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{{Short description|Marvel Comics superhero}}
{{About|the main and original version of the superhero|other uses|Spider-Man (disambiguation)|other versions|List of incarnations of Spider-Man|and|Alternative versions of Spider-Man}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Spidey|Peter Parker||Spidey (disambiguation)|and|Peter Parker (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect-multi|2|Web Slinger|Webslinger|an alternate version of Spider-Man with this code name|Alternative versions of Spider-Man#Web-Slinger (Earth-31913)}}
{{Pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox comics character
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Peter Parker<br>{{small|Spider-Man}}
| image          = Web of Spider-Man Vol 1 129-1.png<!-- A discussion on the talk page came to consensus that this was the image to use for this article. Do NOT change the image without first discussing it on the talk page. -->
| imagesize      = 240
| converted      = y
| caption        = Virgin cover of ''[[Web of Spider-Man]]'' #129.1<br>(October 2012), by [[Mike McKone]] and Morry Hollowell
| alt            = A drawing of Spider-Man crouched, looking up to the camera stricking a pose on a street-sign
| publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut          = ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' #15<br>(August 1962)
| creators       = [[Stan Lee]]<br />[[Steve Ditko]]
| full name      = Peter Benjamin Parker
| species        = <!--Do not add "human mutate" unless you have a Reliable Source.-->
| homeworld      = [[Queens]], [[New York City]]
| alliances      = {{plainlist|
* [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]
* [[Fantastic Four]]
* [[X-Men]]
* [[Defenders (comics)|Secret Defenders]]
* [[Future Foundation]]
* ''[[Daily Bugle]]''
* [[Heroes for Hire]]
* [[Mighty Avengers]]
* [[New Avengers]]
* [[Spider-Verse#Web-Warriors|Spider-Army / Web-Warriors]]
}}
| partners = {{plainlist|
* [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]]
* [[Miles Morales]]
* [[Silk (character)|Silk]]
}}
| aliases = Spidey, The Amazing Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man
| powers         = 
* Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina, and durability
* Ability to cling to solid surfaces
* [[Precognition|Precognitive]] spider-sense
* Genius-level intellect
* Skilled martial artist, and hand-to-hand combatant
* Proficient scientist and engineer
* Utilizes wrist-mounted web-shooters
| cat     = super
| subcat  = Marvel Comics
| hero    = y
| sortkey = Spider-Man
}}

'''Spider-Man''' is a <!--Do not add "fictional" as it is tautological; superheroes (and characters in general) are by definition implied to be fictionalized to some extent.-->[[superhero]] in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by writer-editor [[Stan Lee]] and artist [[Steve Ditko]], he [[first appearance|first appeared]] in the [[anthology]] comic book ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' #15 (August 1962) in the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]]. Considered one of the most popular and commercially successful superheroes, he has been featured in [[List of Spider-Man titles|comic books]], [[Spider-Man in television|television shows]], [[Spider-Man in film|films]], [[List of video games featuring Spider-Man|video games]], [[Spider-Man in literature|novels, and plays]].

Spider-Man is the [[secret identity]] of '''Peter Benjamin Parker''', who was raised by his [[Aunt May]] and [[Uncle Ben]] in [[Queens]], [[New York City]], after the death of [[Richard and Mary Parker|his parents]]. Lee, Ditko, and later writers had the character deal with the struggles of adolescence and young adulthood. Readers identified with his self-doubt and loneliness. Unlike previous teen heroes, Spider-Man was not a [[sidekick]] nor did he have a mentor. He would be given many [[List of Spider-Man supporting characters|supporting characters]], such as his ''[[Daily Bugle]]'' boss [[J. Jonah Jameson]]; friends like [[Harry Osborn]] and [[Flash Thompson]]; romantic interests like [[Gwen Stacy]], [[Mary Jane Watson]], and the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]]; and [[List of Spider-Man enemies|enemies]] such as [[Doctor Octopus]], the [[Green Goblin]], and [[Venom (character)|Venom]]. In his [[origin story]], Peter gets his [[Superpower (ability)|superhuman]] spider-powers and abilities after he was bitten by a radioactive spider. These powers include [[superhuman strength]], speed, agility, reflexes and durability; clinging to surfaces and ceilings; and detecting danger with his precognitive "[[spider-sense]]". He sews a spider-web patterned spandex costume that fully covers his body and builds wrist-mounted "[[web-shooters|web-shooter]]" devices that shoot artificial [[spider web|spider-webs]] of his own design, which he uses for both fighting and "web swinging" across the city. Peter initially used his powers for personal gain, but after his Uncle Ben was killed by a burglar that he could have stopped but did not, he learned that "[[with great power comes great responsibility]]", and began to use his powers to fight crime as Spider-Man.

Marvel has featured Spider-Man in several [[List of Spider-Man titles|comic book series]], the first and longest-lasting of which is ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''. Since his introduction, the main-continuity version of Peter has gone from a high school student to attending college to currently being somewhere in his late 20s. Peter has been a member of numerous superhero teams, most notably the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and [[Fantastic Four]]. Doctor Octopus also took on the identity for a story arc spanning 2012–2014 following the "[[Dying Wish]]" storyline, where Peter appears to die after Doctor Octopus orchestrates a [[body swap]] with him and becomes the [[Superior Spider-Man]]. Marvel has also published comic books featuring [[Alternative versions of Spider-Man|alternate versions of Spider-Man]], including ''[[Spider-Man 2099]]'', which features the adventures of [[Miguel O'Hara]], the Spider-Man of the future; ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', which features the adventures of a teenage [[Spider-Man (Ultimate Marvel character)|Peter Parker]] in [[Ultimate Marvel|the alternate universe]]; and ''[[Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man]]'', which depicts a teenager named [[Miles Morales]] who takes up the mantle of Spider-Man after Ultimate Peter Parker's apparent death. Miles later became a superhero in his own right and was brought into mainstream continuity during the ''Secret Wars'' event, where he sometimes works alongside the mainline version of Peter.

Spider-Man has appeared in countless [[Spider-Man in other media|forms of media]], including [[Spider-Man in television|several animated TV series]], a [[Spider-Man television series|live-action television series]], [[Print syndication|syndicated]] newspaper [[The Amazing Spider-Man (comic strip)|comic strips]], and multiple [[Spider-Man in film|series of films]]. In live-action films, Spider-Man has been portrayed by [[Tobey Maguire]] in [[Sam Raimi]]'s [[Spider-Man in film#Sam Raimi trilogy|''Spider-Man'' trilogy]], [[Andrew Garfield]] in ''[[Spider-Man in film#The Amazing Spider-Man (2012-2014)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' duology directed by [[Marc Webb]], and [[Tom Holland]] in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]. The Peter Parker version of Spider-Man was also voiced by [[Jake Johnson]] and [[Chris Pine]] in the animated film ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]'', with the former reprising his role in the sequel, ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]''.

