Spider-Man: The Manga

    (Marvel, 1997-1999)
™ and ©1997 Marvel Characters, Inc.

In order to appeal to the Japanese market, Marvel commissioned manga favorite Ryoichi Ikegami to adapt Spider-Man to Japanese tastes. The result was a black-and-white series in traditional manga style where Peter Parker and the rest of the gang look like Japanese schoolkids, and Aunt May looks as if she could be running the local Japanese restaurant. It makes sense in a way, since the setting has been moved from America to Tokyo. All in all, it was a credible attempt by Marvel to capitalize on the popularity of its characters while moving them into the most comics-literate culture on Earth.

The strange part came in 1997 when Marvel imported the Japanese versions into America. Ikegami’s artwork, as usual, is economic and effective, with a cinematic style that adds drama to Spider-Man’s adventures. Spider-Man: The Manga also retranslates the dialog to English, but the result may still seem exotic to American readers.
Jump to issue:
  • 1
    #1
    Dec 1997
    Cover: $3.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    2 copies from $9.50
  • 2
    #2
    Jan 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    Versus Electro
    6 copies from $6.00
  • 3
    #3
    Jan 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    9 copies from $4.50
  • 4
    #4
    Feb 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    6 copies from $5.00
  • 5
    #5
    Mar 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    8 copies from $4.98
  • 6
    #6
    Mar 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    5 copies from $4.00
  • 7
    #7
    Mar 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    5 copies from $4.00
  • 8
    #8
    Apr 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    8 copies from $2.26
  • 9
    #9
    Apr 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    10 copies from $1.64
  • 10
    #10
    May 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    10 copies from $4.00
  • 11
    #11
    May 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda, C.B. Cebulski  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    4 copies from $4.00
  • 12
    #12
    Jun 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    3 copies from $1.91
  • 13
    #13
    Jun 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    3 copies from $2.99
  • 14
    #14
    Jul 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    Versus Mysterio
    1 copy for $8.00
  • 15
    #15
    Jul 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $8.00
  • 16
    #16
    Aug 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    Versus Mysterio
    3 copies from $2.00
  • 17
    #17
    Aug 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    2 copies from $8.00
  • 18
    #18
    Sep 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    2 copies from $8.00
  • 21
    #21
    Oct 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $3.50
  • 22
    #22
    Dec 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $8.00
  • 23
    #23
    Dec 1998
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $8.00
  • 26
    #26
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $17.00
  • 27
    #27
    Feb 1999
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $24.00
  • 28
    #28
    Mar 1999
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $21.00
  • 29
    #29
    Mar 1999
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $21.00
  • 31
    #31
    Jun 1999
    Cover: $2.99
    W: Ryoichi Ikegami, Mutsumi Masuda  ·  A: Ryoichi Ikegami
    1 copy for $40.00