“Spider-Verse” is a Marvel event starting during the fall of 2014.  In this event, every Spider-Man from the entire Marvel multiverse will be featured during the course of the story.  In order to prepare for this huge spider-centric event, one of the Comic Book Time Machine hosts, Matt Anderson, will be reading important story arcs that set up “Spider-Verse.”

In the first episode of our “Spider-Verse Prerequisites,” Matt discusses the six-issue story arc that features the first appearances of two characters that will be important to the “Spider-Verse” storyline:  Ezekiel and Morlun.

These six issues, Amazing Spider-Man (volume 2) issues #30-35, also happen to be the start of J. Michael Straczynski’s long run on the series.  These first JMS issues came out in 2001, and he would continue on the book all the way through 2007. Issues #30-35 also feature art by John Romita Jr.

Issue #30 – Cover date: June 2001Issue #31 – Cover date: July 2001Issue #32 – Cover date: August 2001Issue #33 – Cover date: September 2001Issue #34 – Cover date: October 2001Issue #35 – Cover date: November 2001