The second volume of the Spider-Man Masterowks reprints the following issues:
Amazing Spider-Man #11 -"Turning Point"
Amazing Spider-Man #12 - "Unmasked by Dr. Octopus!"
Amazing Spider-Man#13 - "The Menace of... Mysterio!"
Amazing Spider-Man#14 - "The Grotesque Adventure of the Green Goblin"
Amazing Spider-Man#15 - "Kraven the Hunter!"
Amazing Spider-Man#16 - "Duel With Daredevil"
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 - "The Sinister Six!"
Amazing Spider-Man#17 - "The Return of the Green Goblin!"
Amazing Spider-Man#18 - "The End of Spider-Man!"
Amazing Spider-Man#19 - "Spidey Strikes Back!"
The tome starts off by tweaking the early Spider-Man formula a bit-- namely, a two-part story. Dr. Octopus is muscling in on Betty Brant's brother, Bennett, in Philadelphia. A small subplot that was started around issue 8, this ties up the "terrible secret of Betty Brant". In the confusion, Bennett is killed and Betty blames Spider-Man for the deed. A slight variation on the hero/damsel relationship-- this time she hates the hero, but loves the alter ego.
The stories with Kraven and Mysterio fall back into the early formula-- guy is introduced, we're told who he is, then he fights Spidey. Even with his movie-screen special effects and gimmicks, Mysterio appears very powerful (he mimmicks every power that Spidey has.).. he seemed to lame out as the years wore on. Kraven is brought in as a friend of the Chameleon, to seek revenge on Spidey.
The Goblin's intro is slightly different, because we don't find out who he is. This allowed readers to formulate their own theories on his identity, and J. Jonah Jameson was an early favorite. It seemed like Stan Lee was deliberately leading readers in that direction for a wild goose chase. The Goblin's debut story is fairly comical, though. He flies around on a broomstick and sets a trap for Spider-Man by getting a movie deal worked out. Spidey, the Goblin and the Enforcers all fly out to New Mexico to film "The Spider-Man Story". The bad guys do a heel turn and attack Spidey, but not before a quick run-in with the Hulk. Goblin escapes and Spidey has his first ongoing mystery. Also, it's kinda' funny that Goblin's ridiculous first appearance involves a lame movie story...yet Goblin would eventually be featured in the Spider-Man movie of 2002.
The Daredevil issues involves the Circus of Crime and the story's sole purpose seems to be to give Daredevil the seal of approval, by teaming him up with Spidey. The Annual story follows immediately after and reads like a giant advertisement for Spider-Man and Marvel Comics. EVERY significant hero of the period makes a cameo appearance. Even the X-men and Giant-Man. After each hero's appearance, an edittorial note lets us know which commic they currently appear in. The Sinister Six are put together by Doc Ock and are quickly disposed of in a VERY lame plot. Doc Ock, Vulture, Sandman, Electro, Mysterio and Kraven are all featured in full-page spreads, fighting Spidey.
The last 3 stories are all part of a continuing plot. Aunt May has gone into the hospital for Life-Threatening Operation #2 and Spidey suddenly bails out on a fight against the Goblin. Everyone believes Spider-Man is a coward, as he believes he can no longer endanger himself--he might possibly die, when Aunt May needs him. Aunt May eventually recovers and Spidey returns to action, re-dedicated. He immediately takes out the Sandman and the team who were rapidly becoming his All-Purpose Punching Bags: the Enforcers. At the end of issue #19, Peter finally realizes that he has a duty to perform as Spider-Man. Arguably, this is when he truly became Spider-Man.
A few other twists along the way. Spidey tries to make money by getting a trading card deal or by selling his webbing. Both ideas flop. Liz Allen begins to take a shine to Peter, and Betty becomes jealous. Peter and Betty are thought-ballooned-in-love with each other, despite never having a date. Most importantly, around issue #13, Aunt May begins to pester Peter about dating Anna Watson's niece (in another patented Marvel slip-up, Anna is called "Mrs. Watkins" for a full issue). Again, they held out on giving "Anna Watson's niece" a name or showing her face for another year of two. Romantic rival Ned Leeds also enters in the scene, as Betty begins dating him, to make Peter jealous.
On another backburner romance issue, Aunt May is abducted by Doc Ock in the Annual...but she's oblivious to the fact and is impressed by the "polite doctor".
Flash Thompson starts up his Spider-Man Fan Club. The first meeting of the club is a big public event and draws the Human Torch, Green Goblin and Spider-Man himself. Torch's friendly rivalry with Spidey is played up. Their meeting place atop the Statue of Liberty is also mentioned (which, as an asterisk tells us, first took place in "Strange Tales")
On the art front, Steve Ditko begins to experiment with Spidey's figure. Spidey appears crawling on the ceilings, hanging upside down, bent over and in other familiar Spidey poses. An improvement over the rigid poses from the first 10 issues and something that became a huge trademark of Spidey.
This collection of stories is probably when Spider-Man began to get definition. Not just as a guy-in-tights, but as a character. Peter Parker's troubles and anxieties become just as interesting as the villain of the month. Highly recommended stuff.
I have Vol. 3 which I think was really a good collection of books. You get the first appearance of Molten Man and the Spider-Slayers plus the 1st Annual with the Sinister Six debuting.