Best Spider-Man Stories by Decade: the 1990s

Ah, the 1990s. Depending on who you ask, this is largely seen as a troubled decade for the comics industry as a whole (for good reason) and sadly, Spider-Man is not exempt from this. While a lot of Spidey material came out in the ’90s (arguably a little too much), the first thing that fans are likely to think when this period is brought up can be summed up in one word: clones.

Yes, the ’90s are most known for the infamous Clone Saga that ran for far too long and nearly destroyed the character forever. However, the ’90s have a lot more to offer than just the Clone Saga. In fact, I’d even argue that there is a lot of good surrounding the web-slinger this decade that doesn’t always get acknowledged. So let’s countdown what I consider to be the ten strongest Spider-Man stories from the 1990s!

 

10.) Goblins at the Gate

by Roger Stern, Glenn Greenberg & Luke Ross

Desperate to escape from prison, Roderick Kingsley a.k.a. The Hobgoblin puts the word out that he has access to one of Norman Osborn’s old journals that proves he is the Green Goblin. Not wanting to take the chance of his secret being revealed, Norman has Roderick sprung from prison and brought before him. With the two masterminds at a leverage stalemate, they enter an uneasy alliance with one another against their hated foe: Spider-Man. But how long will these goblins be able to tolerate one another?

The original versions of both the Green Goblin and the Hobgoblin meeting face to face for the first time is a gripping enough premise on its own and thankfully, the story that ensues lives up to the promise. While this could have easily been a simple slugfest between Norman and Roderick (and we do get some of that towards the end), the creative team made it so much more. Instead of a physical brawl, Goblins at the Gate instead focuses on the psychological struggle, with Roderick and Norman constantly trying to one-up and gain leverage over the other, knowing they could be betrayed at any time. It’s a deadly battle of wits that Spider-Man once again finds himself caught in the middle of.

 

09.) Doom Service

by David Michellinie & Erik Larsen

Spider-Man is hot on the trail of notorious jewel thief, the Black Fox. However, things become more complicated for both parties when it’s revealed that the latest treasure the Black Fox has pilfered belongs to none other than Doctor Doom himself! Doom ends up giving our hero an unlikely ultimatum: track down the Black Fox and return his valuables to him or die. 

Doctor Doom has always been among Marvel’s greatest villains (don’t let his film adaptations convince you otherwise) and this is easily his most memorable encounter with the wall-crawler. Try as he might, Spidey proves to be no match for the dreaded doctor and is forced to make a bargain with him in order to stay alive. Doom has rarely been as imposing as he is here, making it clear that he could end Spidey at any time if he so chooses. But aside from the villain, Doom Service ends up being a unique and unexpected exploration of Peter Parker’s character, showing readers that the Black Fox reminds him of his Uncle Been in a strange way and how his compassion and empathy can sometimes get the better of him.

 

08.) Spider-Hunt

by various

After small-time hood Joey Z. is found dead encased in what appears to be webbing, Spider-Man is branded a murderer and a bounty is placed on his head. Unsurprisingly, the bounty comes from none other than Norman Osborn, as this is his latest scheme to destroy his hated nemesis once and for all. However, things get dicey when a brand-new Green Goblin appears and abducts Norman’s grandson!

Spider-Hunt tends to get overlooked by most fans, which is a shame because it’s definitely one of the stronger event comics of the decade. Norman Osborn is in top form throughout, playing constant mind games with an increasingly frustrated Peter Parker and always remaining one step ahead, despite our hero’s best efforts. The action is great throughout as Spidey is forced to battle against a slew of bounty hunters seeking to claim the reward, including the Punisher himself! The mystery Green Goblin is also highly intriguing since you’re never quite sure if this is another one of Norman’s schemes or some new party entirely.

 

07.) Kravinov’s Revenge

by J.M. DeMatteis & Luke Ross

The Chameleon escapes from the Ravencroft Institute and sets out to get revenge on Spider-Man. But much to his shock, the Chameleon manages to learn not only his arch foe’s secret identity, but some newfound details of his own identity as well…

The era after the Clone Saga finally ended actually contained a number of really good stories that are often overlooked by the fandom, including what might just be the single greatest Chameleon story ever told. The master of disguise is at his absolute craftiest here, devising some of the most memorable schemes of his career, one of which finally allows him to learn Spider-Man’s identity. At the same time, he is also quite sad and pathetic, as a lifetime of abuse and mistreatment by his “friend”, Sergei Krainov a.k.a. Kraven the Hunter, has left him with a major inferiority complex that he tries to overcome by taking all of his rage out on Spider-Man.

On top of that, Mary Jane Watson-Parker fans should not miss this story, as it contains one of the character’s greatest moments towards the end when the Chameleon goes after her in the guise of her husband. I won’t spoil what happens, but it’s both hilarious and awesome at the same time.

 

06.) The Return of the Sinister Six

by David Michelinie & Erik Larsen

In order to enact his latest scheme, Doctor Octopus sets out to reform the Sinister Six with the Vulture, Sandman, Mysterio, Electro and the Hobgoblin. Will Spider-Man be able to take on six of his deadliest foes all at once?

While Doc Ock’s ultimate scheme is rather nonsensical and the narrative isn’t particular deep, Return of the Sinister Six is so much fun that it really doesn’t matter. The action is excellent, never letting up and constantly finding new scenarios to place our hero in. The team dynamic is also in top form as each of the villains play incredibly well off each other, always giving the impression that they could turn on one another at any moment (SPOILERS: they do). Despite all the high-octane action and entertainment occurring, the creative team still finds room for some heartfelt moments throughout, including the death of an important supporting character.

