Ultimate Spidey Countdown: Our Top 10 Spider-Man Comics Ranked!

Matthew LeDrue pops in from the Write Project Podcast to share his favorite Spider-Man comic books of all time! Make sure to subscribe today! / @comicpopreturns #spiderman
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What is ComicPop Returns?
ComicPop is a few friends talking about comic books. The ComicPop team brings a bunch of unique points of view to every single discussion about a comic book, graphic novel, character or story arc. You can find full conversations about your favorite titles from Marvel and DC Comics, plus a few pretty key independent comics. If you're looking for a long, funny conversation about Batman or a deep dive into why Spider-Man is so neurotic, check out the hours and hours of amusing, insightful and downright stupid conversations about some of your favorite comic books over the years. If you're a longtime comic book reader or just starting out, make sure to subscribe for more!
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[@comicpopreturns]

Check out Matthew! www.matthewledrew.com/

[@marvelanddcretrospective]

My favourite Stan Lee Spider-Man issue has to be number 39. John Romita Sr's debut and they instantly knock it out of the park with both the Green Goblin and Spider-Man identity reveal. The cover is iconic and the story is so intense.

[@chrisdaily2077]

For me it's either Spider-Man Goes Mad or the If This Be My Destiny trilogy.

[@Nightwing037]

That is a great issue

[@bbthumb43]

Its a classic

[@CozmicEmbyrs]

Happy Birthday by JMS is nearly always my go-to Spidey story, and encapsulates so much of what I love about the character.

[@level87code]

More of this please! it's refreshing to hear a different outlook that's not "what's the best graphic novel" and it feels holistic across the whole history of Spider-Man. Great episode!

[@EngenBooks]

"I would LOVE to do more of this!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@TheClitCommander530]

Other than Life Story, I've never been a Spider-Man reader, but this made me wanna start. Great discussion. Would love to see that Silver Surfer episode.

[@EngenBooks]

"I would do that Silver Surfer episode in a heartbeat. Maybe when we get closer to the FF movie it'll become worthwhile? I adore Surfer, it got me through the pandemic. I was reading about him being locked down to earth while I was in lockdown and it was just... it was perfect." -- Matthew LeDrew

[@silvercreekirving5115]

Sal and team always showing solidarity for up and coming channels. You love to see it

[@ItsMichaelReid]

Always enjoy Sal talking about Spider-Man and his history with the character. Also glad to see Mathew after listening to his last show on Egenbooks.

[@EngenBooks]

"Thanks, man!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@Kade_Kapes]

I guess my favorite would probably be Life Story, but I really haven’t gotten into Spidey nearly as much as I should.

[@Mr.Bibleman]

Spider-Man Life Story is GREAT!!

[@kylecarter1599]

There aren't many shows that will pull me away from a Cartoonist Kayfabe video, but Comic Pop/Comic Pop Returns is one of them. Thanks for the show Sal!

[@comicpopreturns]

Thanks Kyle!

[@coreymcgivney5897]

As standard of a choice it it, but my favourite Spider-Man story is Kraven’s Last Hunt, I love that era of Spider-Man in general, but the dark tone of that story has always stuck with me, it’s one of the first comic books I ever read and i adored it as a kid.

[@EngenBooks]

"Definitely an awesome book, and the only reason it wasn't on my list: there's no one issue you can slice out of that arc to hold up as self-contained!" -- Matthew

[@lexofpower2822]

Also One of my favorite comic series of all time is Ultimate Spider-Man-because it was the first Spider-Man I had ever read and loved going to the school library and reading each volume of Bendis and bagleys run I could find

[@EngenBooks]

"Ultimate Spider-Man #13 was very nearly on my list" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@crazysnas181]

Ultimate Spider-Man #36 holds a special place in my heart for being the comic that basically kickstarted my love for comics. I never really saw a comic like that before outside of Spawn, and it kind of led me down the rabbit hole which is Ultimate Spider-Man. Also that Poker issue is generally great, it's fun, completely unimportant is just a bunch of folks hanging out. But for me, the issue after that involving the mindworm is great for the opposite reasons. A beautiful issue which I never see anyone talk about. Edit. I'll also add the second part of Spider-Hunt, it's the first comic I remember reading. It looked dark and cool and it felt like so much crazy stuff was happening. I have a soft spot for the post clone saga, pre reboot era and I blame it on the fact that the comics just looked cool, they had these crazy covers and felt every much of their time.