==Publication history==
{{further|List of Spider-Man titles}}

===Creation and development===
[[File:Spider Strikes v1n1 i05 Wentworth.png|thumb|Richard Wentworth, {{A.k.a.}} the [[Spider (pulp fiction)|Spider]] in the pulp magazine ''The Spider''. Stan Lee stated the Spider influenced the creation of Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Lee|Mair|2002|p=130}}|alt=A black and white picture of a man standing in front of a spider web.]]
In 1962, with the success of the [[Fantastic Four]], Marvel Comics editor and head writer [[Stan Lee]] was looking for a new superhero idea. He said the teenage demand for comic books and a character with whom they could identify led to the creation of Spider-Man.{{Sfn|DeFalco|Lee|2001|p=1}} As with Fantastic Four, Lee saw Spider-Man as an opportunity to "get out of his system" what he felt was missing in comic books.{{Sfn|Harrington|1992}}

There are many conflicting stories about the inspiration and precise authorship of the various aspects of Spider-Man's appearance and character.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=9}} In his autobiography, Lee cites the non-superhuman [[pulp magazine]] crime fighter the [[Spider (pulp fiction)|Spider]] as a great influence.{{Sfn|Lee|Mair|2002|p=130}} Besides the name, the Spider was wanted by both the law and the criminal underworld (a defining theme of Spider-Man's early years) and had through years of ceaseless struggle developed a "sixth sense", which warns him of danger, the inspiration for Spider-Man's "spider-sense".{{Sfn|Murray|2020|p=24-29}} In a multitude of print and video interviews, Lee also says he was inspired by seeing a spider climb up a wall—adding in his autobiography that he has told that story so often he has become unsure of whether or not this is true.{{Sfn|Lee|Mair|2002|p=135}}

Although at the time teenage superheroes were usually given names ending with "boy", Lee says he chose "Spider-Man" because he wanted the character to age as the series progressed, and felt the name "Spider-Boy" would have made the character sound inferior to other superheroes.{{Sfn|Thomas|2011}} Comics scholar Ben Saunders points out that this emphasis on adolescence was an important innovation for [[superhero comics]].{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|p=xxvi}}

Lee required Marvel publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]]'s approval for the character. In a 1986 interview, Lee gives his arguments against Goodman's objections.<ref group="note">''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' interview with Stan Lee, quoted in Theakston 2002, p. 12 (unnumbered). "He gave me 1,000 reasons why Spider-Man would never work. Nobody likes spiders; it sounds too much like Superman, and how could a teenager be a superhero? Then I told him I wanted the character to be a very human guy, someone who makes mistakes, who worries, who gets acne, has trouble with his girlfriend, and things like that. [Goodman replied,] 'He's a hero! He's not an average man!' I said, 'No, we make him an average man who happens to have superpowers, that's what will make him good.' He told me I was crazy".</ref> Goodman eventually agreed to a Spider-Man tryout in what Lee, in numerous interviews, recalled as what would be the final issue of the science-fiction and supernatural anthology series ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'', which was renamed ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' for issue #15 ([[cover-date]]d August 1962, on sale June 5, 1962).{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|p=xxv}} In particular, Lee states that the decision that ''Amazing Fantasy'' would be canceled after issue #15 was the only reason Goodman allowed him to present Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Thomas|2011}} While this was the final issue, its editorial page anticipated the continuing appearances of Spider-Man in future issues.{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|p=xxv}}

Lee received Goodman's approval for the name Spider-Man and the "ordinary teen" concept and approached artist [[Jack Kirby]]. As [[comics historian]] [[Greg Theakston]] recounts, Kirby told Lee about an unpublished character on which he had collaborated with [[Joe Simon]] in the 1950s, in which an orphaned boy living with an old couple finds a magic ring that granted him superhuman powers. Lee and Kirby "immediately sat down for a story conference", Theakston writes, and Lee afterward directed Kirby to flesh out the character and draw some pages.{{Sfn|Theakston|2002|p=12}} Steve Ditko would be the inker.<ref group="note">Ditko 2000: "'Stan said a new Marvel hero would be introduced in #15 [of what became titled ''Amazing Fantasy'']. He would be called Spider-Man. Jack would do the penciling, and I was to ink the character.' At this point still, Stan said Spider-Man would be a teenager with a magic ring that could transform him into an adult hero—Spider-Man. I said it sounded like the [[Fly (Red Circle Comics)|Fly]], which Joe Simon had done for [[Archie Comics]]. Stan called Jack about it, but I don't know what was discussed. I never talked to Jack about Spider-Man... Later, at some point, I was given the job of drawing Spider-Man'".</ref> When Kirby showed Lee the first six pages, Lee recalled, "I hated the way he was doing it! Not that he did it badly—it just wasn't the character I wanted; it was too heroic".{{Sfn|Theakston|2002|p=12}} Lee turned to Ditko, who developed an art style Lee found satisfactory. Ditko recalled:
{{blockquote|One of the first things I did was to work up a costume. A vital, visual part of the character. I had to know how he looked ... before I did any breakdowns. For example: A clinging power so he wouldn't have hard shoes or boots, a hidden wrist-shooter versus a web gun and holster, etc. ... I wasn't sure Stan would like the idea of covering the character's face but I did it because it hid an obviously boyish face. It would also add mystery to the character....{{Sfn|Ditko|2000}}}}

Although the interior artwork was by Ditko alone, Lee rejected Ditko's cover art and commissioned Kirby to pencil a cover that Ditko inked. As Lee explained in 2010, "I think I had Jack sketch out a cover for it because I always had a lot of confidence in Jack's covers."<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 8, 2010 |title=Deposition of Stan Lee |page=37 |publisher=United States District Court, Southern District of New York: "Marvel Worldwide, Inc., et al., vs. Lisa R. Kirby, et al." |location=[[Los Angeles]], [[California]] |url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B_lZovnpi13JNWQ5MDJmOTgtZDMzYy00MzI3LTllYjctNmM0ZWE4NjgyOWEx&hl=en_US |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205192530/https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_lZovnpi13JNWQ5MDJmOTgtZDMzYy00MzI3LTllYjctNmM0ZWE4NjgyOWEx/view |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Amazing Fantasy 15.jpg|thumb|left|''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (Aug. 1962) first introduced the character. It was a gateway to commercial success for the superhero and inspired the launch of ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' comic book. – Cover art by penciller [[Jack Kirby]] and inker [[Steve Ditko]]|alt=Cover art of Spider-Man, with big yellow letters "Amazing Fantasy".|343x343px]]

Kirby disputed Lee's version of the story and claimed Lee had minimal involvement in the character's creation. According to Kirby, the idea for Spider-Man had originated with Kirby and [[Joe Simon]], who in the 1950s had developed a character called the Silver Spider for the [[Crestwood Publications]] comic ''[[Black Magic (comics)|Black Magic]]'', but the character was left unused.<ref group="note">Jack Kirby in "Shop Talk: Jack Kirby", ''[[Will Eisner]]'s [[Spirit (comics character)|Spirit]] Magazine'' #39 (February 1982): "Spider-Man was discussed between [[Joe Simon]] and myself. It was the last thing Joe, and I had discussed. We had a strip called 'The Silver Spider.' The Silver Spider was going into a magazine called ''Black Magic''. ''Black Magic'' folded with [[Crestwood Publications|Crestwood]] (Simon & Kirby's 1950s comics company) and we were left with the script. I believe I said this could become a thing called Spider-Man, see, a superhero character. I had a lot of faith in the superhero character that they could be brought back... and I said Spider-Man would be a fine character to start with. But Joe had already moved on. So the idea was already there when I talked to Stan".</ref> Simon, in his 1990 autobiography, disputed Kirby's account, asserting that ''Black Magic'' was not a factor and that Simon devised the name "Spider-Man" (later changed to "The Silver Spider"), while Kirby outlined the character's story and powers. Simon later elaborated that his and Kirby's character conception became the basis for Simon's [[Archie Comics]] superhero, the [[Fly (Red Circle Comics)|Fly]].{{Sfn|Simon|2011}} Artist [[Steve Ditko]] stated that Lee liked the name [[Hawkman]] from [[DC Comics]], and that "Spider-Man" was an outgrowth of that interest.{{Sfn|Ditko|2000}}

