Spidey: Freshman Year

Spidey (Collected Editions) #1-2

by Robbie Thompson

Think you know everything about Peter Parker? Think again! Expect action, adventure and hilarity in equal measure as we head back to high school to explore Pete's early days! Modern talent combines with the classic Marvel flavor to present the web-slinging wonder's younger years in truly amazing, spectacular, sensational style. It's a return to the hassles of overdue homework, not knowing how to talk to girls and a never-ending merry-go-round of madness courtesy of the best rogues' gallery in comics, each one more incredible than the last. You'll love watching Spidey tangle with Doctor Octopus and dig Sandman, the walking beach. With these and more faces from Peter's past -both familiar and surprising figures -you'll remember what made Spider-Man the world's greatest hero in the first place!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Marvel, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2019

About the author

Comics writer.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A long time ago . . . someone told me that 'with great power, there must also come great responsibility.' I can help. So I do help. Or try to, anyway." -- Spider-Man, regarding his chosen avocation, to an inquisitive Captain America, in chapter 10

A very straightforward, action-oriented, and updated (to a present-day / 21st century setting) version of Peter Parker's teenage years as the Big Apple's alternately loved and loathed costumed chatty crimefighter, Spidey: Freshman Year is a fine assemblage of brisk and lighthearted stories. Featuring a prolific rogues' gallery ("Um, who says 'rogues' gallery'?" cracks our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler during a bout of fisticuffs with the Vulture) of classic villains including Green Goblin, Kraven the Hunter, Scorpion, Electro and of course Doc Ock, along with some special guest-star mentoring provided by a quippy Iron Man, the noble Black Panther, and an always-courteous Captain America, Spidey is perfect coffee-break reading to satisfy a quick fix for super-heroics.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Spectacular!

Sensational!

SPIDEY: FRESHMAN YEAR reminded me, after so many years, why I have always loved Spider-Man. A perfect blend of nostalgic flashback and modern sensibilities, writer Robbie Thompson dishes out belly laughs, intense action, great characterization, and, shock of shocks in the current day, a well-developed supporting cast with ongoing subplots that move forward and grow the characters.

I'm sad that this wonderful book only seems to have lasted 12 issues, as this would have been a great way to get new readers into the character. At least we have this collection, which is very kid-friendly at $12.99 for 12 issues and an extended preview of the MARVEL RISING collection.

This is the most fun I've had with Spider-man in a LONG time. Highly recommended.

[Nichola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally done with this. I enjoyed this.
Review to come.

[Jose Zarate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it came with a lot of cameos when he would team up with the avengers and many villains this might be the best comic I’ve read so far

[Ylva Sørli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this modernization of Spiderman's early years and I especially loved the Spiderman and the Captain America team up as the ending of that story made me laugh. Also I loved seeing the more experienced heroes offer advice to Spiderman after their team ups and seeing them be impressed by Peter's actions.

[T ✩ Handmaiden Of Amidala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is it that the gorgeously illustrated comics have such mediocre and forgettable writing while the comic books with actual well-written stories have the ugliest art imaginable?

The good:

The art is great (mostly, there are some panels that look odd especial featuring Gwen).

It's a good introduction to Spidey's rogue gallery for younger readers and older folks just getting into Spider-Man.

The bad:

There isn't really much of a plot

Every character that isn't Peter is incredibly one-dimensional. One of the main appeals of Spidey is his supporting cast, and they're either absent or wasted here.

The ugly:

MJ is completely absent. Instead the badly written romance plot features an incredibly boring and undeveloped Gwen Stacy.

Like the writers took the original 70s Gwen Stacy and buffed out her flaws. What we're left with is a male-gazey Mary sue who dates Pete's bully then leaves him for Pete only after the bully turns good.

Her police captain father and hatred of Spider-Man is completely ignored. Also, I thought Peter didn't meet Gwen until college?

So much for being a summary for new fans who didn't get an opportunity to read the original ASM. Peter should have been dating Betty Brant at this stage in his life.

Okay but seriously how do you have a Spider-Man story without Mary Jane Watson? She is iconic!

