The Amazing Spiderman

First in a series of four pop-tastic volumes: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! Follow Spidey as he makes his transformation from shy bookworm Peter Parker to friendly neighborhood web-slinger. Plus encounter his seven deadliest foes, including Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, and Sandman. Kazam!

Grade 3 Up–The first in a series spotlighting Marvel superheroes, this trapezoid-shaped offering combines comic-book excerpts with action-packed pop-ups to introduce the web-slinging wonder. Four foldout comic-strip sections spread throughout the book relate Peter Parker's story: the bookish teen's fateful encounter with a radioactive spider; his testing of his new powers at a wrestling match and donning of the familiar costume; the murder of his beloved Uncle Ben; and his capture of the perpetrator and transformation from self-absorbed media star to justice-serving hero. Colorful 3-D sculptures leap out at readers with every turn of the page as they meet seven of Spider-Man's most ferocious foes, including the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and the Vulture. These spreads feature a storyboard retelling of how each villain gained his superhuman abilities; a slide-out tab listing his vital statistics, skills, weapons, and cool gadgets; and, in most cases, an encounter between the bad guy and Spidey. Additional pull-out files highlight other key characters. The pop-up images, many embellished with bright metallic paper, retain the nostalgic appeal of the retro comic-book art while injecting an element of movement and excitement. After browsing this title, youngsters will be fully initiated into Spider-Man lore and ready to take on the Marvel classics.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.