COMIC CATCH-UP GUIDEAll guides

Where to start reading Spider-Man

Choose which Spider-Man you want to follow

A clear choice between the current main Peter Parker comic and the completed modern Ultimate Spider-Man story.

THE SHORT ANSWERChoose Amazing Spider-Man by Joe Kelly for the current main Marvel series. Choose Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman for a completed alternate-universe story with an older, married Peter Parker.

What to buy

01

Current Amazing Spider-Man

Start with Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1: Get Back Up, then continue through Volumes 2–4 and the Death Spiral crossover chapters.

02

Ultimate Spider-Man

Read Ultimate Spider-Man Volumes 1–4 for the complete 24-issue Earth-6160 story.

ESTIMATED PUBLISHER COVER PRICE$80–$158 depending on the route

The completed Ultimate route is four books. Catching up on the current Amazing series costs more because recent issues and Death Spiral fill the gaps after the available books.

Check current availability on Amazon

What to read, in order

  1. Current route: Amazing Spider-Man Volumes 1–4.
  2. Read the ten Death Spiral chapters in the listed crossover order.
  3. Continue Amazing Spider-Man through the latest numbered issue.
  4. Alternate route: Ultimate Spider-Man Volumes 1–4 in order.

What comes next

The main Amazing Spider-Man series continues monthly. Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) is complete.

More starting points

Modern Ultimate Universe reading orderThe opening, five core Earth-6160 series, annual checkpoints, Endgame, and the Ultimate Universe finale in a practical collected-edition order.Open guide →Where to start reading X-MenThe current Cyclops-led X-Men, the Rogue-led Uncanny X-Men, and the completed Ultimate X-Men are three different starting paths.Open guide →Where to start reading BatmanThree useful Batman starting points: the current main series, Absolute Batman, or a longer historical reading route.Open guide →