Question for hardcore Spiderman fans

[013]

Ok, so the other day I was getting my nostalgia fix by watching a let's play of Maximum Carnage and Seperation Anxeity. And when the main pics flashed on the screen I just couldn't stop thinking, "DAMN those designs are SICK!!"

The thing is, even though I was a fan of this game and the show as a kid, I never really got into American comic books (I'm more into Japanese comics) so I don't really know much about Spider Man. But after seeing that pic I'm now starting to have a small obsession with Carnage and Venom's designs and I decided I want to check out the real Spiderman series. The trouble is, when it comes to American comics there are so many different alternate universes and the original comics are rare and hard to find. I want to know the real and original story then the ones that came after that.

So my question is, where do I start? Is there newly published versions of the first comics I can get? Also, please no unnecessary spoilers, I just want to know what to buy first and where. Thankyou in advance.

Other questions: 1. I know Spidy is infected with some kind of super spider or something, but what exactly is Carnage and Venom? I skimmed through wiki and it said something about an alien.

2. Can Venom control the fact that his tongue hangs out of his mouth or is it just way too big? Not that I'm complaining it looks totally awsome.

 

[Flipqy42]

The thing with American comics is that the older they are, the more expensive they are. I once saw a copy of Spiderman's very first appearance going for almost $3000. So, if you can find it cheap on Ebay or something, then go for the older ones first.

1. Venom is a symbiotic alien and Carnage is its offspring. (there are more symbiotic aliens in the later comics)

2. I think he can control his tongue, but I'm not sure, because, as the Spiderman series went on, there have been five different people who wore the Venom symbiote, all with different characteristics.

 

[013]

The thing with American comics is that the older they are, the more expensive they are. I once saw a copy of Spiderman's very first appearance going for almost $3000. So, if you can find it cheap on Ebay or something, then go for the older ones first.

1. Venom is a symbiotic alien and Carnage is its offspring. (there are more symbiotic aliens in the later comics)

2. I think he can control his tongue, but I'm not sure, because, as the Spiderman series went on, there have been five different people who wore the Venom symbiote, all with different characteristics.

Thanks, but I still need to know which one I should check out first. Are the old ones not available in a newly published version of it? Like a tradeback or something?

Yeah, about the old comic books going for a lot, I was worried about that, that's why I was hoping for one of the less desired tradebacks, as long as I get the same story and animation, it doesn't have to be and original print for me.

Oh yeah, as for the other symbiotic aliens, those are the ones I was talking about in separation anxiety. Those designs were so cool.

 

[Flipqy42]

The following is an answer for a question similar to your's copied from Yahoo Answers:
"You should decide, however, whether you are going to follow the classic route or whether you are going to follow the Ultimate Spider-man stories. They both are good. The classic stories deal with Peter Parker and his evolution since the publication began in 1963. The Ultimate Spider-man stories were the refit written more for today's audience.

If you'd like to follow the Ultimate Spider-man stories, you might like to get over to your local Barnes & Nobles and pick up the first volume of the series. That's your starting point. After that, if you really like it, there are other larger compilations available.

Hard core Spider-fans, like me, would say that you should start at Amazing Fantasy #15. However, as most people would think that this would be a colossal waste of time except from a Lee/Ditko connoissoir point of view, there are certainly better ways to get acquainted with the wall crawler.

If I were a new reader looking to get into Spider-man (classic), I'd go by either one of two methods:

1. Buy five issues of Spider-man, any issues, any title (except that of the Ultimate Spider-man). If you get a taste for it, buy one of the graphic novel selections. I recommend "Brand New Day" to start as this is really a reboot of the Spider-man continuity anyway.

2. Start with the ESSENTIAL series. These black and white collections are great to get a real feel for the character. There are several volumes and you can really get into them with very little money down. They are obviously for enjoyment and have no value as collectibles.

Spider-man is a great character and has undergone many changes over the last 4 decades or so. The more you read of him the more you want to read of him."
Hope this helps

 

[013]

Thanks, I did some research myself too. I found that the Amazing Spider Man was the first one and you can get Amazing Fantasy vol 15 and the first 10 volumes of the Amazing Spider Man in one book. But since Venom doesn't show up untill chapter 298, I think I might start with Ultimate Spider Man untill I can afford the original series. Thanks for your help. ^_^

 

[Flipqy42]

No problem. I'm not into comics that much, but I know a lot about the superheros because my brother and uncle are big comic readers.

 

[cheezMcNASTY]

I got the first volume of Ultimate Spider-Man when it came out. Awesomely illustrated piece of work. It's a hardcover too. Feels like you're reading something special.

Forget what the purists say. You'll get just as much enjoyment out of the modernized version and you won't have to compete with collectors, either. It's a win/win.