10 Greatest Spider-Man Writers Not Named Stan Lee Or Steve Ditko

By Mark Ginocchio /

7. J. Michael Straczynski

J. Michael Straczynski€™s arrival on the Amazing Spider-Man in 2001 marked a major turning point for Marvel and its Spider-Man franchise. JMS, an acclaimed writer/producer in film and television, and the creator of Babylon 5, brought instant credibility to the flagship Spider-Man title, and blew fans and critics away with his opening arc, €œComing Home.€ The storyline raised new questions about Spidey€™s powers while also introducing a great new villain in Morlun. JMS, alongside artist John Romita Jr., then proceeded to craft one of the most famous comics in industry history in the Sept. 11 tribute issue of Amazing Spider-Man. Over the course of his seven-year tenure with Marvel and Amazing Spider-Man, Straczynski wrote many memorable, character-driven stories, including €œThe Conversation,€ which saw Peter reveal his secret identity to Aunt May, and €œDoomed Affairs,€ which reunited Peter and Mary Jane. The second half of JMS€™s run was mired in controversy. Straczynski scripted the reviled €œSins Past€ storyline which saw Peter€™s first love, Gwen Stacy, have sex with Norman Osborn and give birth to homicidal twins. And then there€™s the final story of the Straczynski-run, the universally despised €œOne More Day,€ which featured the dissolution of Peter and MJ€™s marriage and the erasure of almost 20 years of continuity. JMS has since claimed that these awful stories were influenced by Marvel editorial, but Straczynski€™s name is still attached and he has to bear some responsibility.