5 Scariest Spider-Man Stories For Horror Fans

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While Spider-Man is usually known for action and adventure, some of his comic storylines have definitely touched on horror. The character has evolved significantly over the years, much like his readers. He began as a lonely high school student, often overlooked and considered a nerd, and has matured into a dedicated superhero who still relies on the values his Uncle Ben instilled in him. He’s committed to saving everyone – even the bad guys – and always strives to be the best hero he can be.

Over time, Marvel Comics has created some truly frightening Spider-Man stories. These tales often place him in incredibly scary scenarios, and sometimes even show him losing himself and transforming into a monstrous being.

5) Absolute Carnage

The storyline Absolute Carnage presents Spider-Man with a truly frightening challenge. It began with the introduction of Venom and the concept of symbiotes – creatures that bond with people and influence their personalities. While Venom initially bonded with Spider-Man, inspiring a desire to be a hero, the birth of Carnage changed everything. Carnage bonded with Cletus Kasady, a dangerous serial killer, and became one of Spider-Man and Venom’s most formidable enemies.

The Absolute Carnage storyline is particularly frightening for Spider-Man fans because it transformed an already dangerous villain into a threat of cosmic proportions. This event introduced Knull, the ancient god who created all symbiotes, and showed Carnage committing widespread murder to try and unleash Knull onto Earth – a plot that ultimately led to the King in Black saga.

4) Shed – Amazing Spider-Man #630-633

The Lizard has always been a particularly sad villain for Spider-Man, a formerly good person transformed into a monster he couldn’t control. Like the classic horror creature, The Wolf Man, the story aimed to make readers feel sorry for the man cursed with this condition. However, the recent Spider-Man story arc, Shed, made it difficult to sympathize with the Lizard himself, as he became truly frightening.

The story of Curt Connors becoming the Lizard took a shockingly dark turn when he devoured his own son, Billy. This was a rare instance where the Lizard was portrayed as a truly frightening and monstrous villain. The event was so disturbing that it became difficult to sympathize with Curt Connors, even knowing he couldn’t control his actions. While it’s considered one of the most compelling Lizard storylines, it was later retconned – Billy was brought back to life as a clone, with a version of his personality restored.

3) Spine-Tingling Spider-Man

While many Spider-Man stories focus on classic hero-versus-villain conflicts, the 2023 miniseries Spine-Tingling Spider-Man takes a different approach, plunging Peter Parker into a true horror tale. Stripped of his powers, Spider-Man finds his friends and family in danger, and shockingly, everyone seems to have forgotten he ever existed. He must uncover the truth behind this terrifying turn of events, but the person responsible remains a mystery.

The appearance of Spidercide early in the story hints at a major reveal later on. When Spider-Man finally discovers who’s behind his troubles, everything clicks into place. But the surprising twist wasn’t the main focus—the story truly shines because of the intense and frightening challenges Spider-Man faces throughout his journey.

2) Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow

One of the darkest and most frightening Spider-Man stories is found in Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow. Thankfully, this isn’t part of the main Spider-Man timeline. It takes place on Earth-21619, a reality where Spider-Man’s connection with the Venom symbiote went differently than on our Earth (Earth-616). In this alternate world, Spider-Man decides to keep the symbiote, and the consequences are disastrous.

The story begins with a shocking tragedy: Hobgoblin kills Aunt May. Fueled by rage, Spider-Man transforms into a monstrous, Venom-like being and retaliates, killing Hobgoblin. This act marks a turning point, as Spider-Man descends into vigilantism, systematically eliminating his other enemies and becoming a fugitive hunted by heroes. The sight of Spider-Man as a ruthless killer is terrifying, but things escalate when he seeks help and accidentally unleashes Venom, who then spreads a dangerous symbiote infection among other heroes. This storyline is a dark and violent exploration of a potential future, and it remains a truly frightening Spider-Man tale.

1) I Walked With a Spider – Edge of Spider-Verse #4

In Edge of Spider-Verse #4, readers met a different version of Spider-Man named Patton Parnel, who came from Earth-51412. Unlike other Spider-Men, Patton didn’t have a supportive Uncle Ben. He was raised by an abusive uncle named Ted and had a troubled past, even experimenting on animals. He gained his powers after being bitten by a red spider at Alcorp Industries, but his transformation into Spider-Man was disturbing – he first ate a mouse and then a cat.

This story explored a dark ‘what if’ scenario: what if Spider-Man, feeling frustrated and hurt, had used his powers for revenge instead of becoming a hero? It wasn’t a typical ongoing story, but a single issue that presented a truly frightening version of Spider-Man. The issue built to a shocking climax with the arrival of Morlun, and despite taking place on an alternate Earth, it’s considered one of the most chilling Spider-Man stories ever written.

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2025-10-28 23:43