10 Greatest Spider-Man Writers Not Named Stan Lee Or Steve Ditko
7. J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynskis 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, Coming Home. The storyline raised new questions about Spideys 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 The Conversation, which saw Peter reveal his secret identity to Aunt May, and Doomed Affairs, which reunited Peter and Mary Jane. The second half of JMSs run was mired in controversy. Straczynski scripted the reviled Sins Past storyline which saw Peters first love, Gwen Stacy, have sex with Norman Osborn and give birth to homicidal twins. And then theres the final story of the Straczynski-run, the universally despised One More Day, which featured the dissolution of Peter and MJs marriage and the erasure of almost 20 years of continuity. JMS has since claimed that these awful stories were influenced by Marvel editorial, but Straczynskis name is still attached and he has to bear some responsibility.
Mark is a professional writer living in Brooklyn and is the founder of the Chasing Amazing Blog, which documents his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Superior Spider-Talk podcast. He also pens the "Gimmick or Good?" column at Comics Should Be Good blog.
