Legacy Numbering Comics

Comic books almost always have numbers and comic books published after each other have consecutive numbers. The first American Superman published on May 18, 1939 has number 1 and the next Superman published on August 19 of the same year has number 2. The Superman comics are thus published up to number 423 in September 1986. In that year the publisher DC Comics decided it was enough and started the comics again with number 1 in January 1987. On the cover it even says "It's your first issue Superman". In this way they started a new series which, in American culture, is also called a new Volume. This new Volume 2 ended with number 226 in April 2006 after which the publisher decided to continue the old numbering with number 650 (=423+226+1) in May of that year. Do we have a new series now or did we continue the old Volume 1. We will call numbers 1 till 226 part 1 of Volume 1 and numbers 650 till 714 Part 2 of Volume 1. In October 2011 this new Volume 2 of the Superman comics ended with number 714, after which the publisher decided to start a yet new serie and called it The New 52. How the Superman numbering continues one can read later.

The numbering of an all-time first series is called the legacy numbering. So number 1 of Volume 2 has the legacy number 227. The Publisher sometimes prints the legacy number of a new series on the comic book. It is sometimes very hard to find the legacy number of a comic. So is the legacy numbering of the Spiderman comics rather difficult. There are several main, first series (e.g Amazing Spider-Man, Sensational Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man and simply Spider-Man). It will turn out that some comics are in more than one legacy numbering and we will give an example of a comic with a higher legacy number that is published earlier than a comic with a lower legacy number. Also some comics that are clearly in a serie are not included in the official legacy numbering (that means the numbering printed on the comics). For the American comics that have a legacy numbering we will explain and detail this numbering in this article. So if your favorite comics is not here yet, come back later in time to see if it there.

But before we do this we would like to reflect on the European type of numbering. As comicweb is Dutch we will use European comics as examples. Most comics in Dutch are translated from French. This American numbering, and especially the Spider-Man numbering seems chaotic. The return to old numbering and all these new series seems very strange. But to understand it better one should read all these comics. New series are started when the story line demands. Hero's die and are resurrected (like Ripply in Alien Resurrection) and justify a new numbering. The French comic Thorgal started in 1977 with comic book number 1 titled "The icequeen". This series is still running and we are now up to number 41 "Thousand eyes". The series is a big success and there are many spin-offs such as "Kris of Valnor", "Wolvin", "The younger years" and "Saga". All these series have a number 1. But they are series published parallel and consecutively. There is no way that any legacy numbering here could be applied. The Belgian comic "Lucky Luke" is a better example for bad numbering which justifies a legacy numbering that occurred. In 1949 in Holland, the Belgian publisher Dupuis published the first Dutch Lucky Luke "Dick Diggers Goldmine" which has number 1. This is an actual book (a comic book). The stories in this comic book were pre-published in the comic "Robbedoes". Robbedoes is more a comic like the American comic, but it was published weekly. This Lucky Luke series of comic books ended in 1967 with number 31 "Tortillas for the Daltons" because the publisher lost its publishing rights to publish the Lucky Luke comic books. The French publisher Dargaud acquired the publishing rights and in 1969 it started a new series with the comic book "De stagecoach" which has number 1. This series ended in 2002 with number 42 "The legend of the west". In 2004 yet another publisher, Lucky Comic, started a new series with the comic book "Jolly Jumper on suitors' feet" but it has no number. Up until now, the last comic book in this series, the tenth one, is "The ark of Rataplan" and it also has no number. For the comic book collector this is very confusing. The comic books from the first and second series are newly published in a new serie that is called "The new look" and the numbering runs from 1 till 73 (=31+42). However, the publisher mentioned in book number 1, is Dupuis and the publisher mentioned in book 32 (the number 1 of the second serie) is Lucky Comics (and not Dargaud). This new numbering can be called a legacy numbering.

Having said all this, let us dive into the legacy numbering of the American comics. All the numbering shown here is based on public websites and opinions mentioned there. There are so many explanations that we will not mention the sources here. Therefore, all errors and idiotic remarks are ours. If you see an error or disagree with something, please let us now via info@comicweb.nl.

Action Comics
Amazing Spider-Man
Spectacular Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Sensational Spider-Man
Superior Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Six


Action comics

The following series of Action Comics contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Volume 1, Part 11-904 1-904
Volume 21-52 905-996The New 52
Volume 1, Part 2957-1064 957-1064Rebirth

For a complete overview of all the published Action Comics see here

In the pictures below one can see the first and the last of each of the contributing series:

AC Volume 1 Nr. 1
AC Volume 1 Nr. 904
AC Volume 2 Nr. 1
AC Volume 2 Nr. 52
AC Volume 1 Nr. 957
AC Volume 1 Nr. 1064


A distinguished subseries are numbers 601-642 which are called Action Comics weekly.

AC Volume 1 Nr. 600
AC Volume 1 Nr. 601
AC Volume 1 Nr. 642
AC Volume 1 Nr. 643


Numbers outside legacy numbering: Volume 2, 0, 23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4

AC Volume 2 Nr. 0
AC Volume 2 Nr. 23.1
AC Volume 2 Nr. 23.2
AC Volume 2 Nr. 23.3
AC Volume 2 Nr. 23.4


Amazing Spider-Man

The following series of Amazing Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Volume 1, Part 11-441 1-4411963-series
Volume 21-58 442-4991999-series
Volume 1, Part 2500-700 500-700Rebirth
Superior Spider-Man1-33 701-733 2013-series
Volume 31-18 734-7512014-series
Renew Your Vows1-5 752-7562015-series
Volume 41-32 757-7872015 series
Volume 1, Part 3789-801 789-8012017-series
Volume 51-93 802-8942018-series
Volume 61-46 895-9402022-series

Legacy numbering 701-733 are the Superior Spider-Man 2013 series. On comicweb.nl we will include them in the Superior Spider-Man legacy numbering. Marvel actually included these comics in two legacy numbering.

