Actually "The Death of Gwen Stacy" deals with more than the titular fatality and the end of the original Green Goblin in reprinting five classic comic books from Volume 1 of "The Amazing Spider-Man." You also get the previous three-story confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin that became infamous when the stories did not receive the Comic Book Code seal of approval because of a major sub-plot involving Peter Parker's roommate Harry Osborn being hooked on drugs: (1) "Amazing Spider-Man" #69, "And now, the Goblin," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr.; (2) "Amazing Spider-Man" #70, "In the Grip of the Goblin," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia; and (3) "Amazing Spider-Man" #71, "The Goblin's Last Gasp," Story by Stan Lee, Art by Gil Kane and Frank Giacoia. This was the first time when Norman Osborn remembered who he was along with Spider-Man's secret identity. Of course, the resolution of this crises leaves much to be desired since it is a tentative, at best, fix. The most memorable sequences in these stories is actually when Peter Parker and not Spider-Man takes down Harry's dealer. This trilogy sets up the other story, not just because it is the previous confrontation between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, but because another subplot has Peter and Gwen resolving their current interpersonal conflict.

The key thing to remember when you get to the next pair of stories is that Stan Lee is no longer writing the book and therefore killing off Peter's girl friend was not his idea: (4) "Amazing Spider-Man" #112, "The Night Gwen Stacy Died," Story by Gerry Conway, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr.; and (5) "Amazing Spider-Man" #113 "The Goblin's Last Round," Story by Gerry Conway, Art by Gil Kane and John Romita, Sr. Of course, the title of that first issue does not appear until the final page, since it obviously gives the game away, but just as clearly that is not a problem for this trade paperback collection. I think Conway did away with Gwen because Peter was getting pretty close to actually being happy and Spider-Man needed to get back to the oppressive sense of guilt that drives him because of the death of a loved one. Now, in addition to Uncle Ben, there is Gwen (Spider-Man was much more responsible for Gwen's death than that of Captain Stacy). Little would we know that the end of this story, where Mary Jane Watson stays with Peter to comfort him after Gwen's death, that this would end up being the start of something special.

Also included in this collection is "The Kiss," by John Marc DeMatteis and John Romita, Sr., which is reprinted from "Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #1," which serves as a poignant epilogue to the main events. This 112-page edition has a new cover by new painted cover by John Van Fleet. I would not exactly say that the deaths of Gwen Stacy and the Green Goblin were "great" Spider-Man stories, but they were certainly important and constituted an impressive one-two punch for consecutive issues. The historical importance would apply to the Lee stories as well. Unfortunately, these events eventually led to introducing the horrible idea of clones into the story line, both for the late lamented Gwen and Peter himself. More often than not, the dead should stay dead, even in the world of comic books.

This is a TPB of the saddest moment in spidey history. The Green Goblin commited his most henous act killing Gwen Stacy ( spideys Girl Friend). But it was also shows a supposed final end (impaled by his own glider) It also left room for harry to take his fathers place.

Frank Crocitto's A Child's Christmas In Brooklyn is a wonderful memoir of growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940s. What is particularly striking is not just the wonderful anecdotal stories but the way they are physically and visually laid out for the reader in a line-on-the-page format that is almost lyrically poetic in its presentation. A Child's Christmas In Brooklyn is marvelous reading for any Christmas season and a delight for anytime of the year -- especially for that "window in time" feeling taking us back on a nostalgic tour of Brooklyn through a child's eyes.

This book collects some of the stranger Spider-Man adventures and features some good stories by famous creators. While not all the stories are great they are mostly solid works.
The first storyline has Spider-Man heading to the Savage Land in order to find the man known as Karl Lykos (formerly Sauron) who is no longer controlled by his pterodactyl-counterpart and wants to lead a lonely life in the Savage Land. But with Spider-Man and Angel mutated into monsters can Ka-Zar save the day? Perhaps, if Lykos is willing to do something no one hope he would do. This story is forgettable but fun. Nothing worth noting really, except it marked the return of Sauron.
The second story has Spider-Man trying to remove his powers but instead gaining four more arms. Taking refuge in Curt Conners lab Spidey runs afoul a new foe: Morbius the Living Vampire! Who is he and what happened to him to make him a vampire. And will Spidey survive when the Lizard shows up? A cool Stan Lee and Roy Thomas written-tale that features a great first act, as well as a great moment in which Spider-Man tries to picture his new life with six-arms. The story slips a bit with the introduction to Morbius but overall is a great Spider-Man tale.
Next is a Howard the Duck tale by Steve Gerber himself, one that will hopefully make you forget about the Howard the Duck movie. This romp features Howard one of the series main characters as he has to acts as a warrior to assist an evil wizard to save his new friends neck. While not the best Howard tale, it does have it's moments as well as some great art in certain points. The introduction of Spider-Man to the story, however, feels really forced.
The last tale has Frank Miller art but is probably the least of the bunch. Still good though. Spider-Man is called upon to save Dr. Strange from a villain who emerges from the team-up of Dr. Doom and Dormammu. But how can Spider-Man succeed where the sorceror supreme has failed?
Overall a good set of obscure Spider-Man stories that's good for trade paperback fans who don't by back issues with good stories.