Essential Web of Spider-Man - Vol. 2 by Larry Lieber

Web of Spider-Man (1985) #19-32, Annual #3

by Larry Lieber

The fan-favorite spin-off series starring your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man continues! Swing along with Spidey as he makes a jaunt over the Atlantic for some adventures in the UK, where he foils an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher! Then, back on this side of the Pond, Spidey has to travel cross-country to retrieve a misplaced web-shooter - before he's targeted in the critically acclaimed epic "Kraven's Last Hunt." COLLECTING: WEB OF SPIDERMAN 19-32, ANNUAL 3; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 293-294; PETER PARKER, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN 131-132

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Spider Man, Marvel, Superheroes, Comic Book, Science Fiction

Paperback

First published July 25, 2012

About the author

Lieber is the younger brother of the late Marvel Comics writer, editor, and publisher Stan Lee.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Web Of Spider-Man #22-43, and annuals #3-4 covering all the issues with cover dates 1987 to 1988, which is more than this volume covers. This has a very mixed bag of creators. Best are J.M. DeMatteis 'The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt' books, and Peter David's 'Cult Of Love'. 6 out of 12, Three Stars

2014 read

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice collection of these stories. Good reads and nice art. Recommended

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bringing together Web of Spider-Man #19-32 along with some Annuals. Web of Spider-Man was always my 3rd favorite Spider-Man title as it dealt more with the streets, the dark side of NYC and "normal" criminals instead of super powered tales.

Like the other Essential titles this was in black and white but for 15 buck how can you go wrong - still got the characters and the story and the art.

I enjoyed this, even in black and white.

[Jose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow, a bit weak. I enjoyed some of the individual issues (specially the "conclusion" of the Hobgoblin saga), but it didn't click the right buttons.

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How would a pair of crutches help a kid with both feet on casts?

Merged review:

Looks like in my medically-induced haze I forgot to add this book when I read it.

[Harrison Delahunty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some hidden gems of storylines and bona fide classics are brought down by real bummers of stories.

This second volume of Essential Web of Spider-Man starts strong with stories related to the Irish Troubles, which are a particular point of interest for me personally. This, unfortunately, is followed by a very oddly written Vulture story wherein the Vulture speaks like he decided to be a Thespian this year. Things go even further downhill with a truly abysmal and ill-fitting sci-fi issue and miscellaneous, unimportant story after miscellaneous, unimportant story.

The collection is of course capped by the aftermath of Ned Leeds’s death, and the classic Kraven’s Last Hunt which are both extremely solid. However, there are multiple other places to read these stories (AND in full colour) so I don’t give this collection too many points for their inclusion.

Overall, this is a very average Spider-Man collection with some decent highs and some very low lows.

[Richard Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a disappointing collection. I hadn't realised how much of a third-tier title Web of Spider-Man had been, mostly consisting of fill-in issues, occasionally with those horrible framing sequences that make it even worse - "This makes me remember a really boring part of something that happened a decade ago that I never bothered to mention..."

The extra star is for the reason I picked up this collection - being able to read Kraven's Last Hunt which I only had one or two issues of back in the day. Really enjoyed that, some classic DeMatteis stuff with a bit of trippy philosophy and a healthy portion of darkness. In retrospect, I'd have been better off picking up the full-colour hardcover of this storyline rather than this collection but always fun catching up on bits of the storylines I missed as a kid.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

With one exception, the stories collected in this volume range from unmemorable to awful. The exception is the “Fearful Symmetry” story about Kraven the Hunter, which is excellent and the only reason I rate this book as high as 3 stars. Find a collection of that story, also known as “Kraven’s Last Hunt” and don’t bother with this book.

[Fizzgig76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reprints Web of Spider-Man (1) #19-32 and Annual #3, Amazing Spider-Man (1) #293-294, and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132 (October 1986-November 1987). Peter is facing some of his biggest problems. He’s dealing with villains like Hobgoblin, the Rose, and Vulture while teaming up with the X-Man Wolverine. Peter will also face tragedy with the death of a friend, but his biggest challenge could be when his old enemy Kraven the Hunter gets serious about putting the Wall-Crawler on the endangered species list!

