Spider-Man: Back In Black Crossover Reading Order

This reading order lists every issue in which Spider-Man appeared in his black costume during 2007, but even by the standards of the rapacious Marvel marketing machine, this “event” is kinda pointless. It’s a five issue storyline in which Peter is utterly, utterly consumed by the fear of losing May, so much so that he is as humourless and driven as the Punisher…

…but not so much that he can’t still fight the Hulk’s armies, go to Japan with the Avengers, mourn Captain America, and even wisecrack like it was any other day in his non-Amazing titles.

Nice one, Marvel editorial.

Prologues:
Amazing Spider-Man #538 [1]	Civil War: Spider-Man The Amazing Spider-Man: Civil War Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Back in Black:
Amazing Spider-Man #539 [2]	Spider-Man: Back in Black Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Amazing Spider-Man #540 [2]	Spider-Man: Back in Black Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Amazing Spider-Man #541 [2]	Spider-Man: Back in Black Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Amazing Spider-Man #542 [2]	Spider-Man: Back in Black Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Amazing Spider-Man #543 [2]	Spider-Man: Back in Black Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #2 [3]	Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #4 [3]	Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #5 [3]	Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America
Captain America #26 [3]	The Death of Captain America: Complete Collection
New Avengers #27 [4]	New Avengers, vol.6: Revolution
New Avengers #28 [4]	New Avengers, vol.6: Revolution
New Avengers #29 [4]	New Avengers, vol.6: Revolution
New Avengers #30 [4]	New Avengers, vol.6: Revolution
New Avengers #31 [4]	New Avengers, vol.6: Revolution
New Avengers #32 [4]	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
New Avengers #33 [4]	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
Sensational Spider-Man #38	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man #39 [5]	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
New Avengers #34	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
New Avengers #35	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
Mighty Avengers #8	Mighty Avengers, vol.2: Venom Bomb
New Avengers #36	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
New Avengers #37	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
New Avengers Annual #2	New Avengers, vol.7: The Trust
World War Hulk #1 [6]	World War Hulk
Avengers – The Initiative #4 [6]	World War Hulk: X-Men Avengers – The Initiative, vol.1: Basic Training Avengers – The Initiative: The Complete Collection, vol.1
World War Hulk #2 [6]	World War Hulk
World War Hulk #4 [6]	World War Hulk
World War Hulk #5 [6]	World War Hulk
World War Hulk: Aftersmash #1 [6]	World War Hulk: Damage Control
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #17	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #18	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #19	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #20	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #21	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #22	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #23	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Annual #1	Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man #35	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man #36	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man #37	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man #40 [7]	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
Sensational Spider-Man Annual #1 [8]	Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Back in Black
One More Day:
Amazing Spider-Man #544 [9]	Spider-Man: One More Day Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24 [9]	Spider-Man: One More Day Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Sensational Spider-Man #41 [9]	Spider-Man: One More Day Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5
Amazing Spider-Man #545 [9]	Spider-Man: One More Day Amazing Spider-Man by JMS Ultimate Collection, Book 5

Placement Notes:

1. Bannered as a part of the Civil War storyline, but this issue leads directly into the event without any break.
2. These issues comprise the actual Back in Black storyline. You could reasonably skip every single other issue listed on this page.
3. Technically, these issues occur as a continuous story at some point during New Avengers: Revolution, but for the sake of simplicity, they is placed here.
4. New Avengers #27-33 are one continuous storyline.
5. In this issue, Aunt May specifically tells Peter (via a seance) not to revive her.
6. For a more extensive reading order of World War Hulk, go here.
7. In this issue, God appears to Spider-Man to tell him to just have faith and it will all be okay.
8. In this issue, Peter and MJ declare their undying love for each other. Ever get the feeling you’re being trolled?
9. In this issues, Peter and MJ ignore absolutely everything mentioned in points 5, 7 & 8 above, and Marvel performs the most unapologetic retcon in its entire history.