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Title: Spiderman by Stan Lee ISBN: 0-448-82554-6 Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: 01 October, 1982 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $3.80 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.54 (13 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Transitional
Comment: This second volume holds a wide range of early Spider-Man stories, and shows a transitional period in the character's history.
The stories range from the epic Master Planner storyline, which builds strongly and contains very memorable scenes, to ephemeral stories like hat of the Looter and a guy named Joe. Villains from the past return, and this book includes some essential stories of Spidey's big name foes, Dr Octopus and the Green Goblin.
The book also takes Peter Parker from his high school days to college, incidentally introducing both Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson while leaving behind earlier romantic interests such as Betty Brant and Liz Allen.
During this volume, we see the period when artist Steve Ditko took over the plotting of stories, which lent the book a more moralistic air. Towards the end, Ditko leaves and is replaced by John Romita, making the book more clean-lined but less visually interesting.
This volume is a mixed bag, albeit of good quality material, and shows a comic that has largely outgrown its original premise but struggling to find a new one.
Rating: 5
Summary: Spidey says goodbye to Steve Ditko and hello to John Romita
Comment: 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 his killer robot.
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. Excelsior!
Rating: 5
Summary: Companion piece for this great graphic novel
Comment: As great as this graphic novel was by itself, I know of one helluva great companion piece in the form of a book entitled "The Adventures of Darkeye: Cyber Hunter" whose odd manner of having log-entries over chapters seems almost like the script for a graphic novel, even though it is in the science fiction/high-tech and cyberpunk genre along with books like "Cryptonomicon", "Snow Crash", "Prey", and "Altered Carbon". Very fast-paced and visual as well as being very exciting due to its action-packed pages.
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Title: The Essential Spider-Man Volume #3 by Stan Lee ISBN: 0785106588 Publisher: Marvel Entertainment Group Pub. Date: 01 June, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Amazing Spider-Man (The Essential Spider-Man, Volume 1) by Stan Lee ISBN: 0785109889 Publisher: Marvel Comics Pub. Date: 01 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: The Essential Spider-Man Volume 4 by Stan Lee ISBN: 0785107606 Publisher: Marvel Comics Pub. Date: 01 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Essential the Amazing Spider-Man (Essential Spider Man) Volume 5 by Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, John Romita, John Buscema, Gil Kane ISBN: 0785108815 Publisher: Marvel Entertainment Group Pub. Date: 01 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Essential Incredible Hulk (Essential Incredible Hulk) by Stan Lee ISBN: 0785109935 Publisher: Marvel Entertainment Group Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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