Spider-Man For Dummies (eBook)

Eric Grundhauser (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025
418 Seiten
For Dummies (Verlag)
978-1-394-29933-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Get to know your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
Peter Parker isn't a millionaire, super scientist, or secret spy. In fact, his normal life (outside of that pesky spider bite that gave him unique powers) is what makes him so beloved. Spider-Man For Dummies unweaves the web of this friendly neighborhood super hero and dives into how Spider-Man came to be. Produced in partnership with Marvel Comics, this fun and friendly guide features full-color art taken directly from the comics. You'll be able to observe first-hand the evolution of the spider-suit and uncover the powers of this iconic hero. Get to know the other major characters that play a part in Peter's life, both family and foes, and learn more about Spider-Man's credo: 'With great power there must also come great responsibility.' Before long, you'll understand how an unassuming kid from Queens managed to secure his spot as one of the great Marvel super heroes.

• Discover the origins of Spider-Man's arachnid abilities
• Trace the evolution of the spider-suit
• Meet the friends, family, and foes featured in the comics
• Understand Spider-Man's inner struggles through triumph and tragedy
• Explore the epic crossovers and greatest Spider-Man team-ups

For super fans, casual comic book readers, and people new to Marvel super heroes altogether, Spider-Man For Dummies has something to make everyone's Spidey-Sense tingle.

Eric Grundhauser is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and former Marvel staffer. His work has been featured on NPR, History Channel, Vanity Fair, The AV Club, The Guardian, and Atlas Obscura.

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Get to know your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!Peter Parker isn t a millionaire, super scientist, or secret spy. In fact, his normal life (outside of that pesky spider bite that gave him unique powers) is what makes him so beloved. Spider-Man For Dummies unweaves the web of this friendly neighborhood super hero and dives into how Spider-Man came to be. Produced in partnership with Marvel Comics, this fun and friendly guide features full-color art taken directly from the comics. You ll be able to observe first-hand the evolution of the spider-suit and uncover the powers of this iconic hero. Get to know the other major characters that play a part in Peter s life, both family and foes, and learn more about Spider-Man s credo: "e;With great power there must also come great responsibility."e; Before long, you ll understand how an unassuming kid from Queens managed to secure his spot as one of the great Marvel super heroes. Discover the origins of Spider-Man s arachnid abilities Trace the evolution of the spider-suit Meet the friends, family, and foes featured in the comics Understand Spider-Man s inner struggles through triumph and tragedy Explore the epic crossovers and greatest Spider-Man team-ups For super fans, casual comic book readers, and people new to Marvel super heroes altogether, Spider-Man For Dummies has something to make everyone s Spidey-Sense tingle.

Textauszug

Chapter 1

Who Is Spider-Man?

IN THIS CHAPTER

Exploring how Peter Parker became Spider-Man (and changed the media landscape)

Discovering that super-powers are a blessing and a curse

Meeting the friends, foes, and lovers of Spider-Man

Looking at how Spider-Man has changed the Marvel Universe

“Though the world may mock Peter Parker, the timid teenager, it will soon marvel at the awesome might of … SPIDER-MAN!” With these words from the cover of 1962’s Amazing Fantasy #15, one of the most iconic heroes in history was born.

If you’re old enough to be reading this book, chances are good that you’ve at least heard of Spider-Man. Next to a certain man of steel and dark knight, Marvel’s wall-crawling, web-slinging, wise-cracking super hero is probably the most recognizable masked hero of all time. From live-action cinematic blockbusters and decades of animated series to an ocean of merchandise and even a 1970s rock album (please seek out Spider-Man: Rock Reflections of a Superhero), Spider-Man has become an inescapable part of global culture. Not bad for a kid from Queens.

And it all began in the pages of the Marvel comic books. Those stories are where the character of Spider-Man was born, and where Spider-Man’s story continues to be told. The Spider-Man of Marvel Comics is the foundational version of the character, and all the movies, cartoons, video games, and toys are built on his continuing adventures. This book focuses on Spider-Man’s expansive history as found in the comic books, because if you know the essentials of the Web-Head’s comic book history, you can better understand the character’s roots no matter what format you encounter him in. And to begin to understand Spider-Man, the details of his origin story are worth examining.

