For over 60 years, the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man and its various other Marvel spinoffs have been home to some of the best superhero storytelling of all time. From the days of Stan Lee in the ’60s to today’s creators like Dan Slott, here are our picks for the 10 greatest creative team runs of the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man of all time.

10. J.M. DeMatteis with Sal Buscema, Spectacular Spider-Man #178-203 (1991-1993)

Writer J.M. DeMatteis is perhaps most famous for his comedic take on DC’s Justice League, but he also wrote a relatively brief but fantastic run on The Spectacular Spider-Man, from issues #178-200. This was after he wrote the epic Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline in 1987. During his 26-issue run, which lasted from 1991 to 1993, he and artist Sal Buscema told one of the best stories ever involving Harry Osborn and his descent into becoming the Green Goblin, which culminated in issue #200 of Spectacular Spider-Man. It was one of the very few gimmick covers of the ‘90s that actually had a good story behind it. Add in the introduction of the villain Vermin, some X-Men, and this run deserves its status as one of the best.

9. Peter David with Rick Leonardi, Spider-Man 2099 #1-44 (1992-1997)

Peter David has defining runs on several iconic comic book characters, including the Hulk, X-Factor, and for DC, Aquaman. But he also had a pretty defining run for Spider-Man. It’s just the Spider-Man that wasn’t Peter Parker. In 1992, Marvel tasked David with creating a new, futuristic Spider-Man with Spider-Man 2099. This wall-crawler was Miguel O’Hara, the half-Mexican/half-Irish hero who was the first not Peter Parker ongoing character to be called Spider-Man in 30 years.

Together with artist Rick Leonardi, David inverted almost everything about Peter Parker’s Spidey. Miguel was wisecracking out of costume, totally mute as Spider-Man, and so on. His web shooters were organic and not mechanical (something Sam Raimi would later use). The run only lasted 46 issues and four years, but judging from the character’s renewed popularity thanks to Across the Spider-Verse, it’s fair to say David’s run had a long-lasting impact.

8. Todd McFarlane, Spider-Man #1-16, (1990-1991)

Todd McFarlane became an instant superstar in the comics world when he illustrated David Michelinie’s Amazing Spider-Man run in the late ‘80s. His versions of Spidey and Venom became iconic, so much so that Marvel gave him his own Spider-Man title to both draw and write—despite his inexperience as a writer at the time. So in 1990, McFarlane launched Spider-Man #1, which sold an incredible 2.5 million copies. Marvel would break that record a year later with a certain team of mutants.

McFarlane’s writing was a bit over the top, especially by modern standards, but his overall storytelling was undeniably entertaining. It was exactly what the audience craved at the time. His darker take on villains like the Lizard, Kraven, and Hobgoblin redefined the look of those characters. The crossovers with Wolverine and Ghost Rider were very ‘90s, but also very fun. This is one of the shorter runs on this list, but also one of the most iconic. McFarlane’s run only lasted 16 issues as he left Marvel in 1992 to form Image Comics, yet its impact was huge.

7. Dan Slott, with Humberto Ramos and Ryan Stegman, The Superior Spider-Man #1–33 (2013-2014)

Dan Slott has been one of the most prolific Spider-Man writers of the 21st century. But although he’s written plenty of iconic Peter Parker stories, his best Spider-Man run was actually about Otto Octavious, a.k.a Doctor Octopus. In Slott’s Superior Spider-Man series, Peter Parker’s body is taken over by the consciousness of Doc Ock, who takes over Peter’s life and decides he can be a better Spider-Man than his old enemy ever was. Although he does try to do the right thing as Spider-Man, more or less, he’s still arrogant and insufferable. Nevertheless, it was all fun as heck to read. The art by folks like Humberto Ramos, and Ryan Stegman was also always top-notch. Otto was Spidey for less than two years, but it was a memorable two years.

6. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Spider-Man: Blue #1-6, (2002-2003)

In the late ‘90s, the creative team of Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale produced one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, The Long Halloween. A few years later, from 2002 to 2003, they re-teamed to tell a story about Peter Parker and his great lost love, Gwen Stacy. In the mini-series Spider-Man: Blue, Peter Parker recounts the events of Amazing Spider-Man #40-48. This modern retelling includes Sale’s incredible renditions of characters like Kraven, the Lizard, the Rhino, and the Green Goblin. And, of course, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson. Blue is only six issues long, but it still stands as one of the most heartfelt and beautifully written and illustrated Spider-Man stories of all time.

5. Gerry Conway with Gil Kane and John Romita, The Amazing Spider-Man #111-149 (1972-1975)

Following up the legendary run of Stan Lee, which lasted a decade, would have been an unenviable task for any writer. But Gerry Conway took big swings in his Amazing Spider-Man run, which lasted from 1972 to 1975. Conway’s stories were enhanced by some gorgeous art by Gil Kane and Spidey veteran John Romita. It was during Conway’s run that fans met the villainous Jackal and his cloning operation (this would matter a lot 20 years later).