All in all, Return of the Sinister Six is essentially a summer blockbuster in comic book form.

 

05.) An Obituary for Octopus

by Tom DeFalco & Ron Lim

Doctor Octopus escapes from prison and sets out on a highly personal quest. As Spider-Man tracks him down, we are given flashbacks to Otto Octavius’s past as we finally learn of the events in the once-good doctor’s life that set him on his path to villainy. 

After decades as one of the web-slinger’s most prominent foes, readers are finally given the full origin story of Doctor Octopus. Writer Tom DeFalco cleverly draws many parallels between Otto Octavius and Peter Parker, highlighting the striking similarities between the two, as well as what ultimately set them on different paths. Both were unappreciated outcasts who were shunned by both their peers and society at large throughout their lives, but Peter at least had a loving support system in the form of his Aunt May and Uncle Ben to keep him on the right path. Meanwhile, Otto was stuck with an abusive father who belittled him at every turn and a controlling mother who refused to allow her son his own life, even guilting him into ending his relationship with the woman he loved.

It’s a great origin story that really allows readers to sympathize with Otto, while still making it clear that he’s the villain. There’s also a great twist at the end that serves to further humanize Otto and establish that he may not be as heartless as he often lets on.

 

04.) Funeral Arrangements

by J.M. DeMatteis & Sal Buscema

The Vulture is slowly dying of cancer, but before he departs this earth, he plans on taking all of his enemies with him. This naturally includes Spider-Man, his old business partner Gregory Bestman, the underworld stoolies who snitched on him and finally…May Parker?! However, it turns out that the Vulture doesn’t seek Aunt May’s death, but rather…her forgiveness?

This is easily, without question, the best Vulture story ever told. Adrian Toomes is absolutely ruthless and unnerving here as he will stop at nothing to eliminate everyone he feels has wronged him in life with what little time he has left. However, he’s also surprisingly sympathetic and pitiful here as he desperately seeks to make amends with the grieving widow of the one person he ever felt a positive connection with in his miserable life. Adrian Toomes is truly a complex, three-dimensional character here as writer J.M. DeMatteis makes it clear that while he is an inexcusably evil man, he’s also still human and not without empathy.

As an added bonus, Funeral Arrangements is easily one of the strongest depictions that Aunt May has ever received. Instead of the one-note doter she often portrayed as, here she is a tough, hardened old woman who has experienced too much tragedy in her lifetime.

 

03.) Night of the Goblin

by Howard Mackie & John Romita Jr.

While on his way to the hospital to visit his pregnant wife, Peter Parker is blindsided and taken to the mysterious mastermind who has been wreaking havoc on his and Ben Reilly’s life for months. This mastermind is none other than Norman Osborn, back from the dead! Donning his Green Goblin costume, Norman prepares for the final battle with his hated foe…but not before he causes further devastation to Peter’s life.

The Clone Saga was a disaster that almost ruined Spider-Man as we know him. The pitfalls of this era have been well-documented and I don’t see the need to go through each of them here. However, for as awful as The Clone Saga was a whole, it at least went out on a high note with this story. Norman Osborn’s resurrection was a controversial decision that continues to be debated to this day, but it’s hard to argue that he isn’t in top form here as he taunts Spider-Man with all of the chaos he has caused in his life. The dialogue between the two is great, as is the ensuing battle. It’s an all-out brawl between two long-time foes who hate each other with a passion.

This is also a highly emotional issue as our hero experiences further loss and tragedy, yet still manages to emerge unbroken. The Clone Saga may have been a trainwreck, but this issue alone almost makes it worthwhile. Almost.

 

02.) Carnage

by David Michellinie & Mark Bagley

When psychopathic serial killer Cletus Kasady bonds with an alien symbiote, he becomes the unstoppable force of destruction known as Carnage! Unable to defeat the sadist on his own, Spider-Man is left with no choice but seek the aid of one his greatest adversaries…Eddie Brock a.k.a. Venom!

While symbiotes would eventually become played out in the 1990s, they were truly something fresh and exciting when the story was published. Carnage is such a terrifying villain because of his simplicity; he’s a remorseless murderer who has been given unimaginable power that he only uses for senseless slaughter. Spider-Man and Venom being forced to team up in order to bring him down is completely unexpected yet incredibly entertaining as the two make for the most unlikely and uneasy of allies.

Throw in some great action, character interactions and artwork and you have one of the best Spidey stories of the decade.

 

01.) Best of Enemies

by J.M. DeMatteis & Sal Buscema

After relapsing back into insanity despite years of a clean bill of health, Harry Osborn becomes the Green Goblin once more and sets out to avenge his father against Spider-Man. How can our hero bring himself to fight his best friend? And is Harry truly too far gone this time?

Harry Osborn’s descent into madness and vengeance throughout the pages of Spectacular Spider-Man is easily some of the strongest, most compelling and most emotional material the web-head has ever had. Seeing Harry throw away his happy life with his wife and son in order to appease the memory of his long-deceased (for now) father who treated him like dirt his entire life is both heart-breaking and infuriating in the best possible ways. For all of the grief and misery that Harry puts Peter Parker through here, it’s clear that deep down, he loves his best friend and actually hates Norman for the deep emotional scars he inflicted on him over the years. Unfortunately, the wounded child within (see what I did there?) his soul can never allow him to admit that.

This refusal to accept reality leads to one of the greatest tragedies in the web-slinger’s career, as well as one of the most emotionally charged sagas Marvel has ever published. The 1990s certainly had their downs, but masterpieces like this prove that the decade had more to offer than some would care to admit.

 

So what do you think? Did I leave out any of your favorite stories? Do you disagree with any of my choices? Let me know in the comments below?