Join us as we highlight some important moments from the 45 year career of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spider-Man swung onto the scene in Amazing Fantasy issue #15 way back in August of 1962 and he’s been saving the day ever since. Here’s a look at some high points, and low points of Spidey’s 45 year career.
Amazing Fantasy #15 – A young high school science nerd is bitten by a radioactive spider at a science exhibit and finds he can climb walls, has increased strength and dexterity, and a mysterious Spider Sense. Trying to cash-in on his abilities a masked Peter Parker becomes a wrestler. With his invention of web-shooters and a costume Spider-Man is born. Full of ego, Parker thinks nothing about letting a robber escape, but later that night his Uncle Ben is killed by a robber and Spidey catches up with him only to realize it’s the same man he let go earlier that day. Spider-Man learns his most valuable lesson – “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility,” and a hero is born.
Amazing Spider-Man #31 – Peter moves onto college at Empire State University and meets Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn for the first time.
Amazing Spider-Man #39 – In the first issue after Ditko’s departure, with John Romita Sr. taking the aritist role, the Green Goblin discovers Peter Parker is Spider-Man, and then Spider-Man discovers the face behind the Goblin’s mask – Harry’s father, Norman Osborne!
Amazing Spider-Man #42 – After months of refusing to be fixed up with the niece of Aunt May’s friend, Peter opens his door to discover he has indeed hit the jackpot when he meets the carefree party girl Mary Jane Watson for the first time.
Amazing Spider-Man #50 – Realizing his life as Spider-Man has brought him nothing but pain, Peter Parker decides to give up web slinging for a more normal life. Boasts one of the most famous Spidey covers and also marks the first appearance of the Kingpin.
Amazing Spider-Man #90 – Gwen’s father, Captain Stacy, is killed during a battle between Doc Oc and Spider-Man. Gwen would blame Spider-Man for her father’s death straining her relationship with Peter.
Amazing Spider-Man #96 – The famous drug story arc begins, in response to a request from the US Department of Health and Welfare, with Harry hospitalized for drug addiction.
Amazing Spider-Man #121 – Peter Parker’s love dies when she is thrown off the Brooklyn Bridge by the Green Goblin, who would himself be killed in the next issue.
Amazing Spider-Man #131– Dr. Octopus tries to marry Aunt May (no, you didn’t misread that!).
Amazing Spider-Man #135 – Like father, like son; Harry Osborne becomes the new Green Goblin.
Amazing Spider-Man #149 The Clone Saga comes to a explosive conclusion (at least for 20 years or so), and the Jackal’s secrets are finally revealed.
Amazing Spider-Man #200 – The man who started it all, the burglar who’s bullet ended Ben Parker’s life returns.
Secret Wars #8 – After his costume is destroyed as a result of one of the battles organized by the Beyonder, Spider-Man mistakes a alien symbiote life-form for an advanced synthetic costume. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Amazing Spider-Man #252 – Spider-Man returns from Secret Wars to debut his new black costume in New York.
Amazing Spider-Man #259 – The past of Mary Jane is revealed, and she admits to Peter she knows he is Spider-Man.
Amazing Spider-Man #289 – The identity of the Hobgoblin is finally revealed to be Ned Leeds.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 – Peter Parker and Mary Jane get married.
Amazing Spider-Man #300 – The alien symbiote returns with a new host – as Venom, and Spidey returns to classic colors.
Spider-Man #365 – A 30th Anniversary double-sized issue with a hologram cover and all kinds of surprises including the return of Peter’s parents.
Kraven’s Last Hunt – In this cross-over of all Spidey titles, Kraven, who is no longer playing with a full deck, hunts down Spider-Man, tranquilizes and buries him alive and takes his place in an attempt to prove he’s the better man leading to a showdown, and Kraven eventually taking his own life.
Spectacular Spider-Man #200 – The death of Harry Osborne as the Green Goblin.
Clone Saga – Spider-Man’s long lost, and believed to be dead, clone returns to New York under the name Ben Reilly. On arriving Reilly decided to fight crime as the Scarlet Spider which led to a confrontation with Spider-Man, some wild a crazy plot twists involving clones, the revelation that Ben might be the “real” Peter Parker, and more. A controverial storyline that upset many, many fans but provided some great drama even if it did eventually implode in on itself.
Amazing Spider-Man #400 – The touching farewell to May Parker (who would later turn up alive thus negating this well deserved goodbye).
Amazing Spider-Man #477 – The Black Issue dealing with 9/11, finds Spider-Man exploring the wreckage and joining the rescue efforts. The issue spotlights firefighters and other real life heroes.
Civil War – Spider-Man reveals his identity to the world to comply with the Superhuman Registration Act, although he soon learns to regret his decision.
Spider-Man #539 – After Aunt May is shot by a bullet meant for him from the Kingpin’s assassin, Spidey re-dons the black suit and goes for revenge.