Simon concurred that Kirby had shown the original Spider-Man version to Lee, who liked the idea and assigned Kirby to draw sample pages of the new character, but disliked the results—in Simon's description, "[[Captain America]] with cobwebs".<ref group="note">Simon, Joe, with Jim Simon. ''The Comic Book Makers'' (Crestwood/II, 1990) {{ISBN|1-887591-35-4}}. "There were a few holes in Jack's never-dependable memory. For instance, there was no ''Black Magic'' involved at all. ... Jack brought in the Spider-Man logo that I had loaned to him before we changed the name to The Silver Spider. Kirby laid out the story to Lee about the kid who finds a ring in a spiderweb, gets his powers from the ring, and goes forth to fight crime armed with The Silver Spider's old web-spinning pistol. Stan Lee said, 'Perfect, just what I want.' After obtaining permission from publisher [[Martin Goodman (publisher)|Martin Goodman]], Lee told Kirby to pencil-up an origin story. Kirby... using parts of an old rejected superhero named Night Fighter... revamped the old Silver Spider script, including revisions suggested by Lee. But when Kirby showed Lee the sample pages, it was Lee's turn to gripe. He had been expecting a skinny young kid who is transformed into a skinny young kid with spider powers. Kirby had him turn into... Captain America with cobwebs. He turned Spider-Man over to Steve Ditko, who... ignored Kirby's pages, tossed the character's magic ring, web pistol and goggles... and completely redesigned Spider-Man's costume and equipment. In this life, he became high-school student Peter Parker, who gets his spider powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. ... Lastly, the Spider-Man logo was redone and a dashing hyphen added".</ref> Writer [[Mark Evanier]] notes that Lee's reasoning that Kirby's character was too heroic seems unlikely—Kirby still drew the covers for ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 and the first issue of ''The Amazing Spider-Man''. Evanier also disputes Kirby's given reason that he was "too busy" to draw Spider-Man in addition to his other duties, since Kirby was, said Evanier, "always busy".{{Sfn|Evanier|Gaiman|2008|p=127}} Neither Lee's nor Kirby's explanation explains why key story elements like the magic ring were dropped; Evanier states that the most plausible explanation for the sudden change was that Goodman, or one of his assistants, decided that Spider-Man, as drawn and envisioned by Kirby, was too similar to the Fly.{{Sfn|Evanier|Gaiman|2008|p=127}}

Author and Ditko scholar Blake Bell writes that it was Ditko who noted the similarities to the Fly. Ditko recalled that "Stan called Jack about the Fly", adding that "[d]ays later, Stan told me I would be penciling the story panel breakdowns from Stan's synopsis." It was at this point that the entire concept of the strip went through a major overhaul. "Out went the magic ring, adult Spider-Man and whatever legend ideas that Spider-Man story would have contained." Lee gave Ditko the premise of a teenager bitten by a spider and developing powers, where Ditko would expand upon to the point he became what Bell describes as "the first [[work for hire]] artist of his generation to create and control the narrative arc of his series". On the issue of the initial creation, Ditko stated, "I still don't know whose idea was Spider-Man".{{Sfn|Bell|2008|pp=54–57}} Ditko did, however, view the published version of Spider-Man as a separate creation to the one he saw in the five pencilled pages that Kirby had completed. To support this, Ditko used the analogy of the [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Kirby/Marvel Thor]], which was based on a name or idea of a character in Norse mythology: "If Marvel's Thor is a valid created work by Jack, his creation, then why isn't Spider-Man by Stan and me valid created work, our creation?"{{Sfn|Ditko|1999|p=6}}

At the time of Spider-Man's creation, Ditko shared a Manhattan studio with noted [[Sexual fetishism|fetish]] artist [[Eric Stanton]], an art-school classmate who, in a 1988 interview with Theakston, recalled that although his contribution to Spider-Man was "almost nil", he and Ditko had "worked on storyboards together and I added a few ideas. But the whole thing was created by Steve on his own&nbsp;... I think I added the business about the webs coming out of his hands."{{Sfn|Theakston|2002|p=14}}

Kirby noted in a 1971 interview that it was Ditko who "got ''Spider-Man'' to roll, and the thing caught on because of what he did".<ref>Skelly, Tim. "Interview II: 'I created an army of characters, and now my connection to them is lost.'" (Initially broadcast over WNUR-FM on "The Great Electric Bird", May 14, 1971. Transcribed and published in ''The Nostalgia Journal'' #27.) Reprinted in ''The Comics Journal Library Volume One: Jack Kirby'', George, Milo ed. May 2002, Fantagraphics Books. p. 16</ref> Lee, while claiming credit for the initial idea, had acknowledged Ditko's role, stating, "If Steve wants to be called co-creator, I think he deserves [it]".<ref>[[Jonathan Ross|Ross, Jonathan]]. ''[[In Search of Steve Ditko]]'', [[BBC Four]], September 16, 2007.</ref> He has further commented that Ditko's costume design was key to the character's success; since the costume completely covers Spider-Man's body, people of all races could visualize themselves inside the costume and thus easily identify with the character.{{Sfn|Thomas|2011}}

As depicted in ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' #15 (Aug. 1962), Peter Parker is bitten by a [[radioactive]] spider (erroneously classified as an insect in the panel) at a science exhibit and "acquires the agility and proportionate strength of an [[arachnid]]".{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|p=5}} When "[h]e blithely ignores the chance to stop a fleeing [[Burglar (comics)|thief]], [and] his indifference ironically catches up with him when the same criminal later robs and kills his [[Uncle Ben]]." Spider-Man tracks and subdues the killer and learns, in the story's next-to-last caption, "With great power there must also come—great responsibility!"{{Sfn|Daniels|1991|p=95}} Ben Saunders points out that this conclusion makes problematic the usual conceptions of heroism in the genre; Ben's death does not fully validate Peter Parker's new mission, and the protagonist is continually portrayed as a conflicted, imperfect person, in uncertain circumstances.{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|pp=xxv-xxviii}}

===1960s===
A few months after Spider-Man's introduction, publisher Goodman reviewed the sales figures for that issue and was shocked to find it was one of the nascent Marvel's highest-selling comics.{{Sfn|Daniels|1991|p=97}} A solo [[ongoing series]] followed, beginning with ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #1 ([[cover-date]]d March 1963).{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=13}} The title eventually became Marvel's top-selling series{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=211}} with the character swiftly becoming a [[cultural icon]]; a 1965 ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire]]'' poll of college campuses found that college students ranked Spider-Man and fellow Marvel hero the [[Hulk]] alongside [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Che Guevara]] as their favorite revolutionary icons. One interviewee selected Spider-Man because he was "beset by woes, money problems, and the question of existence. In short, he is one of us."{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=223}} Ditko introduced Peter Parker's boss, [[J. Jonah Jameson]], newspaper publisher of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', who despises Spider-Man and slanders him despite his heroism.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=12}} Parker experiences frequent high-school drama involving his love interest, [[Betty Brant]], and a classroom bully, [[Flash Thompson]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=14}}

In the first issue of ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' (March 1963), despite his superpowers, Peter struggles to help his widowed Aunt May pay the rent, is taunted by Flash, and continues fighting crime and saving the city as Spider-Man. Peter gets hired as a [[Freelancer|freelance]] photographer Jameson to take pictures of Spider-Man, with Jameson unaware that Spider-Man is Peter Parker.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=21}} Ben Saunders identifies nineteen different [[supervillains]] who appear in the early Spider-Man stories of Lee and Ditko, sixteen of which become recurring figures in the [[Marvel Universe]].{{Sfn|Saunders|2022|p=xxvi}} These [[List of Spider-Man enemies|enemies]] include [[Green Goblin]], [[Doctor Octopus]], [[Sandman (Marvel Comics)|Sandman]], [[Chameleon (Marvel Comics)|Chameleon]], [[Lizard (Marvel Comics)|Lizard]], [[Vulture (Marvel Comics)|Vulture]], [[Kraven the Hunter]], [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]], and [[Mysterio]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=16}} Peter finds juggling his personal and superhero life difficult. Ditko's quirky art provided a stark contrast to the more cleanly dynamic stylings of Marvel's most prominent artist, [[Jack Kirby]].<ref name="DeFalco87">{{cite book |last=DeFalco |first=Tom |author-link=Tom DeFalco |editor-last=Gilbert |editor-first=Laura |chapter=1960s |title=Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |date=2008 |location=London, United Kingdom |page=87 |isbn=978-0756641238 |quote=Deciding that his new character would have spider-like powers, [Stan] Lee commissioned Jack Kirby to work on the first story. Unfortunately, Kirby's version of Spider-Man's alter ego Peter Parker proved too heroic, handsome, and muscular for Lee's everyman hero. Lee turned to Steve Ditko, the regular artist on ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'', who designed a skinny, awkward teenager with glasses.}}</ref>

