Tangled Webs: Best Spider-Man Comics On The Amazon Digital Comics Sale

UPDATE: TWO DAYS LATER, THE SALE IS OVER!

For whatever reason, Amazon has taken to selling digital copies of Marvel collections at ridiculously low prices during the occasional sales. There seems to be a new one going on right now.

If you like Digital Comics, this sale is for you, with hundreds of digital graphic novels at 99 cents each. If you don’t like Digital Comics, this sale might convert you. An Amazon Fire tablet is about fifty bucks, and you’ll more than make up for the costs, and these look good on Ipads. There are some sales that are good, and some sales that might be a weird cover for a money-laundering scheme, or an attempt to deny Peter David royalties. This one might just fall into the latter category.

The one essential item to get is The Death of Jean Dewolff. This Peter David/ Rich Buckler storyline is a mainstay of the lists of the best Spider-Man stories ever, and deservedly so, a murder mystery as Spider-Man and Daredevil chase a new villain who has killed two of their friends. Their differing views on justice lead to conflict. It also includes Peter David’s “Return of the Sin-Eater” three-parter (with art by Sal Buscema and an appearance by Electro) as Spider-Man deals with the consequences of how he transformed one of his enemies. The other great Spider-Man is “The Return of the Burglar” collecting Amazing Spider-Man #193-200. It’s an important stretch of issues with the first appearance of the Black Cat, the apparent death of Aunt May, the final appearance of the Kingpin before he started menacing Frank Miller’s Daredevil, the return of Mysterio after more than a decade, and the rematch with Uncle Ben’s killer. It’s also really good, ranked in fifteenth place on the Crawlspace list of the Top 50 Spider-Man stories. Almost as highly recommended is Spider-Man: Marvel Team Up by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, which includes the underappreciated bronze age Spider-Man run by the creative team responsible for some of the best Marvel comics ever at the height of their powers. Spider-Man’s taken out of his element and given challenges that require the power of the other Marvel heroes.

There’s more good Spidey stuff. The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man including Danny Fingeroth’s original mini-series about the Sinister Syndicate, as well as the follow-up The Lethal Foes of Spider-Man. Spider-Man: The Graphic Novels includes Hooky—a fantasy epic with gorgeous art by Bernie Wrightson, Fear Itself, and Spirits of the Earth—with gorgeous art by Charlie Vess. Of particular note is Parallel Lives, which examined the lead-up to Peter and Mary Jane’s first meeting, and features a climactic battle with Doctor Octopus.  Spider-Man: Through the Decades is a sampling of work from the Lee/ Ditko era to Brand New Day with major first appearances and moments from the series. Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up Volume 1 covers the first year of the series by the likes of Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Gil Kane and Ross Andru. Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team Up Volume 2 features work by Len Wein, Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, and Sal Buscema, as well as the first appearance of Stegron. World’s Greatest Hero collects standalone work by Roger Stern, Tom DeFalco and others.

So you’re pretty much getting the first appearance of Stegron for a dime.

The 1990s are well-represented. Spider-Man: The Next Chapter Volume 1 covers the beginning of Howard Mackie’s 1998 relaunch with art by John Byrne and John Romita Jr. The second volume covers the next half year of those runs with the returns of Venom and the Sinister Six. The third volume features the “death” of Mary Jane and its aftermath. You’ll be able to judge for yourself whether it deserves its reputation as one of the worst times to be a Spider-man fan. Spider-Hunt includes the late 1990s crossover as a framed Spider-Man is hunted by the authorities and Norman Osborn (with art by Mike Wieringo and John Romita Jr) while Identity Crisis covers the follow-up as Spider-Man develops four new secret identities. Spider-Man: The Daily Bugle includes assorted mini-series and standalone stories of the Bugle, and is it worth for “Behind the Mustache” Zeb Wells’s J Jonah Jameson spotlight. Spider-Man: The Mutant Agenda was a crossover with both the X-Men and the comic strip, serving as the basis for a two part saga in the 90s animated cartoon. Venom: Carnage Unleashed collects two of the 90s Venom mini-series, pitting Brock against Carnage and his ex-wife.

Some recent Spider-Man collections are also included. Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows Volume 2 includes Issues 6-12 of Gerry Conway and Ryan Stegman’s run on the title. Spider-Man 2099 Volume 7 features the final issues of Peter David’s run on that title, as well as his class crossover between the two Spider-Men. Edge of Venomverse featured the build-up to the Venomverse event. Spider-Man II is Bendis and Sara Pichelli’s new crossover between Miles Morales and Peter Parker. Peter Parker the Spectacular Spider-Man Volume 1 is the first six issues of Zdarsky and Kubert’s run, with some big changes to Spidey. Amazing Spider-Man Worldwide Volume 7 features Spider-Man VS the Green Goblin and a new direction by Dan Slott. Spider-Man/ Deadpool Volume 3: Itsy Bitsy concludes Joe Kelly and Ed McGuiness’s run with Spider-Man/ Deadpool hybrid Itsy Bitsy, while Spider-Man/ Deadpool Volume 4 has some self-contained stories. Venom Volume 2: Land Before Crime and Venom Volume 3: Blood in the Water are also part of the sale. Spider-Man: Miles Morales Volume 3 pits the hero against Hammerhead. Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider Volume 1 begins Peter David’s run on the series, while Volume 2: Death’s Sting pits him against the new Slingers. Spider-Gwen Volume 4: Predators introduces the symbiote to the series.

There are some crossovers with key Spider-Man appearances. Fantastic Four: Island of Death features Tom Beland and Juan Doe’s Puerto Rico themed one-shots, starting with Spider-Man/ Human Torch: Bahia De Los Muertos. Hulk Visionaries: Peter David Volume 3 pits the Joe Fixit Hulk against Spider-Man. Cloak and Dagger: Runaways and Reversals features assorted 21st Century appearances of the duo, including some of their encounters with Spider-Man. Deadpool Classic Volume 20: Ultimate Deadpool includes the ultimate version of the Merc with a mouth from Bendis/ Bagley’s Ultimate Spider-Man.

If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, it stands to reason that you’re also a fan of Marvel comics in general, and there are some all-time classics included in the sale. Vision: Director’s Cut includes Tom King and Gabriel Walta’s twelve issue mini-series about what happens when the Vision tries to live a normal life in the suburbs of Washington DC, along with an array of supplemental material. Marvel Masterworks: Warlock Volume 2 includes Jim Starlin’s run on the title, and the Avengers annual that helped tie up the run, while also serving as the basis for Thanos being the big bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Captain Marvel Masterworks Volume 3 covers most of Jim Starlin’s run on that title, with the debut of Thanos. The Death of Captain Marvel includes Starlin’s classic OGN and the build-up to it. Black Bolt Volume 1 is the one well-regarded Inhumans title, and has just been nominated for a Hugo award. Thor Visionaries: Walt Simonson Volume 1 kicked off his run with the introduction of Beta-Ray Bill, while Volume 2 is the Surtur saga, widely considered the highlight of the character’s history. Excalibur: The Cross-Time Caper includes Chris Claremont and Alan Davis’ dimension hopping epic. Thor Epic Collection: The Wrath of Odin features two years of Lee/ Kirby goodness. Black Panther: Panther’s Quest covers Don McGregor and Gene Colan’s underappreciated saga from Marvel Comics Presents. Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD Masterworks Volume 2 includes the majority of Jim Steranko’s innovative work on the character. There’s more material available from Golden Age masterworks to Silver Age anthologies, all you need to be an expert on all things Marvel.

Did anyone go for any of these items? And are there other recommendations?