Ultimate Spider-Man Omnibus Vol. 3

With every new release in their hardcover line, Marvel continues to prove that they're number one in that department.Ultimate Spider-man Vol. 3 contains issues #28-39 and the rare #1/2. This volume is slightly smaller than the past collections, but that's due to the smaller arc lengths this time around.Also included is the usual hefty amount of "special features". As usual, these also prove just how truly INSANE Bill Jemas is. We should all thank every diety available that this man doesn't have full control over Ultimate Spider-man. Tying 'Venom' to Peter's web fluid formula? Can we say contrived, Billy? Thought so.Anyway, Billy Jemas' insanity aside, the two arcs presented here are pretty good. They aren't as fantastic as the past storylines, but these seemed to serve more as prep for what Bendis has cooked up next, ESPECIALLY the Venom arc. Eddie's introduction, the intro to the Venom costume, Peter wearing the black costume, Eddie's transformation, and the fight between Peter/Eddie was compressed into six issues. The whole thing just feels incredibly rushed, especially when it's kept in mind that Bendis took FOUR ENTIRE ISSUES to kill Uncle Ben!The blame for this has to land on Billy boy's shoulders, who limited the arc to six issues, and insisted that Eddie as Venom appear. Doesn't leave much room for Bendis to develop the characters, now does it? An example of this is that Pete's in the black costume for less than one issue, and within a couple pages, he decides the costume's evil. So much potential was wasted due to the rush to see Venom in all his slobbering glory, and I find that sad.Backtracking a little, the arc before Venom was great. 'Public Scrutiny' focuses on what happens when Spider-man's reputation is tarnished by an impersonator, and the repercussions that follow. There where some cringe worthy 'why the hell did you retcon that?!' moments, though. If you were angry as all hell about MJ taking Gwen's place in the Goblin arc, then be warned. Another warning, MJ lovers beware: You WILL want to strangle her. Ranting about her family problems and finding them so important after what happens to poor Gwen...well...I will never look at the Ultimate-verse MJ the same way again. Bendis should have just killed her off in the Goblin arc.Now, for the quality of the hardback..Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Whoever's in charge of DC's hardback department should take note immediately of how it's done. The eye-catching cover screams to be placed out in the open, and the oversized glossy pages are fantastic. Thick and well put together, this book never feels like it'll fall apart if you don't handle it delicately (unlike DC's first volume of 'Hush').Great addition, though I had to knock a star off the Venom arc's shortcomings.

I have really enjoyed the Ultimate Spider-Man series, and look forward to each hardback volume as it appears. This one I pre-ordered. It is very good, but it pales a little compared to volumes 1 and 2. There is a lack of extra material, something that could not be said about the first two, and we seem to have lost the reproductions of the cover art placed throughout the book.Story-wise this is pretty good. The Venom story is nicely done, I thought, though it does have the familiar: "meet bad guy, beat-up bad guy, bad guy gone away" which will be followed (I guess) by a "Here's the bad guy again!".Overall, a good addition to the Ultimate Spider-Man series, though I hope the omissions are a glitch more than the shape of things to come.

Some of the artwork isn't my favorite, like I don't care for how Mary Jane looks a lot of the time & Peter looks weird sometimes too out of costume, but this is probably my favorite volume of Ultimate Spider-Man ever & one of the better takes on the venom/symbiote storyline. Definitely recommended!

Our son loved this book

I enjoyed the first 3 books the most. After vol 3 the quality of the writing went down. The first 3 books flow well together and I could not but them down. I would recommend this series for any avid Spider-man fans.

Artwork is great, the whole universe is different in good and bad ways. If you like Spiderman, read the 1st book with an open mind.

This was a well written, well drawn collection of comics. tells the story of the birth of venom. very well done adaption, its not just re printing the original comics with a new coat of paint. Like the small tweaks to the story, that makes it fresh.

I love this story, definitely storing this in the comic vault.

It’s good I don’t think you should let kids under 10 read for there is some kinda inappropriate parts but not too much. Utherwise I think it’s a good book!