Looking back, you may be surprised to see just how many aspects of Spider-Man’s character were already there, fully formed, in those brisk 11 pages in Amazing Fantasy #15. The details of that first story by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko continue to drive new narratives over 60 years later. You have Peter’s ever-present troubles in love and money and his adoring relationship with his Aunt May. Peter’s struggle to live up to his Uncle Ben’s memory. His quick wit and the vengeful streak that pops up again and again in the decades to come. And of course, that classic Spider-Man costume, which has managed to resist any major, lasting design changes since its creation.

More than any other facet of the character’s story, the origin of Spider-Man has been told again and again. Across films, books, cartoons, games, and more, the events that turned Peter Parker into Spider-Man have been updated and reimagined for each new audience. Yet they all contain a trio of story pillars that first appeared in Spider-Man’s 1960s debut and defined the character for decades after: a spider, a thief, and a tragedy.

Peter Parker: The Original Web-Head

Before Spider-Man the hero, there was Peter Parker the outcast. Making his first appearance in the lead tale of Amazing Fantasy #15 (shown in Figure 1-1), Peter is a shy, picked-on kid from Forest Hills, Queens, who has more interest in going to the science fair than the prom. From his very first appearance, “Midtown High’s Only Professional Wallflower” is ignored by girls, ridiculed by his classmates, and literally pushed around by high school bullies like sporty letterman Flash Thompson. The only places Peter finds solace are in the science lab and in the company of his adoptive family.

Peter is raised by his elderly Aunt May and Uncle Ben, who stepped in after Peter’s parents passed away. Despite their meager means, May and Ben do their best to instill the shy young Peter with a confidence and kindness that would’ve made his late parents proud. His jovial parental figures give young Peter all the affection and support (and homemade wheatcakes) that he can’t find in the outside world.

Still, Peter is every bit the stereotypical square, hiding behind large glasses, a clean-cut vest and tie, and an armful of books. In that original Amazing Fantasy tale Peter is a rueful and resentful teen, angry at his isolation and eager to see his tormenters get their comeuppance. And soon he’ll have the power to show them all.

Story by Stan Lee, Art by Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko

FIGURE 1-1: The first look the public ever got of Spider-Man was Jack Kirby’s iconic cover image.

Along came a spider

Peter’s life (and the global media landscape) is forever changed during a visit to a local science experiment. While his high school frenemies are off having frivolous fun, Peter decides to visit a public science demonstration.

Distracted by the marvels of radioactivity, Peter fails to notice a glowing spider that has crawled onto his hand. By an incredible twist of fate, the otherwise normal arachnid has traveled through the experiment’s radioactive rays before landing on Peter. Then, in a fateful moment, the spider bites him, as shown in Figure 1-2.

Story by Stan Lee, Art by Steve Ditko

FIGURE 1-2: Even in the moment that will change his life forever, Peter Parker can’t help but get bullied.

Immediately Peter can feel himself changing. As he quickly discovers, the spider’s strange, radioactive bite has blessed him with a host of miraculous powers. Peter finds he’s been endowed with the proportionate strength and agility of a spider, crushing metal pipes and slinking along wires with ease. His senses are heightened to supernatural proportions, helping him dodge out of the way of a speeding car. And most astonishingly, he can walk on walls — just like a spider.

Though it’s later suggested that Peter’s life-changing spider bite was part of a grander mystical design, in its original conception it was a simple twist of fate. It could’ve happened to anybody. In this regard, even in his earliest moments, Spider-Man stood out from many of his comic book contemporaries and predecessors. Peter wasn’t a brawny soldier or a flying alien or a hardboiled detective. He was just a skinny kid burdened with what came to be known as “that old Parker luck.”

The character’s relatable, everyday quality made Spider-Man an instant hit with readers just as much as his amazing powers did. But his new powers and popularity weren’t without their consequences.

The masked marvel

As Peter comes to grips with his strange new abilities, he quickly learns that power alone doesn’t make a hero. In another relatable touch, Peter’s first thought after gaining super-powers isn’t to fight crime. Instead, he sees an opportunity to earn some cash. Peter’s money troubles become a recurring struggle for the character (arguably his greatest foe), and that theme began here.

Even in his first adventure, Peter is looking for a way to earn some money with his new abilities. “$100 TO THE MAN WHO CAN STAY IN THE RING THREE MINUTES WITH CRUSHER HOGAN” reads the sign that catches Peter’s eye. Still grappling with his bizarre powers and afraid of being embarrassed if he loses the fight, Peter dons his first costume.

