Stan Lee’s 10 Greatest Spider-Man Stories!

Stan Lee has recently passed away at age 95.

To call this man a comic book legend would be a massive understatement and even a disservice. This is the person who created most of the Marvel Universe and comics would not be what they are today without his creativity and influence. The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, Daredevil, The Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther, Doctor Strange and so on are Mr. Lee’s legacy–a legacy that will continue to live on through their many, many fans forever.

However, there is one Stan Lee creation that truly rises above the rest and is easily among his greatest accomplishments (no small feat):

That’s right, true believers: The Amazing, The Spectacular, The Sensational, Your Friendly Neighborhood SPIDER-MAN!!!!!!!

One of the greatest characters in all of fiction, Spider-Man/Peter Parker has had no shortage of excellent (and terrible) tales in his 56 years (and counting) of existence. During this time, many top-tier talented writers have gotten a crack at the wall-crawler and have carved in their own legacy. Writers like Gerry Conway, Roger Stern, Peter David, Tom DeFalco, J.M. DeMatteis, David Michelinie and J. Michael Straczynski just to name a mere few have all had some truly great tenures on the character that fans still revere to this day (and that’s to say nothing of the many superb artists who have gotten to draw the web-slinger).

And yet, Stan Lee’s work on the old web-head still stands head and shoulders above the rest. Not just because he created the title character, most of his rogues gallery and his supporting cast, but Stan’s stories themselves still rank among the greatest superhero comics ever written.

So what better way to commemorate the passing and celebrate the legacy of such a legend than by listing his greatest stories featuring his greatest character?

Keep in mind that this list is just my personal opinion and if you feel I’ve left something out, please let me know in the comments below. Let’s begin!

 

10.) And Death Shall Come

While often overshadowed by his daughter’s death, the tragic passing of Captain George Stacy remains one of the saddest moments in Spider-Man history (which is saying something). The sequence in which Spidey desperately attempts to rush George to the hospital only to have him reveal that he has always known his secret identity before dying in his arms is a true gut punch. What started as a pretty standard Doctor Octopus story unexpectedly morphed into one of Spider-Man’s greatest failures.

 

09.) The Drug Saga

The importance and impact of these three issues on the comic book industry cannot be understated. Stan Lee famously wanted to publish a Spider-Man story discussing the dangers of drug use, but the Comics Code Authority said no. Refusing to back down, Lee went ahead and published the story regardless. The rest is history. The arc was such a success that the Comics Code ended up loosening its restrictions–gradually at first, but more and more as time progressed. Without these issues here, we might never have gotten The Night Gwen Stacy Died, The Dark Phoenix Saga or Frank Miller’s legendary Daredevil work just to name a few. People like to credit Gwen Stacy’s murder as the event that ended The Silver Age, but the seeds for darker, more mature comics had already been planted several years prior to the incident.

Aside from cultural impact, the story itself remains a compelling read. Harry Osborn’s desperation and misery as he becomes a pill-popper is both shocking and saddening. But let’s not forget the immense satisfaction I’m sure we all felt when Peter Parker (in his civilian identity no less) lets Harry’s drug dealers know that his best friend is off limits. This might be the only story where The Green Goblin actually takes a back seat to all of the other drama playing out!

 

08.) The Goblin Lives

At times overlooked due to originally being published in an extremely short-lived magazine (only two issues long to be exact), The Goblin Lives represents Silver Age Norman Osborn at his craziest.

After regaining his memories, Norman becomes his emerald-equipped alter-ego once more and sets out to destroy his intensely despised enemy. This issue marks the first time Norman’s Goblin persona is treated more as a split personality of sorts–something that the cartoons and movies would greatly expand upon.

Other highlights include the intense dinner conversation between Norman and Peter Parker that threatens to turn violent at any moment, as well as the intense final battle between Spider-Man and The Green Goblin where we see just how far the latter’s mania extends.

 

07.) Horns of The Rhino

While Spider-Man’s duels with the newly-introduced Rhino and super-powered John Jameson are a lot of fun, I think we can all agree that this is the highlight of the arc:

That’s right; it’s the introduction of Peter Parker’s soulmate and one of the greatest supporting characters in all of comics: Mary Jane Watson!

With her legendary introduction, spunky personality and gripping good-looks, it’s really no wonder Mary Jane was an instant hit with readers. She was so popular that Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. actually admitted that they tried to make Gwen Stacy more like her in succeeding issues in order to boost her status with readers!

 

06.) To Squash a Spider

When it comes to Spider-Man’s assortment of B-list foes, Mysterio has always been among my favorites (just behind The Vulture). Stan Lee has done a lot of great yarns featuring The Master of Illusion, but this two-parter is definitely his best.