[@EngenBooks]

"That second issue of Spider-Hunt was tight when I first read it. Loved it." -- Matthew LeDrew

[@xavinasdf3153]

For me it's the Roger Stern run on ASM, especially the climax with Hobgoblin and JJJ resigning. With all the controversies and drama, I've been afraid to read anything Earth 616 Spider-Man from the 21st century.

[@EngenBooks]

"If we'd gone on longer, The Amazing Spider-Man #238, The Amazing Spider-Man #224, and The Amazing Spider-Man #248 were all later on my list. :)" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@Jcarroz]

Over an hour conversation on spider man books! I’m here for it.

[@Yoshimitsu4prez]

The amount of memory you guys both have for so many spider-man comics is impressive

[@EngenBooks]

"If only I had the power to channel that memory into something lucrative, like math or science, I'd be set" -- Matthew. :) (But seriously, I'm like this with all story-based things. Hazards of being a writer? Maybe?)

[@michaellabonte6390]

😊

[@michaellabonte6390]

😷👍😷😷😷😷😴😴😴😷😊

[@michaellabonte6390]

​@@EngenBooks 🎉⁰😊4

[@michaellabonte6390]

😊0

[@allnightfright619]

1:27 If you are watching with small children, cover their ears, it gets raunchy for a second.

[@mischiefman8720]

My favorite is Amazing Spider-Man 500. It solidified JMS’s run as my favorite Spider-Man run and it was the first comic I ever teared up reading.

[@valiantparagonvideos2383]

It's amazing how many good Spider-Man comics there are and for how long Spider-Man was so good. Like despite there being like two thousand books almost there's just so many that are just solid good reads and that leads to things like this were there are just a ton of different choices for a top ten list. Also Matthew really nails it when he talks about how reading through the clone saga now isn't as bad because you see the ending and you know it turns out ok. Good Reminder that maybe this isn't the worst run of all time we're in now. It just looks like it right now, lol.

[@EngenBooks]

"For sure, I've got the current run in floppies in my longbox untouched... not because I'm saving them, but because I don't like it but maybe I will when it's over. Maybe with hindsight I'll like it. Sal would probably hate that, because I'm continuing to support a book I *technically* don't like right now, hoping I will like it, later, lol" -- Matthew

[@valiantparagonvideos2383]

@@EngenBooks It's funny how open minded I was right before WElls turned teh book irredeemably bad by completely character assassinating MJ in a way I'm still fearful Marvel doesn't even understand how to fix. No I don't think there's any redeeming this dumpster fire of a run anymore. It's firmly the worst ever, the best context I can imagine would be to basically make everything significant a lie and so making the entire run pointless, which I wholeheartly am hoping for at this point.

[@codystork3008]

If Sal ever writes Spiderman I fully expect Cardiac to be his Shocker every Spiderman writer needs one. Edit and look forward to the Adam Wright arc/issue

[@EngenBooks]

"Oh God... I remember now why I thought Amazing Spider-Man #243 was an "important issue" after watching Spider-Man TAS... it says 'The Return of Mary Jane Watson' on the cover! My child-brain thought MJ went to the Limbo dimension like on TAS, and that this issue revealed how she came back, and that I'd be 'ahead' or the cartoon... oh, how little I knew..." -- Matthew LeDrew

[@robphoenix1182]

Loved this list and totally agree with the remarks at the hour mark. My very first comic was amazing spider-man 380. I was hooked instantly!!!

[@benreilly4347]

Love the concept of this video!!! Personally, the (original) Shathra arc was one of my first and most nostalgic comics. I read Amazing 500 / Happy Birthday after that and it will stay with me forever. So impactful!

[@EngenBooks]

"I loved the Shathra arc! Man, I'd almost totally forgotten that. Thanks for reminding me!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@PsychoMagnet]

My favourite single issue is definitely Peter Parker: Spectacular Spider-Man issue 310 by Chip Zdarsky. So many great things happened in there and it actually got me emotional. That whole run made Chip Zdarsky my favourite comic writer.

[@EngenBooks]

"Great issue, I love that one too!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@Yrevnoc]

One individual issue that stands out to me is Superior Spider-man #9. This is the one where Otto realised a fragment of Peter's consciencness still exists in his brain so Otto puts on some brain scanning helmet to enter the mindscape and confront Peter. The two of them then fight it out as their thoughts and memories take physical forms arround them.

