10 Comics You Need to Read if You Miss The Amazing Spider-Man Movies

Spider-Man has had several movies, with his second series being the Amazing Spider-Man franchise. Starring Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger, these movies differed greatly from the Sam Raimi films with Tobey Maguire and the later Marvel Cinematic Universe movies with Tom Holland. Nevertheless, they still bear many similarities to the comics, namely the oldest source material.

The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel had a Peter Parker whose characterization was based on the initial run of the Amazing Spider-Man comics. Likewise, they also featured supporting cast members and villains who were prominent in other notable stories. Thus, for those whose idea of Spidey is most defined by the Andrew Garfield movies, their best bet for getting into the character’s comics is a certain set of issues and books.

10 Agent Venom Was Flash Thompson’s Best Development

Venom (2011-2013) by Rick Remender, Tony Moore, Tom Fowler, Lan Medina, Cullen Bunn and Thony Silas

Portrayed by Chris Zylka in The Amazing Spider-Man and a deleted scene from the sequel, Flash Thompson is largely defined as a bully and pestering classmate of Peter Parker’s. Ironically, he admires Spider-Man and tries to become a better person because of him. This came to a head in the comics in the 2011 Venom ongoing, which bonded a veteran Flash Thompson with the iconic Venom symbiote.

With his more lithe form, Agent Venom’s take on the symbiote allowed Flash to be more like Spider-Man than ever while still embodying his more military pursuits. It’s a great series about how the symbiote could be handled differently beyond eating brains. It’s also the perfect series to see how Flash Thompson became more than a bully.

9 Harry Osborn Followed His Father as the Green Goblin

The Amazing Spider-Man #136 by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru

One element in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osborn becoming Green Goblin. This also happened in the comics due to Harry’s downward spiral in his personal and professional life. Having long since been a drug addict, the death of Harry’s father, Norman (the original Green Goblin), sent him on a misguided quest to measure up to his legacy.

The result is incredibly dramatic in the source material, namely because Harry had failed so much by that point. It was all in a failed idea of trying to be like his father, with family lineage also a big part of the Amazing Spider-Man films.

8 Spider-Man: Blue Celebrated Peter & Gwen’s Relationship

Spider-Man: Blue #1-6 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

While most fans consider his relationship with Mary Jane to be “endgame,” one of Spider-Man’s first major romances was with Gwen Stacy. This was seen in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, and it was also firmly on display in the miniseries Spider-Man: Blue. The series focused on Spidey as he recalled his romance with Gwen, from their early years together to her eventual death at the hands of the Green Goblin.

Spider-Man: Blue was one of well-known writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale’s “color books,” and it’s perhaps the best one. The series feels like a true romance with action elements, making the death of Gwen even more tragic. While it ends on a happy note, those who watched The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will note the crux of its drama.

The Amazing Spider-Man #1-38 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

One complaint about the Amazing Spider-Man movies among fans of the Sam Raimi flicks was that Peter wasn’t “pathetic” enough compared to how Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker was. Peter and Spider-Man were far more accurate in the Amazing Spider-Man films when looking at his characterization in the first three years of Spider-Man comic books. This includes both a more sarcastic and retaliatory nature, with Peter frequently responding in kind whenever Flash Thompson gave him lip.

Even beyond these similarities, these 30+ comic book issues are the bedrock of Spider-Man lore. Along with the hero himself and his basic status quo, they introduced a plethora of villains, including The Lizard, Mysterio, Doctor Octopus and others. Anyone with even a passing interest in old-school comic books, or the Web-Slinger in particular, should definitely check these classic gems out.

6 Kraven’s Last Hunt Fit the Tone of the Amazing Spider-Man Movies

Web of Spider-Man #31–32, The Amazing Spider-Man #293–294 and Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #131–132 by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck

Kraven wasn’t in the Amazing Spider-Man films, so it might seem strange to include his most iconic story as a potentially similar suggestion. It’s worth noting that the Spider-Man films with Andrew Garfield, namely the first one, were noted for a darker tone. They weren’t just quips and lighthearted jokes; they often had some dark, harrowing stakes. The same was the case for the now classic storyline “Kraven’s Last Hunt.”

This seminal Spider-Man story had Kraven the Hunter embarking on one last battle against the Wall-Crawler, hoping to prove himself superior. To this end, he even emulated Spidey’s black suit and buried Peter alive. This sense of poetic tension and the story’s conclusion are more than just bleak compared to the average comic book featuring the character. At the same time, they fit right in with the tone of the Amazing Spider-Man movies.

