The Spectacular Spider-Man 2 (1996)
reading order guide
Story by J. M. DeMatteis
We’ve got you covered with a complete list of must-read issues, commentary, and where to start.
Classic
Why should you
read it
J. M. DeMatteis' second run on The Spectacular Spider-Man dives into Peter Parker's psyche as he deals with the fallout of the Clone Saga*. As new foes like Kraven’s son and Mad Jack rise and Norman Osborn turns the media against him, Peter faces growing pressure from both the world and within.
*The Clone Saga was a two-year storyline in which Peter believed he was a clone and gave up being Spider-Man to Ben Reilly, who was later revealed to be the clone created by the Jackal.
The Spectacular Spider-Man 2 (1996) Reading Order Guide
Complete List of Issues with Unlimited Reading Links
| Comics | Unlimited links |
|---|---|
| The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #241-254 | Read on Marvel's Site |
| The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #256-258 | Read on Marvel's Site |
Comments & Additional Info
Even though I personally think DeMatteis’ first run is superior to this second one, I still enjoyed this era a lot because it explores different tones—some dramatic, some comedic, and more. The rivalry between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin also continues here. Since Norman is now a powerful and respected public figure, he manages to erase his dark past in the public eye and shift the blame onto Spider-Man. That alone makes this era worth reading.
I removed The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #255, which is part of the Spider-Hunt storyline, since it’s intertwined with other titles. After all, the last thing I want is to make things more complicated by including issues from other series written by authors who aren’t J.M. DeMatteis.
I removed The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #255, which is part of the Spider-Hunt storyline, since it’s intertwined with other titles. After all, the last thing I want is to make things more complicated by including issues from other series written by authors who aren’t J.M. DeMatteis.