Although not an essential read Edge of Spider-Verse serves as to give the reader a bit of a background to what was happening with each featured Spider I wrote a review for the first issue featuring Spider-Man Noir which can be viewed here
http://terryfirth26.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-edge-of-spider-verse-1.html
http://terryfirth26.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/review-edge-of-spider-verse-1.html
