What Mickey Mouse is to Walt Disney and the Disney Corporation, Spider-Man is to Marvel Comics and Stan Lee. Created in 1962 by Lee and artist Steve Ditko, Spider-Man is one of the most popular comic book heroes of all time, having appeared in various cartoons, live action TV shows, and blockbuster movies, not to mention on cool kids' lunch boxes.



Back in the '60s, Spidey was revolutionary. Peter Parker, the web-slinger's Clark Kent-like real identity, was a young, hopeless romantic with a nerdy side that often saw him become the target of abuse in high school and college. Let’s face it: most comic book fans aren’t the last surviving members of a dying planet, or trust fund orphans that dress up like flying rodents to fight crime. But many comic heads do get bullied, beaten up, and left home alone on Saturday nights with no dates whatsoever. That's what makes Spider-Man so relatable and what has kept him relevant for nearly 60 years.



Over his six-decade career, the venerable Wall Crawler has been a part of some of the most important stories in the history of Marvel Comics. While some weren't so great, such as the horrible ‘90s Clone Saga and the miserable One More Day, some have been true classics. And in anticipation of the next major Spidey storyline, Spider Island (hitting shelves this week), we’re taking a look back at the Top 25 Spider-Man Stories Of All Time.