Following Ditko's departure after issue #38 (July 1966), [[John Romita Sr.]] replaced him as [[penciller]] and would draw the series for the next several years. In 1968, Romita also drew the character's extra-length stories in the comics magazine ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man#Magazine|The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', a proto-[[graphic novel]] designed to appeal to older readers. It lasted for two issues and represented the first Spider-Man spin-off publication, aside from the original series' [[Annual publication|summer ''Annual''s]] that began in 1964.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=31}} Romita's illustrations of the character were substantially more glamorous and influenced by [[romance comics]] of the time; Parker's social status markedly improved.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=20-23}} Romita introduced a new prominent enemy for Spider-Man, the gangster Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=20}} In this period, Peter graduates from high school,{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=86}} and enrolls at Empire State University (a fictional institution evoking the real-life [[Columbia University]] and [[New York University]]),{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=51}} where he meets roommate and best friend [[Harry Osborn]] and girlfriend [[Gwen Stacy]].{{Sfn|Sanderson|2007|pp=30-33}}{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=27}} As Peter deals with Harry's drug problems, and Harry's father, Norman Osborn, is revealed to be the Green Goblin, Peter attempts to give up his costumed identity for a while.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=86}}{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=16-19}} Gwen Stacy's father, [[New York City Police]] detective Captain [[George Stacy]], is accidentally killed during a battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus (issue #90, November 1970).{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=60}}

Romita also created a new love interest for Peter Parker, [[Mary Jane Watson]]. Romita's storylines emphasize a long triangle between Parker, Watson, and Gwen Stacy.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=23}} This period included one of the first Black supporting characters in superhero comic books, [[Robbie Robertson (character)|Robbie Robertson]], a reporter at the Daily Bugle.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=24-25}} By 1968, the series began to address political controversies and [[student activism]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=25}}

===1970s===
An early 1970s Spider-Man story ultimately led to the revision of the [[Comics Code Authority]]. Previously, the Code forbade the depiction of the use of illegal drugs, even negatively. However, in 1970, the [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] administration's [[Department of Health, Education, and Welfare]] asked Stan Lee to publish an anti-drug message in one of Marvel's top-selling titles.{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=139}} Lee chose the top-selling [[Green Goblin Reborn!|''The Amazing Spider-Man;'' issues #96–98]] (May–July 1971) feature a [[story arc]] depicting the negative effects of drug use. In the story, Peter Parker's friend [[Harry Osborn]] becomes addicted to pills. When Spider-Man fights the [[Green Goblin]] ([[Norman Osborn]], Harry's father), Spider-Man defeats him by revealing Harry's drug addiction. While the story had a clear anti-drug message, the Comics Code Authority refused to issue its seal of approval. Marvel nevertheless published the three issues without the Comics Code Authority's approval or seal. The issues sold so well that the industry's self-censorship was undercut, and the Code was subsequently revised.{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=239}}

By 1972, with Spider-Man as its flagship character, Marvel had begun to outsell its primary competitor, DC.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=34}} In that year, a second monthly [[ongoing series]] starring Spider-Man began: ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]'', in which Spider-Man was paired with other superheroes and supervillains.{{Sfn|Manning|2012|p=60}} From that point on, there have generally been at least two ongoing Spider-Man series at any time. [[Gerry Conway]] became the primary writer of the series from 1972 to 1975,{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=39}} and [[Ross Andru]] was the penciller from October 1973 to July 1978.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=47}} In 1973, Gwen Stacy was tragically killed during her rescue from the Green Goblin, a turning point for Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=43}} In [[The Night Gwen Stacy Died|issue #121]] (June 1973),{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=43-43}} the Green Goblin throws [[Gwen Stacy]] from a tower of either the [[Brooklyn Bridge]] (as depicted in the art) or the [[George Washington Bridge]] (as given in the text).<ref>"To address the contradiction in future reprints of the tale, though, Spider-Man's dialogue was altered so that he's referring to the Brooklyn Bridge. But the original snafu remains as one of the more visible errors in the history of comics." Saffel 2007, p. 65</ref><ref>Sanderson notes, "[W]hile the script described the site of Gwen's demise as the George Washington Bridge, the art depicted the Brooklyn Bridge, and there is still no agreement as to where it actually took place." Sanderson 1998, p. 84.</ref> She dies during Spider-Man's rescue attempt, and Spider-Man swears revenge against his nemesis; a note on the letters page of issue #125 states: "It saddens us to say that the [[Whiplash (medicine)|whiplash effect]] she underwent when Spidey's webbing stopped her so suddenly was, in fact, what killed her."{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=65}} The following issue, Spider-Man vengefully attacks and overpowers the Green Goblin, who kills himself accidentally in the ensuing battle with Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=44}}

In 1974, the [[Punisher]], a murderous vigilante who later became particularly popular, first appeared in the series.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=47}} [[Len Wein]] became the new writer in December 1975.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=50}} He was replaced in June 1978, initially by [[Bill Mantlo]] and later by [[Marv Wolfman]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=51}} [[Sal Buscema]], [[Jim Starlin]], [[Keith Pollard]], and [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] were all featured artists in the late 1970s.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=51}}

In December 1976, a second solo series, ''[[Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man]]'', began running parallel to the main series.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=52}}

Working through his grief for Gwen Stacy, Peter eventually develops tentative feelings toward Mary Jane, and the two "become confidants rather than lovers".{{Sfn|Sanderson|1998|p=85}} A romantic relationship eventually develops, with Parker proposing to her in issue #182 (July 1978), and being turned down an issue later.{{Sfn|Blumberg|2006|p=208}} Felicia Hardy, also known as the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]], first appeared in the series in 1979; she becomes a new [[femme fatale]] love interest for Peter.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=51}}

===1980s===
In the early 1980s, [[Roger Stern]] and [[John Romita Jr.]] (the son of the primary artist in the late 1960s) became the primary creative team of ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=58}}

[[File:Issue252.jpg|thumb|''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #252 (May 1984): The black costume was later revealed as an alien [[Symbiote (comics)|symbiote]] and was used in the creation of the villain [[Venom (character)|Venom]]. – Cover art by [[Ron Frenz]] and [[Klaus Janson]]|alt=The black costume of Spider-Man.]]
A third series featuring Spider-Man, ''[[Web of Spider-Man]]'', launched in 1985 to replace ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]''.{{Sfn|Manning|2012|p=147}} In the mid-1980s, Spider-Man was also a significant character in the ''[[Secret Wars]]'' miniseries, which led to his adoption of a new black costume. At the end of the decade, this costume was revealed to be an enemy symbiote which became a prominent new enemy, [[Venom (character)|Venom]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=12}} From 1984 to 1988, Spider-Man wore a black costume with a white spider design on his chest. The new costume originated in the ''[[Secret Wars]]'' [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]] on an alien planet where Spider-Man participates in a battle between Earth's major superheroes and supervillains.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=58-61}} He continues wearing the costume when he returns, starting in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #252. The creators then revealed the costume was an alien [[Symbiote (comics)|symbiote]], which Spider-Man rejects after a difficult struggle, though the symbiote returns several times as [[Venom (character)|Venom]] for revenge.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=61}}

In 1987, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson were married; the creative team in this period was [[Jim Shooter]] as plot writer and [[Paul Ryan (cartoonist)|Paul Ryan]] as penciller.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=62}} Peter proposes to Mary Jane in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #290 (July 1987), and she accepts two issues later, with [[The Wedding! (comics)|the wedding]] taking place in ''The Amazing Spider-Man Annual'' #21 (1987)—promoted with a real-life mock wedding using actors at [[Shea Stadium]], with Stan Lee officiating, on June 5, 1987.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=124}} [[David Michelinie]], who scripted based on a plot by editor-in-chief [[Jim Shooter]], said in 2007, "I didn't think they actually should [have gotten] married. ... I had actually planned another version, one that wasn't used."{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=124}}

