A Spider-Man Podcast

Superior Spider-Talk’s Top Spider-Books of 2015

Reddit
Facebook
Twitter

If there’s one thing 2015 offered Spider-Man fans it’s options. There hasn’t been this many Spider-Man related series and spinoffs since the chromium-crusted days of the 1990s. And even then, it could be argued that Marvel was valuing quantity over quality. Currently, in addition to the adventures of Peter Parker, Spidey fans can check out some highly regarded books starring the likes of Jessica Drew, Gwen Stacy, Silk, Carnage, Flash Thompson, Miles Morales and an entire multiverse-worth of analogues. If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, then there’s even another Spider-Man book starring Peter as a teenager.

With all this in mind, the staff here at SuperiorSpiderTalk.com voted on some of our favorite Spider-office books (and a few other titles that are currently being reviewed by the site) and came up with this list to guide you on what we thought was the best Spider-content of 2015. Each contributor to the site was given five votes to choose what they felt strongest about and the most surprising thing about our accumulated results was the diversity of choices, an observation that proves perhaps there is a Spider-Man book for everyone. Here’s how things turned out:


SecretWars21. Secret Wars (miniseries): script by Jonathan Hickman; pencils by Esad Ribic

This is what an event should be. The ancillary books feed the readers’ needs for more information, but the story itself is well-contained in the main title, which, despite delays is still captivating. Unfortunately, those delays are going to stretch this book into consideration for “2016 Best Of” lists as well.  – Doug Zawisza

Despite its many delays and the odd choice to use one of the middle issues to recap events from a previous series, Secret Wars has been a strong event that severely outshines Marvel’s recent glut of poor, overloaded events. While I think a number of the tie-ins were underutilized, the main series delivered on all fronts. – Alex Nader


Renew Your Vows 1 feature2. The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (miniseries): script by Dan Slott; pencils by Adam Kubert

Spider-Man keeps getting bigger and bigger, but this somewhat smaller story of family had me the most invested all year.  The emotion of this series is lacking in the Big Time, Superior, Parker Industries eras.  – Kyle Chrise

This is what Spidey fans have been wanting ever since the much maligned “One More Day” arc of the early 2000s took away the most beloved marriage in comic book history. A lot of wrongs were righted in this series, but Renew Your Vows #1 was by far the strongest of the series, showing Pete doing what he has always wanted to do: be a normal spider-dad. – Caleb Hennington


spidergwencover13. Spider-Gwen (vol. 1): script by Jason Latour; pencils by Robbi Rodriguez

Great colors, great “hit the ground running” style story, though it does feel a little shallow at times and lacks the staying power of previous attempts at reinterpreting Spider-Man. The continuation, Radioactive Spider-Gwen, looks like it’s going to try to address this by focusing a bit more attention on world building. – Cain Winstead


4730597-asmspiral2015020_dc11-page-0014 (tie). The Amazing Spider-Man #15.1-20.1: “Spiral”: script by Gerry Conway; pencils by Carlo Barberi

When you feel as if current Spider-Man comics might not be for you anymore, it’s nice to have a comic book legend step in and write a story that reminds you just why you liked the character so much in the first place. Gerry Conway’s “Spiral” is just that story for me. It combines street level grittiness, a morally challenging plot and lots of old school bad guys. It’s as if Conway hasn’t missed a beat after all of these years – Tyler Barlass


SWOMAN2014009-DC11-e9f964 (tie). Spider-Woman #5-10 (vol. 5): script by Dennis Hopeless; pencils by Javier Rodriguez

As far as I’m concerned, Spider-Woman is the holy grail of Marvel’s publishing line. Javier Rodriguez’s artwork stands shoulders above his contemporaries, not only for his distinctive style and wonderful coloring, but for his incredibly clear and fundamental storytelling technique. Dennis Hopeless has revitalized one of Marvel’s flagship characters and made her far more than a “me too” Avenger, given her a fun supporting cast, and constantly put her against obstacles that test her resolve and are never quite what they seem. – Dan Gvozden


SILK6 (tie). Silk #1-7 (vol. 1): script by Robbie Thompson; pencils by Stacey Lee

Silk is fantastic, and it proves that with the right writer and artist, they can make a two dimensional character into a fully fleshed out being that you actually care about. I couldn’t have cared less about this character with how Slott wrote her, but in her own series, she’s just fantastic.  I can’t wait for more of her story, and although the new relaunch feels a tad different, in terms of where Silk is as a character, I still find my attention captured for every page of her comic. Great art, great story, it’s both light in terms of levity, while at the same time being very serious.  It’s an impressive balance. – Adam Chapman


Carnage 1 cover6 (tie). Carnage #1-ongoing: script by Gerry Conway; pencils by Mike Perkins

I don’t know how they’re doing it, but Gerry Conway and Mike Perkins have found a way to completely remake Carnage into a Bronze Age-era monster character all while maintaining the chaotic malice and terror that has made Cletus Kasady into a cult favorite in the first place. – Mark Ginocchio


latest8. Amazing Spider-Man #1 (vol. 4): script by Dan Slott; pencils by Giuseppe Camuncoli

More high energy and unpredictable fun. A new beginning that renewed my enthusiasm for the main series. – Brian Jacob


WebWarriors001_cover9 (tie): Web Warriors #1-ongoing: script by Mike Costa; pencils by David Baldeon

What a great book and only two issues in. The art gives the book a cartoony quality that really gives this book a Saturday morning feel, especially with its ensemble cast and peppy, light-hearted tone. Unlike a lot of team books, the personalities of each of the players comes through strong. By far the most fun I’ve had reading a Spider-book in a while. – Cain Winstead


54ac4f42ca48a9 (tie): Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #9: script by Brian Michael Bendis; pencils by David Marquez

Concluding a powerful flashback arc, this issue explores some complicated emotions about parenting while David Marquez takes his already stunning artwork in a bold new direction (I had to double-check to make sure it wasn’t a guest artist). – Brian Jacob


4468654-0+spiderisland_secretwars9 (tie): Secret Wars: Spider-Island (miniseries): script by Christos Gage; pencils by Paco Diaz

I found myself enjoying this series far more than I would have initially expected, and loved seeing how Flash Thompson was able to turn some of the heroes controlled by the Queen over to his side.  More than anything, it was a fun romp, and didn’t take itself TOO seriously, which is part of what made this book work. – Adam Chapman


4870621-image1+(1)9 (tie): Spider-Woman #1-ongoing (vol. 6): script by Dennis Hopeless; pencils by Javier Rodriguez

I like to see my heroes be challenged and grow, which is exactly what this relaunch promises.Despite having its ups and downs before Secret Wars, the November relaunch of Spider-Woman puts this independent hero into a situation that changes everything she knows about herself. – Jaleh Najafali

Reddit
Facebook
Twitter

Comments

superiorspidertalk

You may also like…