The 10 Worst Spider-Man Stories Ever Written

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Spider-Man is widely considered the best superhero ever created. He’s popular with everyone because people can easily connect with him, and his comic book adventures have been amazing for over sixty years. However, even a fantastic character like Spider-Man has been featured in a few stories that weren’t very good.

Since his debut in 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man has been featured in quite a few poorly received storylines. From arcs that missed the mark on what makes the character special, to plot points that contradicted established continuity and still frustrate fans, here’s a look at some of the worst Spider-Man stories ever.

No Amount of Revisionist History Will Fix the Clone Saga

The Clone Saga is a famously controversial storyline in Spider-Man’s history at Marvel Comics. It was a long story arc throughout the 1990s that began when Peter Parker learned his old enemy, the Jackal (Miles Warren), had created clones of him and people he cared about. This led to multiple clones of Spider-Man becoming major characters in the comics.

The Clone Saga has its strong points, but it quickly becomes overly complicated. With so many twists, changes to established storylines, and unresolved plot threads, it’s hard to follow, even for experienced comic fans. Although some modern readers have begun to appreciate this period of Spider-Man comics, it remains a notorious part of the character’s history.

Even the Writer Hated Ultimate Spider-Man and Wolverine’s Body-Swap Adventure

I really enjoyed Brian Michael Bendis’s Ultimate Spider-Man run overall, but there were definitely a couple of storylines that didn’t quite land. One of those was in issues #66-67, where Spider-Man and the Punisher actually switched places for a day! It was a weird idea – they basically tried to live each other’s lives to figure out what was going on, and it just didn’t fully work for me.

The story itself isn’t far-fetched for Marvel, but it’s weakened by a bizarre introduction where the writer, Brian Michael Bendis, jokingly disavows it and blames his editors for the idea. This immediately signals to readers that the story won’t have lasting consequences. Adding to the issues, a scene where Wolverine inappropriately focuses on Peter Parker’s underage girlfriend while inhabiting his body feels particularly problematic in retrospect.

Spider-Man: The Final Chapter Is a Severely Underwhelming Finale

In 1998, Marvel ended the first series of The Amazing Spider-Man with a major story arc that brought back Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin. Osborn put a cruel revenge plot into motion by kidnapping Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson’s newborn daughter, causing them immense suffering. Though it initially seemed like this would lead to a huge battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, the storyline, called “The Final Chapter,” quickly lost its momentum.

“The Final Chapter” dramatically changes things for readers, showing that Norman Osborn’s recent powers were just a hallucination caused by his Green Goblin insanity. His last fight with Spider-Man isn’t much of a fight at all, with Spider-Man winning easily. To make matters worse, the story introduces a retcon that many fans won’t like: Peter and MJ’s daughter actually died when she was born, and the person Norman Osborn had been secretly holding captive turns out to be .

Spider-Man: Chapter One Was an Unpopular Relaunch for the Character

Published in 1999, “Spider-Man: Chapter One” was an attempt to refresh The Amazing Spider-Man series as the new millennium approached. Written by John Byrne, this miniseries retold Spider-Man’s origin story and launched the second volume of the ongoing comic. However, the story included several changes to established Spider-Man lore that weren’t popular with fans.

Whenever Marvel tries to change Spider-Man’s origins, fans get upset, and the “Chapter One” miniseries was a prime example. It introduced several unwelcome changes, including a new take on how Peter Parker became Spider-Man, and surprisingly revealed he was also responsible for the creation of Doctor Octopus. In the end, this miniseries kicked off a disappointing storyline that most fans would prefer to ignore.

Reign Was Much Too Dark for Spider-Man

This story is set in a bleak future version of Earth, labeled Earth-70237. The four-issue comic, created by Kaare Andrews, centers around an older Peter Parker who comes out of retirement as Spider-Man when a dangerous new enemy appears. Although the idea sounds promising, the series quickly became very grim and intense.