October 1985 to 1986 in ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' featured a storyline inspired by [[film noir]], "[[The Death of Jean DeWolff]]".{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=64}} October to November 1987 were devoted to an equally dark story that crossed over among the three Spider-Man titles, "[[Kraven's Last Hunt]]".{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=67}} [[Todd McFarlane]] became the new artist of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' in March 1988; his rendition of Spider-Man distinguished itself by "'impossible' anatomy, huge eyes, poses that were more spiderlike than human, skewed frames, and brand-new spaghetti webbing."{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=68}}

===1990s===
The launch of a fourth monthly title in 1990, the "adjectiveless" ''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]'' (with the storyline "[[Torment (comics)|Torment]]"), written and drawn by popular artist [[Todd McFarlane]], debuted with [[Variant cover|several different covers]], all with the same interior content. All four versions combined sold over three million copies, an industry record at the time. Several [[Limited series (comics)|miniseries]], [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] issues, and loosely related comics were also published in this decade, and Spider-Man made frequent [[Cameo appearance|cameo]]s and [[guest appearance]]s in other comic book series.{{Sfn|Cowsill|2012|p=184}} In 1996, ''[[The Sensational Spider-Man]]'' was created to replace ''Web of Spider-Man''.{{Sfn|Manning|2012}}

In the mid-1990s, there was a very long storyline in which a clone of Spider-Man first created in an earlier storyline of the 1970s returned, and it was unclear which of the two versions of Peter Parker was the original.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=78-81}} This lasted for three years.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=81}} In the controversial 1990s storyline the "[[Clone Saga]]", a clone of Parker, created in a storyline of the 1970s, re-appears after living incognito as [[Ben Reilly]] and allies with Parker.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=92}} To the surprise of both, new tests indicate Ben is the original and Peter is the clone.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=79-80}} Complicating matters, Mary Jane announces in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #220 (Jan. 1995) that she is pregnant with Peter's baby.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|pp=92-93}} Later, however, a resurrected Norman Osborn has Mary Jane poisoned, causing [[Preterm birth|premature labor]] and the death of her and Peter's unborn daughter.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=93}} It is later revealed that The Green Goblin switched the results of the clone test in an attempt to destroy Peter's life by making him believe himself to be the clone. Ben is killed while saving Peter, in ''Peter Parker: Spider-Man'' #75 (Dec. 1996), and his body immediately crumbles into dust, confirming Ben was the clone.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=82}}

In 1998, writer-artist [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] revamped the origin of Spider-Man in the 13-issue limited series ''[[Spider-Man: Chapter One]]'' (Dec. 1998–Oct. 1999), similar to Byrne's adding details and some revisions to Superman's origin in [[DC Comics]]' ''[[The Man of Steel (comics)|The Man of Steel]]''.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=84-85}} During that time, the original ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' ended, and ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' started with volume 2, #1 (Jan. 1999).{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=87}}

In issue #97 (Nov. 1998) of the second series titled ''Peter Parker: Spider-Man'', Parker learns Norman Osborn kidnapped Aunt May and her apparent death in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #400 (April 1995) had been a hoax.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|pp=92-94}} Shortly afterward, Mary Jane appears to be killed in an airplane explosion. She is subsequently revealed to be alive, but she and Peter are then completely separated.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=94}}

===2000s===
In October 2000, an alternative interpretation and updated re-imagining of the character appeared in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', written by [[Brian Michael Bendis]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=96}}

Beginning in June 2001, [[J. Michael Straczynski]], who had created the science fiction TV show ''[[Babylon Five]]'', became the primary writer of ''The Amazing Spider-Man''.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=91}} In this period, Peter, now employed as a teacher at his old high school, meets the enigmatic [[Ezekiel Sims]], who possesses similar spider powers and suggests that Peter, having gained such abilities, might not have been a fluke—that Parker has a connection to a [[totem]]ic spider spirit.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=91-92}} In vol. 2, #37 (#478, Jan. 2002), Aunt May discovers her nephew is Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=91-93}}

Beginning in 2005, Spider-Man joined the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and appeared in the ''[[New Avengers]]'' series written by Bendis.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=102}} After a deranged, superpowered former high-school classmate destroys their respective homes, Peter, Mary Jane, and May move into [[Stark Tower]],{{Sfn|Manning|2022|p=313}} and Peter begins working as [[Tony Stark]]'s assistant while freelancing for ''The [[Daily Bugle]]'' and continuing his teacher career. In the 12-part 2005 story arc "[[The Other (comic book storyline)|The Other]]", Peter undergoes a transformation that evolves his powers. In the comic ''[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]'' #2 (June 2006), part of the company-wide [[Fictional crossover|crossover]] arc of that title, the U.S. government's [[Registration acts (comics)|Superhuman Registration Act]] leads Spider-Man to reveal his true identity publicly. A growing unease about the Registration Act prompts him to escape with May and Mary Jane and joins the anti-registration underground.

In 2007, the "One More Day" storyline un-did Peter Parker's marriage to Mary Jane Watson; the demon [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]] magically erased the event from the memory of everyone in the world.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=103}} In issue #537 (Dec. 2006), Aunt May is critically wounded from [[Kingpin (character)|Wilson Fisk]]'s sniper, and enters into a coma. Peter, desperate to save her, exhausts all possibilities and makes a [[Deal with the Devil|pact with the demon-lord]] [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]], who saves May's life in exchange for Peter and Mary Jane agreeing to have their marriage and all memory of it disappear. In this changed reality, Spider-Man's identity is secret once again, and in #545 (Jan. 2008), Mary Jane returns and is cold toward him. The controversial<ref name="OMDPart1p1">Weiland, Jonah. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12230 storyline "The 'One More Day' Interviews with Joe Quesada, Pt. 1 of 5"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article |date=October 26, 2008 }}, ''[[Newsarama]]'', December 28, 2007. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article WebCitation archive].</ref> storyline "One More Day" rolled back much of the fictional continuity at the behest of editor-in-chief [[Joe Quesada]], who said, "Peter being single is an intrinsic part of the very foundation of the world of Spider-Man".<ref name="OMDPart1p1" /> It caused unusual public friction between Quesada and writer Straczynski, who "told Joe that I was going to take my name off the last two issues of the [story] arc", but was talked out of doing so.<ref name="OMDPart2p1">Weiland, Jonah. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12238 "The 'One More Day' Interviews with Joe Quesada, Pt. 2 of 5"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article |date=October 26, 2008 }}, ''[[Newsarama]]'', December 31, 2007. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article WebCitation archive].</ref> At issue with Straczynski's climax to the arc, Quesada said, was{{blockquote|...that we didn't receive the story and methodology to the resolution that we were all expecting. What made that very problematic is that we had four writers and artists well underway on [the sequel arc] "Brand New Day" that were expecting and needed "One More Day" to end in the way that we had all agreed it would. ... The fact that we had to ask for the story to move back to its original intent understandably made Joe upset and caused some major delays and page increases in the series. Also, the science that Joe was going to apply to the [[retcon]] of the marriage would have made over 30 years of Spider-Man books worthless, because they never would have had happened. ...[I]t would have reset way too many things outside of the Spider-Man titles. We just couldn't go there....<ref name=OMDPart2p1/>}}

In this new continuity, designed to have very limited repercussions throughout the remainder of the [[Marvel Universe]], Parker begins working for the [[Alternative newspaper|alternative press]] paper ''[[Front Line (comics)|The Front Line]]''.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #568</ref> [[J. Jonah Jameson]] becomes the Mayor of New York City in issue #591 (June 2008).{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=109}}