Written by David Michelinie, Larry Lieber, Jim Shooter, Len Kaminski, Stefan Petrocha, Dwight Jon Zimmerman, Bob Layton, James Owsley, J.M. DeMatteis, Danny Fingeroth, and Roger Stern, Essential Web of Spider-Man—Volume 2 is a Marvel Comics black-and-white comic book collection. Following Essential Web of Spider-Man—Volume 1, the collection features art by Marc Silvestri, Larry Lieber, Jim Fern, Del Barras, Tom Morgan, Dave Simons, Steve Geiger, Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod, Alex Saviuk, Frank Giacoia, Don Perlin, Steve Mooney, Greg Larocque, Peter Poplaski, Al Gordon, and Bob Layton. Issues in this collection were also collected as part of The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt in various collections.

Web of Spider-Man was Marvel Team-Up’s replacement title. I loved Marvel Team-Up. I liked the weird combinations of characters and the odder the character the better. Web of Spider-Man seemed to focus more on the life of Peter Parker and less of Spider-Man. I love that Marvel would expand the world of the character in this way, and it is something that is lacking from modern comics for the most part…but I’d still rather have Marvel Team-Up.

The collection is pretty typical Peter Parker angst. There’s worries about money, Aunt May, and housing…everything you’d expect in Spider-Man comic book. There is some oddity in the collection in that you have Web of Spider-Man Annual #3 (1987) which is essentially a source book with pin-ups and a weird collection of rogues, but you also have the Wolverine-Spider-Man team-up that follows the classic Spider-Man vs. Wolverine #1 (February 1987) which feels like it should be included here since the death of Ned Leeds’ is a pivotal point in this collection and the issues that follow.

The biggest part of this collection is the six part critically acclaimed Kraven’s Last Hunt. This is also where Essential collections show their weakness. While it is nice to have a cheap, affordable copy of Kraven’s Last Hunt, the series is aided by the rich art and darkness of the story. You just don’t get that from Essential collections.

Essential Web of Spider-Man—Volume 2 feels like one of the lesser Essential collections. It is solid, but I would have liked to have seen an Essential Web of Spider-Man—Volume 3 more than this title. This volume does have some pivotal points in Peter’s life and some early appearances of “Venom” (aka the person trying to secretly kill Peter in a few issues), but largely, this feels like rather hum-drum Spider-Man. The Essential collection was cancelled after this release, and this volume ended the series.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Web of Spider-Man has an amazing first issue, but this second phonebook of it proves that 2 titles a month is all Spidey as a character can sustain. I’d give this collection 2 stars but for the presence at the end of Priest writing the fallout to Spidey v. Wolverine & the immortal “Kraven’s Last Hunt” story.

Still, gems include Solo v. Berlin terrorists, black v. blue Spidey, Joy tells off Peter, Hobgoblin v. Vulture in AC, Spidey v. Stalker from the Stars, migraines, & Headhunter, Spidey v. Wolverine round 2, Rose returns home, & Kraven buries Spidey, Kraven saves MJ, Kraven v. Vermin, Spidey digs out, Kraven ends it, & ‘Spyder Spyder’ .

Lowlights include Spidey v. the ‘RA & 003.

[David Matheny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read Kraven's Last Hunt for years so it's nice to finally knock it out. The creative team of J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck knocked this story to the legend status that lives up to the hype.

[Woody Chandler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The '80s were not really my bag. The decade is well-represented by the fashions and hairstyles in this collection, but I was left kinda cold by it all. The compendium concluded with a rather disturbing 😩 6-part story that did nothing to bolster the book's appeal.

[Jason Buno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its So Dark and erie

[Jason Luna · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Web Of Spider-Man" is the third series to show Peter Parker/Spider-Man web his way around New York, and the third tier status seems especially tired in this volume.

For whatever reason, a lot of the stories are also rans than don't run too well. Almost no memorable or formidable bad guys, a lot of aimless stories. And a TON of exposition heavy rambling dialogue pieces that seem to be telling you to read more momentous issues of "Amazing Spider-Man" or "Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man", the series that were forerunners/co-Spidey titles with this one.

Instead of seeing Peter Parker take on the Hobgoblin or second-tier mob boss The Rose, let's discuss preceding issues. Instead of Spider-Man having adventures in Europe (which was a shaky idea already), let's have prolonged "office discussions" with other Daily Bugle reporters that seem to drop off. And it just seems like a recurring thing issue to issue.

"Web Of Spider-Man #19" is an example of the best case scenario of story with middling mediocrity in execution. You've the got the introduction of a new villain with powers, this oddball guy who uses sound making insects, Humbug, and the debut of a Marvel anti-hero that at least sounds cool, Solo, who is a mercenary gun killer who can also teleport. But Spidey vs. Solo vs. Humbug ends up being a demonstration of how lame Humbug is and how little they want Solo to be involved in the story.

