(Comics forum) budding Marvel comic fan has questions for veteran readers

So, I'm starting to get interested in comic books for the first time; specifically, The Amazing Spider-Man. Knowing nothing about the comic book world, I found myself getting overwhelmed pretty quickly.

Being the naive person I sometimes am, I figured it would be easy enough to get ahold of some comic books starting way back at the beginning. I know I have over 50 years of Amazing Spider-Man to catch up on, but the local comic shop is sparse in its inventory. The oldest issue they have was 160-something or other and I believe only as recent as 300-something with many, many in between missing from the ranks.

So, I've resorted to buying paperback collections. I was thinking about getting the "Essential" paperback collections until I saw that they aren't printed in color.

Then, today I picked up a few volumes of "Marvel Masterworks."

So, my question is...exactly how many volumes of "Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man" are available? What issue will that bring me up to by collecting what's available? I looked at the obvious places online: Marvel.com, Amazon.com etc, but found nothing very helpful; just incomplete and woefully disorganized lists and catalogs. Even worse, what's listed on the Marvel website doesn't even offer the paperbacks for purchase.

I have seen up to 7 volumes in the bookstore, but checked online to find up to maybe 13 or 14 volumes.

I am interested in the 2009 and onward publications (I think some of the other volumes were published at earlier dates, but I like to keep the set consistent.)

If anybody could help me catch up with my Marvel reading or has any other advice to offer to a new comic collector, I'd be very appreciative. Thanks in advance!

well if your into collecting all of them you could go into it and start from one, but writers and artists change very frequently as does the story arc change with the different writers put on board.

For new readers getting into Marvel the best thing to do is start with their new .1 ( Point-One) thingamajigger .. such as Mighty thor issue# 12.1 for example.

its all about what you personally like though, if collecting all of one series is how you wanna go, go for it! But story wise its not particularly necessary to catch up, like i said there are countless reboots.

you should check out "Spider-Men" or Sensational spider man .1 just came out a few weeks ago..

the next best thing is to just go to your local comic shop and pick the clerks brains till he absolutely hates you..(they secretly love it)

reply to post by POPtheKlEEN89


Ha, thanks for the advice. I think the comic shop owner already doesn't like me with all my questions before I buy something.

I realize it's going to be very difficult to collect EVERY issue of the series. So, I think for now I'm just going to keep looking out for those "Masterworks" volumes and go grab-bag style with the comic shop and just read what they have.

I'm trying to avoid spin-offs and re-boots at this point. I blame this on the various cartoon series that have come and gone. The only one I really liked was the animated series from 1994 and what I hear is that it's the best adaptation of 'The Amazing Spider-Man' comics.

It does get annoying when you come to the end of an issue and it leaves you with a cliffhanger and the next issue can't be found at the comic shop! I'll say one thing for Marvel..their cliffhangers are genius..they certainly make me want to buy more! Smart fellows, they were.

I will look into those .1 reprints. I haven't heard about those yet. The Marvel website is amazingly unhelpful for new fans who don't know what they're doing.

Thanks again for your post

reply to post by NarcolepticBuddha


no problem, the .1 thing is pretty new and i believe it started this year.

as for reboots though, one you really might like is a whole different universe called "the Ultimate" storyline, and "Ultimate Spider-Man" was the premise for the latest Spider-Man movie that was released. Its not a radically different change from the original storyline but it offers tweaks to the origins, my favorite aspect of the stories though are they all the follow the "smart-mouth" spider man personality i fell in love with in Amazing spider-man. As well as spider-man there is an ultimate version for all the avengers and was also the story arc the new Avengers movie follows as well!

But to be totally honest i would only trust my opinion regarding Thor and Ant-Man.

reply to post by POPtheKlEEN89


Wow, I had no idea the new Spider-Man movie was based on Ultimate. I always thought it was an attempt to get back to the original comic, Amazing Spider-Man, by making Peter Parker more confident and snappy. Then we have Gwen Stacy and the homemade web-shooters etc.

I read Amazing Fantasy #15 and issue 1 of Amazing Spider-Man last night. I love the charm of the 60's for some reason (I'm only mid-20's.) I still find Peter Parker relate-able, the stories interesting, and the messages/themes relevant.

(For anyone finding this thread, I'm still searching for the number of volumes of "Marvel Masterworks:The Amazing Spider-Man." The back cover of volume one says there are volumes 1-13 available in hardcover. I have the paperback editions. Does this mean there are only 13 volumes? Or does it mean that only 13 were released at that point?

Anybody with some more knowledge on the subject of Marvel's paperback releases, please enlighten me! Thanks!)

reply to post by POPtheKlEEN89

The the 2002 Spiderman had heavy leanings toward Ultimate Spiderman (MJ is neighbor, biological webshoots). Amazing Spiderman had a much closer take of mainstream Spiderman (Spidey gadgets and Gwen Stacy as pete's girlfriend). Of course both are their own takes on Stan Lee's Spiderman.

reply to post by NarcolepticBuddha


The types of questions you are currently asking, I don't know, I don't know, and I don't know.... but if you want to know about character histories, interactions, team affiliations, and many other assorted questions I can help you. Let me know.

reply to post by Osiris1953


Thanks, bud. But I didn't really know what to do so I just started snatching up back issues of Amazing Spider-Man and any collected paperback works (mostly recent issues.)

I haven't really looked into any spin-off series like Ultimate, or Spectacular.

The core series is keeping me plenty busy and plenty broke with its 700 issues.

Due to the genius of Marvel's numerous crossovers, I can say I'm starting to get interested in a few other Marvels like Fantastic Four.

I wish my local comic book shop carried more than just DC & Marvel. I'm really interested in finding some Malibu's Men in Black

So, how does anybody feel about these .1 issues? I saw ASM 699.1 today and was kinda of shocked and scared and curious all at the same time.

Is it just a modernized version of a classic issue? Is it just a gimmick to sale more comics? Is it even a piece of the core series?

I really don't know what this .1 issue is supposed to be. I checked online with a couple of sources and I still can't figure it out...what is this supposed to be? In what way is it a starting point for new readers if it's just an ordinary issue?

Honestly, I'm confused and not sure I like this. Until I get some real answers I'm just staying away from .1 issues of Marvel.