
Spider-Man's Tangled Web
Superior Spider-Man
Volume 2 (2018-2019)
The second volume of Superior Spider-Man is a core title that continued legacy numbering from Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) and was launched in December 2018, with a cover date of February 2019. It ran for 12 issues and 10 months.
Volume 3 (2023-2024)
Marvel pitched a third volume as: "The spider-team that redefined the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN returns to celebrate the TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the most monumental and shocking Spidey story in a generation!". This meant Dan Slott was returning to write Spider-Man after his 10-year run on the core title. No issues were solicited after #8.
Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Web of Spider-Man
Volume 1 (1985-1995)
The first volume of Web of Spider-Man ran for 129 issues from 1985 to 1995. Many of the issues are collected in crossover books.
Volume 2 (2009-2010)
The second volume ran for 12 issues from 2009 to 2010. Issues #1–7 are included with The Gauntlet and Grim Hunt main title crossovers.
Miniseries
Other versions of Spider-Man
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Marvel pitched Marvel Age Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures Spider-Man as: "The perfect line to introduce new readers to the Marvel Universe. Marvel Adventures books harken back to the classic tales of the Marvel Universe - free from years of continuity - and fuses them with an unmistakably modern style and wit."
Twenty issues came out under the Marvel Age title before it was retitled Marvel Adventures. Collected books were released in a smaller digest format.
Volume 1 (2004-2010)
Volume 2 (2010-2012)
Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Miles Morales is a half-Black, half-Hispanic teenager and was created by Brian Michael Bendis. The character first appeared in Ultimate Comics: Fallout #4.
Bendis told USA Today that he was inspired in part by Donald Glover's appearance in the TV series Community dressed as Spider-Man. Bendis said: "[Glover] looked fantastic! I saw him in the costume and thought, 'I would like to read that book.' So I was glad I was writing that book."
By type
Omnibuses
Ultimate Collections
Modern Era Epic Collections
“New reader” trade paperbacks
By era
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (2011–2013)
Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man (2014–2015)
Spider-Man (vol. 2) (2016–2017)
Miles Morales' story was relaunched with a new number one in 2016, and the character established in Marvel's main 616 universe. Brian Michael Bendis continued as writer, with Sara Pichelli providing the art.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2018–2022)
Saladin Ahmed started writing the series from 2018.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022 - present)
Cody Ziglar was the new writer from December 2022.
Miniseries and one-shots
Spider-Man 2099
Spider-Man 2099 is a superhero created by Peter David and Rick Leonardi in 1992 for the Marvel 2099 line. The character is a futuristic re-imagining of the original Spider-Man, whose secret identity is Miguel O'Hara.
Volume 1 (1992-1996)
Volume 2 (2014-2015)
Volume 3 (2015-2017)
Despite a new volume number, the trade paperback numbering continues from before.
Miniseries
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane
In this "romantic-comedy manga", a youthful Mary Jane navigates high school in a world dominated by Spider-Man and his supervillains. Sean McKeever wrote the first two Mary Jane miniseries, as well as all 20 issues of Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane.
Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows
During the Secret Wars event, an alternate New York City included Peter Parker who was married to Mary-Jane, with a superpowered daughter, Annie. Under the monikers of Spider-Man, Spinneret and Spiderling, the trio fight crime together.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2000)
Launched in 2000, Ultimate Spider-Man offered a "new and modern version of Peter Parker, a young and inexperienced Spider-Man". "In the throes of bankruptcy, Marvel needed a hit, and "Ultimate Spider-Man" was just that hit."
In 2011, writer Brian Michael Bendis told Comic Book Resources: "The Ultimate Universe was originally supposed to be this ground-level look at Marvel characters. We did that."
Ultimate Spider-Man (2024)
Launching in January 2024 and written by Jonathan Hickman, "Ultimate Spider-Man introduces a Peter Parker unlike any seen before, being in his thirties with a wife and kids, and facing different concerns."
Alternate continuity miniseries
See also
- List of Spider-Man storylines
- Daredevil collected editions
- Marvel Omnibus
- Marvel oversized hardcovers
- Marvel Gallery Editions
- Marvel Epic Collection
- Marvel Premier Collection
- Marvel Complete Collections
- Marvel Masterworks
- Essential Marvel
References
