This third volume in the compiled "Ultimate Spider-Man" series collects issues #28-39, plus a bonus story. A fake Spider-Man robs banks and inadvertently kills Gwen's father, Captain Stacy. Peter captures him and clears his name, and May asks Gwen to move in with her and Peter. In one of the most harrowing stories, Spider-Man is shot by cops who believe he has gone bad, and he must escape and phone Mary Jane for help. This is a seminal event, which later leads to their breakup as Mary Jane decides that she cannot handle the fear and danger of being part of Peter's other life. Peter later reconnects with Eddie Brock, a son of his father's partner and a former playmate. Eddie is in college now, working on their parents' project from before their deaths, a cure for cancer. This is, of course, a form of artificial life that later becomes Venom. For the record, I never did like the Venom storyline, but Bendis breathes new life into it. In the most touching sequence, Peter is torn, depressed and confused, and knows only that he needs to talk to his best friend - Mary Jane. Here we see the depths of their feelings for each other, with the specter of Spider-Man between them, a situation that will more or less hold for the rest of their lives. A fine collection of stories from the only comic book that I currently buy each month. ( )

Ultimate Spider-Man #28-39 & Ultimate Spider-Man #1/2 ( )