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Spider-Man Encyclopedia
Spider-Man TV Series
Spider-Man Movies
Spider-Man
Villains Spider-Man Products
Powers & Equipment
Spider-Man History
Peter Benjamin Parker is the son of
Richard and Mary Parker, who worked as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and were
killed on a mission involving an impersonator of the Red Skull. The
infant Peter Parker is left in the care of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May
Parker, who live in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York.
The aging couple love Peter, but he grows to be unpopular among his
peers. Between an uncle who is too old to join him in physical
activities and an aunt over-protective of the orphaned child, Peter
gravitates to more non-physical hobbies such as photography and home
chemistry, encouraged in these endeavors by his guardians. Over time, he
grows to be a lonely, timid but exceptionally bright teenager who shows
more interest in his studies (especially science, which he has an
affinity for that is nothing short of genius) than in any kind of social
life. He is often the target of jokes by more popular students like
Flash Thompson, the high school's star athlete.
Spider-Man's origin story is told in the first 12 pages of Amazing
Fantasy #15. Peter Parker attends a science exhibition where he is
bitten by a radioactive spider. The spider bite gives Peter an array of
spider-like powers, including wall-crawling, superhuman strength, speed
and agility, and an extra-sensory "spider-sense". Peter initially sets
out to find fame and fortune, winning a match in a makeshift disguise
against professional wrestler Crusher Hogan. He attempts to interest a
television network in the idea of featuring him as a costumed hero (with
the advantage that he can actually do the things his character can), and
creates the SpiderMan name, costume, and web-shooters. After quickly
becoming a minor celebrity, Peter appears on a television special, but
afterward allows a thief to escape the TV station, asserting that it
isn't his problem. He comes to regret his inaction when he finds out
that the same burglar subsequently killed his Uncle Ben.
Realizing that he could have prevented his
uncle's death, the guilt-ridden Peter commits to a life of crime
fighting and lifesaving, driven by his uncle's words, "With great power
there must also come great responsibility" (the phrase is often
shortened to: "With great power comes great responsibility"). This
disarming mix of selfless obligation and self-recrimination brought
about by his uncle's death arguably makes up Spider-Man's moral core.
In the earliest Spider-Man stories, Peter Parker attends Midtown High
School. After his uncle's death, he and his aunt become desperate for
money, so he gets a job as a photographer at the Daily Bugle selling
photos to J. Jonah Jameson. Peter dates co-worker Betty Brant and
clashes with his high school rival Flash Thompson (whose girlfriend, Liz
Allen, he informally tutors).
College life
Peter graduates from high school and enrolls at Empire State University,
where he meets Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacy. His aunt introduces him to
Mary Jane Watson, whom he dates for a short time, but Peter soon falls
in love with Gwen. Meanwhile, Harry becomes Peter's roommate and best
friend, but starts using illegal drugs.
Harry's father, Norman Osborn, is revealed to be the Green Goblin and
discovers Spider-Man's secret identity. After her father is killed in a
battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus, Gwen's relationship with
Peter is put on hold when she travels to England. It was later revealed
in a highly controversial retcon that Gwen had an affair with Norman
Osborn, and gave birth to two children while in Europe. Harry suffers a
drug overdose shortly after she returns.
Death of Gwen Stacy
The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1, #122 (June 1973).
Art by John Romita Sr.Main article: The Night Gwen Stacy Died
In The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122 (June-July 1973), while Harry is ill,
the Green Goblin throws Gwen Stacy from a tower of the Brooklyn Bridge;
either from shock or physical trauma during Spider-Man's rescue attempt,
she dies before hitting the water. The Goblin appears to be killed
himself in the ensuing battle with Spider-Man. Grieving Gwen's death,
Parker withdraws from his social circle, only to find support from Mary
Jane, who eventually starts dating him. Harry later discovers the truth
about his father and becomes the second Green Goblin. Gwen's death has
another unforeseen consequence: one of her professors, Miles Warren,
clones Gwen and Peter. Both clones disappear, but Peter's clone returns
years later as Ben Reilly. Later still, Mary Jane and Peter break up, as
she is not ready for a committed relationship.
Alien costume and Venom
Spider-Man gets a new black costume in Secret Wars
#8.
Art by Mike Zeck.The alien costume, also known as the Black Suit, first
made its appearance in sketches found in a Marvel magazine titled Marvel
Age #12. These early sketches had Spider-Man in a black costume with a
red spider-symbol instead of the version with the white symbol that
would later be used. The first comic book appearances of the suit
occurred in May of 1984 in Marvel Team-Up #141, Amazing Spider-Man #252,
and Spectacular Spider-Man #90.