Conway’s MJ became a more fully fleshed-out character. She wasn’t just the “out of his league” supermodel anymore. Oh, and Conway’s run also introduced the world to the Punisher. You may have heard of him. Most importantly though, Gerry Conway bucked all known comic book conventions at the time with one shocking act. He did this by killing off Peter Parker’s longtime girlfriend Gwen Stacy. The repercussions of this are still being felt in the Spider-Man titles today.

4. David Michelinie with Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, and Mark Bagley, Amazing Spider-Man 296-352, #359-388 (1987-1994)

In the late ‘80s, Spider-Man was still Marvel’s best-selling solo character, but some excitement had fallen away from Peter Parker. Then, writer David Michelinie took over writing duties in 1987. This was shortly after Peter Parker married MJ, and he focused on the high-stakes soap opera of their lives. During his seven-year run on Amazing Spider-Man (second longest-run after Stan Lee) he worked with some of Spidey’s best-ever artists. Names that became iconic, like Erik Larsen, Mark Bagley, and Todd MacFarlane. And together, they made comics magic. Highlights of his run include the introduction of villains Venom and Carnage. Luckily, he bailed from writing duties right before the infamous Clone Saga, so his run remains untainted.

3. J. Michael Straczynski with John Romita Jr., Mike Deodato, and Ron Garney, Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #500-545, Vol. 2 #30-58 (2001-2006)

At the same time Marvel was injecting new life into teenage Peter Parker in the Ultimate Spider-Man titles, the comics publisher had to figure out what to do with the adult Peter in the 616 universe. They brought in Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski, who made Peter a school teacher. He teaches at the very same place others bullied him as a kid, Midtown High School. Straczynski wrote adult Peter and MJ better than anyone in years and did so by adding a level of sophistication largely absent in the late ‘90s stories.

He also introduced lasting elements to the mythology like Morlun, a villain who hunts spider-totems across dimensions. That’s a huge influence on the Spider-Verse mythology in the animated films. Sadly, his run also revealed a sordid retcon of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn, but nobody’s perfect. The main artists for this run were Mike Deodato and John Romita Jr. The latter’s work on this run made him stand with his father as one of the definitive Spidey artists of all time. Straczynski’s run ended with the much-hated undoing of the Peter Parker and MJ marriage. However, that was an event Marvel editorial forced on him. We don’t hold it against him.

2. Brian Michael Bendis, with Mark Bagley, Stuart Immonen, Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee, David Marquez, and Pepe Larraz, Ultimate Spider-Man #1-160, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1-27 (2000-2011)

During the late ‘90s, Marvel was in trouble creatively and financially. The company emerged out of bankruptcy in the early 2000s, knowing it had to take drastic measures to gain new readers. Marvel conceived the Ultimate line, which involved fresh modern takes on classic characters. Writer Brian Michael Bendis reintroduced Peter Parker and his supporting cast as 21st century teens in Ultimate Spider-Man. And from issue one, the dialogue and characterization were absolutely top-notch. The kids felt real in a way mainstream comics characters hadn’t in a long time.

The reinvented versions of Spidey’s villains often surpassed the originals as well, particularly Norman Osborn. Bendis and artist Mark Bagley did over 100 issues together. Actually surpassing Stan Lee’s run, Bendis continued the title with artists Stuart Immonen, David Lafuente, and Sara Pichelli, with whom he co-created Miles Morales, one of the biggest contributions to come from the Ultimate Spider-Man line. Between Peter Parker and then Miles, this run heavily influenced Spider-Man’s portrayal in other media. This run was an absolute game-changer, surpassed by only one other.

#1. Stan Lee with Steve Ditko, John Romita, John Buscema, and Gil Kane, Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-Man #1-100 (1962-1971)

“With great power, comes great responsibility.” This was the only run that could have ever taken the top spot. While Stan Lee co-created almost all the most iconic Marvel Comics heroes, without a doubt his 100-issue run of The Amazing Spider-Man was his best work. With artists like Steve Ditko (Spidey’s co-creator) and later, John Romita, Lee introduced everything that forms the core of what Peter Parker is to this very day. Name a classic Peter Parker personality trait or trope, and chances are it came from Lee.

Lee’s stories introduced 90% of the most iconic Spider-Man villains, like Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, Mysterio, Kraven, and so many more, not to mention most of the most well-known members of Spidey’s supporting cast. Stan Lee’s run on Amazing Spider-Man lasted a full decade, and it remains the bible from which all following Spider-Man runs on this list pulled from. Simply put, no other Spider-Man run could likely ever take the top spot. Stan Lee and his collaborators broke the mold.

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Tom Holland might be our current Spider-Man, but others crawled on walls so he could run on them. (Or something like that). Without the success of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker before him, it’s unlikely he’d have ever had the chance to wear the mask. And Holland recently acknowledged just how much his forerunners in web-slinging mattered to him. Holland spoke of his predecessors in a recent interview promoting No Way Home with Jake’s Takes (via Collider). When asked what he liked best about the previous two arachnid heroes, here’s what Holland had to say about Maguire and Garfield’s renditions of Spider-Man. Holland even shared his favorite scenes Spidey scenes that don’t star, well, him.