2.5 stars.
08/05/24

[Filadelfo Galata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spidey: Freshmen Year by Robbie Thompson dives deep into the first year of Peter Parker being spiderman, getting comfortable with saving the day, and balancing school. Throughout the story Spider-man has to go to school, miss out on things like activities, and struggles keeping a job. Spider-man learns from other superheroes like: Iron-man, Captain America, and Black Panther who teach him to not let others define who you are, and to keep being a good person even when people hate you for it. I relate with Spider Man because he doesn't give up when he is fighting villains like Green Goblin, and Electro, and he tries to keep a positive view on the situation. He does the same thing with J. Jonah Jameson who is an incredible example of a person who absolutely despises spiderman, and calls him a menace. This graphic novel does a really good job of showing Parkers personal side at school, tutoring, or at his aunt May's house. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a simple, fun, and origin story type comic book.

[Matisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for younger webhead fans! (And fans of middle-grade comics. He he.)

The price is right--barely $13 for the entire series--and the quality of the book itself is fantastic. It's small enough for middle-schoolers' hands, but sturdy enough for an older reader's collection. AND the stories inside are wonderful. This is kids' lit at its finest: the stories are relatively low-stakes yet taken seriously, the dialogue is simple but never dumbed down, and the various aesops Peter learns are natural, rather than shoehorned or anvilicious.

I've already raved about this series on Goodreads, but I'll say it again: this back-to-basics, broad-strokes version of Spider-Man is compulsively readable. Of the three artists, my favorite is the last one, but the funny thing about the art as a whole is how you only really notice Gwen's design evolve. The first artist draws Gwen in a more angular, cold design, followed by a looser interpretation of the same general model, and finally the third variant is a rounder, kinder look to coincide with her development with Peter at that point in the story.

Lastly, reading these issues back-to-back and going right into Spidey: School's Out resolves what feels like a plot hole, where it's hinted that Miles Morales is around, powered, and active during these adventures. 'Spidey' takes things in such broad strokes, inventing flashbacks and history as it needs, that it feels like we're discovering the world with Peter. As such, that development feels natural.

A must-purchase!

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good starting-out comic. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

[David Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS READ IS HILARIOUS, FUN, HEARTWARMING, AND MOST OF ALL, ITS SPIDEY!!

I’ve been having more cravings to read some Spider-content and heard some really great things about this title. MAN DOES IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE. This limited series from 2015 was done by Robbie Thompson, who was tasked to write a teenage Spider-man story taking him back to his roots. Partnered with Thompson on art duties are three amazing cartoonists, Nick Bradshaw, Andre Lima Araujo, and Nathan Stockman. Together they give us a modernized version of Peter Parker’s freshman year of Highschool and his crazy day to day adventures. We see him battle all of his coolest foes, team up with the heroes he looks up to, and even get a kickass final issue with the Sinister Six!

Robbie Thompson does a phenomenal job of writing a young Spider-Man and taking him back to his original roots, just in a more modern setting. The goal by Thompson and editorial was to make a limited series that would capture the same feeling as the Lee and Ditko era. The basis of what made Spider-Man, Spider-Man. And with that in mind, Thompson executed perfectly! Each issue is fast paced, super fun, and always left me rushing to the next issue. Even though it’s a limited series, Thompson made sure to be able to make each issue feel it’s own and give the reader a satisfactory beginning to end. Just like the original days of Marvel Comics. With all that though, there are overall plot points and callbacks to previous issues. The story is still progressing, but it never feels like you’re pressured to go back or even move forward (although you SHOULD). Thompson makes the read hilarious as well which only adds to the fun and if you like your quippy Spidey, then this is a shoe in for you to enjoy. Sure some of the stuff feels a bit more targeted for some younger readers but it never feels over the top and true fans of the character will surely appreciate the read for what it is, and it’s great voice it gives to the web-head.

In this 12 issue maxi-series the artists are three really talented people. All of which I was unfamiliar with but am very glad to have found; The series starts off with Nick Bradshaw, who does the first 3 issues and leaves your eye’s taste buds watering! (Is that crying? I mean if it is its tears of joy) He has a super dynamic style with great colors that draw you in panel to panel, page to page. His design for Spider-Man is so interesting and I loved his action scenes. His issues in particular felt really fast in pacing but never too rushed. Great detail and really good inking.
Andre Lima Araujo does the following four issues (issues 4-7) and his work was also super fun. He’s more a cartoon-like style, which really all three artists are, but Araujo has a lighter look to his style. I appreciated his work for how young it made the read feel. That’s not to say the other two failed at that, but his work in particular reminds you of what kind of Spider-Man story you’re reading. His work amplified the humor and lightheartedness of the read, which is almost perfect for it to be in the middle of the series.
Lastly to round out the series is Nathan Stockman, who does issues 8-12. Another cartoonist, but with a classic twist to differentiate himself from Bradshaw and Araujo. His work seems to be inspired by Tim Sale, as it gives me that vibe. His pacing is also crazy fast and good, with probably the best action scenes that make you wanna read the issue over and over again! I feel like it was important for him to be the final artist for the series as it reminds us of that original Ditko run. Not in that he was copying the style, but it’s just reminiscent of the original work while still giving us that modern setting. The ending of the series is very sweet and I think Stockman is a huge reason for it feeling that way. Especially the last 2 pages, it’s obvious he cares a lot about the character.

Overall; This is a must read Spider-Man series! It’s super fun and pays a lot of respect to the original work that started it all. Spider-Man has been through a lot as a character and as much as we enjoy the more serious and sometimes dark in tone stories, it’s great to just have some cool, funny, entertaining, and heartwarming stories. It doesn't have to be too deep, it just needs to be Spidey!

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed an issue of Spidey Super Stories. It was a series that ran in the 70s based on the live-action exploits of Spider-Man from the PBS series The Electric Company. In that issue, the web-slinger battled the terrifying Lizard.



Not willing to let a great idea die, Marvel brought back Spidey for a 12-issue run in 2016. I, of course, remembered the 70s version fondly. Naturally, I wanted for the series to be collected to see if the reboot was as good as the original.



Spidey covers Peter Parker's first days as a super hero. This coincides with his freshman year of high school. During this time, Parker is the best friend of Harry Osborn, the number one target of school bully Flash Thompson and he might be the love interest of one Gwen Stacy- if he can get the courage to ask her out sometime. But above all- this story is about the troubles Parker has balancing being a superhero with responsibilities as a student and teenager.



This series screams Stan Lee. It's so similar in feel to that of Lee and Ditko's run on Spider-Man, it's scary. Yet, I didn't feel that any of these stories had been told over and over to the point of being stale. Plus, I didn't have any problem with Gwen being a fellow classmate and not a college co-ed unlike some Marvel traditionalists.



Since Marvel didn't have the rights to The Electric Company, you won't see Easy Reader or Paul the Gorilla. Though it would have been neat to have seen a cameo or two. (There might have been some characters from the 70s popping up in the background and I just didn't recognize them. But alas, no simians in trench coats...) However, the writers to this series do happen to subtlety mention some of the exploits that did occur in Spidey Super Stories, including what happened that last time Spider-Man meet the Lizard in the streets of New York.



I absolutely loved the artwork of the first 4 issues. Nick Bradshaw (Guardians of the Galaxy) did this amazing job of rendering every last tiny detail. It was so much like that of another personal favorite of mine, Frank Quitely. When the art duties switched over later to Andre Araujo (Avengers A.I.), the art was bad. It just wasn't as magnificently detailed. It's like when your mom goes all out the first day of school with making you a fantastic lunch of ham and cheese sandwiches, potato chips and a banana. Then by the last day of school, you're lucky if she puts a raw potato in the lunch bag. You start off with great expectations and end with mediocrity at best.



Okay- again Araujo's art was good. It was mediocre compared to Bradshaw!



At least the quality of the stories didn't change. Too bad Marvel didn't invest in a series 2. Spidey is definitely an awesome read for the whole family that deserves more attention from the House of Ideas.

