Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 1

Background. In 2000, Marvel launched Ultimate Spider-Man with a fresh premise: to reimagine the Wall-Crawler’s origin story for the 21st century. Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley took the reins and created a phenomenon. Their collaboration spanned 111 issues without interruption – an all-time record for a modern Marvel regular series – and redefined the character for an entire generation of readers. It is, for many critics, the best Spider-Man ever written.

What’s inside. The first part of the Bendis-Bagley run on Ultimate Spider-Man, including the Ultimate version of the origin story (the bite, Uncle Ben’s death, his first steps as a hero), the early showdowns with the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Venom, and the development of the reimagined supporting cast (Mary Jane, Harry Osborn, Kong, Liz). Art entirely by Mark Bagley.

Why it’s worth it. Ultimate Spider-Man is Brian Michael Bendis’s masterpiece and one of the most acclaimed comics of the 21st century. Over 111 issues, Bendis maintained a consistent narrative quality that virtually no other regular Marvel series has ever achieved. Mark Bagley drew a dynamic and expressive Spider-Man who influenced all subsequent audiovisual adaptations. It is an essential starting point for any fan of the character.

Edition details. 898 pages. First volume of the omnibus run. US edition published by Marvel Comics. ISBN 9781302931872.