Holland said of Maguire’s Spidey “I love the final battle between him and the Goblin. I think something that I really wish we had done with our movies is kind of the tattered suit stuff. You know how he always has the rips in his costumes and the rips on the mask? I really like that because it brought a kind of realism to the injuries that Spider-Man can get.”

He’s not wrong. As much as we love MCU Spidey, even at his worst, he never looks that severely injured. The closest we got was in the climax of Endgame. But even that didn’t look like he was put through the wringer. Not in the way that Tobey Maguire was in his series. Somehow, that Stark suit is basically invulnerable.

And even though Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker was way too suave and traditionally good-looking, there were some great things about his version. And Tom Holland acknowledges this. He said “I love the skateboarding sequence actually. I know that’s kind of far from what Peter Parker is, and it was kind of a bit of a step away, but I really enjoyed that sequence. I thought the way they brought that aspect of Peter Parker’s life was really interesting and really fun.” And even though Holland didn’t mention this, we’ll throw in our two cents here. Garfield’s Spidey was easily the best at throwing quips.

Who knows. Maybe one day we’ll see all three Peter Parkers together on screen. Holland, Maguire, and Garfield, all together. Wouldn’t that be something? Spider-Man: No Way Home hits theaters on December 17.

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Fans everywhere are gearing up for Spider-Man: No Way Home, which releases in theaters on December 17. For some, this means participating in the spoiler fray. Will Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire appear in No Way Home? Will Venom and Eddie (played by Tom Hardy) appear in the MCU’s Spider-Man movies? What about Morbius, the Living Vampire? Will we see any other characters from Marvel ‘verses we’ve already visited? Some Human Torches, perhaps?

These are all excellent questions, but if you spend too much time worrying about them, you will probably end up with a headache big enough to fill the MCU multiverse up five times over. So instead, we suggest you build your excitement up the good old-fashioned way. By watching all of the movies and TV shows that might impact Spider-Man: No Way Home. Emphasis on might. But this way, if some of these movies and their characters do end up affecting the MCU, you’ll be ready. And even if not, a great, headache-less time will be had by all.

Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Movies (a.k.a. Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3)

Let’s face it, one of the Spider-Men people want to see back in the MCU the most is Tobey Maguire’s version of the web-slinger. Will Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man actually appear in the MCU? Well, Marvel would certainly like you to think that’s a possibility… while telling you absolutely not. But admit it, even though you’ve been following the rumors with bated breath, you haven’t actually watched the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies in a decade.

These movies are now bona fide classics. And they include Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, and James Franco as Harry Osborn. Additionally, they introduce two villains joining the MCU in Spider-Man: No Way Home: Doc Ock, played by Alfred Molina, and the Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe. Plus, we’ll be seeing Spider-Man 3‘s Sandman, played by Thomas Haden Church, on our screens again very soon. Though we don’t yet know if Marvel really plans to introduce an MCU version of the Sinister Six.

We also can’t forget Topher Grace’s iconic appearance as Eddie Brock. (Nor can we forget how this incarnation of Venom made Peter Parker shimmy down the streets of New York.) Though we love Tom Hardy’s Venom, we always say two Venoms are better than one.

So go ahead, blast Dashboard Confessional to get yourself in the mood. Then press play on your DVD menu to reacquaint yourself with these epic Spider-Man movies. These films currently stream on Hulu with a premium subscription.

The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2

After Tobey Maguire, the next most-rumored person to appear in No Way Home is Andrew Garfield. Andrew Garfield, of course, played Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. These Spider-Man movies also starred Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy. These movies also featured an origin story for Spider-Man. And though they eventually gave way to the MCU’s version of the web-slinger, they are well worth a watch.

In these films, we see Peter Parker battling two other members of the Sinister Six who may come into play in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In fact, it has already been confirmed that Jamie Foxx will reprise his role as Electro in the MCU film. What remains to be seen is whether Rhys Ifans will return as the Lizard from The Amazing Spider-Man. We know Lizard is in No Way Home though. It certainly seems like an option, which means fans will want brush up on this set of films. The trailer for No Way Home even references an iconic moment from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Fans will miss Easter eggs like that without a rewatch. You can rent The Amazing Spider-Man films on Amazon Prime.

Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Given that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man literally appears in the end credits of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, we absolutely suggest you catch up with Eddie Brock and his symbiote partner (lover?) while you wait for No Way Home. After Venom 2‘s shocking reveal, we feel reasonably confident we will see more of this duo soon. Although in what capacity is hard to determine. Venom seemed like he wanted to take a chunk out of Peter when we last saw him. But Venom and Eddie are also more bonded than ever at present.

Would Venom betray his host in No Way Home? Maybe a Venom rewatch will hold the clues. Venom currently streams on Hulu with a premium subscription. Venom: Let There Be Carnage will be available on video-on-demand starting November 23.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

While we haven’t been given any sign that Miles Morales will appear in the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, watching Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a sure-fire way to get you in the Spider-Man mood. Especially when it comes to the Spider-Verse. Honestly, though we love the idea of a live-action Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has already done the concept to perfection.

