I’d like to start by saying sure their have been exceptions, and some great Spider-Man comics, and mini-series as a whole.

But in general and the overall look of things, I don’t think Spider-Man books have been good for many years now.

I think for me, the start was “Maximum Carnage”, back in the early 90’s. This story was one big fight, with very little real content.

Around then we had the fake Peter Parker’s parents horrible storyline idea. If they were real, it would have been too origin changing for his status as a character.

Soon after we got the whole Clone Saga, and Ben Reilly Spidey as the “real deal” concept.

Which led to Peter Parker returning, and the terrible idea of bringing Norman Osborn back.
Now it seems Gwen’s killer has escaped justice.

Soon after we got John Byrne who gave us the horrible Chapter One idea, and the equally terrible issue numbers reboot. Plus throw in Howard Mackie writing in their as well.

We eventually got JMS on Spider-Man. And the truth is, I never liked Straczynski’s run or his take on the character. We got his story of the Green Goblin defiling Gwen. The terrible concept of Gwen having kids with Osborn. Originally Peter in the JMS idea. Like this would have been a good idea? It should have been nixed by the editor on the spot.

We got the terrible magic induced stories JMS kept using in Spidey, like that totem garbage. Here is a hint, magic is not a good fit for the Spidey series, it never has been.

Now we got perhaps the ultimate terrible idea of the One More Day / Brand New Day. Which was nothing less then a reboot, and the book to me reads like it’s out of the 1970’s storyline ideas.

We have Harry Osborn back and in his 70’s role of hating Spider-Man. Peter back with Aunt May. His identity hidden from all, and his marriage wiped out. And thus rewriting history as we know it, because you cannot change one thread of history, without changing all events thereafter.

If you’ve read this far, perhaps you get what I’m trying to say.

Overall I just don’t think Spider-Man books have been good since the early 90’s.

Sure their have been great issues, and mini-series as I stated. But as a general whole? It’s been one bad idea after another. And that is a shame.

Plus in the books now with the reboot, why should you care? They’ve played with the whole his identity may be exposed card. Yet it’s already been played just recently and we know that won’t happen.

We got Peter’s tension with Harry about Spidey. But we’ve seen this all before.

We got Peter’s romantic life, but we know it will never lead to marriage, or that topic ever restored.

Basically we have books now, that to me read like, been their, done that and more importantly why should the reader care anymore? Cause as One More Day proves, Marvel can pull the rug out from under you whenever they wish. Continuity really does not matter anymore. And it really is the illusion of change at Marvel, but nothing really ever progresses. At least not anymore.