On this we can all agree: three movies retelling the origins of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man in 15 years is not a good or wanted thing. Every comic book reader, movie watcher, pop culture bystander and grandparent who’s glanced casually at a standard-definition television in a century that begins with a “2” understands that a young man received a very special bug bite, got cocky, got sad, got responsible and became a wise-cracking superhero icon. It’s modern mythology at this point.

Sony and Marvel are also well cognizant of this fact, so as both companies prepare for Spider-Man’s debut in the Marvel cinematic universe on July 28, 2017, they’ll have to select a storyline that’s innovative yet accessible, paving new ground for a familiar character. Fortunately, the filmmakers have over 50 years of comics to glean from, including storylines of new Spider-Men created in the same publishing line — The Ultimate Universe — that creatively fueled Joss Whedon’s The Avengers. We thought up eight particularly resonant Spider-Man yarns that could help anchor the new adventures of Peter Park or, hopefully, Miles Morales in his new celluloid home. Let us know what you think would work in the comments.





PeterParker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110

Writer: Peter David

Artist: Rich Buckler











The Amazing Spider-Man #31-33

Writers: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Artist: Steve Ditko









Ultimate Spider-Man #8-13

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Mark Bagley









The Amazing Spider-Man #30-45, Various

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist: John Romita Jr.









The Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Salvador Larroca









Ultimate Spider-Man #97-105

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Mark Bagley









Ultimate Six #1-7

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Trevor Hairsine









Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1-12

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee, David Marquez

