Essential Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1

Seeing as I have read all the Amazing Spider-Man volumes in print, I decided to pick up the next set: Essential Peter Parker The Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1.

This volume is a collection of the first 31 comics in The Spectacular Spider-Man line. The stories are typical Spider-Man - where things never go the way Parker plans and the villains just aren't up to par with the classic Amazing villains.

The biggest addition to these comics is the references to other comics published during the same time. You will see a number of references to Amazing Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Champions and other comics in each Spectacular comic.

This is a brilliant ploy to get readers to purchase the other comics - because you have to follow up with the story!

The titles in volume 1 are: (by clicking the link, you will see the cover image)

"Twice Stings The Tarantula!" (part 1)

"Kraven Is The Hunter!" (part 2)  
"...And There Was Lightmaster!"  
"The Vulture Is A Bird Of Prey!"  (part 1)
"Spider-Kill!"  (part 2)
"The Power To Purge!"
"Cry Mahem..Cry Morbius!"  (part 1)
"...And Only One Shall Survive!"  (part 2)
"...Like A Tiger In The Night!" (part 1)
"Tiger In A Web!"  (part 2)
"A Life Too Far"
"Brother Power, Sister Sun!" (part 1) 
"...The Coming of Razorback!" (part 2) 
"Killing Me Softly...With His Hate!" (part 3) 
"The Final Rage!" (part 4) 
"The Beetle and The Badge!" 
"Whatever Happened To The Iceman?" (part 1) 
"My Friend, My Foe?" (part 2) 
"Again, The Enforcers!"  
"Where Were You When The Lights Went Out?"  
"Still Crazy After All These Years!"  
"By The Light Of The Silvery Moonknight!"  (part 1)
"Guess Who's Buried In Grant's Tomb!" (part 2)
"Spider-Man Night Fever" 
"Carrion, My Wayward Son" (part 1)
"Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" (part 2)
"The Blind Leading the Blind"  (part 3)
"Ashes to Ashes" (part 4)
"Dust to Dust"  (part 5)
"Secret as the Grave!" (part 6)
"Till Death Do Us Part!"  (part 7)

You'll find classic characters like, Daredevil, The Scorpion, and Kraven the Hunter. You're introduced to The White Tiger, Brother Power, Sister Sun and the huge arc of Carrion!

While the stories may be lacking compared to the past, it's still nice to have all the comics in one collection.