Third time lucky
Sony and Marvel are uniting for the third attempt at kickstarting Spidey's big screen presence. A co-operative effort that's a first for both studios boils down to one important fact: Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is swinging into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Youngster Tom Holland has been cast as the brainiac teen bitten by a radioactive spider, and is soon to be sharing the screen with The Avengers in Captain America: Civil War for his introductory cameo.
Director Jon Watts is already in place to helm the first Spider-Man solo movie in 2017. And Marvel and Sony's creative brass will no doubt be agonising over the vast back catalogue of stories for the webhead's next adventure. While there's many fan favorites not included in our list, here's ten that would translate to the big screen and provide an energetic reboot for the young wall crawler.
Ultimate Clone Saga (Ultimate Spider-Man #97-105)
Forget the confusing and lacklustre clone saga from the mid-'90s. That iteration of the multiple Spider-Man arc held great promise but poorly executed its winning idea. An idea which was given a much-needed upgrade from Brian Michael Bendis, who turned to the Clone Saga for inspiration when he took over on Ultimate Spider-Man.
Maximum Carnage (Spider-Man Unlimited #1-2)
This 14-part story event began in Spider-Man Unlimited and straddled all the Spider-Man comic titles in 1993. It's that extensive. As the title implies, Carnage returns to wreak havoc on New York City - but this time he doesn't do it alone. Instead he launches a massive attack against Spider-Man and his cohorts by raising an army of devotees to carry out his task.
Spider-Man: Back in Black (Amazing Spider-Man #539-543)
The appeal of this short-run story for the new solo movie is its location on the Marvel continuity timeline. It takes place just after the Civil War event - which we know is where the new Spider-Man will make his debut. The story arc traces Peter Parker as he vies to bring Aunt May's shooter to justice. Channeling his darker, vengeful side he throws on his black costume - loosely based on the same outfit adopted by the Venom symbiote - and tracks down the wrongdoer.
Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut (The Amazing Spider-Man #229-230)
Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut appears to be a typical Spider-Man tale of good vs. evil. And there's nothing wrong with that simple central idea when it's executed with precision, as is the case with writer Roger Stern's brilliant two issue arc.
The Petrified Tablet Saga (The Amazing Spider-Man #68-75)
The story of the Petrified Tablet unraveled over half a year in The Amazing Spider-Man, beginning with Kingpin's attempt to steal an ancient tablet from the Empire State University. The promise of eternal youth held within the artefact prompts a Faustian grab by every villain in town keen to harness its properties. Presumably to enact some sort of never-ending evil plan.
If This Be My Destiny (The Amazing Spider-Man #31-33)
An early Spidey tale that covers the gap between Peter Parker in high school and college, the plot injects all the excitement and action Spider-Man is renowned for along with his usual teenage antics. Plotwise, the lynchpin holding it together is Aunt May's sickness after suffering a blast of nuclear radiation. A race against the clock ensues for Parker, who has to track down a serum to counter the effects.
The Death of Jean DeWolff (Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110)
A reigning fan favourite. The Death of Jean DeWolff raises the stakes for the typically black and white world view of comic book morality - it delves into the grey area between good and bad as Peter Parker hunts down the murderer of his police chief friend.