This film perfectly captures how different ‘verses can come together to tell a meaningful story that tugs on the heartstrings. All the different Spideys we meet bring something unique to the table, and yet they all still feel very Spider-Man-y. Not to mention, the animation is top-notch, and the soundtrack is perfection. We hope the MCU takes all the right lessons away from this fantastic movie and applies them to its Spider-Man movies and beyond. We also hope that you have a great time watching it again. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse currently streams on Hulu with a premium subscription.

Daredevil

There has been a lot of chatter around Daredevil now that Netflix’s hold on its rights has officially expired. With the rights back in Marvel’s hands, the hero could join the ranks of the MCU. Fans have pointed out that Peter Parker could need an attorney after being branded a murderer at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Some even pointed to a hairy arm in the No Way Home trailer, citing it as belonging to Matt Murdock (it wasn’t him though). Charlie Cox, who plays Matt Murdock in Daredevil, has also expressed interest in returning to the role.

While all of this remains only speculation, the Netflix Marvel show Daredevil is absolutely worth a watch or rewatch. If Daredevil does come into the MCU fold, we don’t know how much of the series will become canon. However, it does serve as a great introduction to the character. The Netflix Marvel shows are known for being darker and more violent than the MCU’s more family-friendly offerings. And this certainly gives a different edge to the characters portrayed in them. It would definitely shock and delight fans if Matt Murdock found his way into the MCU’s Spider-Man movies. Daredevil streams on Netflix.

Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four (2015)

Listen. These movies aren’t great. You know it. I know it. We all know it. But what they do contain are two prominent MCU actors, Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan. Evans, of course, played Steve Rogers’ Captain America across many MCU movies. And Jordan stunned as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. Interestingly enough, both these actors also played the Human Torch. And if we’re interested, you can bet Kevin Feige has thought about the possibilities.

No Way Home is all about the MCU multiverse. Worlds are cracking. Villains are emerging from all kinds of verses and timelines. If you can potentially have three Spider-Men and two Green Goblins in No Way Home… Why not two Human Torches? Both Killmonger and Steve Rogers are ostensibly gone from the MCU. But fans would love to see them again. There probably isn’t a day that passes where someone doesn’t search Google asking, “Will Chris Evans return to the MCU.” And, on top of that, there has been a real excitement for an MCU Fantastic Four, so why not introduce the concept here.

With all the hype around Spider-Man: No Way Home, maybe we will see Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan return to the MCU. Just not in the ways we expect. It could even merit a watch of these two movies. Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four (2015)stream on Disney+.

A Multiverse of Movies

As real-life machinations continue to make more and more MCU multiverse crossovers possible, the amount of movies on our to-watch pile grows. But if waiting until December feels like a chore, diving deep into the world of Spider-Man movies and beyond could feel like just the right move. And, hey, don’t forget the Tom Holland-version while you’re at it.

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Rumors continue to float that the two “original Peter Parkers,” Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, will appear in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But even if they do, we should note that Tobey Maguire is not the OG Peter. That honor goes to actor Nicholas Hammond. He played Spidey in the short-lived The Amazing Spider-Man live-action TV series. That show ran for two seasons on CBS, from 1977-79.

The Amazing Spider-Man only lasted thirteen episodes, but aired in syndication for years. It deviated from the Marvel Comics, but kids still got a thrill from seeing Spidey swinging around the city. But according to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, it seems no one asked Hammond to be in No Way Home. Although he was really hoping to get that call.

Hammond, who now lives in Australia, said, “I think it would have been huge fun. It would have been a kick in the pants to have the old guy there. I was really hoping I would be approached but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”

Honestly, Sony and Marvel probably figure not enough folks even remember the short-lived 1970s series anymore. So Hammond standing next to Holland, Garfield, and Maguire in No Way Home would have left many people scratching their heads. But even if he wasn’t a Peter Parker variant, some kind of cameo role seemed called for. The MCU version of Uncle Ben maybe? It’s a shame it didn’t happen.

Regardless, his Spider-Man role led to his most recent prominent mainstream film, where playing director Sam Wanamaker in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This began when Quentin Tarantino showed a print of the Spider-Man pilot at his Los Angeles theater, the New Beverly. That led him to contact Tarantino to thank him for showing it, and the rest was history. So after all these years, he owes Peter another debt of thanks. Now, what do we have to do to get those old Amazing Spider-Man episodes on to Disney+? They belong there right next to all the Spidey animated shows, if you ask us.

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For years Action Comics #1 has been the most expensive comic book ever sold. The 1938 comic was the first appearance of Superman, and essentially introduced the superhero genre. But it looks like the Man of Steel just had a scrawny kid from Queens who shoots webs knock him down a peg. Spider-Man’s first comic appearance just sold for a higher price than Superman’s.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (via IGN), a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man’s first comic appearance, released in 1962, just sold for $3.6 million. The sale occurred during Heritage Auction’s Signature Comics & Comics Art auction. It is one of only four copies of this comic that exists in near-mint condition. It is now officially the highest-selling comic book in history, outdoing the $3.25 million that Action Comics #1 went for earlier this year. (Somewhere out there, Batman is definitely pouting).