5 Life Story Is the Retelling of Spider-Man’s Life

Spider-Man: Life Story #1-6 by Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley

Due to the nature of ongoing comic books, it’s unlikely that Spider-Man and other heroes will ever have a true ending. However, this was delivered uniquely in Spider-Man: Life Story, which was meant to retell the entirety of Spidey’s publication history as an ongoing narrative story.

Many have hailed Spider-Man: Life Story as the best Spider-Man comic book in decades, namely because it celebrates his history. It has the same “get back up” mentality showcased in the ending of The Amazing Spider-Man 2. It also, in many ways, feels like a rebuttal against the “hero worship” that the MCU Spider-Man has toward Iron Man, cementing that Spidey is his own hero.

4 Torment Forced Spider-Man to Rise Above It All

Spider-Man #1-5 by Todd McFarlane

A particularly grim Spidey tale was the first story arc of the “adjectiveless” Spider-Man comic book that debuted in the 1990s. Launched by superstar artist Todd McFarlane, the tone of Spider-Man felt like training grounds for his eventual Spawn comic book. This included a grisly skirmish with a reptilian enemy and the vengeful voodoo priestess controlling him.

“Torment” sees Spider-Man besieged by The Lizard, who’s lost all reason and is seemingly removed entirely from his persona as Dr. Curt Connors. Controlling the beast is Calypso, a Haitian practitioner of voodoo who was once Kraven the Hunter’s lover. Blaming him for Kraven’s death, Calypso attempts to kill Spider-Man by using The Lizard. The “Torment” arc is a prototype for Spawn‘s spooky storytelling and features the main foe of The Amazing Spider-Man. Add a similarly dark tone to that movie, and fans will feel right at home.

3 The Death of Aunt May Was Highly Emotional

The Amazing Spider-Man #400 by J.M. DeMatteis and Mark Bagley

The dramatic crux of the Amazing Spider-Man movies would be Sally Field as Aunt May. More motherly than she was in the Raimi movies and less of an older sister than she was in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this Aunt May felt like an actual character. Thus, seeing the character die in the comics is certain to be an emotional experience for many fans, especially if they prefer the one played by Field.

As part of the infamous “Clone Saga,” many might not expect The Amazing Spider-Man #400 to be good. However, it slows things down and focuses on the personal drama amid Peter’s life, with him and May finally admitting to each other the truth about Peter’s other life. This was also in the early chapters of the saga, which most consider actually to be good. While it might not tie directly to anything seen in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, the idea of May passing away after angrily noting that Peter is “her boy” is tear-jerking.

2 The First Ultimate Spider-Man Influenced The Amazing Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Man #1-160 by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Stuart Immomen and David Lafuente

Besides the classic Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Amazing Spider-Man comics, the two Amazing Spider-Man movies were inspired by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley’s Ultimate Spider-Man book. Part of Marvel’s original Ultimate Universe, this book modernized Spider-Man’s mythos and characterization, namely his relationships with characters such as Harry Osborn and Mary Jane. Those used to classic Gwen Stacy and Emma Stone’s portrayal of her will also be thrown for a loop, with the classic Ultimate Universe portraying her as essentially a punk goth kid.

Peter’s interactions with Flash Thompson and his slightly more rebellious attitude in the Amazing Spider-Man movies were very similar to Ultimate Spider-Man. Likewise, the idea of Richard Parker (Peter’s father) having his research used to create supervillains mirrored the origins of Ultimate Venom. All in all, it’s a must-read for those who want to get the whole story of what the Marc Webb-directed movies were based on, and they’re also a fantastic update of a timeless hero.

1 The Night Gwen Stacy Died Is Spidey’s Most Tragic Tale

The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 by Gerry Conway and Gil Kane

Besides the loss of Uncle Ben, no character’s death has affected Spider-Man as much as Gwen Stacy’s. This iconic yet saddening development has been hinted at and homaged in various other stories and media, but only The Amazing Spider-Man 2 truly adapted it. Thus, fans will want to see how the story was originally handled in the comic books.

“The Night Gwen Stacy Died” was a two-part comic story that culminated in the deaths of Gwen Stacy and Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. This story had many ramifications and signaled the end of the Silver Age and the beginning of the darker, more mature Bronze Age of Comics. Many fans already know how it ended through its adaptation in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but the original incarnation is still more than worth checking out.