[@EngenBooks]

"That one stands out for me in that run, too! Great pick! Any others?" -- Matthew

[@karsten128]

I love Spider-man 50 too, it was my very first comic and the reason Peter and MJ have to be together for me.

[@chrisdaily2077]

My top three is If This Be My Destiny... by Stan Lee, Going Down Swinging by Dan Slott, and Finale by Chip Zdarsky. But if there's one story that threw me for a loop for how good it was is Light the Night by J.M. DeMatteis. I never heard of it but stumbled upon it in a video and I can't say I seen a better Electro story.

[@Sicod79]

Harry's death was huge for me too...but for me nothing tops Amazing Spider-man #350. Doom vs Spider-man and it goes exactly how it should. One of the first comics I remembered buying myself.

[@EngenBooks]

"I absolutely loved that one. That was my first Doctor Doom and it really left an impression." -- Matthew

[@C4rrEternal]

My first comic EVER was Peter Parker: Spider-Man #24 a "tie-in" to Maximum Security. Peter wakes up in a UFO and a lawyer makes him sign an agreement to not hold the aliens liable for accidentally making a spider monster using his DNA. Now, Spidey has to track the monster across New York and "defeat" it. Great JJJ cameo and introduction to my favorite dumb Spidey "villain": TypeFace

[@EngenBooks]

"That might tie with my Spider-Man #7 at being the strangest introduction to the character!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@thomash8700]

Spectacular Spiderman 200 is at the top of my list, but I've found two surprising gems in Marvel Team-Up 119 & 127.

[@EngenBooks]

"Both solid issues... there were no Marvel Team-Ups on the list, and that's a shame. Should there be an episode Ten Tenning those? Is that a broad enough subject? I suppose if you include every time he's teamed up with anyone, yeah!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@BoyNamedSue4]

As bad as the clone saga got. Amazing 400 is still one of the best single issues I’ve ever read.

[@anthonygregori7058]

Love hearing Sal talk about ol web head :)

[@CptCrash21]

The level of nerdom on display here is straight up adorable.

[@therealmallcop]

Yes! I love when sal talks Spidey

[@superjlk_9538]

Life Story, Ultimate Venom (all of Ultimate Spider-Man really),Kraven’s Last Hunt, Original Venom, Back in Black, Stern run (so many classic moments)

[@EngenBooks]

"The Stern run had a lot of places on my list, further down :)" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@adamwalls5865]

This was delightful. Thank you for brightening my day.

[@EngenBooks]

"Thank you for brightening mine, with this comment!" -- Matthew LeDrew :)

[@rustybuckets2143]

I'd love to see this with some other characters that have a similarly vast publication history

[@EngenBooks]

"And I'd love to come back for it!" -- Matthew :)

[@prindy1429]

The Stan lee issue with boxing match is issue 10 I love it

[@Vicksage16]

I usually avoid Spider-Man comics, but I may give some of these a try for Sal!

[@keric2001]

One of my favorite issues of Spider-Man is amazing Spider-Man #801, the end of the Slott era. Dan slott’s run was the first Spider-Man run i read so even though it wasn’t perfect I have a reverence for that run and seeing Slott leave the book for me was big. The issue though is solid all around, it’s not a big bombastic fight or anything it’s just about this guy that Spider-Man saved once and its about what Spider-Man means and why he’s important. That issue really showed why I loved the character and I even got a little teary eyed at the end when the niece of that guy asks why he’s such a big deal and he says that he saves everyone’s uncle’s, Marcos Martins art in it is great too. Spec. 309 is one of my favorites too and does a very similar thing and is a great ending to Zdarsky’s spec run.

[@jakester1115]

Favorite single issue of Spidey might be when he is dying and Doc Ock has his body and Peter makes him promise to protect the people he loves and fr BE Spider-Man. Really moving imo💯

[@EngenBooks]

"ASM #700! Seems like its on a lot of lists. Was on mine too, further down than we got to" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@jakevader93]

I’m so glad you brought up Spectacular Spider-Man # 200 because that was MY first ever Spidey comic! I bought it as a kid years later after it came out in a long box of old back issues and I absolutely loved it! That and Fantastic Four #500 is what got me into Marvel

[@EngenBooks]

"That's awesome! I loved when they showed panels of it again in the last Spencer issue. :)" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@camfifer4911]

Matthew would be great friends with my brother! The man is one of the reasons I love comics and he’s a big ol Spider-Man fan

[@EngenBooks]

"Sounds like!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@anthonymarciano6050]

I just wish they would give spiderman a modicum of success. Go work for norman as a scientist, have your own place, etc. A spiderman who can never balance his dual lives is getting old, he never improves just keeps making awful mistakes and is like ah whatever guess I fucked up

[@gota7738]

Right now he is working for Norman isn't he? Not that I'm very fond of it.

