Rating: 
Summary: Companion piece for this great graphic novel
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Companion piece for this great graphic novel
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Here's where the action is, effendi!
Review: Flying by the seat of their collective drawers, Stan 'The Man' Lee and 'Sturdy' Steve Ditko transcended the whole of the comics industry with the issues presented in THE ESSENTIAL SPIDER-MAN, VOL. 2. The impact that Ditko's work in this period made left mighty big shoes for his successor, 'Jazzy' Johnny Romita, to fill...and we get to see the first issues of that decidedly different direction here, as well. 'Nuff said.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: For any latter-day comics fans who wonder why Spider-Man, and not the X-Men, remains the most visible character in Marvel's stable today need to pick up "Essential Spider-Man vol. 2" for a primer on how comics are written and characters established. (Chris Claremont, call your office). Spider-Man was always obviously the first love of writer Stan Lee. Rather than crank out the usual superhero nonsense displayed over at Marvel's Distinguished Competition for most of the 60s, Lee and artist Steve Ditko created in Peter Parker a character as unique and compelling as his alter ego. As a high schooler blessed with great power but constantly struggling to balance the demands of his life, Parker is a poignant and realistic hero. I will illustrate this with just two examples from this collection. In the first, Parker's beloved Aunt May is dying of an incurable disease he unwittingly introduced to her bloodstream. To save her, he needs a rare isotope recently stolen by an enigmatic crime figure. After frenetically rampaging through New York to unravel this criminal organization, Spider-Man battles his foe in his headquarters, only to be buried under tons of machinery as the ceiling collapses and the river begins to flood in, the isotope a few feet away. Spider-Man struggles to free himself despite the enormous weight of the machine, his exhaustion, and his own nagging self-doubts, knowing that he alone can save the woman who raised him. Powerful stuff, indeed, powerfully illustrated in Steve Ditko's swan song on the series. Fast forward to his next encounter with the Green Goblin, a madman who discovers his identity and attacks him at his house. Peter Parker, terrified of having his identity exposed or having his frail aunt exposed to danger, battles the Goblin in his own front yard, eventually allowing himself to be beaten and dragged away to the villain's hideout, where he discovers the shocking secret identity of his foe. New artist John Romita turns in an incredible performance here. I highly recommend this collection to all comics fans. Excelsior!
Rating: 
Summary: If you're a fan of Spidey you need this book.
Review: I have recently read this book and have loved every minute of it.I have always enjoyed Spider-man and to the serious fan reading the old stories are as close to getting to heaven without dying.
Rating:
Summary: B/W Memories
Review: I was excited to find out (from Amazon.com) that Spider-Man issues 21-43 were reprinted in one book. The first 20 issues have been reprinted many times but I had a hard time finding anything after that(at least nothing affordable). I remember reading the early Spider-Man comics as a teenager and at age 43 wanted to read them again (especially the #39 & 40 Green Goblin story). So I bought The Essential Spider-Man Vol. II. I will admit I was disappointed to find the stories were reproduced only in black and white. But once I started reading the stories, it didn't bother me much. In fact, the artwork (by Steve Ditko and John Romita) is actually nice to look at in B/W. The covers of each of the issues are also reproduced and I appreciate that! I've ordered Volume III from Amazon.com today (although at this writing it is not yet published) so I'll have more exciting Spidey memories to relive. If you don't mind back and white - this is a good, nice-sized volume to get!
Rating:
Summary: Classic tales with unconventional-for the times-situations
Review: I'd like to recommend this book for several reasons.the main thing is that these tales represent a good example of american-pop-art:probably they can appear too naive for young readers ,but they surely check the inner coolness of this stories coming from the sixties. Another reason is that the book presents the still-great-after-all-these-years-saga of the Green Goblin. I'd like to remind everyone that this is the first case in a superhero comic book of the secret identity's dicovery by the worst ememy.But this is not all: the Spider learns his foe's identity and it's another surplus of shock for the reader. Have a look,guys!
Rating:
Summary: up up and a way
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN, ROCK ON!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Spidey Rawks!
Review: Stan Lee's, Steve Ditko's, and John Romita's "Essential Spider-Man, Vol. 2" is an awesome graphic novel of Spider-Man's original comic book series! This volume contains the exciting issues #21-43 and Annuals #2 & 3! This book introduces lots of new changes for Peter Parker. His love for Betty Brant changes to Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson. It also brings lots of different villains to light for Spidey to battle, like:
- The Beetle
- The Clown, and his Masters of Menace
- The Green Goblin
- Mysterio
- The Crime-Master
- The Molten Man
- Xandu
- The Scorpian
- The Cat
- Kraven the Hunter
- Doc Ock
- The Looter
- The Rampaging Robots of Dr. Stromm
- The Rhino
What's really cool about this book is when you read the 3-part series of Spider-Man battling Doc Ock for the very life of his Aunt May, and when Spidey and the Green Goblin are both unmasked to each other! Another cool thing is the guest-appearances of The Human Torch, Dr. Strange, The Hulk, and the Avengers!
Even though the pages are all in black and white, I was still able to greatly appreciate Steve Ditko's and John Romita's art of drawing Spider-Man and his villains. I sped through this novel faster than I thought, wishing it wouldn't end! If you're a fan of Spider-Man, you'll love this great volume!
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