When the main series ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' reached issue #545 (Dec. 2007), Marvel dropped its spin-off ongoing series and instead began publishing ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' three times monthly, beginning with #546–548 (all January 2008).<ref name="Avenging">{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=November 8, 2011 |title=The Avenging Spider-Man #1 Review |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/121/1211891p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323021900/http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/08/the-avenging-spider-man-1-review |archive-date=March 23, 2013 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[j2 Global]]}}</ref> The scheduling of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' lasted until November 2010, when the comic book expanded from 22 pages to 30 pages for each issue. Later on, ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' was published twice a month, beginning with #648–649 (both November 2010).<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 25, 2010 |title=IGN: SDCC 10: Spider-Man: The End of Brand New Day |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/110/1108398p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116085425/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/07/25/sdcc-10-spider-man-the-end-of-brand-new-day |archive-date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[j2 Global]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bremmer |first1=Robyn |last2=Morse |first2=Ben |date=September 27, 2010 |title=The Next Big Thing: Spider-Man: Big Time |url=http://marvel.com/news/story/14135/the_next_big_thing_spider-man_big_time |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718203005/http://marvel.com/news/story/14135/the_next_big_thing_spider-man_big_time |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=Marvel.com |publisher=[[Marvel Entertainment]]}}</ref>

===2010s===
In ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'', a storyline that began in 2011 narrated the death of the alternative version of Peter Parker, who was replaced by a younger character with similar powers, [[Miles Morales]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=114}}

In 2012, Marvel launched ''[[Avenging Spider-Man]]'' as the first spin-off ongoing series in addition to ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', since the previous ones were canceled at the end of 2007.{{Sfn|Wiacek|2022|p=346}} [[Dan Slott]] became the primary writer of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' in January 2011.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=110}} The ''Amazing'' series temporarily ended with [[Dying Wish|issue #700]] in December 2012 and was replaced by ''[[The Superior Spider-Man]]'', which had [[Doctor Octopus]] serve as the new Spider-Man by taking over Peter Parker's body.{{Sfn|Wiacek|2022|p=350}} One of Doctor Octopus' Octobots swaps his and Spider-Man's personality, causing Peter to become trapped in the Doctor's dying body, while he in turn claimed Peter's life for himself. Though Peter failed to reverse the change, he manages to establish a weak link with the Doctor's mind, forcing him to relive all of his memories; Otto understands Peter's ideals of power and responsibility and swears to carry on with Peter's life with dignity as a "Superior" Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Wiacek|2022|p=351}} ''Superior'' was an enormous commercial success for Marvel,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2014 |title=Peter Parker Resurrected in Slott's Amazing Spider-Man |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50229 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429192206/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50229 |archive-date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=April 30, 2014 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> and ran for 31 issues before the real Peter Parker returned in a newly relaunched ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #1 in April 2014.<ref name="CNN1">{{Cite web |last=Hanks |first=Henry |date=April 29, 2014 |title=Back from the brain dead, Peter Parker returns to 'Spider-Man' comics |url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/29/showbiz/spider-man-peter-parker-returns/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715021628/http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/29/showbiz/spider-man-peter-parker-returns |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=July 9, 2015 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>
 
Later, realizing that he failed in his role as the "Superior" Spider-Man, Otto willingly allows Peter to reclaim his body in order to defeat Osborn and save a woman Otto loves. In the aftermath of these events, Peter began to amend the relationships damaged by Otto's arrogance and negligence, both as Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He additionally took up the reins of Parker Industries, a small company founded by Otto.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=391}}

Peter soon learns a second person had been bitten by the radioactive spider, [[Cindy Moon]]. Spider-Man tracks her down and frees her from a bunker owned by the late Ezekiel Simms. Cindy goes on to adopt her own heroine identity as Silk.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=391}} The ''[[Spider-Verse]]'' storyline began in November 2014, introducing new variants of Spider-Man, such as [[Spider-Man Noir]] and [[Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)|Spider-Gwen]].{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|pp=116-117}} Spider-Man encounters a contingent of spider-people from all over the [[Multiverse (Marvel Comics)|Multiverse]] that banded together to fight the Inheritors, a group of psychic vampires who had begun to hunt down the spider-totems of other realities. During a mission to gather more recruits in 2099, the Spider-Army stumbled upon another party of spider-people led by an alternate version of Otto Octavius. Together, they neutralize the Inheritors.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=398}}

Following the 2015 ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover event]], a number of Spider-Man-related titles were begun or relaunced. Among them, ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' was relaunched and primarily focuses on Peter Parker continuing to run Parker Industries and becomes a successful global businessman.{{Sfn|Wiacek|2022|p=374}}

==Fictional character biography==
Born in [[Forest Hills, Queens]], New York City,{{Sfn|Kempton|1965}} Peter Benjamin Parker's parents died in a plane crash when he was a child. He is raised by his [[Uncle Ben]] and [[Aunt May]]. While a student at [[Midtown High School (comics)|Midtown High School]], student Peter Benjamin Parker is an excellent student and scientific prodigy, but he is not popular with his peers.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=386}} He is bitten by a [[radioactive]] spider at a science exhibit and subsequently develops superhuman strength, speed, and agility, as well as the ability to adhere to walls and ceilings.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=10-11}} Through his knack for science, he develops a gadget that lets him fire adhesive webbing of his own design through small, wrist-mounted barrels. Initially seeking to capitalize on his new abilities, Parker dons a costume and, as "Spider-Man", becomes a novelty television star. However, he refuses to prevent the escape of a thief, who subsequently murders his beloved Uncle Ben.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=386}} He tracks down the killer, and, overcome by guilt, devotes himself to applying his powers in the service of justice.{{Sfn|Daniels|1991|p=95}}

Peter struggles to help his widowed Aunt May pay the rent, has social problems as a student, and continues fighting crime and saving the city as Spider-Man. His heroic deeds engender the editorial wrath of newspaper publisher of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', [[J. Jonah Jameson]], who holds a grudge against Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=227}} Peter gets hired as a [[Freelancer|freelance]] photographer by Jameson to take pictures of Spider-Man, with him being unaware that Spider-Man is Peter Parker.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=21}} Spider-Man fights various [[List of Spider-Man enemies|enemies]], including [[archenemy|archenemy and nemesis]] [[Green Goblin]] and then [[Doctor Octopus]], [[Sandman (Marvel Comics)|Sandman]], [[Chameleon (Marvel Comics)|Chameleon]], [[Lizard (Marvel Comics)|Lizard]], [[Vulture (Marvel Comics)|Vulture]], [[Kraven the Hunter]], [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]], and [[Mysterio]], defeating them one by one.{{Sfn|Wilkins|2022|p=16}} Peter finds juggling his personal and superhero life difficult.

Peter graduates from high school and enrolls at Empire State University,{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=51}} where he meets roommate and best friend [[Harry Osborn]] and girlfriend [[Gwen Stacy]],{{Sfn|Sanderson|2007|pp=30-33}} and Aunt May introduces him to [[Mary Jane Watson]].{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=27}} As Peter deals with Harry's drug problems, and Harry's father, Norman Osborn, is revealed to be the Green Goblin, Peter attempts to give up his costumed identity for a while.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=86}} Gwen Stacy's father, [[New York City Police]] detective Captain [[George Stacy]], is accidentally killed during a battle between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=60}} Later, the Green Goblin throws [[Gwen Stacy]] from a tower of a major bridge. She dies during Spider-Man's rescue attempt, and Spider-Man swears revenge against his nemesis the Green Goblin, who kills himself accidentally in an ensuing battle with Spider-Man.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=65}}

Working through his grief, Peter eventually develops tentative feelings toward Mary Jane, and the two become close.{{Sfn|Sanderson|1998|p=85}} A romantic relationship eventually develops, with Parker eventually proposing and being turned down.{{Sfn|Blumberg|2006|p=208}} Peter graduates from college,{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=387}} and becomes involved with the flirtatious costumed thief Felicia Hardy, {{A.k.a.}} the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]].{{Sfn|Sanderson|1998|p=83}}

