Wisecracking but sincere, imperiled but powerful, extraordinary but relatable. While there have been other Spider-Men (and women), Parker became the archetype upon which much of the Marvel Universe was built. "More than most superheroes, his alter ego is the appeal because his alter ego is always present. "Peter Parker is the first thing I think of," Sean Howe, the author of Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, said. What made Spider-Man so popular in the first place? With so many interpretations of the character across comics, film, TV, video games, and beyond, everyone has a different perspective on what makes him such a lasting figure. Does your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man have what it takes to regain his place in the hierarchy of superheroes during this era of reboots and cinematic universes? With Spider-Man: Homecoming kicking off Spidey’s third film franchise in 15 years and with the comics at a five-year sales low point, the character is facing a foe he’s never met before: an uncertain future. In a genre mostly known for change, Spider-Man always seems to be present and popular.įor all of the character’s success and the passion he engenders, Spider-Man’s 55th year finds him in unfamiliar territory. While other superheroes come and go, Spider-Man endures. "In a general, people-on-the-street kind of way, I would argue that Spider-Man is probably the most popular superhero on the planet," said Forbes’s Scott Mendelson. Whether comic book lifers or children dressing up as him for Halloween, there’s something indelible about Spider-Man. Spider-Man has long been one of the most popular characters in fiction, let alone comic books, and unlike some of his confederates, he’s a hit across demographics. "Those were my first comics, the ones Spider-Man signed," Slott said. By the time he came across the man in the Spider-Man suit, the experience had changed him. Slott begged his dad for an allowance so he could buy comics for Spider-Man to sign. But as a fan of the 1967 animated series and its ubiquitous theme song ("Spider-Man, Spider-Man / does whatever a spider can"), he couldn’t pass up the opportunity. "They had a big poster in the glass saying, ‘Spider-Man is coming to your town to sign comics!’"Īt the time, Slott wasn’t much of a comics collector. "One day when I was biking home from school in suburban California, I went by this 7-Eleven," Slott said. However you first came across your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, the Marvel superhero has been such a persistent part of our pop culture since his arrival in 1962 that he’s practically Americana.ĭan Slott, the long-running writer of Amazing Spider-Man, Marvel’s flagship title for the character, remembers when he first met Spidey - face-to-face. Or maybe while you were flipping through the pages of a Todd McFarlane–drawn comic. Or maybe you saw Tobey Maguire in that iconic red-and-blue suit. Do you remember when you first met Spider-Man? Maybe it was in an animated series.
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