Gil Kane

The series that cemented Spider-Man's position at the centre of the Marvel Universe. Each issue of Marvel Team-Up pairs the wall-crawler with a different hero — Thor, the X-Men, Human Torch, Daredevil, Iron Fist — in self-contained adventures that explore every corner of the 1970s Marvel world. A perfect entry point into Bronze Age Marvel and a love letter to the interconnected universe storytelling that made Marvel different from DC. 840 pages of classic 1970s action in USA omnibus edition.

The Conway era begins: Gerry Conway takes over Amazing Spider-Man and immediately marks his territory with the first Clone Saga, the Punisher's first appearance, and the Jackal as a terrifying new nemesis. Peter Parker tries to rebuild his life after Gwen Stacy's death while facing increasingly dark, complex threats. 976 pages from the Bronze Age, showing how Spider-Man evolved from Silver Age optimism into a more mature, morally complex hero.

Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 3 carries Peter Parker into the early-1970s moment where the series becomes heavier, stranger and more consequential. The Death of Gwen Stacy is the obvious landmark, but the volume also shows the road there: drugs, social pressure, Morbius, the Green Goblin and a Marvel line learning that superhero stories could leave permanent scars. Its value is the end of innocence, not a generic greatest-hits claim.