Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes ever created, which has made him the star of multiple comic book series over the years. Some of them, like Ultimate Spider-Man (2000), have been extremely beloved by fans. Others, such as Spider-Man: Chapter One, have mostly been forgotten by those who gave them a chance. Finally, there are those that have been a mixed bag throughout their entire run with a few highs and many lows (looking at you, The Amazing Spider-Man). But regardless of the hits and misses, there's one thing for certain: Fans will get another Spider-Man comic book issue no matter what.
There are multiple ongoing Spider-Man series at the time of writing this, and a couple shine for all the right reasons. Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) is universally praised for its depiction of the wall-crawler and its incredible family themes, while Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) has just finished a stellar arc that saw its titular character become a vampire. However, there is one series that isn't all that well-known, even when it contains some amazing and heartfelt moments. It might be far from perfect, but it's definitely the most underrated at the time.
The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024) is a very fun time
In a time when The Amazing Spider-Man just finished a very controversial arc, Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider has struggled to take off, and All-New: Venom revealed the true identity of its titular character to negative reception, The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024) is exactly what we need. Granted, we need to acknowledge that the series may suffer from pacing issues, and some of its stories might not connect as well as others. That being said, Miles and Peter's adventures are fun at worst, and very heartfelt at best.
The best part of The Spectacular Spider-Men is that we see how the wall-crawlers truly care for New York citizens. So far, there have been no world-ending threats or multiversal shenanigans. It's all about the Spider-Men helping their community — oftentimes not as superpowered individuals, but as Peter and Miles without the hero suits. They created a support group in a coffee shop to treat the psychological scars of those who were kidnapped by supervillains. They've also been tutoring a new superhero in town, Elemental, to control her powers. As if that wasn't enough, the two wall-crawlers have helped multiple supporting characters, including Shift, Doctor Connors, and even a group of Seelies (yeah, that last story was a bit weird if we're being honest).
We can't forget about the chemistry between Miles and Peter. If you've played the latest game in Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man franchise, then you know the interactions between the two can elevate any superhero tale. Fortunately, that's exactly what comic book readers find here. It's a nice contrast to the mainline The Amazing Spider-Man saga, where Peter recently died over and over again on his own and most of the time without the help of any other superhero. Giving him the chance to stay away from all the "supernatural" events of his stand-alone series and just talk about the complexities of his romantic life with Miles is a welcome change of pace. Besides, when the two bounce off each other's jokes while in costume, you're in for an amazing time.
All the way through, readers are treated to very entertaining action sequences, such as when Miles and Peter faced the Jackal, or even the fight between both Spider-Men. Every punch and hit feels fast-paced thanks to Humberto Ramos and Emilio Laiso's amazing art, which has been consistent on all 14 issues of the series released so far. Besides, it's not unusual to see guest appearances of other iconic heroes from time to time, such as The Fantastic Four. With that in mind, there's no denying that The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024) will keep you entertained every step of the way.
We all know that Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) should be crowned as the best Spidey ongoing series, and with good reason. It makes Peter a relatable character yet again, which is the key trait that made him popular back in the '60s, but has been getting lost over time in some stories. But if you're looking for another comic book saga that feels like a breath of fresh air amidst all the controversial decisions taken by Marvel lately (such as reviving Gwen Stacy only to make her a cold-blooded killer), then The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024) should be on top of your list.
The Spectacular Spider-Men (2024) No.15 will be released on May 14, 2025.