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Despite the cover having the same "ESSENTIAL" banner along the left edge, this volume does not seem to follow the sequence of the other Essential volumes. Volume #2 covers issues #21-#43 (plus annuals #2 & #3); Volume #4 covers issues #69-#89 (plus Annuals #4 & #5). According to the cover scan of this one, it covers issues #44-#65 (plus Annual #4). Issues #66-#68 seem to be missing, and Annual #4 is in both this volume and in volume #4.
There is another Essentials Volume #3 that is out of print and seems to be the one that goes with the essential set. Essential Spider-Man Vol. 3
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This volume collects Amazing Spider-Man issues 44-65 and Annual #4. Lee's plots span two to four issues each and feature supervillians The Lizard, The Shocker, Kraven the Hunter, The Vulture, Kingpin and Doctor Octopus. Peter Parker's friends Gwen Stacy, Mary-Jane Watson and Harry Osborn also emerge in this run. Amazon's current listing of Steve Ditko as illustrator is incorrect. John Romita (Sr.) drew all monthly issues in this collection (Stan Lee's brother Larry Lieber drew the one annual). As testament of Romita's skill the artwork impresses despite the removal of his coloring.
I prefer the Amazing Spider-Man DVD-ROM for its complete collection of the entire ASM run in full color PDFs. However, the Marvel Essentials series offers convenient, inexpensive access to these 40-year old Spider-Man comics without needing a computer. The flow of these issues encourages sequential reading.
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Stan Lee had an uphill battle to rebuild the series after Steve Ditko left it and it was obvious he was experimenting. Peter Parker would undergo some changes including moving out on his own and developing a relationship with Gwen Stacy. Unfortunately Lee seemed to get overwhelmed with responsibility and poured Spiderman into a rather long sequence over the tablets involving the Kingpin. Peter gets almost erased from the series only to finally find life again in the 80's issues. Despite this it's still a vast improvement over the later Ross Andre/Gerry Conway hack jobs.
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