In these issues there was an abrupt time shift from the issues a month
earlier. Spider-Man was now on Earth shortly after the events of the
Secret Wars limited series had taken place even though the twelve issue
Secret Wars series had just started that month. It would be months
before the change to the new costume would be explained. In the Secret
Wars limited series, Spider-Man is taken to an alien planet, where he
participates in a battle between Earth's greatest heroes and villains.
When his suit is destroyed in the fight, Peter sets out to make himself
a new one and comes across a machine which conjures him a black suit
that responds to his thoughts, greatly enhances his powers, provides him
with its own supply of web-fluid, and can change its appearance at his
command.
After he returns to Earth, however, Peter discovers that the costume is
actually an alien symbiote bent on permanently bonding with its host.
Peter eventually rejects and defeats the symbiote, but it merges with
reporter Eddie Brock, becoming the villain known as Venom. Brock is
imprisoned and removed from his symbiote but then escapes from prison
when the symbiote returns. His cell-mate, Cletus Kasady (a serial
killer), merges with an infant symbiote that Venom left behind, thus
becoming another villain, Carnage.
Maximum Carnage
Main article: Maximum Carnage
The new symbiote, Carnage, was swiftly defeated and apparently
destroyed. Kasady was jailed at Ravencroft Asylum. However, the alien
had mutated his blood, and he could generate a copy of the symbiote
(this was later retconned so that the alien had survived, and bonded to
his blood). Kasady escaped, freeing other superhuman inmates and
assembling a 'family' of killers around him. They set their sights on
New York. During the murderous onslaught that followed, Carnage
recruited Shriek, Doppelganger, Demogoblin, and Carrion to do his
bidding, terrorizing New York City with their twisted "family values."
Spider-Man and Venom were forced to join together to stop Carnage and
his followers. They required the assistance of such disparate heroes as
Captain America, Black Cat, Nightwatch, Cloak and Dagger, Iron Fist,
Deathlok, Morbius and Firestar. However, both infighting between the
villains and a successful rout from the heroes contributed to Carnage's
defeat. Venom pushed Carnage into an electrical generator and fled,
leaving Carnage to be incarcerated.
Clone Saga
Spider-Man battles his clone counterpart the Scarlet Spider.
Art by Mark BagleyOne of the most controversial story-lines of the 1990s
involves the Scarlet Spider, a clone of Spider-Man going by the name Ben
Reilly. But later tests indicate that Reilly is the original, and Peter
the clone. Mary Jane becomes pregnant with Peter's baby, while Peter
retires and passes the Spider-Man identity to Reilly, who remains
Spider-Man for several months until a resurrected Norman Osborn admits
to having manipulated the tests. After Reilly is impaled on the Goblin's
Glider while saving Peter, his body crumbles into dust, proving that he
is definitively the clone. While Peter battles Osborn, the very pregnant
Mary Jane is poisoned by one of Osborn's agents, causing a premature
labor and what seems to be a stillbirth. Apparently, the baby is alive
and stolen by the agent, Alison Mongrain.
The Civil War
In the 2006 crossover Civil War, the
Marvel heroes find themselves divided on the issue of whether to
register with the U.S. government under the Superhuman Registration Act.
Tony Stark (Iron Man) drafts a conflicted Spider-Man into a task-force
to compel the rebel superheroes to register. Following Stark's lead,
he
unmasks himself at a televised news conference at the U.S. Capitol.
In the aftermath, J. Jonah Jameson files a lawsuit against Parker,
demanding repayment of money for "fraudulent" Spider-Man photos Parker
shot for the Daily Bugle. After developing a growing unease about the
Registration Act, Stark's motives, and witnessing the death of Dr. Bill
Foster, known variously as Black Goliath, Spider-Man learns that the
unregistered captives are being held for life in a prison built in the
Negative Zone by Fantastic Four Incorporated and Stark Enterprises with
a US$2 billion no-bid contract.
The "Iron Spider" costume
Art by Michael Turner.This prompts Peter to disagree with Stark's
actions, but as he attempts surreptitiously to leave his home at Stark
Tower along with Aunt May and Mary Jane, Iron Man, discovering this,
confronts him. Now revolting against Iron Man and his Pro-Registration
Campaign, Spider Man flees the Stark Tower, and rushes into the sewers
for temporary cover, knowing Aunt May and Mary Jane are safe, until he's
ambushed by the Jester and Jack O'Lantern, two of the super villains
enlisted by Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Maria Hill to hunt down the
anti-registration superheroes. The two villains nearly kill the hero but
they are both shot dead by the Punisher, who rescues Spider-Man and
brings him to the headquarters of the Secret Avengers for medical
treatment, knowing Spider-Man has now switched sides. As of now,
Spider-Man has again gone public on television, formally announcing his
reversal of support for the Registration Act and revealing the existence
of the prison within the Negative Zone. The public has discounted his
claims, and Tony Stark now considers him as a traitor and has ordered
his forces to hunt him down. The Kingpin, meanwhile, has put out a hit
on him, and an assassin is currently targeting Mary Jane and Aunt May
while Spider-Man takes part in the final battle of the Civil War,
supporting Captain America.
