The symbiotes have become a big part of the fabric of Spider-Man comics. They’re so popular that they can sustain multiple series featuring Venom, Carnage, and others. However, before they came onto the scene, there was the alien costume in the 1980s. Acquired while Spider-Man was in outer space, this black suit levelled-up friendly neighbourhood wall-crawler, with additional strength, organic webs, and more. But it was all too good to be true when it was discovered that the suit was alive and wants to take over Spidey.
It’s a plot explored in various mediums, most famously in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 and Insominac’s Spider-Man 2 video game. Both interpret the saga in their own way, taking different elements from it and combining them with other parts of Spider-Man lore.
I have put together the Spider-Man: Alien Costume Saga reading order for anyone interested to see how it played out in the source material, aka the comics. This guide includes plenty of annotations, background reading, what to read next, collected editions, and more.
Is this a comic book event?
No. It’s referred to as a “saga” because it’s several stories that have a running sub-plot, becoming the main plot at times. This builds up over many Spider-Man comics at the time such as Amazing Spider-Man; Marvel Team-Up; Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man; and launches Web of Spider-Man.
Where can I find the Alien Costume Saga comics?
The comics and collected editions involved in the Alien Costume Saga can be found in all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle. You can also read them on Marvel’s digital comics service Marvel Unlimited.
Learn more about where to find comics in our extensive guide.
Background reading
If you want to do some reading before diving into the Alien Costume Saga, whether it be for context or fun, then I can recommend the following comics.
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12
The Alien Costume Saga begins with Spider-Man receiving the costume in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8. However, reading an issue that two-thirds into a twelve part saga might be jarring for some. I recommend read Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars if you demand more context.
The start of the Hobgolin Saga
Before the Alien Costume Saga, there was another long simmering plot in the the pages of Amazing Spider-Man. This is the ongoing mystery of the Hobgoblin, a villain very similar to the Green Goblin. While more of the saga happens before and after the Alien Costume Saga, there is a point where they intersect in Amazing Spider-Man #259-261. If you want to know more about this saga you can check out Amazing Spider-Man #244-245 and #249-251 and Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #85.
Alien Costume Saga reading order
Below is the recommended reading order, weaving through the various Spider-Man titles of the time period.
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8
Note: This is the issue where Spider-Man gets the alien costume.
Amazing Spider-Man #252
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #252 was published before Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8 but it’s written to be set after and encourage readers to read Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars. This issue was reprinted in Marvel Tales #266. Marvel has also reprinted it as a facsimile edition.
Marvel Team-Up #141
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #90
Amazing Spider-Man #253
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #253 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #267. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #91
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #92
Amazing Spider-Man #254
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #254 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #268. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Marvel Team-Up #142
Marvel Team-Up #143
Amazing Spider-Man #255
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #255 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #269. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Marvel Team-Up Annual #7
Marvel Team-Up #144
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #93
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #94
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #95
Marvel Team-Up #145
Amazing Spider-Man #256
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #256 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #270. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Amazing Spider-Man #257
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #257 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #271. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Amazing Spider-Man #258
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #258 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #272. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Marvel Team-Up #146
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #4
Amazing Spider-Man #259
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #259 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #273. It has also been reprinted as a facsimile edition.
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #96
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #97
Marvel Team-Up #147
Marvel Team-Up #148
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18
Amazing Spider-Man #260
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #260 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #274.
Amazing Spider-Man #261
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #261 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #275.
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #98
Marvel Team-Up #149
Amazing Spider-Man #262
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #99
Marvel Team-Up #150
Amazing Spider-Man #263
Note: Amazing Spider-Man #263 was reprinted in Marvel Tales #276.
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #100
Web of Spider-Man #1
What If…? #4
Note: What If…? #4 asks readers what would’ve happened in Spider-Man had been possessed by the alien costume. I put it at the end of the list if you want to read an alternative direction the Alien Costume Saga could’ve gone.
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Symbiote Spider-Man miniseries
There is also a trio of miniseries called Symbiote Spider-Man. These are retro/nostalgia comics from a few years ago that are set during the Alien Costume Saga, written by Peter David and art by Greg Land and Iban Coello.
They don’t fit neatly in the reading order but it can be approximated that they’re set before Amazing Spider-Man #256 or during a small window of time during Amazing Spider-Man #258.
Symbiote Spider-Man #1
Symbiote Spider-Man #2
Symbiote Spider-Man #3
Symbiote Spider-Man #4
Symbiote Spider-Man #5
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #1
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #2
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #3
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #4
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #5
Note: Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black also acts as a prelude to the Venom-centric King in Black comic book event.
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #1
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #2
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #3
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #4
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #5
After the Alien Costume Saga
Have you finished the Alien Costume Saga already? Here are a few reading suggestions you might be interested in.
Amazing Spider-Man #299-300
The alien costume returns as Venom in these issues. It’s a cameo appearance at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #299 and a full appearance in issue #300. These issues also include early Todd McFarlane work, who joined the book with issue #298.
Fall of the Hulks: Alpha #1
The alien costume makes an appearance in a flashback scene of this Hulk-centric event’s opening issue.
Amazing Spider-Man #264
This is a fill-in issue where Spider-Man takes on a villain called Red 9. It’s worth noting that Spider-Man still has a black costume (not the symbiote) for a time.
Amazing Spider-Man #265
Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz return for a story that introduces Silver Sable.
Web of Spider-Man #2
While the Alien Costume saga is completed in Web of Spider-Man #1, plot threads from that issue continue in Web of Spider-Man #2.
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #101
Spider-Man takes on Backlash.
Collected editions
The Alien Costume Saga has been collected in two trade paperbacks. See the details below:
Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga Book 1
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man #252-258; Marvel Team-Up #141-145; Marvel Team-Up Annual #7, and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #90-95
Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga Book 2
Collects: Marvel Team-Up #146-150; Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #96-100, Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #4; Amazing Spider-Man #259-263; Web of Spider-Man #1
These have been published in an omnibus edition too:
Spider-Man: The Complete Black Costume Saga Omnibus
Collects: Amazing Spider-Man (1963 series) #252-263; Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18; Marvel Team-Up (1972 series) #141-150; Marvel Team-Up Annual #7; Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976 series) #90-100; Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #4; and Web Of Spider-Man (1985 series) #1
You’ll need to pick up a Secret Wars trade paperback to read Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8. It has been collected a few times so it shouldn’t be hard to track down.
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars
Collects: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1-12
Check out the following collections if you’re interested in reading the Symbiote Spider-Man miniseries.
Symbiote Spider-Man
Collects: Symbiote Spider-Man #1-5
Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black
Collects: Symbiote Spider-Man: King In Black #1-5
Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads
Collects: Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads #1-5
Have your say!
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