Marvel Comics

The original Amazing Fantasy story by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko was something Lee’s publisher, Martin Goodman, didn’t even want to publish. In his mind, teenagers were sidekicks, not heroes. And most folks hated spiders. Who would want to read about a human arachnid? But he gave in to Lee, and let him publish his teenage hero story. That first Spider-Man story only took up eleven pages.

That final issue of Amazing Fantasy sold shockingly well, and Peter Parker got his own comic book the following year, The Amazing Spider-Man. The rest is history. Between Spider-Man and Fantastic Four, the Marvel era had begun. These days, Spidey fights for the “world’s most beloved superhero” title with Batman and Superman regularly. But can his first appearance maintain “world’s best-selling comic book” status for much longer? Action Comics didn’t just launch Superman, it started a genre. We imagine at some point, it will retake the crown. But for right now, Spidey is king.

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Just two years ago, Disney and Sony were seemingly on the outs in regards to Spider-Man. Well, things change fast in Hollywood.  Just announced is the news that Disney has reached a huge movie licensing deal with Sony Pictures for the U.S. One that promises to bring Spider-Man and other Spidey-related Marvel properties to Disney+. This starts with Sony’s 2022 release slate. Theatrical releases from 2022 to 2026 will move to Disney after their runs on Netflix, which recently announced a large deal with Sony for streaming rights to their films.

Sony Pictures / Marvel Studios 

Having Spider-Man will fill a large Manhattan-sized hole in the Marvel section of Disney+. Now, the only missing MCU movie will be The Incredible Hulk, which is technically a Universal release. Many classic Spider-Man cartoons series are already on Disney+, since they existed prior to Sony landing the film rights to the Spider-Man family.

So what does this mean exactly? The official release says this new pact “gives Disney enormous programming potential across its platforms and makes them key destinations for a robust collection of Spider-Man films.” A “robust collection” probably means it’s not just the recent MCU Tom Holland Spidey movies. Probably all the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield movies are also coming to the “Marvel Legacy” section of Disney plus. This also adds fuel to the fire to rampant rumors that the previous two big-screen Spideys are joining Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Sony Pictures / Marvel Studios 

But this deal isn’t just about Spider-Man and his amazing friends (like Venom). It also includes rights to a significant number of Sony’s vast library of titles. Among them are big family-friendly franchises like Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania. The new pact also covers the Disney-owned Hulu. Also part of the deal is linear entertainment networks, including ABC, Disney Channels, Freeform, FX and National Geographic.

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The Spider-Man web shooters are one of the most iconic toys ever based on a superhero. Toy company FunStuf first released Spidey web shooter toys way back in the mid ’70s. And a version of these web shooters would continue to exist in different forms for decades, becoming a perennial favorite. The folks at Boing Boing recently unearthed a vintage commercial for this classic toy, which should bring back memories for many. You can watch the retro TV commercial right here.

The old commercial made the Amazing Spider-Man Web Shooter look like they worked way more accurately than they ever did. So they’re mostly iconic based on what the TV ads told us they’d do, not so much how great they functioned in real life. But hey, as kids we were just happy to have anything that approximated the wallcrawler’s signature piece of tech. We let our imaginations do the rest.

Marvel Entertainment /  Chucky Lou Memorial Film Society

Although Spidey first appears in the ’60s, it’s in the ’70s that Spider-Man toys really explode on the market. One of the first toys we can remember having are the MEGO Spider-Man action figures. These are advertised along with other heroes like the Hulk, Superman, and Batman. Yes kids, once upon a time Marvel and DC characters share a line of toys. Cats and dogs, living together.

Maybe the most iconic Spider-Man figure of that era is 1979’s Energized Spider-Man. His web lines were a little more sturdy than the web shooter toys. And he had an electronic component, that let you see his battle with his arch-foe Red Dragon. Wait, who?! Not Green Goblin or Doc Ock?! Well, White Dragon is a new villain Marvel debuts in the ’70s. (the ad misnames him) They were clearly hoping to “make fetch happen” with him. It didn’t take. But the toy was cool!

Most of you reading this are far more likely to remember the version of Spider-Man’s web shooters that came out in the ’90s. This was as a product tie in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. Instead of a rope, it shot silly string. Thereby making it the most ’90s toys ever. You should periodically still call your mom decades later, and apologize for all the stilly string you made her clean up. It’s what Peter Parker would want.

Featured Image: Chucky Lou Memorial Film Society

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Sony’s Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best superhero movies ever. It might end up being one of the most important too. The Oscar-winning film brought the Spider-Man‘s multiverse to the mainstream. Now, the movie’s overwhelming success could be why Marvel looks ready to give us more than one Peter Parker in the MCU. Far From Home made a live-action multiverse a possibility. (And that was before Jamie Foxx joined the cast.) We’ve imagined what it might be like to see Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, and Andrew Garfield on screen together. But we don’t have to wait to know how exciting that might be.

An amazing new fan video seamlessly cuts all of them together, along with Miles Morales and his Spidery friends, into an intense, action-packed, spine-tingling montage. In a tribute that reminds us why we love every version of Spider-Man.

This fantastic crossover comes from YouTuber Quang Truong. It flawlessly pieces together different action shots from different eras of the character. That includes Tom Holland’s time in the MCU, the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, Andrew Garfield’s two Amazing Spider-Man films, and Into the Spider-Verse. Together they form a powerful, dizzying, emotional montage.

