Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!
Welcome back to our stroll down memory lane of Peter Parker’s most important life events. Our “Indispensable Spider-Man” series is a number of lists that contain the essential issues to read, from the beginning, to get the full Spider-Man experience while not reading too much of the filler that’s out there.
A new installment comes every Friday, and today we tackle the end run of the Copper Age, which features oh so many changes to the Spider-Man chronology status quo (hence the Bowie reference at the beginning of the article).
Before we get down to the details:
- What are considered the best issues in the main Spider-Man chronology are central
- Storylines that include an important change in status quo are also central
- Very important issues are marked with two asterisks (**), while issues that are part of those storylines, without the major event, are also included and marked with a diminutive one asterisk (*). Search for “**” in this below to further pare down the list.
Spider-Man Chronology from 1987-1989 : What You Need To Know
What makes the cut of the indispensable 1987-1989 Spider-Man Chronology
There are a lot good issues during this run. Many of them contain a lot of changes to the status quo, and many are considered some of the best, or THE best, stories in the Spider-Man chronology. Some of them are both. This is perhaps the era in the Spider-Man chronology where the number of essential issues are the most dense when compared to the filler (with the exception of the single-title Stan Lee era). Kraven’s Last Hunt, Peter gets married, Inferno and the Lobo Brothers Gang War are just some of the stories that make the cut.
Creators of the 1987-1989 Spider-Man Chronology era
Michelinie gets the writer’s gig over in Amazing and immediately, and some might say masterfully, pens the Wedding story, along with Romita Jr. This marks the beginning of this portion of the Spider-Man chronology. Soon after Todd McFarlane makes his debut on Amazing. Then, Zeck and DeMatteis do their Kraven’s Last Hunt crossover.
Over in Spectacular, Peter David finishes his run and passes on the title to Gerry Conway, who both get to work with Sal Buscema on art. Conway also pens many Web of Spider-Man issues with long-time Spider-Man artist Alex Saviuk.
Titles of the 1987-1980 Spider-Man Chronology era
Three titles continue to span this Spider-Man Chronology: Amazing Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man and Web of Spider-Man.
Events of the 1987-1989 Spider-Man Chronology era
Here are the most important events in this era of the Spider-Man chronology:
- Peter propose to Mary Jane, they get married
- Spider-Man gets beaten and buried alive by Kraven (which culminates with a surprise ending)
- Doc Ock develops and conquers arachnaphobia
- The Sin-Eater is released from jail
- Peter and MJ move out of their Chelsea apartment and into Bedford Towers
- Venom makes his first appearance
- Tombstone appears, leading Robertson eventually going to jail
- MJ gets kidnapped by Caesar
- Gwen Stacy clone revealed to be Joyce Delaney, and not really a clone
- Harry Osborn becomes the Green Goblin during Inferno, fights alongside Spider-Man as “Good Guy”
- Malcolm McBride becomes Carrion
- Jonah is replaced by Chameleon
- Peter and MJ get evicted from Bedford Towers an move into an apartment in SoHo.
- Puma buy the Daily Bugle
Collections of the 1987-1989 Spider-Man Chronology era
Here are some good collected editions containing some of the best stories of this Spider-man chronology era:
Various Trade Paperbacks
The Amazing Spider-Man: The Wedding
Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt
Amazing Spider-Man by McFarlane & Michelinie HC
Spider-Man: Birth of Venom
The Indispensable Spider-Man Chronology Master List
| Order | Year | Age | Issue | Creators | Details | ** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 289.04 | 1987 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #127 | Kaminski, Kupperberg | Lizard | * |
| 290.01 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #290 | Michelinie, Romita Jr | Best! The Wedding!, Spider-Slayer, Peter Proposes again | ** |
| 291.01 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #291 | Michelinie, Romita Jr | Best! The Wedding!, Spider-Slayer | ** |
| 292.01 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #292 | Michelinie, Saviuk | Best! The Wedding!, Spider-Slayer | ** |
| 292.02 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 | Michelinie | Best! The Wedding!, Electro | ** |
| 292.04 | 1987 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #31 ES-W2 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt, Revealed! Kraven buries Spider-Man, Vermin | ** |
| 293.01 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #293 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt | ** |
| 293.02 | 1987 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #131 ES-W2 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt, Vermin | ** |
| 293.03 | 1987 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #32 ES-W2 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt, Vermin | ** |
| 294.01 | 1987 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #294 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt | ** |
| 294.02 | 1987 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #132 ES-W2 | DeMatteis, Zeck | Best! Kraven's Last Hunt, Vermin | ** |
| 296.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #296 | Michelinie, Saviuk | Doc Ock fears Spider-Man | * |
| 297.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #297 | Michelinie, Saviuk | Doc Ock conquers fear | * |
| 297.04 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #134 | David, Sal Buscema | Best! Return of the Sin-Eater, Electro | ** |
| 297.05 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #135 | David, Sal Buscema | Best! Return of the Sin-Eater, Electro | ** |
| 297.06 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #136 | David, Sal Buscema | Best! Return of the Sin-Eater, Electro | ** |
| 297.09 | 1988 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #38 | Nicieza, Saviuk | Hobgoblin II, Peter and MJ decide to move out of Chelsea apartment | * |
| 298.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #298 | Michelinie, McFarlane | * | |
| 299.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #299 | Michelinie, McFarlane | 1st Venom (Cameo) | ** |