Dressed in some old clothes and a featureless head covering, the “little masked marvel” gets in the ring with the muscular Crusher Hogan. Compared to the broad might of the muscular wrestler, scrawny Peter-in-disguise seems like he’s doomed to a pummeling. But this assumption only makes the fight more unbelievable as the masked fighter easily defeats Hogan, leaping around the ring and picking up the larger man like he’s a doll. The crowd goes wild.

Immediately after his remarkable performance, Peter is approached by a promoter who encourages him to show off his amazing abilities on TV. Full of excitement and confidence from his victory over Crusher Hogan, Peter heads home to build his brand and put the finishing touches on his soon-to-be-famous alter ego.

Peter leans into the spider-powers. Using his whiz kid scientific genius, he engineers wrist-mounted web-shooters and a special web-fluid that let him dangle from any surface, just like a spider. He also upgrades his wrestling disguise, designing the very first version of his iconic web-covered red-and-blue suit. And for the first time, Peter christens himself “Spider-Man.”

Climbing the walls and shooting his miraculous webs, the Spider-Man leaves studio audiences speechless. Behind the mask, Peter lets all the adoration go straight to his head. After years of being kicked around by Flash Thompson and his ilk, Peter finally found the power and respect he’d envied for so long.

Stop! Thief!

However, Spider-Man’s entertainment career is short-lived as fate has one more tragic twist in store for poor Peter. As a preening Peter leaves the station, still dressed in his Spider-Man costume and shooing away fans, he nearly collides with a fleeing thief. Blind with smug pride, Spider-Man simply lets the fugitive slip by and escape. The pursuing police officer chides him for not intervening when he could’ve, but Spider-Man tells him it wasn’t his job (see Figure 1-3).

Story by Stan Lee, Art by Steve Ditko

FIGURE 1-3: With great arrogance...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 17.9.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur
• Themenwelt: Kunst / Musik / Theater
• Schlagworte: Agent Venom Anti-Venom Scream • Amazing Spider-Man • Anya Corazon • Arana • Aunt May • Avengers • Bailey Briggs • Ben Reilly • Ben Urich • Betty Brant • Black Cat • Carlie Cooper • Carnage Ashley Kafka • Chameleon • CHASM • Cindy Moon • Cletus Kasidy • cloak and dagger • Comics • Daredevil • Deadpool • Demagoblin • Doctor Octopus • Dr. Strange • Earth's Mightiest Heroes • electro • Fantastic Four • Felicia Hardy • Flash Thompson • Gabriel Stacy • Goblin Nation • God of the Symbiotes-Otto Octavius • Green Goblin • Grey Goblin • Gwen Stacy • Harry Osborn • hobgoblins • Human Torch • Hydro Man • Iron Spider Suit • jackal • Jackpot • Jessica Drew • J. Jonah Jameson • Johnny Storm • Julia Carpenter • Kaine Parker • kindred • Kingpin • Knull • Kraven • Lily Hollister • Lizard • Logan • Luke Cage • Mac Gargan / Dark Avengers • Madame Web • Marvel • Marvel Cinematic Universe • Marvel Comics • Mary Jane Watson • Mary Parker • Maximum Carnage • MCU • Menace • Miles Morales • Molten Man • Morbius • Morlun • Mr. Negative • Mysterio • Ned Leeds • Oscorp • Oscorp Suit • Parker Industries Suit • Peter Parker • phage • Phil Urich • Power Pack • Punisher • Queen Goblin • Rek-Rap • rhino • Richard Parker • Robbie Robertson • Roderick Kingsley • Sandman • Scarlet Spider • scorpion • Secret Defenders • SiLK • Silver Sable • Silvija Sablinova • Spider-Boy • Spider-Family • Spiderman • Spider-Man • Spider-Sense • Spider-Slayers • Spider-Woman • Spidey • SPOT • Stan Lee • Stephen Strange • Steve Ditko • Symbiotes • Symbiote Suit • The Avengers • The Daily Bugle • The Enforcers • The Golden Goblin • The Parkers • The Red Goblin • The Spider Suit • Toxin • Uncle Ben • Venom • vulture • Wade Wilson • Wolverine • X-Men
• ISBN-10: 1-394-29933-8 / 1394299338
• ISBN-13: 978-1-394-29933-1 / 9781394299331