This video was made using Adobe Premiere Pro, making it maybe the best ad for the software ever. It’s hard to even see exactly where some of the clips meet the edits are so seamless.

Sony

But it’s the end of this montage that really makes it so good. Set to Rag’n’Bone Man’s “Human,” this video reminds us that Peter Peter—every version of him—-Miles, Gwen, and all the other who takes up the web-slinger mantle, sacrifice a lot to keep others safe. They might be super, but they still feel loss and grief, because they are just human.

Well, maybe not Spider-Ham, but still.

Featured Image: Sony

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Sony may have pulled Spidey out of the MCU, but they aren’t slowing down on exploiting Spider-Man’s vast array of characters for potential spin-offs. Not only did we get Venom and soon Morbius, but now it’s been announced (via Collider) that the Spidey supporting character Madame Web has her own movie in development… which is pretty surprising.

Unlike characters including Spider-Woman, Spider-Gwen, or Silk, Madame Web has never been traditionally portrayed as a superhero in the comics. In fact, unlike all those other super powered arachnid ladies, she’s actually a senior citizen!

First appearing in a 1981 issue of Amazing Spider-Man, Cassandra Webb was an elderly blind woman who helped Spider-Man through her clairvoyant visions. She suffered from a chronic neuromuscular disease, which made it very hard for her to move and breathe on her own, so she was connected to a life support system that took on the appearance of a giant spider’s web. Her precognitive powers helped Spider-Man on many cases, and she became an oracle for him to go to in times of need. Not only has she shown up several times in the comics, but has been prominently featured in video games and the ’90s Spider-Man animated series.

Marvel

Given Hollywood’s disinclination to make action adventure films about characters much north of 40, it seems likely that Madame Web will be drastically re-invented for the big screen. A young version of Madame Web was shown in the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man vs. Sinister 6, but that version was actually a renamed Julia Carpenter, who in the comics was the second Spider-Woman. She was kind of Madame Web in name only, but Sony could possibly be going that route.

Marvel

While it would be cool as heck to see a superhero movie about an elderly person with limited mobility and a power that doesn’t involve punching things, it would be shocking if Sony decided they would be that daring with anything related to their Spider-Man franchise. But we are totally here for a comic book movie about an elderly blind woman if they decided they have the chutzpah to go that route.

Whatever form it takes, the Madame Web film is set to be written by Morbius screenwriters Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.

Images: Marvel Comics

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Spider-Man’s cinematic future is currently in limbo. Will he stay in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or will Tom Holland swing away into a new Sony Spider-verse all his own? Whatever happens, Spidey will remain on the silver screen for the foreseeable future. And although there were five Spider-Man films before Holland started wearing the red and blue tights, some of the villains in those films are in need of a modern makeover.

We think Alfred Molina’s portrayal of Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 was perfect. It’s best to leave him alone for the time being. Why compete with perfection? And then there’s Spider-Man 3’s Venom, who thanks to his own movie franchise is no doubt off the table now. But the following five villains definitely could use a little cinematic redemption.

Green Goblin

The Green Goblin has long been Spider-Man’s most notorious adversary. Debuting in Amazing Spider-Man #14, he was first portrayed as a cackling yet deadly criminal trickster. Driven insane by the Goblin formula that gave him powers, he was a formidable physical match for Spidey. But when we discover the Green Goblin is millionaire Norman Osborn—father to Peter’s best friend Harry—things got personal.

Once the Goblin learned Spider-Man’s true identity, he went after his loved ones. Most famously, he killed Peter’s girlfriend Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #122. And since then, he’s spent decades manipulating Spider-Man. Although thought to be dead for decades, in the early ’90s, he re-emerged and was revealed as the mastermind behind many woes in Peter’s life, such as the infamous Clone Saga.

Given his status in the comics, it’s no surprise Sam Raimi wanted to use him in the very first Spider-Man film back in 2002. But although Willem Dafoe made for a great Norman Osborn, his Goblin felt like a Power Ranger character in both his look and his performance. When we’ve seen Ledger and Nicholson’s versions of the Joker on screen, there’s no excuse for what we ended up getting with the Green Goblin. He’s Spidey’s biggest bad guy and deserves a worthy cinematic interpretation.

Sandman

Another classic Spidey foe from the earliest days of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko was Sandman. First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #4, Flint Marko was a low-rent criminal from Queens who became something more when he survived a nuclear accident and became a creature of living sand. Embarking on a criminal career, he engaged with Spidey dozens of times over the years. But what makes Marko interesting is that he has a conscience… and has sometimes given up on his life of crime for a try at being a hero. He was even an Avenger for awhile, having joined the team in 1991’s Avengers #329.

Sandman famously appeared in live-action in Spider-Man 3, played by Thomas Haden Church. Despite the third Raimi Spider-Man‘s reputation of being an inferior movie with way too many villains, Sandman actually shines in this film. In fact, his origin is one of Raimi’s best sequences in the entire trilogy. The only real reason I think he needs a do-over is simply that the character deserves a movie to himself, and not have to share it with two other bad guys who take up way too much screen time.

