The Amazing Spider-Man is a superhero who is known for his quick-wit, quips, and overall positive attitude toward his superhero career. Admittedly, Peter Parker has experienced plenty of tragedies, has shown resentment towards his responsibilities as Spider-Man, and has even considered quitting several times over the years. However, Peter Parker has always ended up putting the mask back on and swinging back into action.
Even with all that taken into consideration, it's undeniable that some high points in Spider-Man comics are higher than others. Every once in a while the "Old Parker Luck" gives Spidey a break, and he gets a win that sends some much-needed happiness into the life of Spider-Man.
10 Spider-Man Of 616 Meeting Spider-Gwen Of Earth-65
"The Night Gwen Stacy Died" is one of the grimmest and most traumatic moments in Peter Parker's history. Gwen Stacy, then Peter Parker's girlfriend and the love of his life, was killed by Spider-Man's archnemesis, the Green Goblin. Spider-Man failed to save her, and this was a turning point in the history of Spider-Man.
However, multiversal circumstances have caused Spider-Man of Earth-616 (the mainstream Marvel Universe) to team up with the Ghost-Spider (aka Spider-Gwen of Earth-65) to team up on a few occasions. Upon meeting for the first time, Peter informs Gwen that he couldn't save the Gwen Stacy of his Earth. She informs him that she couldn't save the Peter Parker of her Earth and that the two of them should vow to watch one another's backs. This took place in 2014's Amazing Spider-Man #9 by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel.
9 Flash Thompson Making Amends With Peter Parker After Years Of Abuse
Eugene "Flash" Thompson was Peter Parker's constant bully and abuser during their years in high school and even for a while into college at Empire State University. However, Flash eventually makes amends with Peter Parker (largely thanks to their mutual friendship with Gwen Stacy), and the two become friends.
This proves largely to Flash's benefit over the years, as he eventually becomes the government-created superhero, Agent Venom. He and Peter Parker learn one another's alter egos, and veteran superhero Spider-Man is able to offer guidance to Agent Venom.
8 Peter Parker Regaining Control Over His Body After The Superior Spider-Man Era
The Superior Spider-Man era of Spider-Man comics found Otto Octavius, aka Doctor Octopus, in control over the body of his most hated foe, Spider-Man. Otto continues to take on Spider-Man's superheroics, attempting to show that he could be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker had ever been. This leads to a new and more authoritarian era of Spider-Man. His attitude and tactics become so extreme that the Superior Spider-Man is even booted from the Avengers.
When Peter Parker reasserted control over his body in the Amazing Spider-Man #1 story by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, it's a joyous occasion. His life is in ruins thanks to Otto's activities, but it's still an exciting return-to-form for everybody's favorite Web-Head.
7 The First Meeting Of Spider-Man And The Fantastic Four
Amazing Spider-Man #1 from 1963 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko finds the Web-Head in his own book at last, and it also details his first encounter with the Fantastic Four. It's not a friendly first encounter, as superheroes meeting for the first time so rarely are. Spider-Man wants to use his powers to make money and thinks he can do so by joining the FF. He battles the FF to prove himself, only to discover that the Fantastic Four don't make money from their hero tasks.
This causes Spidey to leave in a huff, but it's the start of some of Spider-Man's oldest friendships. He becomes close buddies with the Human Torch, often seeks the scientific insight of Mister Fantastic, and becomes a reliable ally to both the Invisible Woman and the Thing.
6 Peter Parker Putting The Costume Back On After "Spider-Man No More!"
The "Spider-Man No More!" story from Amazing Spider-Man #50 by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. finds Peter considering hanging up the costume for good thanks to all the hatred and rejection he's experienced as Spidey. He even turns the costume into J. Jonah Jameson to seal the deal (without revealing his secret identity of course). However, he is reminded of Uncle Ben and recommits to his mission as Spider-Man.
This comic also features the first appearance of Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin of Crime.
5 The Arrival Of Peter Parker's Brand New Day After The Near-Death Of May Parker
The "Brand New Day" story that served as a segway from the J. Michael Strazynski era of Amazing Spider-Man to the Dan Slott era is a contentious story, to say the least. Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson make an actual deal with the devil, aka Mephisto. They make a pact that saves Aunt May's life, but it makes it so that Peter Parker and Mary Jane never began their romantic relationship. It also undoes Spider-Man revealing his secret identity to the world, and it's revealed all of this is done because Peter and MJ's love is so pure that unmaking it allows Mephisto to spite God.
As controversial as all of this was, it did kick off a major tone-shift for Spider-Man. He hung up the black cloth costume once again, Aunt May was healthy again, and Spider-Man was back to making quips and having an optimistic-if-troubled view of life. His old pal Harry Osborn even made a return!
4 Spider-Man Changing Back To The Classic Costume From The Alien Suit
Speaking of black costumes, Peter Parker actually wore the original Klyntar symbiote costume for years. It wasn't until the later stages of this era that the costume began noticeably changing Peter's behavior as Spider-Man. When it did, things became grimmer for Peter again, and his life began to deteriorate.
Things weren't all fixed when Spider-Man put the classic costume on once again in Amazing Spider-Man #259 by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, but it was the first step in Peter putting his life back together. It was also an exciting return to the old ways for everyone's favorite Web-Slinger.
3 The Rubble-Lifting Moment From "If This Be My Destiny...!"
One of the most iconic Spider-Man pages in comic book history comes from Amazing Spider-Man #33 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This was the conclusion to the "If This Be My Destiny...!" storyline that saw Peter contending with none other than Doc-Ock.
The story finds Spider-Man buried under a mound of rubble with water rising around him. He seems beaten for good, but he gains the strength and determination to lift the rubble off of himself and accept that this is his life now with the power and responsibility that come with being Spider-Man. This scene has been recreated countless times over the years--but it was never as affecting as it was the first time.
2 When Peter Parker And Mary Jane Watson Finally Tied The Knot
After years of dating, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson finally got married on the front steps of New York City Hall in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21 by David Michelinie, Jim Shooter, and Paul Ryan. It was a joyous occasion that found the Web-Head finally tying the knot with his one true love.
Their marriage wasn't perfect, but they were deeply committed to one another. Of course, this was all undone by Mephisto later on. However, Peter and MJ have struck up a romance once again, and it seems that retying the knot may be in the works for these two lovebirds.
1 When Peter Parker Of 616 First Met Miles Morales
The Amazing Spider-Man of Earth-616 finally met the Ultimate Spider-Man of Earth-1610 in Spider-Men #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli. In one of his most ambitious capers yet, Mysterio manages to cross the bridge between two universes, which causes Peter Parker to meet Miles Morales.
Beyond the exciting simplicity of Pete meeting Miles, it's also a significant moment for Peter Parker to know that he may one day have a successor. They meet again during the Spider-Verse stories, Spider-Men II, and Secret Wars (2015). Now, Peter and Miles actually both exist on Earth-616 thanks to the multiversal realignment that happened at the end of Secret Wars, and the two interact on a fairly frequent basis.
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