Today, Spider-Man: Reign is well-known for being unusually dark and disturbing. While some fans enjoy a more realistic take on Spider-Man, most agree that Reign goes too far. The story includes upsetting events, like Mary Jane developing cancer from long-term exposure to Peter Parker’s radioactive blood – a plot point that, while potentially realistic, is overwhelmingly bleak.

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 Is a Rare Misstep in the Stan Lee Era

The early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, revolutionized comic books, but even those stories weren’t perfect. In a 1968 annual issue, #5, Peter Parker discovered the hidden past of his deceased parents, Richard and Mary. He found out they were actually secret S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who were killed by the Red Skull.

Although some versions of Spider-Man have revealed the truth about Peter Parker’s parents, it wasn’t a good decision. A key part of Spider-Man’s popularity is that he’s relatable – an ordinary person readers can connect with. By making his parents secret agents, Marvel diminished that relatable quality.

Trouble Completely Destroys Spider-Man’s Origin Story

The comic book series Trouble presented a different take on Peter Parker’s origins, focusing on the lives of his parents, aunt, and uncle before he was born. While largely forgotten over time, Trouble is still well-known for a surprising plot twist: it revealed that Aunt May and Richard Parker had a romantic relationship, making May Peter’s biological mother.

The change to Peter Parker’s origin story – revealing May as his biological mother – was widely disliked by fans. This altered their relationship in the comics in a negative way. Fortunately, Marvel quickly addressed the storyline from Trouble by establishing it occurred in a separate universe. This means fans can rest assured that Aunt May remains Peter’s aunt, as originally known.

One Moment in Time Doubles Down on a Terrible Spider-Man Story

Following the widely criticized “One More Day” story arc (which we’ll discuss later), Marvel published “One Moment in Time” to address the confusion it caused. This new story attempts to clarify the altered timeline by detailing the events of the couple’s wedding day.

The 2010 storyline backfired. Following the controversial “One More Day,” “One Moment in Time” only intensified fan anger, particularly from those who cherished Peter and MJ’s relationship. This story, written by Joe Quesada, reinforced a widely disliked decision and extinguished any possibility of reversing the events of “One More Day.” It’s now largely forgotten and rarely discussed positively.

Sins Past Ruins an Iconic Spider-Man Supporting Character

The 2005 Spider-Man comic storyline “Sins Past,” written by J. Michael Straczynski, sparked controversy when it revealed a hidden part of Gwen Stacy’s past. The story introduced twin children, Gabriel and Sarah, who were initially thought to potentially be Peter Parker’s. However, it was ultimately revealed that Gwen had an affair with Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, and he is actually the twins’ father.

Spider-Man fans were understandably outraged by the way “Sins Past” portrayed Gwen Stacy. Her death has always been a sensitive topic, and many felt Marvel Comics made a terrible mistake by damaging her memory with that storyline. Fortunately, the affair between Gwen and Norman Osborn is no longer considered official continuity after the “One More Day” event, though many fans had already rejected it as part of the Spider-Man story long before then.

One More Day Will Always Be the Worst Spider-Man Story Ever Told

If you ask a Spider-Man fan about the worst comic book story, you’ll likely hear the same answer: “One More Day.” This 2007 storyline centers on Peter Parker’s frantic attempt to save Aunt May after she’s shot following the events of Civil War. In a moment of desperation, he makes a deal with the demon Mephisto. The cost? His marriage to Mary Jane Watson. Mephisto keeps his end of the bargain, healing Aunt May but completely erasing Peter and MJ’s marriage from ever happening.

The comic book storyline “One More Day” is a prime example of how editorial choices can stifle creative storytelling. Released almost twenty years ago, it’s now widely understood that Marvel editors decided to undo Peter Parker’s marriage to Mary Jane Watson, aiming to revert him to his original character. This choice proved very unpopular with fans, who were upset by the loss of years of stories focused on the beloved couple.

“One More Day” isn’t just a poorly written Spider-Man story; it feels like a betrayal to longtime fans. Because of this and other issues, it shouldn’t have been published.

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2026-04-12 21:12