Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide by
Tom DeFalco
List Price: $19.99
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Enter the world of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
Ever since he was bitten by a radioactive spider and transformed into the amazing Spider-Man, Peter Parker has been astounding comic-book fans with his breathtaking acrobatics, as well as his battles against a host of villains, such as the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Rhino, and Venom. Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide brings you everything you ever wanted to know about the wall-crawler, including the thrilling events and personalities that have shaped the life of one of the world's best-known comic-book characters.
With unique access to nearly 40 years' worth of publications from the Spider-Man archives, Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide provides the in-depth guide to the world of the web-swinger. The book contains over 600 full-color images, including specially commissioned artwork that has never been seen before, and a detailed text which offers a comprehensive guide to all of the major characters and stories. Altogether, this book is a must-have for any Spider-Man fan.
Amazon.com Review
Unless Peter Parker decides to pen his own autobiography someday, you're not going to find a better guide than this to the life and times of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. From that fateful radioactive bite in the science hall up to Spidey 2099, DK's Ultimate Guide recounts all the career milestones--major and minor--of Stan Lee's web-slinging wall-crawler. Organized and authored by Tom DeFalco, former Marvel editor in chief and the series' bestselling author, this guide pulls together the storyline's many twists and turns (chronologically, by decade) and devotes big spreads to nearly every noteworthy ally, friend, and villain (with one curious omission in the Shocker). Special sections cover episodes like the alien costume, the regrettable clone saga, and the wedding to Mary Jane, while panel after panel of original art (over 600 images in all) flesh out the action (a particular treat with the corny old dialogue and art).
DeFalco makes some small missteps--inevitable in any fan-boy project--and certainly The Ultimate Guide will feel dated as the series evolves, but as a comprehensive guide, it just doesn't get any better. Throw in a foreword by the inimitable Stan Lee, and you've got a book that would make even Peter Parker proud. --Paul Hughes