The History of Spider-Man: 1989

Spidey battles Sabretooth, the Red Skull and more, while gaining some massive new cosmic powers.

For over 50 years, Spider-Man has been a sensational standout in the Marvel Universe, and this year, the web-slinger swings onto the silver screen once more in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”! In celebration of his memorable history, we present Spidey’s spectacular step-by-step story!

After scuffles with the hate-filled Nekra in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #46 and the macabre Mysterio in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #311, Spidey’s world turned completely upside-down when New York City became infested with demons during the Inferno event in PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #146.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #146

Published: January 10, 1989
Added to Marvel Unlimited: May 26, 2015
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

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The Hobgoblin searched for Norman Osborn’s original Goblin formula in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #47, but instead found adversity from Harry Osborn costumed as the Green Goblin in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #312 and then his own transformation into a demonic entity in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #147. After demons tortured Betty Brant and Flash Thompson in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #148, Spider-Man confronted the altered Hobgoblin in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #48, and Peter’s friend Curt Connors struggled with stopping his later-ego the Lizard from joining the ongoing inferno in the city in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #313.

Jonathan Caesar manipulated events from behind prison bars in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #314 to evict Mary Jane Parker from her apartment, so she and Peter moved in with Aunt May. Spidey learned more about his and Gwen Stacy’s clones from Miles Warren’s journals in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #149, and helped Mary Jane’s friend Lorraine hold off a drug pusher in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #49.

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #314

Published: April 10, 1989
Added to Marvel Unlimited: April 28, 2007
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Todd McFarlane
Cover Artist: Todd McFarlane

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What is Marvel Unlimited?

Robbie Robertson received a prison sentence in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #150 while the lycanthropic Lobo Brothers schemed against the Kingpin. Venom escaped from his cell in the Vault in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #315, discovered Peter’s home address from the Black Cat in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #316, and confronted his webby foe directly in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #317. Afterward, the Daily Bugle declared Spider-Man a thief in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #50 and the crafty Chameleon abducted J. Jonah Jameson and adopted his identity.

Robbie found himself in the same prison as his enemy Tombstone in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #151, and the wily Arranger asked for the webslinger’s help in the coming gang war in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #51. Jameson attempted to escape the Chameleon’s clutches in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #52, but to no avail. Spidey took on the Lobo Brothers for the Arranger in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #152, and later fell into Hammerhead’s trap in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #153 while the city continued to heat up.

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #318

Published: August 10, 1989
Added to Marvel Unlimited: April 28, 2007
Writer: David Michelinie
Penciller: Todd McFarlane

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What is Marvel Unlimited?

Justin Hammer created a new battle suit for the Scorpion in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #318, but when the villain double-crossed him in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #319, Hammer sent Rhino and Blacklash to secure his assets. The Lobos planned to attack the Kingpin in his lair in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #53 while Jameson won his freedom from the Chameleon with the help of his nemesis the wallcrawler in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #54. Following that, Spidey tussled with the Puma in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #154, and an incarcerated Tombstone in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #155. Meanwhile, the gang war exploded in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #55.

With the questionable aid of Paladin and Silver Sable in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #320, Spidey took on the evil Life Foundation in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #321, the terrorist group called Ultimatum in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #322, accepted help from Captain America in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #323, battled the fearsome Sabretooth in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #324, and discovered the big baddie behind his recent troubles to be the Red Skull in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #325.

Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #158

Published: December 10, 1989
Added to Marvel Unlimited: January 30, 2017
Writer: Gerry Conway
Penciller: Mike Esposito, Sal Buscema
Cover Artist: Sal Buscema

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What is Marvel Unlimited?

Together with his former foe the Rocket Racer, the wallcrawler addressed rampant racism on his college campus in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #56 and the detestable Skinhead in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #57. The Puma took over the Daily Bugle in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #156, Electro battled the Shocker in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #157, Spidey gained amazing cosmic powers in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #158, and the Brothers Grimm tried their hand at taking him down in SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #159.

At the direction of the Kingpin, Graviton tried to uproot the Bugle building in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #326, and Magneto sought out Spidey in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #327 due to his assumption that the wallcrawler’s new powers made him a mutant. The Grizzly demanded a rematch in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #58, and Doctor Doom ordered Titania to test her mettle against our still-cosmic hero in WEB OF SPIDER-MAN #59.