A Guide to Reading Spider-Man Comics Before Watching The Amazing Films

Five years after the release of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3, director Marc Webb helmed the new Amazing Spider-Man film starring Andrew Garfield. Though that specific film franchise only lasted two movies (with teases of a potential Sinister Six showdown), fans were overjoyed to see Garfield return to Spider-Man in Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside Tobey Maguire.

Sony plans to release the two Amazing Spider-Man films in theaters again. The Amazing Spider-Man films pulled from many different Spider-Man comics that fans of the movies should definitely check out to gain more insight into how comic creators handled scenes pertaining to Harry Osborn’s Green Goblin, the birth of Electro and the death of Gwen Stacy.

Spider-Man’s New Origin In The Original Ultimate Universe

Ultimate Spider-Man – “Power & Responsibility” by Brian Michael Bendis, Bill Jemas, Mark Bagley, Art Thibert & JC

Just five years after the release of Spider-Man 3, Amazing Spider-Man reset the Spider-Man film franchise with yet another retelling of Peter Parker’s origin. Many felt that five years was too soon, especially with all the similar scenes and parallels drawn between Green Goblin and Lizard’s villainous turns.

Marvel comic readers also experienced a Spider-Man universe reboot. Ultimate Spider-Man provided a breath of fresh air for Spider-Man comics, bringing Peter into the 21st century. Ultimate Spider-Man was far different from Amazing Fantasy #15 thanks to Norman Osborn and Oscorp’s involvement in the spider bite, more Uncle Ben “screen time” and a richer supporting cast.

The Night Gwen Stacy Died

Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 by Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, John Romita Sr., Tony Mortellaro & Dave Hunt

The second Gwen Stacy was announced as the main character, starring opposite Peter Parker in the Amazing Spider-Man films, fans knew what was coming. Spider-Man comic readers braced themselves for what seemed like the inevitable.

Captain George Stacy’s words teased Gwen’s heartbreaking end––Peter should have kept his distance. Amazing Spider-Man 2 has its flaws, but it adapted Gwen Stacy’s death beautifully, recreating Spider-Man’s epic fight with a Green Goblin and highlighting the split-second Spider-Man needed to save her life.

Spider-Man Vs. The Lizard

Amazing Spider-Man #6 by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

The Lizard’s main objective in Amazing Spider-Man involved transforming all of New York City into similarly scaled species. Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy created an antidote that eventually reverted the Lizard to his human form, Dr. Curt Connors. The Lizard’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #6 follows a similar narrative.

The Lizard is one of Spider-Man’s earliest foes and reading his first encounter right before seeing his live-action debut in the first Amazing Spider-Man movie shows how the villain has evolved… and how he’s remained very much the same. Almost a gimmick now, most Lizard stories involve the Lizard trying to create more of his kind.

“Shed” Is The Lizard’s Best Comic

Amazing Spider-Man #629-633 by Roger Stern, Lee Weeks, Dean White & Matt Hollingsworth

The Lizard’s first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #6 is fairly unimpressive by today’s standards. With little motivation, piggybacking off his character’s Jekyll/Hyde aspect, the Lizard was fairly shallow. Decades later, legendary comic writer Roger Stern helped craft “Shed,” one of the best Spider-Man comics that starred the reptilian villain.

The Lizard is his most monstrous and deadliest self in “Shed.” No one is safe, not even Curt Connors’s son, Billy, as the Lizard grows more powerful and intelligent. “Shed” ironically presents the Lizard’s humanity like no comic had before and should serve as the inspiration for any future theatrical Lizard appearances.

Harry Osborn Becomes The Green Goblin

Amazing Spider-Man #136 by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, Dave Hunt & Linda Lessmann

Harry Osborn just can’t escape his father’s legacy––that legacy involving the Green Goblin. In Amazing Spider-Man 2, Harry couldn’t escape the rare degenerative disease his father passed down. Though Norman never became a Green Goblin in the Amazing Spider-Man universe, Harry still donned the armor and rode the glider.

