How to Read Spider-Man’s Kindred Saga in Order

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Amazing Spider-Man #800 marked the end of Dan Slott’s historic run on the Amazing Spider-Man title. With epic storylines like “Spider-Island,” the Superior Spider-Man saga and the revolutionary Spider-Verse event, incoming writer Nick Spencer had some pretty big shoes to fill. Coming off the heels of his success in the comedic and heartfelt Superior Foes of Spider-Man series, Spencer brought humor and charm to a Spider-Man run mostly built on the dark secrets of Peter Parker’s ––and Norman Osborn’s–– past.

The Kindred Saga references some of the best (and worst) Spider-Man stories dating back to the 1980s. On the surface, Kindred was a terrifying villain with psychedelic manipulation powers. Digging a little deeper, Kindred was a unique villain who held a personal vendetta against both Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, and solving the mystery of this new villain alongside Peter was half the fun. While ASM‘s entire fifth volume is incredible, some story arcs stand out, providing the most significant developments in Kindred’s character and the best highlights from the modern saga.

Preliminary Sin-Eater Reading

The Death of Jean Dewolff

Nick Spencer’s “Kindred Saga” references many past Spider-Man story arcs. “The Death of Jean DeWolff” is one that readers should probably know if they want to have a better context for the “Sins Rising” arc in the third act of Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man run.

New York police captain Jean DeWolff was a close Spider-Man ally in the 1980s, but a violent murderer named the Sin-Eater killed her, pushing Spider-Man over the edge. The Sin-Eater, wracked with guilt, ultimately forced the police to shoot him. “Death of Jean DeWolff” is one of the darkest Spider-Man comics from start to finish.

Preliminary Green Goblin Reading

The Green Goblin Legacy

The Green Goblin also plays a major role in Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man run––both Norman and Harry Osborn, who each wore the Green Goblin mask at various points. Legacy of Evil was a one-shot intended to tease the revival of the Green Goblin, using Normie Osborn, Harry’s son, as the Goblin’s new vessel.

Legacy of Evil introduced an outdated, evil AI version of Harry and Norman Osborn, created before either died. This AI Green Goblin was one of the main antagonists of the Kindred Saga, working behind the scenes and orchestrating many lies regarding the lives of Peter Parker’s loved ones.

Preliminary Kindred Reading

The Past Sins of Norman Osborn & Gwen Stacy

“Sins Past” is one of the most infamous Spider-Man comics ever, and fans still can’t move past it. Thankfully, Nick Spencer provided some much-needed retconning. In the original story, Peter learned that Norman Osborn secretly had an affair with Gwen Stacy before the Green Goblin killed her.

More importantly, “Sins Remembered” focused on Gabriel and Sarah Stacy, Gwen’s genetically aged children who would return in the Kindred Saga. Spencer took what he needed from both “Sins Past” and “Sins Remembered,” retconning the rest.

Preliminary Spider-Man & Mary Jane Reading

Peter Parker & Mary Jane Watson’s Deal With the Devil

“One More Day” is right up there among some of the most infamous Spider-Man comics of all time, just like “Sins Past.” However, the conclusion to “One More Day” opened up a lot of narrative potential that Nick Spencer capitalized on in his run.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The biggest takeaways from “One More Day” are the end of Peter and MJ’s marriage thanks to a deal with Mephisto and the reveal that Mephisto may have erased a future where the pair would have had a daughter. Since then, Peter and MJ have never fully rekindled their romance in Marvel’s main comic canon, though they came close during Nick Spencer’s run.

Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man

A New Post-Dan Slott Spider-Man Comic Era

Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man run began in volume five after Dan Slott left with quite a bang––when Spider-Man teamed up with Venom, Superior Octopus, and even donned the symbiote once again to battle the Red Goblin. Kindred was immediately menacing, speaking as though they were familiar with not only Spider-Man but also Peter Parker.

