The Amazing Spider-Man is known as one of Marvel Comics‘ most upbeat and fun heroes. The Web-Slinger has a colorful and creative roster of bad guys, whereas Peter Parker himself is a relatable guy with an arsenal of quips and one-liners. He seems to have it pretty good—even if the media generally has it out for him.
However, things aren’t all sunshine and roses for Spider-Man. Even the Web-Head has some tough times, and almost every superhero faces at least one great tragedy in their time as a masked vigilante. Spider-Man is no different in that regard, and there are some truly heartbreaking Spider-Man comics out there waiting to be read.
9 A Hunter’s Obsession Consumes Him With “Kraven’s Last Hunt”
Sergei Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter, took things to a new extreme when he seemingly killed Spider-Man and buried him. Spider-Man was still alive, but it took him two weeks to escape from the coffin. During this time, Kraven sought to prove that he could be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker had ever been. When Peter breaks free, he finds Kraven madder than he had ever been before, and Kraven commits suicide in this story by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck.
This tragedy was compounded when the Kravinoff family sought to resurrect Kraven in The Grim Hunt by Joe Kelly, Michael Lark, and Marco Checchetto. In this tale, the Kraven’s murder Mattie Franklin (aka Spider-Woman), Madame Web, and Kaine Parker (aka the Scarlet Spider).
8 Spider-Man Was Put Through One Of His Most Brutal Tests In “The Other: Evolve Or Die”
One of Spider-Man’s most brutal adventures came about when his powers were seemingly killing him, and the interdimensional vampire known as Morlun was hunting the Wall-Crawler. This was The Other: Evolve or Die event that took place over several different Spider-Man titles by creators such as Peter David, Reginald Hudlin, Mike Wieringo, Pat Lee, and Mike Deodato Jr.
Over the course of this story, Peter is beaten into a coma, seemingly dies, sheds his skin and is reborn, and has an eye ripped out of his head. However, he ultimately gains new powers and faces the otherworldly entity known as the Other.
7 One Of Peter’s Most Tragic Enemies Takes A Dark Turn (ASM #630-633)
Curt Connors never wanted to become the Lizard, and he isn’t in control of himself when the Lizard personality takes over. Curt’s wife and child developed cancer due to a company called the Monnano Corporation, and Curt’s wife, Martha, perished. Billy was able to recover, but his life would still be cut short.
The Lizard, to spite Curt Connors, killed and ate Billy Connors. Curt’s influence on the Lizard faded away due to the trauma, and the Lizard became the Shed. This new form was more powerful than the Lizard, and it even developed telepathic abilities. Spider-Man barely beat the Shed by getting Curt Connors to re-emerge from the Lizard.
6 The Birth Of Cloak And Dagger Came From Death (Spectacular Spider-Man #64)
Cloak and Dagger are a pair of young heroes who were created by Bill Mantlo and Ed Hannigan in Spectacular Spider-Man #64. Cloak, aka Tyrone Johnson, has the ability to teleport himself and others through the Darkforce Dimension. Dagger, aka Tandy Bowen, can conjure daggers of light that stun and knock out opponents.
The two gained their powers after being kidnapped and subjected to a brutal experiment involving narcotics. Tandy and Tyrone were the only survivors of the experiment, with countless other teenage runaways dying in the process.
5 Harry Osborn’s Quest For Revenge Claims Him (Spectacular Spider-Man #200)
Harry Osborn never forgave his former best friend, Peter Parker, for the death of his father Norman Osborn. Of course, Norman never truly died, but Harry didn’t know that. Harry donned the Green Goblin persona more than once, becoming seemingly addicted to the Goblin Formula much in the same way he had a pill addiction years prior.
In Spectacular Spider-Man #200 by J.M. DeMatteis and Sal Buscema, Spider-Man and Harry as the Green Goblin duel once more before Harry realizes that the Goblin Formula is killing him. Harry and Peter finally talk, and the two forgive one another before the Formula sends Harry into a seizure, ultimately taking his life.
4 One Of Pete’s Best Friends Died In The Negative Zone (Fantastic Four #587-8)
Harry Osborn wouldn’t be the last close friend that Spider-Man lost. Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four, was Spider-Man’s first superhero friend. The two were as close, and that made it hard for Spider-Man when the Human Torch perished in the Negative Zone in Fantastic Four #587 by Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting.
The following issue, #588, deals with the fallout as the FF and their allies try to cope with the death of the Human Torch. Thor and the Hulk allow the Thing to work out his feelings in a one-sided brawl, and Spider-Man tries to console young Franklin Richards, who feels partially responsible for Johnny’s death. This led to Spider-Man joining the FF when they recreated themselves as the Future Foundation.
3 Spider-Man’s Origin Is A Tragedy In Itself (Amazing Fantasy #15)
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the birth of Spider-Man was in itself a tragedy. After gaining his spider-powers in Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Peter Parker sought to capitalize on his new abilities. However, this made him selfish, prompting him to allow a burglar to escape after robbing the people who ripped Peter off.
That same burglar would go on to kill Benjamin Parker, Peter’s uncle and father figure, in a shooting. This tragedy prompted Spider-Man to use his powers for the benefit of others, as with great power should also come great responsibility.
The Death Of (Ultimate) Spider-Man (Ultimate Spider-Man #153-60 And Ultimate Fallout) Showed The Death Of A Hero
While this isn’t quite the Spider-Man that everyone knows and loves, it was still a great tragedy when the Ultimate Spider-Man of Earth-1610 died after a fight with his greatest foes, including the Green Goblin. This took place in Ultimate Spider-Man #153-160 with the aftermath taking place in Ultimate Fallout, with creators such as Brian Michael Bendis, Sarah Pichelli, Mark Millar, Leinil Francis Yu, Mark Bagley, Chris Samnee, and David Lafuente helming this tale.
Peter Parker and Norman Osborn killed each other in the final fight, with Aunt May arriving to comfort Peter as he passed. Little did May or Peter know that Miles Morales was watching in the crowd as Peter died, and Miles would go on to succeed Peter Parker as the next Ultimate Spider-Man.
2 Back In Black And One More Day (ASM #538-545) Had Spider-Man At His Lowest
After exposing his secret identity to the world at the behest of Iron Man, Peter Parker’s life became more difficult than ever. He was drafted into the Superhuman Civil War to help arrest Captain America and his renegade Avengers, but he’d defect to Cap’s side after becoming disgusted with Iron Man’s tactics. Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin, hired an assassin to kill Peter in his own home, but the bullet missed and struck Aunt May instead. May Parker was at death’s door when Peter donned the black costume once again to track down and beat Fisk nearly to death. This story was told across Amazing Spider-Man #538-545 by J. Michael Strazynski, Ron Garney, and Joe Quesada.
Soon afterward, Peter Parker and Mary Jane would be approached by Mephisto with a deal that Peter and Mary Jane would take. This was an infamous deal that would change Peter Parker’s life forever and lead to the maligned Brand New Day story.
1 The Night Gwen Stacy Died (ASM #121-2) Was A Turning Point For Peter Parker
The death of Gwen Stacy is one of the most eponymous and tragic events in the life of Peter Parker, even being partly adapted for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and Marc Webb’s Amazing Spider-Man 2. This story finds Green Goblin discovering the secret identity of Spider-Man and looking to strike at Peter through those he loves.
Green Goblin kills Gwen Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #121 by Gerry Conway and Gil Kane. In the follow-up issue, Spider-Man and Green Goblin have a brutal showdown that concludes with Green Goblin seemingly accidentally killing himself with his own Goblin Glider. While Peter may have won the fight, he still has to grapple with the loss of the woman he loved.
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