[@AnthonyWoodham]

i really hope the views for this go up, because this was a great episode.

[@andrewheard3099]

I just bought Spectacular 241 and Spiderman Unlimited #1 because Sal liked them 😅

[@EngenBooks]

"Man, a lot of this list was Spectacular. I might have to collect those." -- Matthew LeDrew

[@andrewheard3099]

@EngenBooks Spectacular is ok, a lot of C and D list villains and the stories were average. Still, there are some fun ones. I also picked up the Spectacular Omnibus #1. It's a gooder

[@EngenBooks]

@@andrewheard3099 Lots of hidden gems in Spectacular. The Robbie/Tombstone original arc was my JAM back in the day. :)

[@JamesGibbler]

Not the biggest spidey fan but Spiderbite I gave many as gifts

[@bbthumb43]

Love 90% of ultimate spiderman. The last issue of superior spiderman is absolutely incredible. Obviously amazing 39 and 40 And pretty much anything with kraven the hunter Spiderman hooky is incredible, i feel like the crew would really like that as a back issues

[@EngenBooks]

"oooooh I haven't read Hooky. Should I? You've seen my list, would I like it?" -- Matthew

[@bbthumb43]

@@EngenBooks if you havent finished the whole run, i think its like 36 issues, do it. The last issue is a staple for spiderman fans. Few times have i teared up looking at a splash page

[@bbthumb43]

Oh you said hooky. My bad. Hooky has some INCREDIBLE art. Like stuff youd hang on your wall incredible

[@natehartz1049]

Matthew, Peter Parker Spec Spider-Man 114 was my first Spidey story I read. My copy is so tattered and beat up because I read it all the time. Fantastic book!

[@EngenBooks]

"Nate, that's great! One of my all-time faves. My copy was very well-read by the time it moved on to a new reader... glad to know someone else loved it, too!" -- Matthew LeDrew :)

[@BobbyBrownYoutube]

My first Spider-Man comic was Ultimate Spider-Man #97 Clone Saga my mum grab it for me from the local shop randomly still one of my favourite but my all time favourite it Spider-Man life story any issues from the run I love it so much

[@EngenBooks]

"That's such a rad first issue! I was in college when that story came out, it must hit so different as a first-time reader! Cool!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@TheMastaCharzangle]

Woot woot, Elseworlds Exchange is back again!!!

[@InfernoDelta12]

Spider-Man blue is my favourite. It’s a beautiful love letter to spider-man

[@andrewheard3099]

Ultimate Spider-man also had a bunch of covers of Spidey swinging or just givin er.

[@osad1aye]

1. ‘Beware the rage of a desperate man’.

[@Iddefylaw]

My favorite Spider-Man story is the chip zdarsky single issue at the end of his run can’t remember the number rn

[@EngenBooks]

"I feel like I know what you're talking about, and also love that one" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@Iddefylaw]

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #310 is the one for anyone who hasn’t read it. I highly suggest it

[@EngenBooks]

@@Iddefylaw "Solid issue" -- Matt

[@jeanief.6036]

I don't know if it's my all-time favorite but it's up there, and probably my favorite of the post-OMD era Spidey books.

[@lexofpower2822]

This was great! I guess I don’t read enough Spider-Man. I will say that my favorite Spider-Man stories are Spider-Man Kravens Last Hunt, Spider-Man Life Story, Amazing Spider-Man annual 1, Spider-Man Blue, and The Death of Gwen Stacy.

[@EngenBooks]

Classics, all :)

[@lexofpower2822]

@@EngenBooks thanks mate

[@9517eric]

I loved superior spiderman because it shows why Peter is the best one! Not because he kills people haha

[@ganjjabarsmedium2347]

Great podcast my dudes!

[@JLD22591]

I knew I wasn't the only person that had the in case there's a fire I just need to grab the short box strategy.

[@TevyaSmolka]

my favorite is Spider-girl mayday pakrer series written by tom defaco and art by Ron frenz. :)

[@C4rea]

Can someone please make a list of all the issues they mentioned? I want to check them out. Bonus points for timestamps.

