Overview
High school science nerd Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically modified spider which causes him to become a wall-crawling, web-slinging superhero known over the world as Spider-Man. His life is forever changed as he is recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. to become a better super-hero who will rock the world as the Ultimate Spider-Man!
In the animated Ultimate Spider-Man TV series, he is voiced by Drake Bell.
Background
Spider-Man is a major Marvel Comics superhero who debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 in early September 1962. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Orphaned at a young age, Peter Parker was raised by his elderly aunt and uncle. An outcast in high school thanks to his physical fraility and intellect, Peter's life was forever changed when he attended a science expo. A spider was exposed to a massive quantity of radiation and bit Peter, bestowing upon him with the proportionate strength and speed of a spider and the ability to adhere to surfaces. Peter decided immediately to capitalize on his new powers and created a flashy costume and proceeded to become a minor television celebrity as Spider-Man. However, his fame got to his head and cocky, he let a common thief run past him as he felt it wasn't his problem. Shortly afterwards, his Uncle Ben was murdered by a home intruder.
Enraged, Peter hunted down the man and recognizes him to his shock as the same thief that he allowed to escape that day and that had he acted then, his Uncle Ben would not have paid the price for his arrogance. Ever since that day Peter has understood that with great power comes great responsibility and has humbly served as Spider-Man to atone for his failure and protect everyone.
Despite his career as a sefless crimefighter and stalwart hero, he was often the subject of harassment by J. Jonah Jameson of the Daily Bugle who distrusted the masked vigilante and struggled between the constant demands of his life as a superhero which often cost him in his civilian identity. He also amassed a vast and prolific array of villains over the years including Dr. Octopus, the Lizard, Scorpion, Electro, the Sandman, Mysterio, the Shocker, Venom, and the Green Goblin. Nevertheless, Peter has perversed in his neverending quest for redemption and has earned the resepct and admiration of a number of individuals including his fellow heroes such as the Fantastic Four and Captain America and has become a regular member of the Avengers.
According to Stan Lee, Spider-Man almost never happened. His editor Martin Goodman was dead set against the idea of the character entirely, believing that far too many people disliked spiders and for months the script languished in his desk drawer, unpublished. Lee was finally able to convince Goodman to sign off on the idea due to the fact that the comic magazine, Amazing Fantasy was about to be cancelled and Goodman agreed that there was nothing to lose in allowing Spider-Man to make his first appearance in the final issue of Amazing Fantasy. It would not however be his last as this issue was the company's most popular and highest selling comic book and credit was given to the unusual and controversial hero within.
The rest as they say is history and so Spider-Man was quickly awarded his own comic book series titled, "The Amazing Spider-Man" in homage to the original magazine. This series was the longest continually published comic book series in publication until it's cancellation in 2012, surpassing both Action Comics and Detective Comics from DC with 700 issues.
As one of the most popular, prolific, and commercially successful comic book characters in history, Spider-Man has grown in fame and has starred in a variety of movies and TV shows. He is most often identified as the mascot of Marvel Comics and their most recognizable icon. Spider-Man is regarded as being one of the most influential superheroes alongside Superman and Batman who helped shape the genre.
Major Plots
Personality and Traits
Trivia
Quotes
Other Versions
- Spider-Man (Amazing Spider-Man 1976)
- Spider-Man (Toei Spider-Man)
- Spider-Man (Spider-Man 1981)
- Spider-Man (Spider-Man Unlimited)
- Spider-Man (Spider-Man 2002)
- Spider-Man (Spider-Man: New Animated Series)
- Spider-Man (Spectacular Spider-Man)
