Web of Spider-Man Omnibus #1

History

Web of Spider-Man launched in April 1985 — written by Louise Simonson and penciled by Greg LaRocque — to replace Marvel Team-Up as the third major Spider-Man ongoing after Amazing Spider-Man and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man. Editor Danny Fingeroth (with James Owsley/Christopher Priest as co-editor) shepherded the early issues under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. The debut issue featured a painted cover by fantasy artist Charles Vess, whose involvement was noted at the time as a deliberate signal that the new title aspired to a distinct artistic identity; Vess's original cover art is also used for the 2025 omnibus edition. The series attracted a rotating roster of writers across its opening 34 issues, including Peter David, David Michelinie, Ann Nocenti, and Danny Fingeroth, before 'Kraven's Last Hunt' — originally conceived to run only in Spectacular Spider-Man — was expanded by editor Jim Salicrup into a six-part crossover spanning all three titles.

Trivia · 8 facts

• The omnibus collects Web of Spider-Man (1985) #1–34, Web of Spider-Man Annual #1–3, Amazing Spider-Man #268 and #293–295, and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131–133.
• Web of Spider-Man #1 (April 1985), written by Louise Simonson and penciled by Greg LaRocque with a painted cover by Charles Vess, serves as the definitive conclusion of the Alien Costume Saga, depicting Peter Parker's final separation from the symbiote using church bells.
• Web of Spider-Man #1 establishes two symbiote traits with long-term consequences: that the alien costume does not trigger Spider-Man's spider-sense, and that the symbiote is genuinely malevolent in how it attempts to rebond with its host — both facts essential to Venom's later characterization.
• 'Kraven's Last Hunt' (Web of Spider-Man #31–32, Amazing Spider-Man #293–294, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131–132), written by J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod, is the first story ever coordinated as a simultaneous crossover across all three Spider-Man titles.
• 'Kraven's Last Hunt' was originally planned to run entirely within Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man; editor Jim Salicrup made the decision to expand it into a full three-title crossover, arguing that parallel Spider-Man stories would undercut the impact of the hero's apparent death.
• Web of Spider-Man Annual #2 (1986), written by Ann Nocenti, features interior art by both Arthur Adams and Mike Mignola — a notably star-studded artistic lineup for an annual of that era.
• The series was launched to replace Marvel Team-Up, which ended its run at the same time, giving Spider-Man a dedicated solo ongoing in the slot that had previously been a team-up format.
• The omnibus was released on March 18–19, 2025, with two cover variants: a Charles Vess cover (the primary edition) and a second variant, with the Vess cover reprinting the painted artwork from the original Web of Spider-Man #1.

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