| 300.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #300 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Best! 1st Venom, Revealed! Symbiote "tells" Eddie | ** |
| 303.02 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #139 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Tombstone origin | ** |
| 303.03 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #140 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Tombstone, Punisher | ** |
| 303.04 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #141 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Tombstone, Punisher | ** |
| 303.05 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #142 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Tombstone, Punisher | ** |
| 304.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #304 | Michelinie, McFarlane | * | |
| 305.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #305 | Michelinie, McFarlane | * | |
| 307.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #307 | Michelinie, McFarlane | MJ Kidnapped, Chameleon | ** |
| 308.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #308 | Michelinie, McFarlane | MJ Kidnapped, Black Cat | ** |
| 309.01 | 1988 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #309 | Michelinie, McFarlane | MJ Kidnapped | ** |
| 309.03 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #143 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Tombstone, Punisher | * |
| 309.07 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #8 | Conway, Bagley | Evolutionary War, Gwen Stacy Clone Revealed as Delaney | ** |
| 309.08 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #144 | Conway, Sal Buscema | * | |
| 309.09 | 1988 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #145 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War | * |
| 311.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #311 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Inferno, Mysterio | * |
| 311.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #146 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Inferno, Green Goblin II, Hobgoblin II | ** |
| 311.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #47 | Conway, Saviuk | Inferno, Green Goblin II, Hobgoblin II | ** |
| 312.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #312 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Inferno, Green Goblin II, Hobgoblin II | ** |
| 312.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #147 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Inferno, Green Goblin II, Hobgoblin II | ** |
| 312.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #48 | Conway, Saviuk | Inferno, Green Goblin II, Hobgoblin II | ** |
| 313.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #313 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Inferno, Lizard | * |
| 313.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #148 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Inferno | * |
| 314.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #314 | Michelinie, McFarlane | * | |
| 314.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #149 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, McBride becomes Carrion, Tombstone | ** |
| 314.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #50 | Conway, Saviuk | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Sandman, Puma, Jameson replaced by Chameleon | ** |
| 315.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #150 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Kingpin, Tombstone, Chameleon, Robertson goes to Jail | * |
| 315.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #51 | Conway, Bagley | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon | * |
| 316.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #316 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Black Cat, Venom | * |
| 317.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #317 | Michelinie, McFarlane | Venom | * |
| 317.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #151 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Tombstone, Chameleon | * |
| 317.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #52 | Conway, Springer | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon | * |
| 319.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #152 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Tombstone | * |
| 319.03 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #53 | Conway, Bagley | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon, Kingpin | ** |
| 319.04 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #153 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Tombstone, Chameleon | ** |
| 319.05 | 1989 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #54 | Conway, Saviuk | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon, Kingpin | ** |
| 320.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #320 | Michelinie, McFarlane | The Assassin Nation Plot | * |
| 320.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #154 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon | * |
| 320.03 | 1988 | Copper | Web of Spider-Man #55 | Conway, Saviuk | Lobo Brothers Gang War, Chameleon, Kingpin | ** |
| 321.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #321 | Michelinie, McFarlane | The Assassin Nation Plot, Peter and MJ move into SoHo Osborn loft | ** |
| 322.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #322 | Michelinie, McFarlane | The Assassin Nation Plot | ** |
| 323.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #323 | Michelinie, McFarlane | The Assassin Nation Plot | * |
| 324.01 | 1989 | Copper | Amazing Spider-Man 1st series #324 | Michelinie, Larsen | The Assassin Nation Plot | * |
| 325.02 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #155 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Black Cat, Tombstone | * |
| 325.03 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #156 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Black Cat, Puma buys Daily Bugle | * |
| 325.07 | 1989 | Copper | Spectacular Spider-Man #157 | Conway, Sal Buscema | Electro, Shocker, Tombstone, Chameleon | ** |
Please, help us make this list better by contributing your thoughts on what should be included. We would love to pared own this list even further, though we don’t want you to miss out on some great runs. Drop us a line in the comments for changes to this Spider-Man Chronology, which will be reflected in our larger Spider-Man Chronology list here: