Top Comics to Enjoy Before Spider-Man 2 Hits PC

The iteration of the Spider-Man novelizations that resonates most with a game from Insomniac is "Web of Dreams," which aligns with the themes and atmosphere found in Insomniac's "Marvel's Spider-Man" series. Here’s how the novelization "Spine-Tingling Spider-Man" relates to this iteration:

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man by Saladin Ahmed and Juan Ferreira delves into a psychological horror and dream-like narrative, which mirrors the innovative storytelling and immersive experience that Insomniac Games brings to their Spider-Man titles. The comic's focus on Peter Parker's nightmares and psychological battles aligns well with the deep character development and emotional storytelling seen in Insomniac's games, where Peter's personal life and internal struggles are as crucial as his superhero exploits.

In "Spine-Tingling Spider-Man," the emphasis on Peter's anxiety and the surreal, nightmarish visuals created by Juan Ferreira's art can be likened to the dream sequences and psychological challenges Peter faces in "Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales," where the narrative dives into Miles' fears and responsibilities. The comic's approach to horror and psychological drama, with its inventive artwork and focus on the protagonist's internal state, echoes the way Insomniac uses narrative to explore Spider-Man's psyche, making "Web of Dreams" a fitting iteration to associate with their work.

Table of Content ---

• Spine-Tingling Spider-Man
• Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin
• Spider-Man: Reign 2

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man

Image: ensigame.com

Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Drawing: Juan Ferreira

Most of the comic was released in 2023, but it concluded in 2024. It's too compelling to ignore. Originally a digital comic, it was later reprinted as a print one-shot #0, followed by a four-issue limited series.

The concept behind the comic has been successful for years: allowing a talented artist to immerse the hero in a psychedelic journey of madness. Here, the emphasis is on bubbles, contrasting with The Spectacular Spider-Men. Ferreira's expressive style makes the narrative easy to follow, even without dialogue. Saladin Ahmed's script is strong, but it's Juan Ferreira's art that steals the show, becoming the primary character in this nightmarish tale.

Paul, the main antagonist in Zero-One-Shot, uses songs to steal people's dreams. Spider-Man must resist the urge to sleep, though he succumbs occasionally due to disturbing visions. This creates a scenario akin to "Spider-Man Meets Junji Ito," with Ferreira's 100-page artbook.

Image: ensigame.com

In the limited edition, the artwork becomes even more inventive. Spider-Man finds himself in a directed nightmare, reminiscent of "Beau Is Afraid," with a series of night terrors coming to life—from the fear of not being recognized by acquaintances to being harassed by a creepy conductor over an unpaid fare.

Image: ensigame.com

The "simple vs. detailed" approach is a staple in mangaka's work and Junji Ito's masterpieces. Monsters and abominations are meticulously drawn to draw the eye first, while the protagonist remains simple for audience identification. Ferreira follows this approach, with hypertrophied monstrous faces and a modest, terrified Peter.

Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin

Image: ensigame.com

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Drawing: Michael Sta. Maria

The first Goblin wasn't Norman Osborn! Discover the startling secrets of the Proto-Goblin! What is his connection to the Osborns? And what role will young Peter, who is not yet fully aware of his immense power and responsibility, play in this?

This is another series of flashbacks. Marvel has been marketing nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s, but now they are slowly rolling off the assembly line.

The formula is simple: take a long-ago period in a character's life, bring back the author of the old wound, and let them write a "lost" story from that time. It's an unaffected flashback that happened between old issues. The pattern occasionally varies. For instance, Peter David's comic Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel uses vintage characters from his earlier works, even though the story is set in the present.

Recently, the flow of flashbacks has greatly reduced due to quality issues and waning interest from modern readers. But among the pile of junk, you can still find treasures—one of them is in front of you.

Shadow of the Green Goblin reminds us that DeMatteis still holds the title of best Spider-Man comic book writer in history. Not just for the legendary Kraven's Last Hunt, but his run on Spectacular Spider-Man. It's a dark, dramatic story with a strong emphasis on psychology. As I like to describe the comic, it's the way Dostoyevsky would have written Spider-Man.

The central theme of Spectacular Spider-Man was Harry Osborn's deep trauma. Because of his insane father, hapless Harry becomes a Goblin himself, but at the last moment, he defeats his inner demons and dies tragically. Now, DeMatteis writes a prequel to take a closer look at the origins of evil.

Image: ensigame.com

Who is the Proto-Goblin? A character so obscure that it's easy to mistake him for a DeMatteis innovation. In fact, the first Goblin was invented in the '90s. That's when Marvel had the initiative to create issues #-1 about events before the first issue of the ongoings. In Spider-Man #-1, Howard Mackey decided to tell how Norman Osborn tested his Goblin serum. His employee Nels van Adder was the unfortunate guinea pig—the first version of the formula turned him into a red-skinned monster.

Superheroics are far from the foreground. The comic fills the empty spaces between the classic issues for a reason—the characters were able to take off their masks and be ordinary people. Peter doesn't look like the main character; he's equally tangled in the web of plots leading up to the main disaster: the Green Goblin.

At no point will you be allowed to forget exactly what the series is called. Norman is still a long way from donning purple boots, but the green shadow is already looming over everyone. That's the great thing about the comic: evil didn't come out of nowhere, and the serum certainly wasn't a major factor in his gallery of madness. Step by step, the family fell deeper into darkness. Inner demons had been eating away at Norman since his youth, until they spilled over into his loved ones.

When no one requested a story about the Proto-Goblin, J.M. DeMatteis took it and turned it into one of the most compelling Spider-Man comics ever. A gorgeously melancholic point that, should you choose to take on Spectacular Spider-Man, will end up being a stunning multi-point. Unfortunately, this series has been unjustly ignored because of the general drop in interest in limited flashbacks; avoid making the same mistake twice.

Spider-Man: Reign 2

Image: ensigame.com

Writer/artist: Kaare Andrews

New York City is ruled by Wilson Fisk. To keep zombies out of the city, an electric dome locks it down. After being killed by his radioactive sperm, Old Peter Parker is transported to a digital dream in which he can continue to live with Mary Jane. However, young feline thief Kitty Cat breaks the illusion of joy. Together, they go back in time to prevent catastrophe.

This comic isn't even a sequel, in my opinion. The first part is self-destructive, making it more akin to a remake. Since Kaare Andrews starts from the beginning, you might not be familiar with the first Spider-Man: Reign. A shabby Peter is smashed. He is to blame.

New York City is encased in an impenetrable dome, Mary Jane passed away, and he is alone. However, there is a final opportunity to make amends. Can the second installment be classified as a fanfic based on Batman: The Dark Knight Strikes Again since the first installment is frequently described as a parody of The Dark Knight Returns? Iron Fist: The Living Weapon, Andrews' other comic book, is what I associate with Reign 2.

Image: ensigame.com

You will notice that Andrews makes numerous references to himself if you have read Living Weapon. Balling his fists into blood, the frail-looking protagonist faces the meathead. A young girl holds a significant position. The mother's death in front of the child was a graphic scene. Mutilated sexual neighboring. And above all, the unrestrained and unrelenting hatred in the battles.

This comic should not be taken seriously because it contains:

• Time travel exists.
• The little Goblins and Jock Miles Morales.
• No one tucks their beards into their masks.
• Kingpin has become a cybernetic pile of lard.
• A spoiler gets into Venom, it's as extremely thrashy and sad as Venom the Horse (say cheese Tom Hardy) ever dreamed of.

Image: ensigame.com

The language of violence is something Kaare Andrews is an expert at. This is the most severe injury Spider-Man has ever experienced. I adore how Hickman's Ultimates Spider-Man rhymes with Reign 2. It resembles a disaster version in which Peter was overwhelmed by his superhero burden and was never able to catch up.

But for the final time, he is able to let go of the past.