Spider-Man visits an alien planet, where he participates in a battle between Earth's major superheroes and supervillains. On this planet, he discovers a mysterious black alien suit that initially obeys his mental control. The costume eventually reveals itself as an alien [[Symbiote (comics)|symbiote]], which Spider-Man rejects after a difficult struggle, though the symbiote returns several times as [[Venom (character)|Venom]] for revenge.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=448}} Peter again proposes to Mary Jane and this time she accepts.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=124}}

A clone of Parker created in his college years by insane scientist [[Jackal (Marvel Comics character)|Miles Warren]], a.k.a. the Jackal, returns to New York City upon hearing of [[Aunt May]]'s health worsening. The clone had lived incognito as [[Ben Reilly]], but now assumes the superhero guise the [[Scarlet Spider]] and allies with Parker. To the surprise of both, new tests indicate Ben is the original and Peter is the clone.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=324}} Complicating matters, Mary Jane announces that she is pregnant with Peter's baby. Later, however, a resurrected Norman Osborn has Mary Jane poisoned, causing [[Preterm birth|premature labor]] and the death of her and Peter's unborn daughter.<ref name="chronicle281">Saunders, et al., ''Chronicle'', p. 281</ref> It is later revealed that The Green Goblin switched the results of the clone test in an attempt to destroy Peter's life by making him believe himself to be the clone. Ben is killed while saving Peter, and it is confirmed that Ben was the clone.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=324}}

Aunt May appears to die, but this is revealed as a hoax.<ref>Saunders, et al. ''Chronicle'', p. 273</ref><ref name="gcd2">[http://www.comics.org/series/7794/ ''Amazing Spider-Man, The'', Marvel, 1999 Series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729201619/http://www.comics.org/series/7794/ |date=July 29, 2010 }} (''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 2) at the Grand Comics Database</ref> Shortly afterward, Mary Jane also has an apparent death that is later discovered to be a mistaken impression.<ref name="ruby">Ruby, Sam. [http://www.samruby.com/Spiderverse/MaryJane/maryjane.htm "Mary Jane Watson"], SamRuby.com (fan site). [https://web.archive.org/web/20101127060614/http://samruby.com/Spiderverse/MaryJane/maryjane.htm WebCitation archive].</ref> Mary Jane and Peter become estranged.<ref>Blumberg, Arnold T. [http://www.mania.com/face-tiger-brief-look-life-mary-jane-watsonparker-part-2_article_35434.html "Face it Tiger – A Brief Look at the Life of Mary Jane Watson-Parker, Part 2"], Mania.com, July 17, 2002. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110501162011/http://www.mania.com/face-tiger-brief-look-life-mary-jane-watsonparker-part-2_article_35434.html WebCitation archive].</ref>

Peter becomes a teacher at his old high school.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=390}} He meets the enigmatic [[Ezekiel Sims]], and comes to believe that he has a connection to a [[totem]]ic spider spirit. Parker comes to believe that his late girlfriend [[Gwen Stacy]] had had two children with Norman Osborn, although this is later revealed as a hoax.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=403}}

He joins the superhero team the [[New Avengers]].{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=387}} After a deranged, superpowered former high-school classmate destroys their respective homes, Peter, Mary Jane, and May move into [[Stark Tower]], and Peter begins working as [[Tony Stark]]'s assistant while freelancing for ''The [[Daily Bugle]]'' and continuing his teaching career. Peter undergoes a transformation that evolves his powers. The U.S. government's [[Registration acts (comics)|Superhuman Registration Act]] leads Spider-Man to reveal his true identity publicly. A growing unease about the Registration Act prompts him to escape with May and Mary Jane and joins the anti-registration underground.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=388}}

Aunt May is critically wounded by [[Kingpin (character)|Wilson Fisk]]'s sniper, and enters into a coma. Peter, desperate to save her, exhausts all possibilities and makes a [[Deal with the Devil|pact with the demon-lord]] [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]], who saves May's life in exchange for Peter and Mary Jane agreeing to have their marriage and all memory of it disappear. In this changed reality, Spider-Man's identity is secret once again.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=388}} Parker returns to work at the ''Daily Bugle'', which has been renamed ''The DB'' under a new publisher.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #549</ref> He soon switches to the [[Alternative newspaper|alternative press]] paper ''[[Front Line (comics)|The Front Line]]''.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=389}} [[J. Jonah Jameson]] becomes the Mayor of New York City.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=227}}

A conflict between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus over Osborn's son ends when it is revealed the child's father is Harry, who leaves town to raise him. One of Doctor Octopus' Octobots swaps his and Spider-Man's personality, causing Peter to become trapped in the Doctor's dying body, while he in turn claimed Peter's life for himself. Though Peter failed to reverse the change, he manages to establish a weak link with the Doctor's mind, forcing him to relive all of his memories. Otto understands Peter's ideals of power and responsibility and swears to carry on with Peter's life with dignity as a "Superior" Spider-Man. A portion of Peter survived in his original body in the form of a subconsciousness. Later, realizing that he failed in his role as the "Superior" Spider-Man, Otto willingly allows Peter to reclaim his body in order to defeat Osborn and save Anna Maria Marconi, Otto's love. In the aftermath of these events, Peter began to amend the relationships damaged by Otto's arrogance and negligence, both as Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He additionally took up the reins of Parker Industries, a small company founded by Otto after leaving [[Horizon Labs]].{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=391}}

Peter soon learns a second person had been bitten by the radioactive spider, [[Cindy Moon]]. Spider-Man tracks her down and frees her from a bunker owned by the late Ezekiel Simms. Not long after rescuing Cindy, who went on to adopt her own heroine identity as Silk, Spider-Man encounters a contingent of spider-people from all over the [[Multiverse (Marvel Comics)|Multiverse]] that banded together to fight the Inheritors, a group of psychic vampires who had begun to hunt down the spider-totems of other realities. During a mission to gather more recruits in 2099, the Spider-Army stumbled upon another party of spider-people led by an alternate version of Otto Octavius. Together, they neutralize the Inheritors.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=391}}

Peter then stops a nefarious plan put forward by the Jackal.<ref name="DNM">''Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy'' (vol. 1) #1–5.</ref> Peter's life is plagued with problems on both sides. As Spider-Man, Mayor Fisk publicly supports him, condemning all other vigilantes in order to isolate him from his superhero peers. As Peter Parker, his academic credentials are revoked after accusations of plagiarizing his doctoral dissertation from Octavius, resulting in Peter being fired from the ''Daily Bugle''. Subsequently, Peter again became romantically involved with Mary Jane.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #1</ref> Briefly, Peter Parker and Spider-Man split into separate beings due to an accident involving the reverse-engineered Isotope Genome Accelerator. Peter eventually manages to reverse the process, and merges his two halves back together before the side-effects worsen and result in their death.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #2–5</ref>

Kindred uses the [[Sins Rising (comics)|resurrected]] [[Sin-Eater (character)|Sin-Eater]]'s sins to possess Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Woman, Anya Corazon, and Julia Carpenter. Doctor Strange, who manages to restrain a possessed Silk, agrees to help Spider-Man. However, Peter dies when fighting Kindred, but Kindred is willing to resurrect Peter.<ref name="LastRemains">{{Cite comic |Story=[[Last Remains]] |writer=[[Nick Spencer]] |title=The Amazing Spider-Man |issue=50–55 |date=October – December 2020 |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]}}</ref>

==Personality and themes==
{{quote box
| quote = "People often say glibly that Marvel succeeded by blending super hero adventure stories with soap opera. What Lee and Ditko actually did in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' was to make the series an ongoing novelistic chronicle of the lead character's life. Most super heroes had problems no more complex or relevant to their readers' lives than thwarting this month's bad guys... Parker had far more serious concern in his life: coming to terms with the death of a loved one, falling in love for the first time, struggling to make a living, and undergoing crises of conscience."
| source = Comics historian [[Peter Sanderson]]{{Sfn|Sanderson|1998|p=75}}
| width = 33%
}}