Powers and Equipment
Iron Spider Costume Black
Costume Spider Mobile
Spider-Man has the ability to cling to walls, superhuman strength, a
sixth sense ("spider-sense") that alerts him to danger, perfect balance
and equilibrium, as well as superhuman speed and agility. In story-lines
published in 2005 and 2006 (such as The Other), he develops additional
spider-like abilities including biological web-shooters, toxic stingers
that extend from his forearms, and night vision. Spider-Man's strength
and speed have also increased beyond his original limits.
Originally, Spider-Man used
mechanical web shooters that used a special web fluid Peter Parker
created that dissolves in a couple of hours time.
Other equipment Spider-Man has used
are Spider Tracers, Spider Mobile, and a Spider Signal.
Spider-Man Comic Book Series
Spider-Man is owned by Marvel Comics Group
and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Dikto. Spider-Man first appeared
in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962.
After debuting in Amazing Fantasy #15, Spider-Man went on to star in his
own title called the Amazing Spider-Man. Spider-Man's second series
started in 1972 with Marvel Team-Up. This series featuring Spider-Man
teaming up with a different character every month.
His third series debuted in 1976
called Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, then Web of Spider-Man
in 1985 that replaced Marvel Team-Up. Spider-Man drawn by Todd McFarlane
debuted in 1990. Other titles have included The Sensational Spider-Man
and The Spectacular Spider-Man. As of 2007, Spider-Man regularly appears
in The Amazing Spider-Man, New Avengers, The Sensational Spider-Man,
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Man Family, Spider-Man Loves
Mary Jane, The Amazing Spider-Girl, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Marvel
Adventures Spider-Man.
Spider-Man Villains The Rogues
Gallery
Spider-Man has one of the best-known rogues galleries in comics,
including
Agony
(Leslie),
Doctor Doom ,
Doctor Octopus,
Green
Goblin,
Harry
Osborn,
Lizard,
Monsters,
Sandman,
Venom and
many others. For
more on the Villains
Spider-Man TV Series
Spider-Man has been the star of not only several
comic book series, but also television series including a
1960's Cartoon Show,
70's
Live Action Tv Show,
1980's Cartoon,
Spiderman and his Amazing Friends,
90's Fox Cartoon Show,
Spiderman Unlimited,and
MTV Spiderman
Creative Inspiration
Stan Lee has stated that he created
Spider-Man in an attempt to have a hero that teens could identify with.
He's also said the pulp magazine character the Spider influenced him.
Spider-Man Movies
Actors -
James Franco,
Thomas Haden
Church, Tobey
Maguire, &
Topher Grace
Movie Poster for Spider-Man 2.Spider-Man: On May 3, 2002, the feature
film Spider-Man was released. It was directed by Sam Raimi and stars
actor Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. The film uses various CGI effects
to bring Spider-Man to life. Although the film adaptation took liberties
with the character's history and powers—notably, he was bitten by a
genetically modified rather than a radioactive spider, had organic
web-shooters rather than mechanical ones, and had a long-standing crush
on Mary Jane Watson—it was generally held to be true to the character
and was widely embraced by the viewing public. It opened at a record
US$114.8 million and earned more than US$403 million in the U.S. and
Canada, the highest North American gross of any film released that year,
though surpassed internationally (see 2002 in film). The villain of this
film was the Green Goblin portrayed by Willem Dafoe.
Spider-Man 2 was 2004's second-most financially successful movie in
North America and third internationally (see 2004 in film). It premiered
in more North American movie theaters (4,152) than any previous movie.
Its original opening day was June 30th, 2005, but was moved to July 2nd,
2005. Its first-day gross (US$40.5 million) surpassed its predecessor's
US$39.4 million record. Spider-Man 2 was also the first motion picture
released in the Sony Universal Media Disc format for the PlayStation
Portable, included free with the first one million PSP systems released
in the United States. The villain of the film was Doctor Octopus,
portrayed by Alfred Molina.
Both Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 rank among the list of highest-grossing
films.
Spider-Man 3 began production in 2005 under director Raimi. The studio
has announced a theatrical release date of May 4, 2007, on a budget
reputed to be more than US$250 million.
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