Spider-Man: A History of Your Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler

 Amazing Fantasy 15

Amazing Fantasy #15: The 1st Appearance of Spider-Man

 

ComicsHistory

Spider-Man- (Peter Parker) --1st appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)--When a radioactive spider bit Peter Parker, a high school student with a penchant for science, little did the world know that a new hero would be born. With the radioactive spider bite affecting significant changes on Peter Parker's body, he soon realized that he now possessed powers and abilities far beyond those of a normal human. His strength increased, he developed tiny hairs upon his hands and feet that enabled him to cling to walls and ceilings. He developed a preternatural sixth sense, which he dubbed "Spidey Sense," enabling him to detect danger before it reached him. Thus empowered, the young Peter Parker created a spider-themed costume for himself, and hit the streets as...a professional wrestler!

"Huh? No no... Peter Parker became Spider-Man, the superhero, right?"

No, he did not. For young Parker, who did adapt the wrestling name of Spider-Man, was a selfish young man, who sought money to help himself and his elderly Aunt May and Uncle Ben, with whom he lived, as his parents had perished some years earlier.

It took the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, a death which was a direct consequence of "Spider-Man" not stopping a thief because he felt he did not need to get involved in someone else's problem, that forced Peter Parker to re-examine his life and his responsibilities. At this point, Spider-Man the crime-fighter was born.

Spider-Man

The 2012 movie, The Amazing Spider-Man, starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, Emma Stone as Spider-Man's girlfriend Gwen Stacy, Martin Sheen as the doomed Uncle Ben, and Sally Field as a not too elderly Aunt May, is the latest re-imagining of the Spider-Man myth for the big screen.

 

 

Peter Parker and Spider-Man

Peter Parker Leaves Spider-Man Behind in this iconic John Romita panel

 

Spider-Man and the VultureThe Vulture

The Lizard (Dr. Curt Connors)The Lizard (Dr. Curtis Connors; First Appearance in \The Amazing Spider-Man #6 -November 1963),

Spider-Man and the EnforcersThe Big Man and The Enforcers