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Meghan Wallace Mrs. Bell English 4 3 September 2013 The Amazing Spiderman Peter Parker was not always your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man, he was a fifteen year old boy with everyday struggles, including problems with family, friends, popularity, school, employment, and romantic interests, that anyone, especially teenagers, can relate to, which makes the Spider-Man comics such a hit. Unlike other heros, Spider-Man was one of the first heros whos relatable backstory was what spun Peter Parkers way into his fans hearts. History of Spider-Man Comics Written by Stan Lee and the art done by Steve Ditko, Spider-Man, only eleven pages long, made its debut in 1962. As popular as Spider-Man has become, surprisingly the comic almost was not printed at all. Publisher, Martin Goodman, believed that a spider infused superhero would be perceived as distasteful, but thankfully for all Spider-Man fanatics a comic book titled Amazing Fantasy cancelled so Lee threw Spider-Man on the cover in its place. While other super heros just fight their individual battles with a couple pows and bams Lee added Spider-Mans own commentary during his fights adding a little comic relief, captivating and amusing the readers. A year after Spider-Mans debut in 1962 Marvel decided, with a little help from Spider-Man fans to create its own series, The Amazing Spider-Man (Spider-Man Biography). While their are many other super powered teenagers in comic book history, SpiderMan was the first who was not a sidekick, empowering teenage readers to have a sense of independence. Sacrificing his own independence, in issue sixteen, released in 1963, Spider-Man

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cautiously accepts an invitation to join the Adventures (The Many Origins of Spider-Man: A History). Including The Amazing Spider-Man and The Avengers Spider-Man appears in 9,754 comic books today (Spider-Man) . The character is also featured in animated television shows, video games, and major motion pictures, the latest of which grossed 341 million dollars worldwide in the first week of being released (Brew), an impressive figure, considering the first comic book issue soled for twelve cents (The Amazing Spider-Man by Brian Coffman). Even more impressive, a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 recently sold for 1.1 million dollars ("FS: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man treasury). The popularity of Spider-Man continues to increase, branching out into multiple Marvel Universes with no end in sight. History of Spider-Man A large portion of what makes Spider-Man so admirable is his background story, originating with the ordinary Peter Parker. Parker, whose parents perished in a plane crash, was raised by his fathers older brother, Uncle Ben and his wife Aunt May, in Forest Hill, Queens. Attending Middown High, Peter Parker was top of his class, especially when it came to science. While not all comic book fans could relate to the passion for science, many could identify with they lonely, picked on, nerd of the school. On a science field trip, Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, and Peter Parkers life was dramatically changed. Peter started to notice some extreme differences in his physical abilities. He went from being a defenseless nerd to a masked professional wrestler, winning his matches, using his increased strength and agility, earning the name Spider-Man. Many people mistakenly assume that the web shooting ability is inherently part of Spider-Mans power, but ironically, it comes from Peter Parkers ingenuity. Still, with his natural powers and his engineered web shooters, Spider-Man was not considered a hero yet. Peter Parkers focus was on using his skills to earning money for his own benefit. It was not until

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the death of Uncle Ben at the hand of a criminal Peter could have stopped earlier, that he realized he had responsibilities bigger than himself. Thus, Spider-Mans motto was established, With great power comes great responsibility. Stan Lee Stanley Martin Lieber, more famously known as Stan Lee, incorporated many of his life experiences into his comic series, The Amazing Spider-Man. Like Peter Parker, Stan Lee grew up in New York, his family struggling financially to make ends meet. Parker attained his spiderlike powers at the age of fifteen having to take on huge responsibilities as a young man. Similarly, Lee graduated high school at age sixteen forcing him to mature quicker than most boys at that age. Later on in life Stan Lee worked for a newspaper just as Peter Parker had. Another commonality between writer and character is the positive influences their uncles made in their lives. For Peter Parker it was Uncle Ben, teaching him life lessons that would later help him become a hero. Lees uncle, Robbie Sullivan, helped him get into the company that would soon be known as Marvel, becoming a role model or some may even say hero to people around the world (Stan Lee Biography). Summary Peter Parker, the laughing stock of the school, goes on an organized field trip with his fellow classmates to a science laboratory, owned by his friends father Norman Ozborn, where Peter Parker gets bitten by a radioactive spider. At first the bite seems to make him sick but later it turns out it improved many of his physical attributes. Peter Parker can now defend with his unnatural strength, amazing reflexes, and can now even stick to walls. A bully from school, Flash, tries to fight Peter and in the act of protecting himself Peter breaks Flashs hand. Flashs parents send Peters Aunt May and Uncle Ben the hospital bill. Financially challenged, they are

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unable to pay it. Peter becomes an anonymous wrestler to earn the money to take care of the damage while having the opportunity to put his newly obtained powers to the test. Peter earns his money and the name Spider-Man. Later, Peter comes face to face with a thief and selfishly lets him pass because he believes it was not his responsibility to stop him. A couple days later the very same criminal breaks into the Parker household and shoots Uncle Ben, unfortunately killing him. Parker then not only took on the name of a true super hero but all the responsibilities of one as well. Spider-Mans first test as a true superhero is to protect his school from the Green Goblin, which later is revealed as Harry Ozborns lunatic father. No superhero nor super villain is triumphant at the end of the fight, and the Green Goblin is still out there awaiting another dispute with the amazing Spider-Man.

Personal Review The comic book was surprisingly different then what was expected. I anticipated their to be a surplus of fight and action scenes but really it was mostly the background story on Peter Parker and his internal conflicts in becoming Spider-Man. Peter Parker was a much more threedimensional character than I had anticipated. Although he had many heroic characteristics, he had human flaws. Stan Lee does a superb job of capturing the anxiety a teenager feels as they transform into a young adult. Even though I am not becoming a web-shooting, crime fighting, super hero dressed in latex, I am going off to college and I am going to have to grow up and take on more responsibility very soon and Peter Parkers transition to becoming Spider-Man reflects that very well in my eyes. I also feel as if this comic enhanced my level of sympathy for Peter Parker with his Uncle dying and having that heavy weight and constant feeling of guilt lingering around. I cannot imagine having to cope day to day with such a negative memory being a

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constant reminder of a life changing mistake. On the other hand Spider-Man also handles his uncles death in a very positive manner. Instead of sitting around and crying about it feeling sorry for himself he does everything he can to make a difference to make things right and that is an attitude that people, not only teenagers, should apply to their lives. Although their were many important messages to take in from the comic the major lesson was with great power comes great responsibility. This motto is also extremely relevant for going to college because we are going to have a new found freedom but we are also going to have to have self control and prioritize our time wisely and make responsible choices because our parents will not be around to guide us to the right decisions. All in all I think Stan Lee captured the essence of the awkwardness of teenagers in this comic.

Work Cited 1. Spider-Man Biography . Web. <http://www.superherostuff.com/biographies/spideybio.html>. 2. The Many Origins of Spider-Man: A History . 2012. Web. <http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=39377>. 3. Spider-Man. 2013. Web. <http://www.comicvine.com/spider-man/4005-1443/>.

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4. Brew , Simon . The Amazing Spider-Man: has it won its box office gamble?. 2012. Web. <http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/spider-man/21938/the-amazing-spider-man-has-it-won-itsbox-office-gamble>. 5. The Amazing Spiderman by Brian Coffman. 2013. Web. <http://gawnews.com/the-amazingspiderman-by-brian-coffman/>. 6. FS: Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man treasury - 1976, OO copy - SOLD!!. Web. <http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=6955105>. 7. Stan Lee Biography. Web. <http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Stan-Lee/biography/>.