The bulk of Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) serves as the Kindred Saga, and while the mystery may have been drawn out at times, Kindred was a mystery that Spider-Man comics had lacked for quite some time. However, these story arcs mostly held quick glimpses of Kindred and slight teases of their identity.

Kraven Steals The Spotlight From Kindred

Spider-Man Goes Back in Black Again​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

“Hunted” was the first major arc of Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man title, though it had little to do with Kindred. Think of “Hunted” as a detour, focusing more on Spider-Man’s relationships with Black Cat and his animal-themed villains, all of whom were trapped in Central Park––a hunting ground for Kraven.

“Hunted” was a beautiful comic, serving as a sequel to the events of both “Kraven’s Last Hunt” and “Grim Hunt,” and readers even saw Spider-Man don the black suit once again. While it’s one of the highlights of Spencer’s run, it’s mostly unnecessary regarding Kindred.

The Sin-Eater Rises Once More

Spider-Man & Green Goblin Face The Sins Of Their Past Once More

The Sin-Eater has returned, courtesy of a resurrection from Kindred. “Sins Rising” really demonstrated a lot of Kindred’s powers. Before, readers may have chopped his powers up to lesser magic or even illusions, as readers had seen plenty of Mysterio in the series. ​​​​​​​

However,​​​​​​​​​​ raising someone from the dead? Kindred was officially demonic. Here, Sin-Eater hunted Spider-Man and Green Goblin for their past sins. His new shotgun could even absorb the sins of its victims, stealing Osborn’s sins and his Green Goblin persona with them.

Kindred Takes Over The Spider-Army

The Unexpected Spider-Man & Green Goblin Team-Up!

“Last Remains” was one of the highlights of Spencer’s run and the Kindred Saga. On top of teaming up with Green Goblin, on top of guest appearances from the Spider-Army (Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Woman, Anya Corazon, and Madame Web), who Spider-Man later had to fight due to mind-control, fans finally learned more about Kindred.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The first Kindred reveals came in the form of info dumps that pointed the finger at Harry Osborn, or at least a version of Harry who was once the Green Goblin. Kindred referenced past events, such as Harry’s return in “Brand New Day,” even quoting Harry’s past dialogue with devilish twists, playing with the words.

War Of The Sinister Six

Doctor Octopus Returns Along With More Sinister Sixes

Fast-forward to the end of the run, readers were treated to a four-issue tie-in series titled Sinister War. After some brief narrative departures to deal with the Chameleon and Kingpin in “Chameleon Conspiracy” and “King’s Ransom,” Spider-Man faced multiple versions of the Sinister Six at once.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sinister War featured the guest appearances of nearly every major Spider-Man villain, the return of Doctor Octopus, and some stellar, heartfelt moments from Boomerang, who, ironically, has been one of Spider-Man’s closest friends all series. While Sinister War had the spectacle, the heart of the Kindred Saga concluded in the main Amazing Spider-Man title.

The End Of The Kindred Saga

And Teases For the Future of Spider-Man Comics

It all led to this: Kindred punishing Spider-Man for his past sins. In the final four issues of the series (which can be read concurrently with Sinister War), Nick Spencer somehow managed to tie in the ramifications of “Sins Past,” “Sins Remembered,” and “One More Day.” Kindred wasn’t Harry Osborn, but Gabriel and Sarah Stacy, resurrected by Mephisto as his demonic champions.

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Additionally, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson stood on the edge of a new romance, breaking the deal they made with Mephisto so many years earlier (or coming close to, at least). At the climax of the series, Mephisto reveals why he has such an interest in Peter and MJ’s lives, and it has everything to do with Mayday Parker, the future Spider-Girl.

The Kindred Saga reworked some controversial storylines, introduced a dynamic new threat, and rebuilt a lost foundation for long-time fans. Marvel may have squandered the storyline with the following volume, though it still stands as one of Spider-Man’s best modern storylines.

“}]] Nick Spencer’s Kindred Saga introduced a mysterious character with dark ties to Spider-Man’s past that carried the fifth volume of Amazing Spider-Man.  Read More