Comics Where to start?

[webhead921]

Hello. I have just recently been getting into Spider-man comics. I grew up watching the animated series in the 90's on fox, and I love the movies. I am new to comics, and I got started by reading essential spider-man vol. 1, and am now reading vol 2. I figure this will be a good way for me to get started, but will leave me totally behind in what is going on in spidey's world today. I was wondering where should I start. Are there any books anyone would reccoment to get me brought up to date? Someone recommended just forgetting Amazing Spider-man and just starting from the beginning with ultimate spider-man. Is this a good idea?

Also, I think that One More Day is retarted coming from someone who is new to Spider-man, since pretty much everyone in the United States and possibly the civilized world knows who Mary Jane is, and knew who she was before the movies came out.

 

[webhead921]

Oh, and I have also read House of M and most of ASM Civil War

 

[Prison Mike]

I'm new to the comics as well and I started with Ultimate Spiderman. I'm a huge fan of the comics and I started with it primarily because it goes back to the beginning, but in a new way. I'm also reading Marvel Masterworks Spiderman volume 1. But that is the same as essential, basically.

 

[shinlyle]

It sounds like you are already on the right path.

You can't go wrong with the Essentials(or Marvel Masterworks, if you got the money). I also recommend picking up some of the assorted TPB's and Hardcovers that aren't collected in the Essentials. Kraven's Last Hunt, Venom, Son of the Goblin, etc.

As for current stuff, I recommenc picking up the "Feral" arc from Sensational Spider-Man, and the current "Back in Black" stuff. Civil War is really good, and the ASM:CW story will fill you in on the rest. I would avoid "Sins Past", "Sins Remembered", and "The Other" like the black plague, as these are the WORST Spider-Man stories of all time. They are even worse than the Clone Saga, simply because, well, at least the Clone Saga used continuity to confuse the readers, whereas the previous three stories ignore it completely.

So, there's my advice. As for Ultimate, get it if you want to, but the classic stories are better by leaps and bounds.

 

[Mister J]

I love the Essentials just to get a look at the character's evolution and some great stories. I'd like to echo what shinlyle said about story recommendations. The House of M and CW stuff will give you enough background as far as what about to happen in the upcoming books. Also, you might want to check out some online biographies at Wikipedia or some Spider-Man specific fansites if you just a pretty decent rundown of what's been happening. Lastly, Ultimate Spider-Man is OK if your looking for something different, as it's in its own separate continuity. I tried it for a while, but dropped it. I rather concentrate on the main universe.

 

[The Joker]

There's a 'Death of the Stacys' TPB after coming out. It showcases the deaths of George and Gwen Stacy, and features Spidey's two greatest villains, Doc Ock and Green Goblin.

I recommend that.

 

[Venom 1988]

If you want to get up to speed on whats been happening to Spidey within the last 5 or so years, I highly suggest checking out Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1: Coming Home. The story changes and adds some things to Spidey's origin, but overall is a great story IMO. If you like what you read, I suggest picking up the rest of the ASM volumes up until Vol 7. Volume 8 is Sins Past and well yea as said before, avoid it like the plague.

EDIT- Dont get USM. It started off as a good idea, but in my opinion after the Venom arc, it started going downhill(except for the Hollyhwood arc). Stay with 616(classic) spidey.

 

[Jeffers]

If you like the old Spider-Man stories, you may actually prefer Spider-Girl to any of the current 616 Spider-Man titles. Spider-Girl is the daughter of Peter and MJ and her comics are very much in tune with the classic Spider-Man.

Check out the first few Spider-Girl digests as well as her monthly title, The Amazing Spider-Girl.

 

[OcStat]

the other wasnt GREAT but the battle between spider-man and morlun was pretty cool. while it hasnt really been kept up with lately, it is sort of important in whats going on with spidey today.

i have all of USM, from issue 1 to 105(tpbs up to the silver sable arc). a few ups and downs in the middle, but it even its downs arent really that bad.

ill second the coming home tpb. ive always loved jrjrs spidey so that was the high point for me.

pick up the three Marvel Knights spider-man TPBs by millar. thats a good read as well.

jenkins spectacular spider-man is also pretty cool.

 

[USMC]

It sounds like you are already on the right path.

You can't go wrong with the Essentials(or Marvel Masterworks, if you got the money). I also recommend picking up some of the assorted TPB's and Hardcovers that aren't collected in the Essentials. Kraven's Last Hunt, Venom, Son of the Goblin, etc.

As for current stuff, I recommenc picking up the "Feral" arc from Sensational Spider-Man, and the current "Back in Black" stuff. Civil War is really good, and the ASM:CW story will fill you in on the rest. I would avoid "Sins Past", "Sins Remembered", and "The Other" like the black plague, as these are the WORST Spider-Man stories of all time. They are even worse than the Clone Saga, simply because, well, at least the Clone Saga used continuity to confuse the readers, whereas the previous three stories ignore it completely.

So, there's my advice. As for Ultimate, get it if you want to, but the classic stories are better by leaps and bounds.

I'll pretty much agree with shinlyle on all of these. Especially "Son of the Goblin", cause it's so good. Sal Buscema is one of Spidey's finest artists and his entire run on the original Spectacular Spider-Man is amazing. Marvel really managed to bring Harry right into his father's shoes in the end, he was a worthy Goblin. IMO, SSP# 200 should have been the end of the Goblins... it was a fitting ending to the legacy!

Anyhow, not to go off track... I'd pick up Death of Gwen Stacy, of course. Hell, I'd even go so far as to tell you to start reading the Clone Saga (don't think there's a collection of it, though...). Alot of people absolutely HATED it towards the end, but I honestly think that's because of how long Marvel dragged it out... people just got tired of it. But now, years later, it seems to have a lot of fans, including myself. Alot happens in it, from the clone thing, Jackal and GG's return, MJ's pregnancy (which, theoretically, leads into Spider-Girl), Aunt May's REAL death (should never have been retconned), and so forth.

If you wanna read a good semi-detailed account of the MAJOR events in the life of Spider-Man, Marvel.com (ironically) has a pretty good one up. It starts from the beginning, all the way up to Spidey switching sides duiring Civil War.

http://www.marvel.com/universe/Spider-Man_(Peter_Parker)

This page will give you more detailed info on specific supporting characters and villains:


http://www.marvel.com/universe/Category:Spider-Man

Otherwise, keep reading Essentials. You can NEVER go wrong with the classic stories!