Reddit reviews Spider-Man: Blue

   Modern Essentials

      Ultimate Spider-Man | #1-160 | 2000-2008 | Bendis

• Self-contained Ultimate universe where new readers can start with the very first issue and not miss anything. Hits on all major teenage Spider-Man story beats, friends, and villains. Considered one of the best modern Spider-Man runs of all time.
  
        Spider-Man: Blue | #1-6 | 2002 | Loeb
  
  
• Short, beautiful, touching, heart-warming story about a young Peter Parker torn between two romantic interests and maturing emotionally. Only 6 issues = a low-commitment peek at the character for new readers.
  
        Amazing Spider-Man | #30-57, 500-545 | 2001-2007 | Straczynski
  
  
• JMS' run is well-regarded for making Peter Parker and "average guy" again, just trying to pay rent and survive adulthood. It's dark, funny, dramatic, well-paced, and introduces new status quo/mythos, even supernatural elements.
  
        Amazing Spider-Man (Brand New Day) | #546-647 | 2008-2010 | Slott, et al.
  
  
• A fresh start for Peter Parker after Civil War. His memory has been reset and everything is new/different. He's back to his roots: struggling to pay rent, learning how the world works, and fighting his rogue gallery. Closest thing to a "reboot" Amazing Spider-Man has ever had = new reader friendly.
  
        Amazing Spider-Man (Big Time) | #648-700.5 | 2010-2013 | Slott, et al.
  
  
• Peter Parker is back in his groove, he's leading the Avengers, has a new girlfriend, and landed a major career opportunity. This eventually sets up one of the coolest modern Spidey stories in Superior Spider-Man below.
  
        Superior Spider-Man | #1-33 | 2013-2014 | Slott, et al.
  
  
• An impostor takes over for Spider-Man. Very different from the usual Spider-Man characterization = refreshing.

For Spider-Man:

• Spider-Man: Blue
  
• The Death of Jean DeWolff
  
• Kraven's Last Hunt
  
  Thor:
  
  
• Thor: The Mighty Avenger
  
• Thor by Walt Simonson
  
• The God Butcher
  
  Hulk:
  
  
• Hulk: Gray
  
• Planet Hulk
  
• Incredible Hulk: The End
  
  Wolverine:
  
  
• Weapon X
  
• Wolverine by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller
  
• Adamantium Men

Ahahah sorry I got excited! Here are some links:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785167145?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Death-Stacys-Stan-Lee/dp/0785167277/ref=pd_sim_b_1

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Blue-Jeph-Loeb/dp/0785110712/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Of course I'm sure you can find digital illegal versions of all this for free but I will hardly help you do that hahaha
Hope you enjoy!

You might find them on occasion in a comic book store. Definitely on ebay. The graphic novel is on Amazon.

Sure thing. A 'trade' is the nickname for a collection of single issues of a comic, put into a graphic novel type book binding. An example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spider-Man-Graphic-Novels-Marvel-Paperback/dp/0785110712/ or http://www.amazon.co.uk/SPIDER-MAN-SPIDER-ISLAND-Spider-Man-Dan-Slott/dp/0785151044/

Trades come in either hardback or paperback format. You tend to get higher quality paper in the trades, unless you're buying an Image or IDW comic because they already use top grade paper in their single issues. Hardcovers are more expensive. Pretty much every graphic novel from the main American comic publishers was originally released as single issues in a mini-series and Spider-man: Blue was no exception, it's just that single issues are only printed once and are harder to find (and usually a slightly more expensive way of buying). Pretty much every ongoing comic book series is collected into trade at some point (generally if you 'trade wait' you end up getting the comics 6-months to a year later than the single issues).

Trade paperback is often abbreviated to TPB or TP.

With that budget, you could do a great Venom-themed Spider-Man collection!

(Before that, though, heed the words of another poster of if he is a reader or a collector. If he wants to read great stories, hardcover and omnibuses are the way to go. One of my favorite Hardcovers is Spider-Man: Blue, or you could get him the Maximum Carnage collection/omnibus).

Now, with $1,200, you could get a good CGC copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300 (first appearance of Venom). This should be between $300-$600 or so unless you go CGC 9.8 graded.

I paired mine with Secret Wars #8 (which was the first appearance of the "symbiote" that later turns into venom. You could go CGC for this one as well (mine's a 9.0 and it displays beautifully).

Next, you could pair this with Marvel Team-Up #141 which is a black costume "key" issue. However, for my money, a nicely graded Web of Spider-Man #1 is preferable due to an awesome cover.

If you want to go really out of the box, try one of the Sideshow Collectible statues (https://www.sideshowtoy.com/) or eBay Sideshow Collectibles Spider-Man or Spider-Man Back in Black for awesome black costume/Venom statues and busts. I have the Back in Black: Legendary Scale Bust and it is just ridiculously awesome. Be aware though, they charge a big premium because they're the best in the business.

Regardless, I hope this gives you some good ideas of where to start. You're an awesome SO for doing this, I love it when my wife gives me comics for presents. Good luck!

If you're looking for standalone Spider-Man check out Spider-Man Blue. Great story that remasters the Silver Age tales of young Pete and his classic crew, but framed with the tradegy of future Pete recounting this tale.

Other Marvel recommendations:

Truth: Red, White, Black - Haunting tale of the history of the Super Solider formula. Robert Morales draws a lot on the real-life history of experimentation on black soldiers; the references he gives at the end of the volume are good reads themselves.

Marvels - An Alex Ross classic that explores the history of the Marvel Universe as seen by an ordinary photographer, right up until the end of the Silver Age. Gorgeous art and spectacular writing that pays homage to all the big Marvel beats.

X-Men Legacy (Marvel NOW) - 4 volume series that follows David Haller aka Legion, as he struggles to maintain a grip on his chaotic powers while finding his legacy in the wake of his father's death (dad being Charles Xavier). Great exploration of someone dealing with mental illness, touching first love, awesome action and humor. Great series that does not get bogged down in X-Men continuity.

Honorable Mention: Mini Marvels - Small gag comics that occasionally ran in Marvel comics some time ago. Cute art with beats that poked fun at the the current state of the Marvel U.

Ignore that other guy. Most of us welcome newbies to the Marvel universe and enjoy helping. Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order...

Spider-Man: Reign

The Alien Costume Saga

Coming Home

Down Among The Dead Men

Spider-Man: Blue

And of course, Kraven’s Last Hunt

Just out of curiosity how old are you? Because i can forgive this over sight if you are younger than 18 or so. This is such a huge staple in Spidey's life that it's beyond me to even understand how someone didn't know this. It's like not knowing that Uncle Ben is going to die in every Spider-man movie ever made.

Sorry if this sounds pretentious of me, but I am just a super fan and don't get how people don't know this.

Also if you want a good Spidey read that dives into his mental well being a bit more try reading Spider-man Blue. I really enjoyed it and it should bring you up to speed on his more personal relationships.

http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Blue-Jeph-Loeb/dp/0785110712