since spotting the ultimate marvel graphic novel collection ive been trying to compile a collection of spidey tales i have the three spidey ones so far and the marvel platinum definitive collection but i want more without getting into the varied and confusingt storylines over the many many titles so if any one can recommend any trades that can stand alone as a good spidey book?
Has Kraven's Last Hunt been included in the Marvel ultimate graphic novel collection yet? If not that is my favourite Spidey story.
I would also recommend the Essential Spider-man series starting from the beginning BUT this is early Marvel and while I chuffin' love the Ditko issues they are very much of their time and so if you're not sure about 60s Marvel its a bit of a risk.
If you're interested in the earlier stories you could do worse than check out Panini's pocket book collections.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A266239%2Cn%3A!1025612%2Cn%3A274081%2Ck%3Aspider+man+pocket+book&keywords=spider+man+pocket+book&ie=UTF8&qid=1360319145
They're a small (manga sized) format but are all printed in full colour on quality paper. Any of the Green Goblin ones are a good read but 'The Night Gwen Stacey Died' is kind of a must if you're a Spidey fan.
Spider-Island (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazing-Spider-Man-Spider-Dan-Slott/dp/1846535018/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360328467&sr=8-1) is a pretty cool [recent] story arc
I really liked 'Reign' by Kaare Andrews (Spider-Man's answer to The Dark Knight Returns).
Dan Slott's I'm With Stupid is a fun romp through Spidey's various decades without going up its own areshole about it, and Spider-Man's Tangled Web vol 1 and 2 are pretty good, but they go downhill sharpish after that.