Harry Osborn became the new Green Goblin in Marvel Comics shortly after Norman’s death. Spider-Man and Harry’s Green Goblin first battled in Amazing Spider-Man #136––the first of many that deteriorated their friendship for decades.

Electro Joins The Ultimate Sinister Six

Ultimate Six #1-7 by Brian Michael Bendis, Trevor Hairsine, Joe Quesada, Danny Miki, Dave Stewart, Richard Isanove & Ian Hannin

The Electro in Amazing Spider-Man 2 is much closer to the version that appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man, specifically the Ultimate Six miniseries. Just as Harry Osborn used Electro to potentially destroy Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man 2, Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin recruited Electro into the Ultimate Universe version of the Sinister Six.

The end of Amazing Spider-Man 2 teased a future appearance of the Sinister Six with Oscorp tech showing off future Vulture wings and Doctor Octopus‘ arms. Moviegoers never saw that live-action version, but Ultimate Six presents a fun alternative starring a similar version of Electro.

Ultimate Harry Osborn Becomes The Hobgoblin

Ultimate Spider-Man #76 by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, Scott Hanna & J.D. Smith

Just as the Harry Osborn of Marvel’s main comic continuity followed in Norman Osborn’s footsteps, just as Harry followed Norman to become the new Goblin in Spider-Man 3, the Ultimate Universe Harry Osborn became a hulking Hobgoblin after his father’s monstrous Green Goblin form.

Those who liked Harry’s turn to Goblinhood in Amazing Spider-Man 2 will definitely enjoy his Hobgoblin form in Ultimate Spider-Man. Harry’s hatred of Spider-Man and his father slowly grew over dozens of Ultimate Spider-Man comics, culminating in the Hobgoblin’s scariest form.

Rhino Is Actually A Complex Spider-Man Villain

Amazing Spider-Man #625 by Joe Kelly, Max Fiumara & Fabio D’Auria

Rhino was a very shallow character in Amazing Spider-Man 2. Aleski Systevich was a random criminal who gained a huge metallic rhino suit. Spider-Man thwarted his robbery at the beginning of the film and surely defeated his Rhino form at the end. Viewers looking for a deeper Rhino comic should look no further than Amazing Spider-Man #625, part of the epic “Gauntlet” saga.

When a new Rhino shows up in New York, Aleski Systevich is forced to don his Rhino armor once more to battle this new impostor. “Endangered Species” is one of the best redemptive stories for a Spider-Man villain, catapulting Rhino to more than just a hired thug but a truly sympathetic character.

Gwen Stacy Becomes Spider-Woman

Spider-Gwen (Vol. 1) by Jason Latour, Robbi Rodriguez & Rico Renzi

Emma Stone wonderfully played Gwen Stacy, a fantastic supporting character and a great addition to Peter Parker’s life. Her chemistry with Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man was one of the highlights of both Amazing Spider-Man fans. Viewers who grew up only hearing the name Mary Jane Watson fell in love with Gwen Stacy.

Though Spider-Man debuted in Marvel Comics years after Amazing Spider-Man 2, those same fans looking for more Gwen Stacy content (that doesn’t end with her infamous death) should definitely start with the first Spider-Gwen volume that followed her appearance in Edge of Spider-Verse. Gwen is no damsel in distress but the Earth-65 Spider-Woman.

Peter Parker Remembers Gwen Stacy

Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale & Steve Buccellato

Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale & Steve Buccellato crafted one of the most beautiful Spider-Man comics ever with Spider-Man: Blue. Travel back in time as Loeb presents new, extended versions of some of Spider-Man’s classic Silver Age comics, including his first battles with Green Goblin and Vulture. Spider-Man: Blue emphasizes Peter’s love with Gwen Stacy.

The end of Spider-Man: Blue is both beautiful and heartbreaking, adding new layers and impact to Gwen Stacy’s death and legacy. Fans never saw the full aftermath of Gwen’s death in the movies, but Spider-Man: Blue could have served as a great blueprint for an Amazing Spider-Man 3 script.