-Spider-Man Vs Wolverine One-Shot

This story from James Owsley goes for more of a gritty and serious tone than the usual team-up fare, it features a (slightly) more down-to-Earth plot about Russian spies and the Cold War, with a lot of introspective monologing throughout. After discovering a murder scene Spidey resolves to track down the killer, who turns out to be a Female assassin and old acquaintance of Wolverine's. To Wolvie's frustration Spider-Man follows him over the Berlin Wall into East Germany to try to apprehend the assassin. I was initially apprehensive about adding this particular story as it doesn't quite feel like a Spider-Man story at times, but the quality of the writing is very high, and Pete does get some quite interesting scenes that take place outside of his usual comfort zone.

-Amazing Spider-Man #666-#673, Spider-Island: Deadly Foes #1

Bombastic action epic from Dan Slott that has everyone in New York developing Spider-Powers. Its a story that is just full to the brim with fun moments that everyone wanted to see, but just didn't know it yet. Mary Jane swinging though the air fighting crime? check! J. Jonah Jameson becoming that which he most hates? check! The whole thing is just pure lightweight enjoyment in comic book form, and Ramos' cartoony artwork manages to be just as energetic and fun as the storytelling itself.

-Amazing Spider-Man #30-#35 (#471-#476)

Spider-Man comics went through some dark days during the 90s, there were many upheavals, the character's whole status quo was jumbled around, and half his major villains were killed off and replaced by new "edgier" versions. Writer J. Michael Straczynski (creator of Babylon 5) thankfully heralded a return to form. Coming Home was JMS' first major arc, and he wasted no time in introducing a new status quo for the character; getting bitten by the radioactive Spider was now fate, Pete had been chosen to represent an Animal Deity as a "Totem", and there were creatures out there who hunted these Totems. JMS introduces two new characters, the intriguing Ezekiel, and evil Totem-hunter Morlun (somewhat like the animated version of Morbius) and proceeds to create one of the most heated and brutal battles in Spider-Man comics, old Spidey is beaten and bruised but keeps going on just how we expect him to, with Spidey's costume torn to shreds by the conclusion.

-Amazing Spider-Man #96-#98

A milestone issue for both Spider-Man, and for American comics in general. With this story Marvel decided to defy the Comics Code Authority (a regulatory body in America that forced comics to adhere to strict guidelines) in order to do an issue about the dangers of drugs. Such was the impact of the story that the CCA decided to loosen up their rules a little (leading to DC doing their own drugs stories such as that of Green Arrow's sidekick Speedy). The plot has Pete's friend Harry taking ill after using drugs, and also marks the return of his father, the Green Goblin after he recovers his memory. Its an entertaining and important issue that tackles themes that were rarely seen in comics of the time, admittedly its a bit naive and sometimes reads like a public service announcement, but that's all just part of the charm!

-Amazing Spider-Man #655-#656

After the death of yet another close acquaintance Pete experiences a nightmarish dream that includes all of the people he's ever known who have died. After waking he resolves that from this point onwards no-one will die on his watch, unfortunately at this very moment the new villain "Massacre" turns up, he's holding hostages, and Spidey's recently lost his Spider-Sense. The issue contains some first rate artwork, with some fantastic dialogue-free storytelling for the big funeral scene, and some very memorable surreal sequences for Pete's nightmare. The story is classic Peter Parker, with the character following his heart instead of his head as usual, and letting his idealism shine through.

-Amazing Spider-Man 300

The first appearance of one of Spidey's most popular enemies, Venom. Due to an imagined mistreatment, Venom aims to mercilessly hunt down and kill Spider-Man, and unfortunately he knows Pete's secret identity. There's been a lot of talk about the silliness of Venom's revenge motives over the years, but after some careful thought I've decided that I disagree with this conclusion! I think, whether on purpose or not, that Venom's backstory works to highlight just how irrational he is, he is fixated on Spider-Man, and has more in common with psychotic celebrity stalkers such as Mark David Chapman than someone just holding a grudge. The absurd nature of his grudge also highlights just how hard Brock tries to defer blame from himself, and that he absolutely cannot take responsibility for his own actions. Venom is erratic, and irrational, and these only help to make him more frightening and less conventional.

-Amazing Spider-Man #153

Underrated story from Len Wein and Ross Andru that's about a failed American Football star who's daughter is kidnapped in order to coerce him into giving away important scientific technology. A poignant, slightly more grounded Spider-Man story than the usual fare that is beautifully constructed and relayed with impact, definitely Wein's best Spider-Man work. I don't really want to reveal too much about the plot lest I spoil it!

-Amazing Spider-Man #229-#230

A classic action set-up if ever I've heard it, the ever-intimidating Juggernaut is in town, he's after Spider-Man's sometime ally, Madame Web and he won't take no for an answer, can Spidey do anything to stop the Juggernaut? A classic underdog tale in the manner of David and Goliath, Spider-Man desperately tries a range of different methods to try to take down his seemingly invincible foe. Its a familiar set-up, but its elevated with some excellent prose and unforgettable artwork, with memorable scenes such as that of the menacing Juggernaut walking completely unfazed through an inferno of flames, a seemingly unstoppable force of malice bearing down on our hero!

-Amazing Spider-Man 39-40

The Green Goblin and Spider-Man finally learn each others true identities in this momentous story from Stan Lee and John Romita Sr (the artist's first issue after replacing Steve Ditko). The issue reveals to the audience at last just how the Green Goblin came to be (something I'm sure everyone was dying to see), and includes a very memorable, and very tense battle between an out-of-costume Spider-Man and (arguably) his arch nemesis right there on his front lawn, merely yards away from an unsuspecting Aunt May! Seminal stuff.

-Amazing 238-239, Spectacular 85, Amazing 244-245, Amazing 249-251

Here we have Roger Stern trying his hand at a classic Lee/Ditko style Goblin mystery story, this time with Stern's character, the Hobgoblin, an opportunist who stumbles upon one of Norman's old weapon caches. The saga is packed with great fights, intrigue, and many twists and turns as the Hobgoblin schemes and manipulates his way through the story. We get the ever important power and responsibility themes, with Pete's irresponsibility being a cause of the Hobgoblin's rise, as well as an engaging and fleshed out villain, with the plot almost reading like a "Year One" villain story at times as it focuses on Hobgoblin as he slowly grows in confidence and experience as the plot progresses.