Green Goblin II

Harry Osborn is not only Spider-Man’s best friend, but also his deadly enemy: the Green Goblin. Or should I say, the second Green Goblin. In the comics, Harry decides he must avenge the death of his father Norman (aka Gobby #1), for which he blames Spider-Man. In Amazing Spider-Man #136 he begins taking the Goblin formula and assumes the mantle of the Green Goblin. Losing his mind and becoming a criminal just like dear old dad, he becomes a long standing enemy of Spider-Man’s. Over the years in many comics, he struggles with the legacy of his father, and retaining his own sanity.

Poor Green Goblin II has already had not one, but two attempts at big screen stardom. While James Franco played Harry perfectly in the first two Raimi Spider-Man movies, his turn as the second Green Goblin felt forced and not very compelling when it came time to board the Goblin Glider in the third installment. Dane DeHaan played a version of the Goblin in Amazing Spider-Man 2, but everything about this version felt off the mark. Although there shouldn’t be a rush to make Harry Osborn the second Goblin in another movie adaptation anytime soon, eventually he will need another go round.

The Lizard

Like most of the best Spidey rogues, the Lizard was introduced early on in the comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Half man/half reptile, he gave Spidey a run for his money in—where else—Florida. You know, because alligators. First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #5, Dr. Curt Conners was a brilliant scientist who had lost an arm during his time in the military. Obsessed with growing a new arm, he created a formula based on reptilian DNA. The serum worked, and he grew a new arm… but also turned into a violent were-lizard. Although not really a bad guy in the strictest sense and more of a victim himself, he’s nevertheless traded blows with Spidey for decades.

Curt Conners appeared in his human form in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3. Played by the great character actor Dylan Baker, this version of Dr. Conners was one of Peter Parker’s teachers. And he seemed to care a great deal about his promising student. Unfortunately, we never got to see Baker transform into the Lizard, as Raimi’s story ended with the third film. Actor Rhys Ifans played him in Amazing Spider-Man, and while his performance wasn’t bad, it wasn’t entirely memorable either. It didn’t help that the design for the character in the movie didn’t really evoke the version from the comics, leaving everyone disappointed. Hopefully, with the Lizard, the third time will be the charm.

Electro

He’s one of the classic Spidey rogues with the absolute goofiest of costumes, but Electro is still one of the originals—and therefore, considered one of the greats. Max Dillon has a typical ’60s origin story: Lightning struck him while working on a telephone line, which gave him electrical powers. Dillon was done taking society’s guff and started a criminal career fighting not only Spider-Man but Daredevil. Not a particularly deep or smart villain, he nevertheless became an iconic Marvel baddie.

Electro made it into cineplexes worldwide when he was the main villain in Amazing Spider-Man 2. In the film, Electro—played by Jamie Foxx—was given a new backstory as a bumbling scientist who idolizes Spidey. But when he gets into accident that gives him electrical powers, he turns on his idol for reasons the movie struggles to make clear. Foxx’s very goofy portrayal in the movie felt like a throwback to the ’90s Batman films, and helped kill that iteration of the Spider-Man franchise. But I do have to say, at the very least, his movie costume looked very cool. However, eventually, Max Dillon needs another chance to be recharged.

Featured Image: Sony Pictures

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As we adjust to the news that Spider-Man will (maybe) no longer be in the MCU, it’s time to pour one out for the greatest live-action incarnation of Marvel’s #1 hero. Although Spidey has existed on the big screen since 2002, it was this third incarnation that truly got Peter Parker right. When Sam Raimi gave the world its very first taste of a big screen Peter Parker by way of Tobey Maguire, he did right by the character in many ways. But I think it’s fair to say that it wasn’t until Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios got ahold of him that we all got the truest version of the wall-crawler ever put on film. Simply put, Kevin Feige understand what makes Spider-Man tick more than any producer ever.

The Raimi movies understood that Peter Parker was a lovable loser, and Tobey Maguire nailed that part of the character from the word go. But he was never the quippy, funny guy when he put on the red and blue tights—at least nowhere near as much as he should have been. Meanwhile, Spidey 2.0 Andrew Garfield did get the smart-ass nature of Spider-Man down, but he was this traditionally handsome dude, with Twilight hair and charm for days. I never bought he’d ever be anything but the popular guy in school.

But when Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios came on board, Spider-Man was saved. Casting Tom Holland was the absolute perfect choice. He was adorable, but in a teenage dorky way—not in a sexy “I got game” way like Garfield. Holland’s Peter was a science dork for sure, but like comic book Peter, he actually has friends in school. Tobey Maguire’s version of Peter only had Harry Osborn as a friend, and that’s because Harry used him as his tutor and kind of put up with him. Holland’s Spidey was the version from the comics we’d all been waiting years for.

Peter’s relationships with the kids around him—Ned, Liz, MJ, and the others—was a staple of the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko comics, and almost totally ignored by the non-MCU Spider-Man films. Making Spider-Man a John Hughes-esque high school story was a genius move, and it helped make this perhaps our most beloved version of Peter yet.

