Rating: 
Summary: This book is cool
Review: I had not been much of a comic book fan (I love Garfield and Sunday Funnies, that was it) But since my recent trip to Florida and seeing Universal Studios' Islands of Adventure, I decided to buy a comic book or two. This collection caught my eye, so I picked it up and read the first comic right in the store. Wanting to know what happened to Peter next, I bought the book and never put it down.Yes, it is in black and white, but you don't really notice it. If you are a fan of Spider man, I reccomend you get this book. It really gives you the whole background to Spidey. I plan on buying the other two volumes!
Rating:
Summary: These graphic novels are truly NOVELS
Review: I love graphic novels as much as the next collector and have just about everything listed by Amazon. Not exactly everything, but a great percentage. This graphic novels should actually be rated and listed the same as regular novels, because the dynamics of their stories, not just the fantastic artwork, takes you away to places that novels, such as STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, CHILDHOOD'S END, FOUNDATION, RINGWORLD, STAR TREK novels, DARKEYE: CYBER HUNTER and so forth, take you. All are extremely imaginative and have visually-gratifying narrative/dialogue not too far removed from graphic novels such as this or any other. Broaden your minds, but hang on to the graphic novels as well!
Rating:
Summary: I've been waiting my whole life for something like this
Review: I would have sold my soul to Satan to have this book when I was 10 years old, Their in black and white..... who cares! This book has the first 22 Spider-Man comic books ever made! The actual comics themselves would cost thousands, this book is only 11 dollars! It was really a great thing and meant a lot to me, I was obsessed with Spider-Man when i was younger and would constantly wonder what the first few Spider-Man comics must have been like, i would have paid 11 thousand dollars for this book without blinking an eye, this is truly a great gift by the Marvel Comics people and any Spider-Man fan should buy this, or they simply arent a Spider-Man fan at all. I would have killed for Amazing Fantasy 15 alone, let alone the rest of them!! And they are really great stories, its kind of sad to see how Peter and Betty split up after time, and amazing to see the first appearances of Spider-Man's worst enemies, though the Green Goblins first appearance was disappointing, but who cares! It is simply the greatest thing anyone could ever get for 11 dollars, fantastic book, but I must warn you if you buy this book you'll be hooked and you'll have to buy the other 4 books or you'll go crazy! INCREDIBLE BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: A definite MUST for all Spidey fans!
Review: Includes Spidey's origin in Amazing Fantasy #15 and the first twenty issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, as well as the very first Spidey annual from 1964. Once you read this one, you be wanting to get the other three volumes (which I also strongly suggest!). If you (like me) were not around to read the original Lee/Ditko Spider-Man stories, or even if you were, then by all means buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: AN ESSENTIAL FOR YOUR COLLECTION
Review: It was the early 1960's and it was a glorious time for comic book fans as Marvel changed the world of comic books by introduction heroes who were not so perfect like their rivals at DC. And here it was that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-man, first in the pages of an old sci-fi book called Amazing Fantasy #14 and then onto his own title.
Essential Spider-man at over 500 pages collects Amazing Fantasy #15, Amazing Spider-man #1 - 20 and annual #1 into one huge and entertaining volume. This is the roots of the character who has gone onto become Marvel's flagship character and the star of big budget movies.
I'll admit that back in the 1970's I always frowned on Ditko's art as being old-looking compared to newer material. But as I've age so have my tastes matured and I've really grown to appreciate and admire his fine detail.
These 20 issues are so key in spider-man Lore.
#1 is the first appearance of J.J. Jameson and the Chameleon.
#2 Is the first appearance of the Vulture
#3 is the first Doctor Octopus
#4 First Sandman
#6 First Lizard
#9 First Electro
#13 First Mysterio
#14 First Green Goblin
#15 First Kraven the Hunter
#20 First Scorpion
You can see how the first 20 issues premiered basically all of spider-mans major villians. It would cost literally thousands to try and buy these issues. A wonderful collection.,
Rating:
Summary: With Great Comics Come Great Readability....
Review: Now that Marvel Comics has picked over the bones of its original lineup until there is not a sliver of meat left on them, it is refreshing to reread the original stories and realize what a mighty, graceful beast Marvel once was, back when its writers and artists gave a damn. "The Essential Spider-Man" harkens us back to the early 60s, when an angst-ridden teenager first was bitten by a radioactive spider and learned that with great power comes great responsibility. Stan Lee is often ridiculed for his overwrought prose, but his Spider-Man tales remain extremely poignant and affecting some four decades after they were written, while their postmodern successors seem dated already. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the amazing Spider-Man is that Lee creates a supporting, non-superpowered cast which is often more compelling than the heroes and villains. Flash Thompson, Peter Parker's archenemy, is also Spider-Man's biggest fan, willing to undertake reckless acts of courage to keep his hero's name from being dragged through the mud. Betty Brant, whose brother died after an ill-considered criminal career, loves Peter Parker but despises his alter ego, building a wall between her and Parker that neither can breach. "The Essential Spider-Man" is packed with such realistic contradictions. The collection covers Amazing Fantasy # 15 (the first appearance of Spider-Man) through Amazing Spider-Man # 20 and Annual # 1. The tales feature some incredibly fluid artwork by Steve Ditko, Stan the Man's superlative writing, and the first appearances of such characters as Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, Dr. Octupus, and the Green Goblin. Lee and Ditko's creativity is to be marveled at, given the number of characters they created during these twenty issues which are still viable in 2000. If you're sick of the gorgeous garbage that passes for comics today, pick up this collection and see what the medium is capable in the hands of men who love it.