[@codystork3008]

The Amazing Spiderman #13 Mysterio debut and Matt's favorite Lee Ditko Issue. 7:45 Amazing Spiderman 500 five minuets with Uncle Ben. 9:42 Peter Parker the Amazing Spiderman 114 12:22 burglar learns a lesson by pretending to be Spiderman. Spectacular Spiderman 21 by Paul Jenkins. The poker issue 15:12 Same run as previous pick issue 27. Calvin and Hobbes esque Parker men shenagins. 16:53 Ultimate Fallout #1 end of Ultimate Peter. 20:35 they mention an Ultimate Jonah issue but did not give a number I assume it is the Ultimatum Ultimate spiderman tie in. 24:22 Amazing Spiderman 243 Peter drops out of graduate school! Spider Man Unlimited #1 Play back time travel and other stories. 27:30 Spiderman #7 by the Ceo of Mcfarland toys Ghost rider team up. Spectacular Spiderman #241 last issue of Clone Saga. It's over!!! Peter Parker Spiderman #6 47:11 The Conversation J Jonah Jamison edition. Spectacular Spiderman 200 the end of the Spiderman college cast. 54:20 recommended to be buddy read with Maximum Carnage #1 for the whiplash. Honorable mentions Tomb Stone introduction arc have to check comic vine for the number. Amazing Spiderman #50 good MJ Peter issue. Spectacular Spiderman #172 Sal's first Spiderman comic there were six of them and one of me.

[@WobblezGB]

Mine is Spider-Man Blue

[@EngenBooks]

"Spider-Man Blue is incredible, but I'd have found it hard to isolate out any one issue. It is amazing, though" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@superman014]

Please make a video of the top animated spiderman tv seres

[@kawa9700]

Good show lads

[@mattpool2112]

if you haven't already please do a top 10 batman episode!

[@DanV900]

Amazing Spider-Man 400 is fantastic except for the ending with the arrest and it’s a better Aunt May conversation than the famous JMS issue. Retconning that where it wasn’t the real Aunt May which was a perfect death was a mistake.

[@JamesGibbler]

Ready for the next

[@paulrickards4921]

ASM 121 THE BEST

[@EngenBooks]

"I agree, but I think of that one as a two-parter! :)" -- Matthew

[@level87code]

9:47

[@Zakaria-qy5sm]

Does Spider-Man life story count, even though it is not 1 issue ?

[@comicpopreturns]

Sure it does!

[@thomaswolfnburger6478]

Did something change? I literally got over 15 ads watching this. Never had that many before

[@comicpopreturns]

KZbin's default. Fixed.

[@batsight1663]

Lets go St Johns Newfoundland!!!

[@EngenBooks]

"Represent!" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@patricklawson]

I don't remember the number but the all black 911 issue

[@EngenBooks]

"Volume 2, #36! It was also on the list, further down!" :) -- Matthew LeDrew

[@JesseT63]

Guess from me it’s life story and issue 50 of Spencer’s run where he teams up with Green Goblin

[@gota7738]

To be fair the wikis themselves aren't always super accurate so maybe it's better that way, though if you're working on the title I'd hope Marvel has the means to find the comic the wiki is referring too to source it.

[@Shift_Salt]

People will mention wikis aren't always accurate, but it doesn't need to be 100% for every single detail as long as the general information is good enough for creatives to keep track of continuity a bit easier. Marvel themselves I doubt would bother to keep this kind've information archived themselves, especially the older and more niche the comics are.

[@HoistTheBlackFlag]

Engagement and interaction with creator to please the mathemagics that choses what gets seen or not.

[@spheremode3271]

I love 33 so much. It's such a badass image, and it's also legitimately inspirational. My favorite is probably 500 though.

[@EngenBooks]

"ASM#33? Yes, legitimately amazing. :)" -- Matthew LeDrew

[@spheremode3271]

@@EngenBooks Yeah, I guess I should have clarified it was ASM. I looked at some pages on Google images after making this comment, and Ditko slays the art so hard in that whole weight lifting sequence. You can actually feel the water slowly filling the area, drop by drop. It's also like the most quintessential Spider-Man image for me: him struggling against monumental odds, being weak and human, but pushing through and saving the day thanks to his grit and determination. Also, I'll check your shit out, this was such a fun show.