In let’s not forget: we got two great villains in a row with MCU Spider-Man. Michael Keaton as the Vulture and Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio were both fantastic in totally different ways. Among the first five Spider-Man movies, we got one truly great bad guy in the form of Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock. But they dropped the ball on just about everyone else. Willem Dafoe was a great Norman Osborn for sure, but the less said about his Green Goblin, the better. Feige fully understood what made Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery great.

And when MCU Spider-Man did deviate from the comics, like with Aunt May, it worked. We’d seen old and doting May Parker done perfectly well in the original films, but Marisa Tomei’s version of May made way more sense in a modern context. Feige has an uncanny instinct to know what things from the classic comics must be kept, and which things are ready for a change. And it was most true in the MCU Spider-Man films.

Tom Holland is remaining as Spider-Man for Sony, as are the previous two film’s directors Jon Watts. And maybe everything will proceed more or less as it has been, just without mention of any Avengers. But the MCU magic that Kevin Feige sprinkled onto Spider-Man is something that no one else can replicate. Here’s hoping this eulogy is premature, and somehow Peter Parker can remain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where he clearly belongs.

Images: Sony Pictures

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With news that actor Jake Gyllenhaal is probably joining the latest Spider-Man sequel as the classic Spidey villain Mysterio, casual fans might be wondering who the heck Mysterio is. Well, the answer to that is a bit complicated. In the pages of Marvel Comics, there have been several characters who have assumed the name and fish bowl helmet and bedeviled Spidey over the years. Although they have all worn the same costume, and employed the same smoke and mirrors style tricks to defeat Spider-Man, there were three distinct men behind the mask.

The original, and probably most well known Mysterio, was special effects genius and stuntman Quentin Beck. Created early in the history of Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, this version of Mysterio first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #13, in June 1964. Beck wanted to become a leading actor and movie star, and saw his work behind the scenes in Hollywood as a dead end gig. Disillusioned with the Hollywood studios, he becomes a super-villain, using his deep knowledge of special effects trickery to become a formidable criminal. Nevertheless, a high school age Spider-Man arrests him, ruining any chances he had of a future career in the movies. This leads to a lifelong vendetta against the wall crawler.

Over the past fifty years of comics, Beck has gone toe-to-toe with Spider-Man dozens of times, using various tricks and special effects as smoke screens for his crimes. Beck is also well versed in hypnotism, is an accomplished magician, and knows about robotics. He’s also become an enemy of Spidey ally (and fellow New York hero) Daredevil. It was during a conflict with Daredevil that Beck seemingly commits suicide by shooting himself in the head. He has since returned, although there are alternate explanations for this resurrection. In some instances it says he faked his death, while others say he did indeed die and go to Hell, only to be returned to Earth to enact some sort of “cosmic balance.” (I choose to go with option #1 here.) In any event, Quentin Beck is seen as “Mysterio Prime” by most fans, and will probably be who Jake Gyllenhaal plays.

The second Mysterio to appear in the pages of Marvel Comics was Daniel Berkhart, who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #141 in 1975. After Beck appears to die in prison during an escape attempt (he got better), the Daily Bugle’s publisher J. Jonah Jameson, famously Spidey’s biggest hater, hires Berkhart, a stuntman who had previously worked in Hollywood with Beck, to torment Peter Parker by pretending to be Mysterio’s ghost. After Spidey beats him and discovers his real identity, Berkhart explains that Beck had given some of his equipment to him after he faked his death. Berkhart appears again as Mysterio during the different times in Spider-Man’s career that Beck either was truly dead or faked his death. It’s possible Gyllenhaal appears as Berkhart, but I wouldn’t count on the producers to skip over the original Mysterio.

The third Mysterio is Francis Klum, who was created by Kevin Smith for the mini-series Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil that Men Do, back in 2002. Klum was a mutant with powers of teleportation similar to famous X-Men member Nightcrawler. Klum had a very tragic and dark past, as he was sexually abused by his older brother Garrison, and then forced to use his powers to assist Garrison’s illegal activity as a heroin dealer. When Garrison dosed Peter Parker’s ally the Black Cat with heroin and attempted to rape her, Mysterio #3  decided to finally put a permanent end to his brother’s evil ways, and actually teleported within him and blowing up Garrison’s body. Every single aspect of Francis Klum’s time as Mysterio is WAY too dark and gross to be part of anything in a PG-13 Disney film, so we can maybe forget this version of Mysterio from ever popping up in a movie, except maybe in name only. 

So there you have it folks — the weird and complicated history of one of Spidey’s trippiest and most out-there villains. Are you guys excited to see old fishbowl head come to life on the big screen? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics

More From The MCU

• Jake Gyllenhaal will be Mysterio in the next Spider-Man movie
• The latest Captain America meme is hilarious.
• Chatting with the cinematographer of Black Panther.

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Peter Parker/Spider-Man – The Amazing Spider-Man video games

Sam voices the iconic Spider-Man in Beenox’s open-world action game, The Amazing Spider-Man. When a group of cross-species experimental monsters and a virus escape from Oscorp, it’s up to Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy to set things right. And really, with whom would you rather swing through the streets of New York City more than Sam?

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