THE CHOICE (1990)

The Sandman may have gone straight, but that's not stopped the cops from taking potshots at him. Or stopping his former Frightful Four teammates from trying to bring him back into the fold. He's not quite proved himself as a hero, yet, but this will be the moment that decides whose side he's really on.

This story is typically placed around 1990 in the Marvel timeline when this story came out. But, to me, it makes more sense to place it just before the original SECRET WARS, before the Thing heads off to Battleworld and before the Sandman does his first job for Silver Sable.

Crossover: This story appears as a back-up feature in two of Spider-Man's 1990 annuals in addition to another crossover event that ran through all three annuals.

• Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24[3/4]
• Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10[3/4]

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24[3/4]
Despite going straight and narrow for a little while now, the Sandman is still considered a criminal and is regularly targeted by the police. Despite this, he turns down the Thing's offer to arrange a pardon for him. His former Frightful Four teammates - the Wizard and the Trapster - break out of jail and monitor him closely, even spying into his unsettled homelife as a lodger with the Cassada family under his new civilian identity 'Sylvester Mann'.

Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10[3/4]

The Wizard and Trapster are shocked when the Sandman rejects their offer to rejoin him, but agree to leave him alone if they leave him alone. The Wizard agrees, but tells the Trapster he plans to prove to the Sandman that he owns him. Later, Sandman tries to convince Carlos Cassada to cooperate with a police investigation that will likely result in the arrest of former friends of his. Realising how hypocritical he's been, the Sandman confronts Wizard and Sandman at an old hideout, defeating them and warning them to leave him and the family he lives with well alone or he'll bring the villains down with him. 

MCG Note: Fallout is based on this story taking place much earlier than when it was released.

Deadpool #35 (1999)

A flashback reveals the Wizard almost immediately tries to form a new Frightful Four with he Taskmaster, Deadpool and the Constrictor as members, but they're defeated by the Thing and Franklin Richards.

Fantastic Four #265 (1984)

Having gone solo, the Trapster's attempt to invade the Baxter Building home of the Fantastic Four fails when he's subdued by the security system during SECRET WARS.

Amazing Spider-Man #280-281 (1986)

Sandman begins to find peace at the Cassada house and in going straight; impressed with the Sandman's prowess in battle against the Sinister Syndicate, Silver Sable offers him a job as a freelance operative.

Web of Spider-Man #50 (1989)

Sandman joins a number of Spider-Man's more questionable allies as a member of the Outlaws when it looks like Spidey has turned to a life of crime during WOLVES BITE BACK.

Amazing Spider-Man #334-339 (1990)

Doctor Octopus threatens the lives of the Cassadas to force the Sandman into rejoining the Sinister Six, though Sandman ultimately turns against him.

Avengers #329 (1991)

The Sandman is made a 'reserve substitute' member of the Avengers and receives a full presidential pardon during STARTING LINE-UP.

Spider-Man #18-23 (1991-1992)

Despite having moved out of the Cassada's home, their house is blown up just as Doctor Octopus promised; Rosa Cassada is hospitalised, but it's unclear if anyone else survived; the Sandman rejoins the Sinister Six to take down Doctor Octopus together, but eventually learns they were the ones who blew up the Cassadas' home and turns against them.

Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #1 (1992)

The Sandman becomes a more-permanent member of Silver Sable's Wild Pack.

Silver Sable & the Wild Pack #16-17 (1993)

Sandman becomes a member of Silver Sable's crew of superhuman operatives, the Invaders, alongside Fin, Man-Eater and Paladin during THE INFINITY CRUSADE. 

Peter Parker, Spider-Man #12 (1999)

In a back-up story, the Wizard uses a machine to bring the Sandman's darker personality traits to the fore

Amazing Spider-Man #4 (1999)

Due to his Wild Pack credentials, the Sandman is hired to protect Senator Stewart Ward but reveals he's actually working with the Trapster and Wizard who'd been hired stage an assassination attempt on Ward; Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four defeat the duo; the Thing reveals he never really bought into the Sandman's reformation.

Amazing Spider-Man #12 (1999)

The Sandman willingly rejoins the Sinister Six during ANOTHER RETURN OF THE SINISTER SIX.

Friendly-Neighborhood Spider-Man Annual #1 (2007) 

The reason for the Sandman's name change from William Baker to Flint Marko is explained.

Amazing Spider-Man #676 (2012)

The Sandman and his fellow members of the Sinister Six attempt to slaughter the Inteligencia who include the Wizard among their number.

Fantastic Four #644-645 (2015)

The Sandman finally rejoins the Frightful Four alongside the Wizard, She-Thing and Thundra to help defend Earth from the Quiet Man's invasion.

See how this story fits into the wider Marvel Universe continuity with these reading orders:

• FANTASTIC FOUR: BACK TO THE BASICS (1981-1984)

Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection TPB vol.20: Cosmic Adventures
Includes...

Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10