For a complete overview of all the published Amazing Spider-Man comics see here

In the pictures below one can see the first and the last of each of the contributing series:

ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 441
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 441
ASP Vol. 2 Nr. 1
ASP Vol. 2 Nr. 58
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 500
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 18
ASP Renew Nr. 1
ASP Renew Nr. 5
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 32
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 789
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 801
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 1
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 93
ASP Vol. 6 Nr. 1
ASP Vol. 6 Nr. 46


Not in the legacy numbering included are:

Volume 1, numbers, 654.1, 679.1, 699.1, 700.1, 700.2, 700.3, 700.4, and 700.5

ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 654.1
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 679.1
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 699.1
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700.1
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700.2
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700.3
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700.4
ASP Vol. 1 Nr. 700.5


Volume 3, numbers 1.1, 1,2 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 16.1, 17.1, 18.1, 19.1 and 20.1

ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1.1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1.2
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1.3
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1.4
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 1.5
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 16.1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 17.1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 18.1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 19.1
ASP Vol. 3 Nr. 20.1


Volume 4, numbers 1.1, 1,2 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6

ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.1
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.2
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.3
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.4
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.5
ASP Vol. 4 Nr. 1.6


Volume 5, numbers 16.HU, 18.HU, 19.HU, 20.HU, 50.LR, 51.LR, 52.LR, 53.LR, 54.LR, 78.BEY, 80.BEY, 88.BEY, 92.BEY

ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 16.HU
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 18.HU
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 19.HU
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 20.HU
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 50.LR
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 51.LR
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 52.LR
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 53.LR
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 54.LR
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 78.BEY
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 80.BEY
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 88.BEY
ASP Vol. 5 Nr. 92.BEY


Spectacular Spider-Man

The following series of Spectacular Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man1-133 1-133Volume 1, 1976 series
Spectacular Spider-Man134-263 134-263Volume 1, 1988 series
Spectacular Spider-Man1-27 264-290Volume 2, 2003 series
Spectacular Spider-Man1-6 291-296Volume 3
Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man297-313 297-313Volume 1, 2018 series

For a complete overview of all the published Spectacular Spider-Man comics see here

Spider-Man

The following series of Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Spider-Man1-74 1-74Volume 1, 1990 series
Peter Parker, Spider-Man75-98 75-98Volume 1, 1996 series
Peter Parker, Spider-Man1-57 99-155Volume 2, 1999 series
Spider-Man1-5 Not sure2019 Series

For a complete overview of all the published simple Spider-Man comics see here

Sensational Spider-Man

The following series of Sensational Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Sensational Spider-Man0-33 0-331996 series
Marvel Knights Spider-Man1-22 2004 series
Sensational Spider-Man24-41 2006 series

For a complete overview of all the published Sensational Spider-Man comics see here

The Sensational Spider-Man has two special 2 issues in 2012 numbered 33.1 and 33.2 that are not included in the legacy numbering

Superior Spider-Man

The following series of Superior Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Volume 11-33 1-33 2013-series
Volume 21-12 34-45 2019-series
Volume 31-5 46-50 2024-series

For a complete overview of all the published Superior Spider-Man comics see here

As stated before, Volume 1 of the Superior Spider-Man are also included in the legacy numbering of The Amazing Spider-Man. Special number 6.AU is not included in the legacy numbering.

Ultimate Spider-Man

The following series of Ultimate Spider-Man contribute to the legacy numbering:

Volume nameVolume Numbers Legacy number NumbersPopular Name
Ultimate Spider-Man1-133 1-53, 61-1402000 series
Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem1-2 141-142
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Part 11-15 143-1572009 series
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Part 2150-160 158-1682009 series
Ultimate Spider-Man1-28 169-1962011 series
Cataclysm: Ultimate Spider-Man1-3 197-1992014 series
Ultimate Comics All New Spider-Man200 200
Miles Morales, Ultimate Spider-Man1-12 201-2122014 series
Spider-Man1-21 213-2332016 series Part 1
Spider-Man234-240 234-2402016 series Part 2
Miles Morales: Spider-Man1-42 241-2822019 series
Miles Morales: Spider-Man1-current 283-c2023 series

As one can see above, the "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man" started with number 1 and went up to number 15 after which the numbering picked up at 150 again. In the legacy numbering "Ultimate Six" series was included as legacy numbers 54-60 which breaks up the numbering of the first series which is rather unfortunate. Therefore on comicweb.nl we will not include this in this series also because it ran parallel to the other series.

Why number 150 is number 150 is a mystery because 133+15=148, so the next number would be 149. If we add the Requiem issues, then 133+15+2=150 so the next number would be 151. Special number 16.1 is also not included in the legacy numbering.

For a complete overview of all the published Ultimate Spider-Man comics see here

Ultimate Six

The Ultimate Six is a comic book series published in 2003 & 2004, numbers from 1 to 7, which are in the Ultimate Spider-Man legacy numbering the numbers 54 to 60.

For a complete overview of all the published Ultimate Spider-Man comics see here