7 Masterpiece Spider-Man Stories That Have Never Been Adapted In Movies

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Spider-Man is Marvel’s most frequently adapted hero in film. So far, three different actors have played the live-action Spider-Man, and that doesn’t even include the popular animated Spider-Verse movies. Because fans love the character, it makes sense that he appears in many different versions and retellings of his classic stories. Despite all these adaptations drawing from the same comics, many of Peter Parker’s greatest adventures haven’t been brought to the big screen yet.

As a huge Spider-Man fan, I’ve been thinking about some of his greatest stories that we haven’t seen on the big screen yet. Some of them make sense why they haven’t been adapted, but others are just perfect for a new movie! Honestly, if they could turn “One More Day” into something people really enjoyed, I think any of these stories could be amazing too. So, let’s jump right in and take a look at what I think are Spidey’s best unadapted tales.

7) The Original Clone Saga

The “Clone Saga” is well-known as a low point for Spider-Man comics and a strange choice by Marvel, but it actually followed a really good storyline. This earlier story ran from The Amazing Spider-Man #144 to #150. About twenty issues after her death, Gwen Stacy unexpectedly reappears, seemingly alive. Peter, understandably, doesn’t believe it, and soon discovers a plot orchestrated by his former biology professor, Miles Warren, who has become the supervillain known as the Jackal.

This story arc finally unmasked the Jackal, Spider-Man’s long-time tormentor, and really focused on Peter Parker and his important relationships. It delved into his feelings for both Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, and culminated in a powerful moment where he confronted and overcame his fear of being a clone. While it might be challenging to adapt into a film – it would require introducing and then tragically killing Gwen to have the same impact – I’d be excited to see a movie explore this storyline, especially if it could lead into a Scarlet Spider film.

6) Spider-Man: Blue

Spider-Man: Blue retells the classic love story of Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, crafted by acclaimed creators Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Told on Valentine’s Day, the story unfolds as Peter records his memories of how he and Gwen fell in love. It’s a touching look back at both the joyful and heartbreaking moments of their relationship, and how Peter still carries the pain of losing her, even after finding happiness with Mary Jane. In a poignant moment, MJ asks Peter to send his love to Gwen as well.

The way this story is told, with a story within a story, is its strongest feature and would likely need to be kept in any adaptation. Having Peter himself narrate parts of it feels essential. It would also be a big loss if the story’s signature blue color scheme were changed. While a full animated movie would be incredibly emotional, even just hearing Josh Keaton – who voiced Peter in the popular Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon – read the comic’s opening lines is absolutely fantastic.

5) The Origin of the Hobgoblin

The Hobgoblin is a surprisingly overlooked villain in Spider-Man’s history. Roderick Kingsley discovered a hidden Green Goblin base and used its technology and formula to become a criminal. Unlike the insane Green Goblin, Kingsley was driven by a desire for wealth and power, using his Hobgoblin persona to create chaos and blackmail opponents. Their first battles were a hugely significant and memorable period for Spider-Man. Kingsley is a fantastic villain and deserves a chance to scare audiences on the big screen.

4) Spider-Island

This huge Spider-Man story feels like it was made for the Marvel movies! When the Jackal and Spider-Queen return, people all over Manhattan start gaining Spider-Man’s powers. To save the city and stop Spider-Queen from building an army, Spider-Man teams up with heroes from across the Marvel Universe – including the Avengers and the Fantastic Four – and reconnects with many of his allies. It’s a thrilling adventure that really highlights Spider-Man’s relationships and is packed with action.

This story is a great fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe because it features so many different heroes. Since most of these characters are already well-known, centering a film around a Spider-Man storyline like this offers a natural way to connect them, making the world feel more lived-in and less reliant on forced interactions only happening when the Avengers assemble.

3) “The Death Of Jean DeWolff”

This Spider-Man story is different from his usual adventures. It’s a gritty mystery centered around the murder of Spider-Man’s friend, Jean DeWolff. Driven to find the killer, Spider-Man teams up with Daredevil, who discovers Peter Parker’s secret identity. Daredevil tries to stop Spider-Man from crossing the line as he hunts down the culprit – a disturbed villain known as Sin-Eater. This story is one of Spider-Man’s most intense, exploring themes of loss, anger, and the destructive side of revenge.

Turning this story into a movie would be significantly grimmer than typical Spider-Man films, but it would be amazing to see such a complex story brought to life. The biggest challenge would be making sure audiences understand and feel the same anger as Spider-Man, which means the character Jean DeWolff would need to be well-known beforehand. I really hope this story gets adapted for the screen one day.

2) “Kraven’s Last Hunt”

When it comes to gritty and complex Spider-Man tales, “Kraven’s Last Hunt” is a standout. For years, Kraven the Hunter had been defeated by Spider-Man, and he was determined to prove his superiority. He accomplished this by drugging and burying Spider-Man alive, then impersonating him – even mimicking his actions and abilities. Though Spider-Man dramatically escaped his own grave, Kraven had already achieved his goal and tragically took his own life.

The impact of “Kraven’s Last Hunt” relies on the history between Kraven and Spider-Man, making an adaptation risky for most studios. While it would be a compelling story, it focuses much more on Kraven’s journey than on Spider-Man’s.

1) “Coming Home”

This story arc is a standout, introducing one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous enemies and featuring his most intense and violent battle yet. The powerful, interdimensional vampire named Morlun targets Spider-Man, pushing Peter Parker to his absolute limit. This storyline marks a turning point for Spider-Man, exploring the mystical side of his powers and revealing his identity as a Spider-Totem with a larger destiny. Beyond the thrilling action, it showcases Peter’s incredible ingenuity, unwavering resolve, and inner strength, even when facing seemingly insurmountable odds and potential death.

Turning this story into a movie would be incredibly wild and violent, potentially too much for live-action or even most animated formats. However, I still hope it inspires a film adaptation someday, as it’s one of Spider-Man’s greatest storylines.

Here are seven of the greatest Spider-Man stories that, surprisingly, haven’t made it to the big screen – at least not yet. Which one would you most like to see adapted into a movie?

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2025-11-28 00:16