Web of Spider-Man
Cover to Web of Spider-Man #1 (April 1985), featuring Spider-Man in his "black" costume. Art by Charles Vess.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Publication date(vol. 1)
April 1985 – October 1995
(vol. 2)
December 2009 – November 2010
No. of issues(vol. 1)
129 and 10 Annuals
(vol. 2)
12
Main character(s)Spider-Man
Creative team
Written by
List
Artist(s)Unknown
Penciller(s)
List

Web of Spider-Man is the name of two different monthly comic book series starring Spider-Man that have been published by Marvel Comics since 1985, the first volume of which ran for 129 issues between 1985 and 1995, and the second of which ran for 12 issues between 2009 and 2010.

Publication history

Volume 1

The first volume of Web of Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics for 129 issues, cover dated from April 1985 to October 1995.[1] It replaced Marvel Team-Up as the third major Spider-Man title of the time. Web of Spider-Man Annual ran for ten issues from 1985 to 1994.[2]

The series was launched with an April 1985 cover dated issue by writer Louise Simonson and penciller Greg LaRocque[3] and featured the return of Spider-Man's alien black costume, which attempted to rebond with Peter Parker. Peter managed to rid himself of the costume again using church bells and the alien was presumed to have died after that. The first issue featured a cover painting by artist Charles Vess.[4]

In issue #18 (September 1986), Peter Parker is pushed in front of an oncoming train. He thinks to himself that this should not have happened, as his spider-sense would have warned him of the danger. Writer David Michelinie has said that he wrote this as the first "teaser" appearance of the character Venom,[5] whom he was planning to introduce at a later date. Venom is an amalgam of reporter Eddie Brock and the alien costume. The costume could nullify Spider-Man's spider-sense, and this was the first clue of a puzzle that Michelinie was planning to weave to introduce Venom.[6]

Web of Spider-Man Annual #2 (1986) featured stories drawn by Arthur Adams[7] and Mike Mignola. A followup to the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine one-shot appeared in issue #29.[8] The "Kraven's Last Hunt" storyline by writer J.M. DeMatteis and artists Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod began in issue #31 (October 1987).[9]

The "Tribute-to-Teen-Agers" story in issue #35 saw the debut of the creative team of writer Gerry Conway and artist Alex Saviuk.[10][11] Web of Spider-Man #50 featured guest-appearances by several minor Marvel super-heroes such as the Puma, the Prowler, and Rocket Racer.[12] A hologram on the cover of issue #90 (July 1992) marked the 30th anniversary of Spider-Man's first appearance.[13] A four-part crossover with Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance began in issue #95(December 1992).[14] Spider-Man donned "Spider-Armor" in issue #100's story by Terry Kavanagh and Alex Saviuk.[15]

The "Clone Saga" storyline began in issue #117 (October 1994)[16] and Ben Reilly became the Scarlet Spider in the next issue.[17]

After issue #129 in October 1995, the title was renamed Web of Scarlet Spider and started again at #1. After four issues, the series was cancelled to make way for the new The Sensational Spider-Man title.

Volume 2

In December 2009, Web of Spider-Man volume 2 debuted as a new anthology title replacing Amazing Spider-Man Family,[18] with the initial story written by J. M. DeMatteis focusing on Kaine. The title also served as the new home for Spider-Girl, who was written by Tom DeFalco and illustrated by Ron Frenz, the character having first appeared on Marvel.com as The Spectacular Spider-Girl. The stories feature characters tied to "The Gauntlet" storyline, such as Electro, the Rhino, the Lizard, and many more from Spider-Man's colorful rogues gallery, each titled "Gauntlet: Origins, ...". The series ended in November 2010 with issue #12.

Collected editions

References

  1. ^ Web of Spider-Man at the Grand Comics Database
  2. ^ Web of Spider-Man Annual at the Grand Comics Database
  3. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1980s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 147. ISBN 978-0756692360. Spider-Man swung into the pages of an all-new ongoing series in this first issue by writer Louise Simonson and penciler Greg LaRocque. ((cite book)): |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ David, Peter; Greenberger, Robert (2010). The Spider-Man Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles Spun from Marvel's Web. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Running Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0762437726. Having fantasy artist Charles Vess illustrate the first cover to Web of Spider-Man also announced that this [series] was something unique.
  5. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 156: "Arguably the most popular Spider-Man character to debut in the 1980s - Eddie Brock, a.k.a. Venom - made his first appearance in this issue, written by David Michelinie and penciled by Marc Silvestri."
  6. ^ Saffel, Steve (2007). "Spawn of the Symbiote". Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon. London, United Kingdom: Titan Books. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-84576-324-4. Michelinie revealed a dirty little secret concerning Venom, 'He was a character I started to introduce in Web of Spider-Man.
  7. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 157: "Talented writer Ann Nocenti and influential artist Arthur Adams crafted an offbeat tale when the New Mutants' eccentric member cybernetic alien Warlock decided to take a trip to New York City."
  8. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 163: "In a sequel of sorts to the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1 special, writer James Owsley, with the help of penciler Steve Geiger, brought Wolverine to Manhattan."
  9. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1980s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 231. ISBN 978-0756641238. The six-issue story arc...began in this issue and ran through all the Spider-Man titles for two months. ((cite book)): |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 168: Written by Gerry Conway with art by Alex Saviuk, this first half of a two-part tale saw Peter Parker take a job as a science teacher at his old school.
  11. ^ Saffel "A New Web", p. 134: "Web of Spider-Man #35, February 1988, brought both Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk to the series."
  12. ^ Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 176: "The 50th issue of Web of Spider-Man certainly didn't go unnoticed by [Gerry] Conway and [Alex] Saviuk, as many characters stopped by for a special visit."
  13. ^ Cowsill, Alan "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 198: The double-sized special issue featured a holographic cover, as was customary in Spidey's 30th year.
  14. ^ Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 201: "A four-part crossover with Ghost Rider & Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance...saw Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze, Spidey, and Venom come together...Howard Mackie wrote the story, with the Web of Spider-Man issues drawn by Alex Saviuk."
  15. ^ Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 204: "In the concluding chapter of a tale written by Terry Kavanagh and illustrated by Alex saviuk, Spider-Man debuted a new armored costume."
  16. ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 270: "The 117th issue of Web of Spider-Man was considered the start of the mammoth crossover known as the Clone Saga."
  17. ^ Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 271: [Ben Reilly] donned a costume and was dubbed the Scarlet Spider by the press - and by writer Terry Kavanaagh and penciller Steven Butler.
  18. ^ Web of Spider-Man vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database

External links

Spider-Man publications
Categories