The Amazing Spider-man movie is coming to theatres this summer to reboot the entire series. The reboot means we’ll probably be getting a origin story or two. Hey, maybe even three.
If you’re looking to catch up on some reading that could have influenced the story found in the next Amazing Spider-Man movie, then look no further. Below you will find some essential issues needed to catch up on the essential elements that are said to be found in the new movie.
Since no one (well, at least no one we know!) has seen the Amazing Spider-Man movie yet, we can only base ourselves off of what we see in the trailers and from what we hear in interviews. The following list of issues is nothing more than our best guest at comic book source material. Regardless, reading these books will definitely give you enough fodder to do a well-verse comparison during your first screening!
Overall, if you read just one trade paperback, try out Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 (BUY
Oh, and one more thing: this list contains spoilers, if you happen to have no idea what happened in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man a few a decades ago.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material Comic Books
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Sources: Spider-Man’s Origin
It would be no stretch to assume that we will be seeing the origin of Spider-Man in the latest Amazing Spider-Man movie reboot. Still, which one? The original, or the more modern Ultimate Spider-Man origin? While both are similar, it seems that we might be getting a mix of both, as the Ultimate version is much more modern, and any modernization of the origin story would undoubtedly resembles it. We recommend reading the Ultimate Spider-Man origin, though if you’re up for a lot of reading, do both.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Original Origin
Amazing Fantasy #15 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Essential Spider-Man Volume 1 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Ultimate Origin
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #2 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #3 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #4 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #5 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #6 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #7 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility (BUY
Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Sources: The Lizard’s Origin
One thing we do know from the trailer is that the Lizard is the main villain of the new Amazing Spider-Man movie. Furthermore, we know that his alter-ego Curt Connors works at OsCorp in the Amazing Spider-Man movie, which once again reflects much more the Ultimate version of the Lizard. The Lizard is introduced in one issue, but other issues later one feature just Curt Connors working for OsCorp, such as in the Ultimate Carnage arc (This arc in particular seems to have a lot of elements seen in the Amazing Spider-Man movie trailer, such as Gwen Stacy, Peter’s dad working for OsCorp in addition to Connor’s role). Also, See more Amazing Spider-Man source material in our full The Lizard Essential reading list.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Original Origin
Amazing Spider-Man #6 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Essential Spider-Man Volume 1 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Ultimate Origin
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #10 (First Appearance) (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #60 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #61 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #62 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #63 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #64 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #65 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 11: Carnage (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Sources: Gwen Stacy
Gwen Stacy is the main love interest in the Amazing Spider-Man movie, which seems to be foreshadowing her characters development from the comics by having her appear before Mary Jane Watson. Check out our Gwen Stacy profile for a more in depth look, or at the very least check out her first appearance, the moment she falls in love with Peter and her all-important death, which may or may not figure in the latest Amazing Spider-Man movie (though it would be reasonable to expect it to happen sometime in the current movie series being set up). Gwen first appears in what is considered one of the best Spider-Man stories of all time, “If this be my destiny!”. If you’re looking for more issues about Gwen Stacy, check out her essential reading list.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – First Gwen Stacy Appearance
Amazing Spider-Man #31 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #32 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #33 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Amazing Spider-Man Masterworks Vol. 3 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Peter and Gwen Fall in Love
Amazing Spider-Man #59 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – The Night Gwen Stacy Died
Amazing Spider-Man #121 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #122 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #123 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 6 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Sources: Captain George Stacy
George Stacy, Gwen’s father, also prominently appears in the trailer, and with the casting of Dennis Leary we can only assume that he will play an important role in the film. Therefore, it would be ideal to catch up with important issues for this character. Once again, his death is an important event in the life of Peter Parker and Spider-Man, so if you were to read just one arc for this character, read that one.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – The Death of Captain Stacy
Amazing Spider-Man #88 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #89 (BUY)
Amazing Spider-Man #90 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 (BUY
Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Ultimate Death of Captain Stacy
Ultimate Spider-Man #28 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #29 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #30 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #31 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #32 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 5: Public Scrutiny (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Sources: Peter Parker’s Parents
Richard and Mary Parker never played a large role in the Amazing Spider-Man comics. Their death was never much of a character motivation either, with Uncle Ben, and later Gwen Stacy, playing those roles much more prominently. Also, if we forget about the “Saga of Spidey’s parents” storyline, in which they returned only to be revealed as fakes, one of the few issues discussing their deaths was in an early Amazing Spider-Man annual. Again, as we notice from the Amazing Spider-Man movie trailer, the new Amazing Spider-Man movie seems to be inspired by the Ultimate version of Spider-Man. In that universe, Richard Parker worked for OsCorp, and is partially responsible for the creation of Venom, a job that seems to reflect his previous employment in the new film.
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – The history of Spider-Man’s Parents
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Essential Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 (BUY
Amazing Spider-Man Movie Source Material – Ultimate version of Spider-Man’s parents
Ultimate Spider-Man #33 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #34 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #35 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #36 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #37 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #38 (BUY)
Ultimate Spider-Man #39 (BUY)
Also Collected In
Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 6: Venom (BUY