And some cheesy dialogue from David Micheline, which is tough to clarify in a review, but a constant from page 1.

"Amazing Spider-Man #294" is part of a crossover with "Web", "Amazing", and "Spectacular" Spider-Man titles, but it really just highlights how the three mags are the same. It's part of a multi-arc story that is the most ambitious one here, where Kraven The Hunter plots to hunt and kill Spidey.

And it's got some ambitious ideas. Some philosophical narration from Kraven. Less dialogue. Dark imagery. A rat monster guy shows up. But while the darkness is something, I suppose, J.M. Dimatteis and company seem to confuse suspense and atmosphere with interminable slowness that doesn't really build a full suspense story as much as dark sadness and waiting for the resolution that is mostly clear pretty early.

Pretty stale and not even benefitting from being cheery or forced exciting.

"Web of Spider-Man Annual #3" is the highlight and arguably the only highlight of the whole book, and that's not really a great thing, because it such an outlier that it doesn't really have a story.

It's a sort of Handbook-like catalogue of Spider-Man trivia, with some quippy bios of Peter Parker, Mary Jane, and the rest of the cast, some diagrams of landmarks in the Spidey universe (like Pete's apartment), as well as some very insightful bios of some obscure villains.

The bios of the villains with some beautiful pin-up artwork from Don Perlin and others and shorthand writing by Danny Fingeroth (who should've written some of the regular issues) and others in particular are a fun breezy read that have some fun sense of humor and some surprising depth and stuff.

Such a strange thing to be the most enjoyable thing. But the book in generally is a strange exercise in avoiding what made Spider-Man great before, or going bold and good with a new direction.

Essential volumes of "Amazing Spider-Man" in particular but also "Spectacular Spider-Man" much bigger recommendations than this.

-1/5

[Kris Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought every one of these issues from the Direct Market on the day of release. Aside from the brilliant Kraven's Last Hunt arc, there's not much in the way of greatness here. There are some fine, solid stories, and there are a few clunkers that I disliked as a teenager and dislike as an adult.

Most of the issue covers are “iconic” inventory specials, having nothing to do with the story inside. Issue 26 sports a great Charles Vess cover, but there's a problem. Vess depicts Spidey wearing his black costume, while in the issue itself he wears his red and blue costume. The disconnect between cover art and story would again rear its ugly head in the early Aughts.

Most of the creators involved in this book were competent. Steve Geiger's artwork was a cut above the rest, though. I wonder whatever happened to him? Issues 29 and 30 feature the then-true-in-continuity origin of the Hobgoblin as well as the origin of the Rose. Those were both great issues. Issues 28-32 all featured a notable uptick in quality as a whole over the rest of the series at that point.

The icing on this cake is, of course, Kraven's Last Hunt. I remember reading all 6 parts across the three titles in June and July of 1987 and loving them. It was pouring rain the night issue 31 was released, and I remember reading it with the smell of the rain coming into my bedroom. My family was poor and we had no air conditioning...or cable TV. This arc has been reprinted multiple times, and across multiple formats.

This was a solid if mostly unremarkable era for Spider-Man. I do look forward to the day when these books are reprinted in Masterworks or Omnibus editions. This book is another example of why Marvel needs to condense all three Spider-Man lines into one when they reach this point of publication. The Kraven's Last Hunt storyline went across all three lines, so this will have to be collected three times if they don't.

[Randy Lander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Web of Spider-Man volume one, which made the disappointment of volume two much sharper. The early stories with Peter and Joy in the UK are cringe-worthy in their take on England and Ireland, although they're still miles better than the mostly fill-in tales that make up most of this book.

All one-offs or two-parters, none of them with much consequence or originality... the Owsley-written two-parter with the Rose and the Hobgoblin being the sole exception, and even those suffer a bit from all the continuity manipulation that was going on regarding the Hobgoblin's true identity.

Sure, the book also contains the classic Kraven's Last Hunt story, but I have that, in color, in a swanky hardcover, so that really doesn't get any bonus points with me.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

More spiderman stories. Peter goes to Ireland to cover the troubles. He tells stories of previous adventures to MJ including a silly one involving Lady Liberty. It's a diverting enough read, but no real major stories. The trying to be current and dealing with terrorists like the IRA was a brave attempt. Especially the one page history of Ireland and its troubles. A good read.