Rating: 
Summary: not your typical old comic
Review: Older comics tend to be heavy on the campiness and light on the plot and character development. Ok, so this Essential Spidey collection isn't really any different, but it does manage to elevate itself above the heap despite the fact. Peter Parker's got a lot of spunk and personality, and Lee isn't afraid to use it. Lots of silly one liners, and the overall "coolness" of Spider-Man (he is one of the neater superheroes out there) make this collection entertaining to read. Or to put it another way, I found reading through the Essential Avengers a chore. Dry, dull stuff. But Essential Spider-Man was truly a pleasure, highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: My Spider Sense detects a perfect comic!
Review: Peter Parker was an akward, nerdy teenager who was always teased by jock Flash Thompson at Midtown High School. That is, until he was bitten by a radioactive spider and granted spider-like powers. Calling himself Spider-Man, Peter wnet for the fame and glory of a costumed variety show feature until a violent tragedy made Peter realize that he must use his great power with great resposiblity, so he became the costumed vigilante Spider-Man. Not only does he fight crime, he also fights to pay the rent, take care of his sickly aunt, get through school, keep his secret identity a secret, get flamed by grumpy nwespaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson for his vigilante antics and get a date. It's the life of a teenage superhero, filled with a mix of angst and joy, with equal attention to the Peter Parker and Spider-Man halves of the story.
This anthology collects Spider-Man's classic premire in Amazing Fantasy #15, the first 20 issues of Amazing Spider-Man and the first Amazing Spider-Man Annual. Tho the dialogue is somewhat dated(like all comics made in the 60s like this) the stories are solid gold and stand up well.
In these meager twenty-two comics, we're introduced to nearly all of Spider-Man's famous rogue's gallery. Spider-Man is said to have the best villains, and the only hero with villains worthy of being his equal is Batman. In these issues we're introduced to: the Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Scorpion, the Vulture, the Lizard, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, Mysterio, Sandman, Chameleon, the Enforcers, the mysterious Big Man, the terrible Tinkerer, the Living Brain and the murderous Burglar who made Spider-Man the vigilante he is today. There are also rematches with some of the villains, one of the most famous being several villains uniting as the Sinister Six in the Annual. Soon every Marvel comic would have their own Sinsyer Six-like villain team to battle. And there were guest stars aplenty! Every single Marvel hero at the time appeared in this collection, although most only made cameos during the Annual- including Iron Man, Captain America, the X-Men, Giant-Man and the Wasp. Heores who fought alongside(or against) Spider-Man in the issues were the Fantastic Four(most notably Human Torch, who appears in about one-third of these issues), Daredevil and the Hulk. And with them came guest villains like the Ringmaster and the infamous Dr. Doom.
The stories are good,no doubt, but there are two formats which you could collect them in- the Marvel Masterworks has the comics as tehy were originally printed in full color on fancy paper with a table of contents and maybe an itro by Stan Lee. The downside is high cost and the fact that each Marvel Masterworks volume has less comics than Essential; you'd have to buy two volumes of Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man to get the twenty-two issue featured in Essential, and the cost will be multiplied.
On the other hadn, Essential is cheaper and has more comics. It's also further in the series(right now Essential has 137 issues of Amazing Spider-Man along with five Annuals and two of the Giant-Sized Comics collected in six volumes. Marvel Masterworks has only the first sixty-one issues and four Annuals in five volumes) So either way, buy these comics!
Rating:
Summary: 20th Century's Greatest Work of Popular Culture
Review: Some may say that title is hyperbole, but they probably haven't read the story of a shy boy who holds the burden of the world on his young shoulders. Most of you know the story, Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and now he has all sorts of crazy spider-powers. If the series had just stopped there, it would have been a solid action-adventure yarn. But Stan Lee had other ideas. What followed over the next 35 years(!) was part autobiography, part action, and part soap-opera. This was the first comic to really make its character vulnerable not only physically, but emotionally as well. Peter was not perfect (he let a robber go by him instead of sticking his neck out to stop him, he later came to regret that). It's this imperfection that made him so appealing after years of Superman (invincible good-looking guy) and Batman (rich good-looking guy) ruling the comic book stands. I'm not saying this should be taught in schools right after Shakespeare or Poe, but it deserves a place on everyone's bookshelf as a reminder of just how great a comic book CAN be. Strongest recommendation. (**** only because it is not in color)
Rating:
Summary: Spider-Man: The Hero That Lives On!
Review: The Essential Spider-Man Vol. 1 is awesome, y'all! After watching Spider-Man: The Movie, I bought it and loved every minute reading it! All issues are in black and white, but who cares! I'd rather get the first issues of Spider-Man in one book, than looking around everywhere, spending precious dollars for the same issues but in color. If you like the movie, you'll definetly like this! What I like best about this book is it introduces some of Spidey's major villians: Dr. Octopus (a.k.a. Doc Ock)
Dr. Doom
Kraven the Hunter
The Chameleon
Mysterio
The Vulture
The Scorpion
Green Goblin
The Sandman
The Ring Master
The Enforcers
The Lizard
Electro And there's guest appearances of The Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and the Hulk! A must-buy! Nuff said, y'all!
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