A few months after the Dark Web storyline, Spider-Man is once again thrust at the center of a crossover event as chaos reigns in the streets of New York City with a Gang War taking place–the old Spidey fan will remember that there’s already a storyline titled Gang War in the series, in Amazing Spider-Man #284-288.
Set up during Zeb Wells’s run of Amazing Spider-Man, the Gang War event revolves around a violent conflict between the gang lords of New York City that is causing chaos throughout the Big Apple. It’s about the bad guys fighting the other bad guys to the point that even a proactive superhero like Spidey can’t keep up. Hobgoblin, Mr. Negative, the Owl, Shotgun, Diamondback, A.I.M., Hydra, and more battle with and against each other to gain total control of the city. To stop this folly, Spider-Man has to lead a group of heroes–including Spider-Man Miles Morales, She-Hulk, Daredevil, Shang-Chi, and Spider-Woman–to take down the super-gangs in under 48 hours.
But what do Mayor Luke Cage and the city’s strong anti-vigilante laws have to say about it? Will Jackpot gamble on getting involved? And is Shang-Chi a friend or foe? They’d better all figure it out before two classic villains make a game-changing return!
Spider-Man: Gang War Reading Order
The main event is taking place in the Amazing Spider-Man series written by Zeb Wells, with art by Ed McGuinness and John Romita Jr.
Gang War Reading Order: Collected Editions
First, Marvel put out a 680-page omnibus collecting every issue connected to the Spider-Man: Gang War crossover. Everything you need is in it.
- Spider-Man: Gang War Omnibus
Collects Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike (2023) #1, Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #39-44, Daredevil: Gang War #1-4, Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War #1-3, Jackpot #1, Luke Cage: Gang War #1-4, Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #13-16 and Spider-Woman (2023) #1-4.
These types of events are often filled with optional tie-in miniseries. If you only want some of the stories, here are the collected editions in which you’ll find the Spider-Man: Gang War-related issues for each title connected to the event.
- Amazing Spider-Man by Zeb Wells Vol. 9: Gang War
Collects Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike (2023) #1, Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #39-44. - Luke Cage: Gang War
Collects Luke Cage: Gang War #1-4. - Spider-Woman by Steve Foxe Vol. 1: Gang War
Collects Spider-Woman (2023) #1-4. - Daredevil: Gang War
Collects Daredevil: Gang War #1-4. - Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War
Collects Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War #1-3, Shadowland: Spider-Man, FCBD 2011 (Spider-Man), and Shang-Chi (2021) #1. - Miles Morales: Spider-Man By Cody Ziglar Vol. 3 – Gang War
Collects Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #13-16 and Giant-Size Spider-Man (2024) #1.
Spider-Man: Gang War Reading Order: Issue by Issue
The following reading order is about the issues only. There is some confusion as the continuity surrounding Luke Cage is murky at best–it appears that Marvel’s editorial didn’t verify what costume he was wearing and when. There are also a few instances of being apparently at two places at the same time. As a result, the case for some changes in the order can easily be made, don’t hesitate to elaborate on that in the comment section.
As usual, issues in bold are the ones telling the core story, everything else is complementary and not required to understand the plot.
Gang War: First Strike (aka the prelude)
- Luke Cage: Gang War #1 (of 4) – The more consequential of the tie-in stories.
- Amazing Spider-Man Gang War: First Strike #1
- Spider-Woman #1 (of 4) – This tie-in series is optional if you are not interested in Jessica Drew’s family drama.
Gang War (Main Event)
- Amazing Spider-Man #39 (extra-large issue)
- Daredevil: Gang War #1 (of 4) starring Elektra.
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #13
- Luke Cage: Gang War #2 (of 4)
- Amazing Spider-Man #40
- Daredevil: Gang War #2 (of 4)
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14 – Miles’ tie-ins have more to do with his continuing story than the Gang War.
- Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War #1 (of 3)
- Spider-Woman #2 (of 4)
- Luke Cage: Gang War #3 (of 4)
- Amazing Spider-Man #41
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15
- Amazing Spider-Man #42
- Spider-Woman #3 (of 4)
- Spider-Woman #4 (of 4)
- Jackpot #1 – One-shot starring MJ officially launching her local superhero career as Jackpot.
- Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War #2 (of 3)
- Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu: Gang War #3 (of 3)
- Daredevil: Gang War #3 (of 4)
- Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16
- Amazing Spider-Man #43
- Luke Cage: Gang War #4 (of 4)
- Amazing Spider-Man #44
- Daredevil: Gang War #4 (of 4)
What’s coming after The Gang War?
Once the Gang War concluded, a fragile semblance of normalcy returned to New York City, permitting Spider-Man and his allies to resume their usual law-enforcement efforts. More importantly, the city repeals the Anti-Vigilante Act—originally mandated under Fisk’s administration—thus legally reinstating unsanctioned heroic activity.
As for the criminal underworld, Tombstone consolidates his influence over New York’s criminal underworld, emerging as the city’s uncontested kingpin.
This was not the end of Zeb Wells’ run on Spider-Man, and a few issues after the end of Gang War, Spider-Man and his superhero friends were caught in the Blood Hunt.