[Mila N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love spider as a teenager. I made the mistake of reading school’s out before freshman year but the story is still easy to follow. It was written as one of those comic book series in which every issue can be a fist issue. Villains are introduced as if they were actually being reintroduced, assuming previous encounters, but that’s refreshing in a way because we didn’t have to stand a whole villain presentation in every issue.

Peter is hilarious and his little monologues, sometimes even breaking fourth wall, had me laughing in almost every issue. The art was pleasant as well.

We also get to see peaks of the avengers, we don’t see his relationship with tony as we will in school’s out, but we see a very nice interaction with captain America, in which he also remembers his past fighting nazis in a short conversation. I really liked that touch, and liked to see how Peter learned from him.

Over all, a fun and swift read, would recommend.

[Jimbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spidey: Freshman Year is a little fun piece of "meet the villian" and Meet Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. It was more of a MG reader story of Spider-Man. Fun, filled with Parker's silly quips. The art was well done. The stories were slight however. These stories were sort of care-free and thin with a side of funny.

I like the collection. I think Thompson did a great job of bringing Parker into modern times and for younger audiences to read and enjoy. I like Nick Bradshaw's art in the first couple issues. The other artist did a great job as well.

A good book to hand to a 8- to 12-year-old budding fan of Spider-Man and superheroes too - Black Panther, Captain America, Iron Man and the Thing all make an appearance.

For those of us a little older (lol) it was just fun and silly and cute.

[Agung Wicaksono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salah satu momen yang cukup menyebalkan bagi Peter Parker adalah ketika ia harus menjadi tutor bagi Flash--seseorang yang sering merundungnya--supaya Flash bisa lulus di pelajaran Matematika. Namun, karena yang memintanya adalah Gwen Stacy, maka Peter pun menyetujuinya. Selain itu, rasa penasaran Peter apakah Gwen dan Flash memiliki hubungan spesial, terbantahkan ketika Gwen mengajak Peter untuk menghadiri pesta dansa. Kemudian, momen yang paling ditunggu Peter pun tiba, ia berciuman dengan Gwen setelah acara tersebut.

Momen bahagia yang dirasakan Peter tak berlangsung lama. Sebab, naluri laba-labanya mengatakan bahwa ada musuh yang mendekat. Benar saja, ketika ia sudah berubah menjadi Spider-Man, ia harus berhadapan dengan Sinister Six.

[Bill Doughty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great young readers Spider-Man book, but less of an All Ages-friendly Spider-Man book, and yes there is a difference. Art's good, story's good, but there's definitely a lesson or morale to be learned at the end of every issue, not unlike (but thankfully not as unsubtle as) the bits at the end of He-Man or GI Joe in the 80s ("Today, Orko learned an important lesson about telling the truth..."), but they might be a little offputting for the older reader. That being said, I realize I am NOT the target audience for this, and if you have a young kid-to-tween Spidey fan in your life, you'd do well to put this in their hands.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacularly Amazing :). A nice lighthearted take of the webslinger's earliest adventures, while also bringing a level of maturity in his youth. Robbie Thompson's twelve issues are perfect snippets to show us why this character is loved by so many, and why Spider-Man remains one of the best characters in history <3 Bradshaw, Stockman and Araújo lay some of their best artwork to the table, as each artistic style compliments the wonderfulness of our friendly neighborhood do-gooder. A great read for newer comic book fans, and just a great read for any Spidey fan looking to get a taste of the classics.

9/10

[Katelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this expecting a bit more emphasis on Peter Parker being a teenager, but instead there was a dash of coming of age and a LOT of action sequences. There are so many collaborations between Spidey and other heroes in the MCU that I feel like it took away from Spidey's importance in some of the later issues. Overall, I enjoyed it, but not as much as I did when I read this compilation the first time. I would still recommend it for fans of the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies, as that seems to be the closest comparison. (I am not an expert on these comics so I could be wrong, as most of my opinion is based on watching the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies.)

[Charles Korb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes people talk about how one type of media really feels like another (ex. A comic book movie has a scene that really feels "like a comic book") and this really felt like one of the animated superhero TV shows from the 90s. Pretty much every episode is a one-off but there is an overarching plot that slowly gets moved forward. The first several issues all have a TV show style opening (using the same art every time) to remind you who spiderman is and why he cares.

It's not going to win any storytelling awards but it's a great sample of the genre and really does the balancing act between Peter Parker and Spider-Man well.

[XOX · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spidey - Spiderman early year

Spiderman Peter Parker early year when he is high school and have to ask Gwen out to Homecoming dance.

He also teamed up with Iron man and Captain America.

The illustration is good and it is more like a shy Peter who has three jobs. He has to study, work part-time as a freelance news photographer and Spiderman.

Liking this as he is still innocence. The story does not have too much of a surprise with the bad guys quite easy to defeat. This is the not so good part. Still good enough to read in part.

The one I got is thick and contain #1 to #12.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

classic story retold so well waa <3 i love the art style, i just wish they'd made peter's hair better
- love gwen getting to punch flash
- i desperately need art of doc ock and peter at a ren faire
- i dont read many comics, ive only watched the movies, so it was so cool to be reading parts and feeling like they've made a mix of all three movie spidermen
- having an andrew peter moment with him swapping masks and talking to a kid 😭❤️
- i like how olivier coipel draws faces
- polka dot guy in #7 has brilliant character design
- black panther going 'americans 😔'

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is chalk full of cool moments. It collects the first 12 issues of the book Spidey and I will say that it shines. Fun, easy to get caught up in and the art is AMAZING! Nick Bradshaw might be my favorite new artist (new as in new to me). Robbie Thompson writes a fun book that I would recommend to Spider-man fans as well as fans of comic books and graphic novels alike. The villains (some of the very best from Spider-man’s rogue gallery including my personal favorite) and superhero cameos make the web-headed adventures so fun and enjoyable!

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this rendition of Spider-Man. It was extremely entertaining all the way through and had great dialogue. The only problems I has were (1) the Green Goblin ark didn’t go anywhere and (2) the climax, since it had to be fit into one issue, was a bit underwhelming.

Aside from that, I had a great time reading this book. It’s affordable, well-written, and fun.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was just what I needed.
I'm very unhappy with the Film Version of Spider-Man these days. Too much Iron Man...
This collection takes us back to Peter Parker's start as Spider-Man.
Great fun. But we see why he is Spider-Man (and it ain't got ANYTHING to do with Tony Stark)
Highly recommend for Spidey fans

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Spider-Man as he should be done. It’s very funny, has many familiar villains and iconic references (e.g., the Spidey suit in the trash, the lesson of Uncle Ben’s death, a line from the ‘67 theme song—“action is my reward”), Flash Thompson, team-ups with Iron Man and Captain America, and I was actually cheered when a little romance finally came his way in Chapter 12.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

quick easy read
SO much fun
i love the costume, the art style, the writing, the stories, the universe building
having his rogues gallery show up largely in montage form as the intro to each issue is such a great way of establishing this form of the continuity
it’s really fun i love it and highly recommend it

[Delvin Nurdin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic retelling of Peter Parker's startup adventure set with modern times. Has the classic Spidey trademark quips and personality. The pacing seems a bit too quick since it had so many different key moments in Spider-Man's lore to cover. Still highly recommend for fans and beginner's alike.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is some exquisite dynamism to the art here, entire fight sequences packed - stacked - layered - but never squeezed - into a single "panel" here, sometimes scoping a full page or two. Action comics, indeed.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly a very enjoyable read in terms of the art quality and plot. The characters are also, of course, great, making this collection a good place to start reading comics (esp. for Spider-man, although apparently this book does not explicitly tie into any continuity).

[Nathan Trieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

(8/10): A solid, fun Spider-Man book that reminded me of the "Spectacular Spider-Man" cartoon. It's a very lean and clear characterization of Peter Parker and it was simply a fun read that brought to life the early days of Spidey in a more modern light.