Essential Spider-Man Volume 2 TPB: Amazon.ca: Stan Lee: Books

Product Description

Collecting Amazing Spider-Man #21-43; Annual #2, and 3.

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17 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN, ROCK ON!, Aug 15 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Essential Spider-Man (Paperback)

My wife hasn't said anything yet, but I know she thinks its strange that a man over 30 years old is still reading comic books. Well, it may be weird, but it is sure is fun. This book and the whole series were custom made for me: classic issues that you can read in order at a decent price. So what if they aren't in color. The alternative is to spend a fortune going to every flea market, comic convention and fanatsy fair mingling with the pimply, geeky kids that look forward to these attractions (sorry if I offended any reviewer that fits this description). I ordered the first volume after seeing SPIDER-MAN the movie, which messes up the fine story of Peter Parker's origins by the way. I am now reading volume 3 and thinking aboiut ordering the next one. These are fun! Nuff Said!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Spider-Man story ever vs. Doc Ock in issues #31-33, July 14 2002

By

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME)

This review is from: Essential Spider-Man Volume 2 TPB (Paperback)

Volume 2 of "The Essential Spider-Man" offers up issues #21-43 of the "Amazing Spider-Man" along with the original stories from Annuals #2 & 3. These are the issues that offer some big changes for both the character and the comic book. For the character, besides the introduction of new villains we see Liz Allen and Betty Bryant replaced in Peter Parker's affections by Gwen Stacy and (at long last) Mary Jane Watson. For the comic book it is artist John Romita (Sr.) taking over for Steve Ditko with issue #39, "How Green Was My Goblin." Of course, this is one of the most famous Spidey issues of all time as Spidey and the Green Goblin are both unmasked and things become very, very interesting.

I understand why some would complain that these reprints are in black & white but I have discovered at least one benefit to reading these comics without color, and that is a greater appreciation of the artwork of Steve Ditko. When I was reading these comics in 1965-67, I was happy to see Romita replace Ditko as an artist. However, as I re-read the Spider-Man comics drawn by Ditko I realize that although his figures are not exactly drawn in the most realistic style, he is a master of composition and pacing. Just look at the cover of #24 for example, but leaf through any of his issues and study what he is doing and I think you will be as impressed as I am as you watch Spider-Man tackle the Beetle, the Clown and his Masters of Menace, Mysterio, the Crime Master, the Molten Man, the Scorpion, the Cat, Ka-Zar, the Rhino, and even J. Jonah Jameson and the first of his killer robots.

Yes, the two-part confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin that begins Romita's tenure on the comic book is a classic story, which is at the heart of this summer's blockbuster movie (notice they do an homage to the cover of #39 in the film). However, I would make a case that this collection includes another of the greatest Spider-Man stories in issues #31-33. Peter Parker has parted ways with Betty Bryant and Gwen Stacy has appeared upon the scene, but that means nothing because Aunt May is very sick. Spidey gets Doc Connor to help with a formula that can save her life, but then it is stolen by the henchmen of Doctor Octopus. As the last of these three issues begins Spider-Man "is now trapped beneath tons of fallen steel, with the precious serum lying just out of reach, as the fatal second's tick by..." (quoting Stan Lee of course). But Spider-Man already is responsible for the death of his Uncle Ben and he is not going to fail Aunt May. There are other Spider-Man stories as good, but none better than this one, which finds both Lee and Ditko at their peaks.

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5.0 out of 5 stars up up and a way, Aug 28 2003

By

Craig A. Sissick (Milford, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Essential Spider-Man Volume 2 TPB (Paperback)

It is no secret that Peter Parker is one of the best created characters in marvel histroy and he comes with a bounus a little nerdy kid has all the perks of a spider and none of the nasty qualities, or does he? the second eidition gets you closer to the characters and enters romatia who became the greatest spider man artist of all time, great book

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