MARVEL Spider-Man: A History and Celebration of the Web-Slinger, Decade by Decade

by Matthew K. Manning, Robert Greenberger

In this complete biography of one of Marvel’s most beloved super heroes, explore Spider-Man’s development through behind-the-scenes anecdotes, images, and rarely-seen interviews.

From the comic page to the big screen and beyond, Spider-Man has thrilled fans for generations. Since swinging onto the scene in 1961, in the pages of Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the world’s most famous wall-crawler has captivated the world, starring in millions of comics, over twenty different films and animated series, numerous blockbuster video games, and one Broadway show, as well as appearances in countless other mediums.

In celebration of his illustrious and expansive history, Spider-Man: A History and Celebration of the Web-Slinger, Decade by Decade is a comprehensive collection of exciting art and expert commentary that brings Spidey’s backstory out of the archive and into the arms of fans worldwide. Organized by decade, you will:


Relive the origin and adaptations of Spider-Man, along with his friends and enemies, through comic books, films, TV shows, toys, and more.
Spark your memory with “remember when?” moments (the Spider-Mobile, anyone?).
Recall the most interesting and shocking plot points of the comic.
Meet the creators who worked on Spider-Man’s adventures throughout the years.

Illustrated with images from the comics, movies, and other Spider-Man–related items, this collection is a must-have for any fan of the web-slinger.

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

Matthew K. Manning is the author of over eighty books and dozens of comic books. He has written books for Scholastic, Disney Press, Abrams, Amazon, Capstone, DK Publishing, Insight Editions, Andrews/McMeel, and Running Press, dividing his time between writing original chapter book series and coffee table books. His chapter books include the six-book series Xander and the Rainbow-Barfing Unicorns (Capstone), the four-book Drone Academy series (Capstone), Backstories: Batman and Backstories: Batgirl (Scholastic), and Artemis Fowl: How to be a LEPrecon (Disney Press), released in both paperback and on Audible. Many of his books have reached best-seller status on Amazon, including DC Comics: Anatomy of a Metahuman, DC Comics Encyclopedia, and Batman: A Visual History. In addition, Manning specializes in comic books, writing for the titles Beware the Batman, Teen Titans Go!, The Batman Strikes!, Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century, Justice League Adventures, Scooby-Doo, and Looney Tunes for DC Comics, Marvel Action: Avengers for IDW/Marvel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures and TMNT: New Animated Adventures for IDW, and the top-selling Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures for DC/IDW, nominated by the Diamond Gem Awards for comic of the year. Manning’s work has received acclaim in Entertainment Weekly, People Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and The Washington Times. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife Dorothy and his daughters Lillian and Gwendolyn.

Buy his books and support independent booksellers on Bookshop at https://bookshop.org/shop/matthewkman...

Reviews

[Linda Galella · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent compendium of all things Spidey

Vivid colors and historically arranged content are the MO in the large format, hardcover book “MARVEL Spider-Man: A History and Celebration of the Web-Slinger, Decade by Decade.

This book will make a great gift for young and old alike. Even if your Spidey fan has every issue from #1 on, this book will bring an easy access perspective that’s unique. I’m not a super fan by any stretch but was enthralled for well over an hour just taking it out of the shipping box! It was so interesting to view the transformation of Spider-Man over the decades from the boy next door to the techno almost robotic hybrid of today. There are snippets on Spider-Woman as well. My nephew is going to be so jazzed…

Storylines, characters, technology, magazines to big screen and don’t forget Stan Lee. It’s all in here along with the cast of villains, love interests and of course, Aunt May.

All things considered, a considerable volume, not to be missed, for you or your Spidey loving fans📚

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a line in here about Sam Raimi intending the audience of the first Spider-film to get “what they wanted, but not necessarily what they expected”. Well, this provides both – it was always going to be a light, heavily-pictorial, history of Spider-man. It doesn’t feel the need to go into all the knocks and bolts in the personnel offices of Marvel, and it can go rather quickly over certain ideas and years. But it does speed us through the history of the comics and of the characters and events in their pages, as well as fill us in on all the animated TV series and of course the humongously successful movies. Some will say a look at such a commercial and cultural behemoth deserves a bit of a more academic approach; I was more than happy with what I got. Four and a half stars.

[Paul Sutter]

Hard to believe it has been almost six decades since I read my first Spider-Man comic. As one who started out reading DC comics, when Marvel hit the comic book racks, I was curious about their slate of superheroes. Spider-Man was one of those that stood out the most, the life of Peter Parker who became that web-slinging crime fighter.
Reading SPIDER MAN A HISTORY…, brings it all back. I may only have read comics until the mid-seventies, but revisiting Spidey’s world past and more present, definitely churns up a lot of magical memories.
This latest tribute to Spider-Man, is a decade by decade look at him, from his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. The vision of Spider-Man from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko was true to form, and the writers past and present never wavered from their commitment to the character.
There have been many classic villains over the years, who have done their best to sign Spidey’s death warrant. From the likes of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Hobgoblin, Vulture, Sandman, and dozens more, whatever evil has thrown at Spider-Man, no matter how tense the situation or hopeless it seems, good triumphs eventually.
The book alsolooks at the death of Gwen Stacy, a character much loved by Peter Parker and readers. It was almost unheard of to kill off the good guys in comics, but Marvel did the unthinkable, taking Spider-Man in a new direction. Another integral character in the comics was Peter's Aunt May, who Peter loved, and did his utmost to protect at all times. Even though there was the wedding of Aunt May to Doctor Octopus and other tense moments throughout the years, including her impending death and other revelations, readers pretty well seem to live and die through the various changes and incarnations of the character.
The authors of the book have done an exceptional job of presenting the highlights over the years, giving readers long past and more recent, a solid overview of the life of the web-slinger. It brings nostalgia to a whole new level.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that's not really for super-fans or True Believers as might be more appropriate. It's more of an overview of Spider-Man's history in comics, TV, film, and video games, with a heavy emphasis on the comics. There is some insider baseball for bigger fans with quotes from Stan Lee and various other writers, artists, and editors. It helps co-author Peter David worked for Marvel in the 80s, including on Spider-Man, so this isn't just "experts" who only know about Spidey from the outside.

The book is only 208 pages with plenty of illustrations, so as I said it's not really the sort of book if you want a detailed history and analysis of Spider-Man. It's fun, though, if you just want an overview of Spider-Man's history and legacy.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider-man was my introduction to comic books! While I know a lot about him (collecting for over 100 issues straight) this was a very insightful and wonderfully presented book about everyone's favorite web-head. Well, I guess that's not true anymore as the spider-universe has expanded and many of the new generation of fans love the other Spider-men and Spider-women. Still, this is a very comprehensive journey with tons of cool insights that even as a fan reading it in real time, I was unaware of. Definitely something I would recommend to a comic fan and one who wants to know a lot of the story of Marvels most popular character.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you through the history and different eras of Spider-Man. If you’re a Marvel fan, Spider-Man stan, history buff or nerd you we will enjoy this book. From heroes and villains, I already loved two characters I had never heard of before there were plenty of things to learn. Alongside a wealth of information, this issue is covered in frequent full detail drawings and excerpts. Random pick up from just passing it by at the library. Did not disappoint.

[Cecilia Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coffee table book that celebrates Marvel’s: Spider-Man 60th anniversary.
The book contains full color photographs, interviews and history of Spider-Man from the comic premier in 1962, to Sony animation: Into the Spider Verse.

[Andy Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Daredevil could have done a better job editing this book.