This story still contains what is easily Mysterio’s greatest illusion to date: hypnotizing Spider-Man into believing he has shrunken!

What follows is one of the most unique and creative battles in comics as Spidey has to battle his way through a booby-trapped amusement park while avoiding his much larger foe! It’s a shame Mysterio has never been used this imaginatively again (not in Spider-Man comics anyway).

 

05.) Spider-Man No More

While Peter Parker deciding to quit being Spider-Man would get repetitive after the first ten times, no one could forget how shocking it was when he first did it in this arc here. Peter’s journey of deciding to give up being a superhero because he believes the public will never appreciate his efforts only to realize he can never turn his back on the destiny and responsibility he has been shouldered with is truly powerful and really gets to the root of his character.

But let’s not let that seminal issue overshadow the rest of this equally exceptional arc! For this is when Spidey first encounters a foe who would go on to become one of Marvel’s greatest villains: The Kingpin of Crime! Combine that with the heroic, yet underrated sacrifice of Fredrick Foswell and you have a Spider-Man story for the ages!

 

 

04.) The Sinister Six

This is the annual that gave birth to one of the most famous supervillain teams in all of comics: The Sinister Six! While there have been numerous incarnations, their first appearance arguably remains their strongest.

After kidnapping Betty Brant and Aunt May to draw Spider-Man out (who seems to have mysteriously lost his superpowers), what follows is a non-stop, action packed roller coaster as our hero has to take on a fierce gauntlet of his greatest foes: Electro, Kraven The Hunter, Mysterio, Sandman, The Vulture and of course, Doctor Octopus! It may be relatively light on story, but it still stands as one of the most entertaining comics Stan Lee and Steve Ditko have ever crafted.

 

03.) The End of The Green Goblin

This is it right here; the moment where The Green Goblin truly became Spider-Man’s arch nemesis. Before this point, many would have declared Doctor Octopus as the arachnid’s top foe, but the good doctor was knocked down to #2 after this arc.

After The Green Goblin discovers his heated rival’s secret identity through a clever (yet surprisingly simple) scheme, he proceeds to defeat him in battle, kidnap him, take him to his secret lair and finally reveal his own secret to him; he’s actually Norman Osborn, father to Peter Parker’s classmate Harry Osborn!

Honestly, Norman Osborn being The Green Goblin could have easily been a big disappointment. The Goblin had been around for several years by this point, but Norman had only been introduced two issues prior to this story. With that in mind, this revelation could have fallen totally flat, but Stan Lee manages to craft a very engaging and intriguing backstory for Norman; quickly making him Spidey’s most fleshed-out and interesting foe.

Needless to say, this story would go on to define the Spidey/Goblin rivalry for years and years to come. This is the point where The Green Goblin/Norman Osborn truly begins taking shape as one of Marvel’s top antagonists.

 

02.) Spider-Man

If there is one story on this list that truly needs no introduction, it’s this one. The tale of an unpopular teenager receiving miraculous abilities from a freak accident, deciding to use them for his own personal gain, paying a steep price for his selfishness and learning the hard way that he needs to use his gifts much more responsibly is easily one of the greatest origin stories of all time–superhero or otherwise.

“With great power comes great responsibility” is a brilliant mantra and lesson that everyone can benefit from.

 

01.) The Master Planner Saga

Was there ever any doubt? This story has it all: awesome action, stellar character drama, classic artwork and one of the greatest sequences in Spider-Man history.

After Aunt May falls terminally ill, there is only one rare serum that can save her life. Unfortunately, this serum is stolen by a criminal mastermind called The Master Planner (or Doctor Octopus) for one of his nefarious schemes. What follows is a Spider-Man more determined and desperate than we have ever seen him before. He (quite literally) tears his way through the criminal underworld as he desperately attempts to find any information he can on The Master Planner’s whereabouts.

Up to this point, we have never seen Spidey in such a panicked state. He shows criminals no mercy as he terrorizes them for any clues he can muster in order to save his aunt’s life. While Aunt May being on death’s door would become an obnoxious cliche after awhile, readers really weren’t sure if she would pull through this time.

All of this culminates in the ever-iconic scene where our hero is trapped under endless rubble as the room begins filling with water and the needed serum is just out of reach.

This is definitive Marvel right here. It isn’t just one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time; it’s one of the greatest superhero stories of all time. A true classic through and through.

Oh and it also marks the first appearances of Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy. What’s not to love?

 

While there are many other excellent Spidey sagas Stan Lee has crafted, these will always stand as my personal favorites. Rest in peace, Stan. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten.