Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic #2

Collecting the mid-'90s "Return of the Amazing Spider-Man" era in one chunky volume, this 2011 Marvel trade paperback bundles together the Ben Reilly chapter of Spidey's saga at a genuinely accessible price. The cover — penciled by Joe St. Pierre and inked by Bob Wiacek — puts Spider-Man front and center in a dynamic lunge, squaring off against a sandy, powerfully built Sandman while a white-haired figure (Silver Sable, by the look of her) stands watchfully in the background, all under the bold "Sand Trap!" tagline. It's a vivid, kinetic image that sets the tone for the street-level action and colorful villains packed inside.