Spider-man: The Ultimate Guide
Unless Peter Parker decides to pen hisownautobiography 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'sUltimate Guiderecounts 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 certainlyThe Ultimate Guidewill 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