Sally Kempton for the ''[[Village Voice]]'' opined in 1965 that "Spider-Man has a terrible identity problem, a marked [[inferiority complex]], and a fear of women. He is [[Antisocial personality disorder|antisocial]], [[Castration anxiety|castration-ridden]], racked with [[Oedipus complex|Oedipal guilt]], and accident-prone ... [a] functioning [[neurosis|neurotic]]".{{Sfn|Kempton|1965}} Spider-Man's writers often describe him as an [[everyman]] who stands in from the average reader; however, he is also characterized it has also been argued that he is one of the first [[nerd]] heroes. Comics scholar Phillip Lamarr Cunningham says that "[Peter] Parker arguably epitomizes the conflation of everyman and nerd better than any popular culture figure."{{Sfn|Cunningham|2012|p=23}} Agonizing over his choices, always attempting to do right, he is nonetheless viewed with suspicion by the authorities, who seem unsure as to whether he is a helpful vigilante or a clever criminal.{{Sfn|Daniels|1991|p=95}}

Cultural historian Bradford W. Wright notes:

{{blockquote|Spider-Man's plight was to be misunderstood and persecuted by the very public that he swore to protect. In the first issue of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', J. Jonah Jameson, publisher of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'', launches an editorial campaign against the "Spider-Man menace". The resulting negative publicity exacerbates popular suspicions about the mysterious Spider-Man and makes it impossible for him to earn any more money by performing. Eventually, the bad press leads the authorities to brand him an outlaw. Ironically, Peter finally lands a job as a photographer for Jameson's ''Daily Bugle''.{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=212}}}}

The mid-1960s stories reflect the political tensions of the time; early 1960s Marvel stories often deal with the [[Cold War]] and [[communism]].{{Sfn|Wright|2001|pp=220–223}} Wright writes:

{{blockquote|From his high-school beginnings to his entry into college life, Spider-Man remained the superhero most relevant to the world of young people. Fittingly, then, his comic book also contained some of the earliest references to the politics of young people. In 1968, in the wake of actual militant [[student demonstration]]s at Columbia University, Peter Parker finds himself in the midst of similar unrest at his Empire State University.... Peter has to reconcile his natural sympathy for the students with his assumed obligation to combat lawlessness as Spider-Man. As a law-upholding liberal, he finds himself caught between militant leftism and angry conservatives.{{Sfn|Wright|2001|pp=234–235}}}}

Comics scholar Peter Lee identifies a theme of generational consciousness for [[Baby Boomers]] in Spider-Man stories of the 1960s, and an emphasis on a generation gap with their elders.{{Sfn|Lee|2012|pp=29-31}} Douglas Wolk emphasizes Parker's complex identity formation through conflict with paternal authority figures; many of his most prominent arch-enemies can be viewed as distorted [[father figure]]s.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=84}} Wolk also points out a continual theme of a frustrated ''[[bildungsroman]]'', the classic narrative of transition from childhood to adulthood: Parker is often about to achieve the resolution of maturity before this progress is unfairly interrupted.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|pp=80-81}}

Mike Flanagan also points out Spider-Man's bond with [[New York City]], and the complex [[metafiction]]al relationship between the real, factual city and its representation in the fantastical world of superhero comics.{{Sfn|Flanagan|2012|p=50}}

==Powers, skills, and equipment==
Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and subsequently developed the ability to stick to walls and climb smooth surfaces, the proportionate strength, speed, agility, and reflexes of a spider, and a "spider-sense" that warns him of danger.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=386}} Commentators have speculated that a distance-dependent interaction between his body and surfaces, known as the [[van der Waals force]], accounts for his sticking ability.<ref>{{Cite comic |writer=[[Sanderson, Peter]]; Lerner, Mark; [[DeFalco, Tom]] |penciller=[[Romita, John Jr.]] |inker=[[Rubinstein, Josef]] |story=Spider-Man |title=[[The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe]] |issue=10 |page=22 |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |date=October 1983}}</ref>

The character was originally conceived by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko as intellectually gifted, and later writers have depicted his intellect at genius level.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kiefer, Kit |title=Marvel Encyclopedia Volume 4: Spider-Man |last2=Couper-Smartt, Jonathan |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7851-1304-1 |location=New York}}</ref> Academically brilliant, Peter has expertise in the fields of [[applied science]], [[chemistry]], [[physics]], [[biology]], [[engineering]], [[mathematics]], and [[mechanics]].

Spider-Man designed his own web-shooters that depend on an organic fluid. He can swing from building to building on these webs, and use them as fighting weapons. He also invented spider-tracers that he is able to track with his spider-sense.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=386}}

==Supporting cast==
{{main|List of Spider-Man supporting characters|List of incarnations of Spider-Man}}
[[File:Spider-Man characters.jpeg|thumb|Spider-Man contains a wide number of enemies and side characters. A variant cover art of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 3) #1 depicts the heads of various [[List of Spider-Man enemies|Spider-Man enemies]] behind Spider-Man (as drawn by [[Kevin Maguire (artist)|Kevin Maguire]]), shown in the center.|250x250px|alt=Spider-Man in front of multiple characters' heads.]]
Spider-Man has had a large range of supporting characters introduced in the comics that are essential in the issues and storylines that star him. After [[Richard and Mary Parker|his parents]] died, Peter Parker was raised by his loving aunt, [[Aunt May|May Parker]], and his uncle and father figure, [[Uncle Ben|Ben Parker]]. After Uncle Ben is murdered by [[Burglar (comics)|a burglar]], Aunt May is virtually Peter's only family, and she and Peter are very close.{{Sfn|McWilliams|2012|p=187-189}}

[[J. Jonah Jameson]] is the publisher of the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'' and Peter Parker's boss. A harsh critic of Spider-Man, he constantly features negative articles about the superhero in his newspaper. Jameson can be interpreted as symbolic of demagogic, sensationalistic media.{{Sfn|Drucker|2012|p=99}} In contrast, [[Robbie Robertson (character)|Robbie Robertson]], Jameson's editor and confidant, is always depicted as a supporter of both Spider-Man and his alter ego Peter Parker.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=21}}

[[Flash Thompson|Eugene "Flash" Thompson]] is commonly depicted as Peter Parker's high school tormentor and bully, who idolizes Spider-Man, but is unaware that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. Later, he becomes a friend of Peter and adopts his own superhero identity, Agent Venom, after merging with the [[Venom (character)|Venom]] [[Symbiote (comics)|symbiote]].{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=21}} Meanwhile, [[Harry Osborn]], son of Norman Osborn, is Peter's best friend, and experiences problems with drug addiction.{{Sfn|Drucker|2012|p=97}}

=== Enemies ===
{{main|List of Spider-Man enemies}}
Writers and artists over the years have established a [[rogues gallery]] of [[supervillains]] to [[List of Spider-Man enemies|face Spider-Man]], in comics and [[List of Spider-Man enemies in other media|in other media]]. As with Spider-Man, the majority of the villains' powers originate with scientific accidents or the misuse of scientific technology, and many have animal-themed costumes or powers.{{Sfn|Mondello|2004|pp=232-238}} Comics scholar Rick Hudson argues that Spider-Man's enemies are in some sense "'ordinary guys' living in a fantastical world", in contrast to the operatic, gothic villains who [[Batman]] faces.{{Sfn|Hudson|2012|p=128}} In the early period written by Steve Ditko, Spider-Man's enemies are usually older men whose power comes from scientific inventions.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=84}}

The Norman Osborn version of the Green Goblin is most commonly regarded as Spider-Man's [[arch-enemy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN writer talks about Spidey's new Amazing Friends and lays the Osborns to rest once and for all &#124; Marvel.com News |url=http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.2233.tuesday_q%26a~colon~_brian_michael_bendis |access-date=2010-04-27 |publisher=Marvel.com |archive-date=March 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330080425/http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.2233.tuesday_q%26a~colon~_brian_michael_bendis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Love is in the air as Marvel.com's Secret Cabal picks the greatest Marvel romances of all in time for Valentine's Day &#124; Marvel.com News |url=http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.2581.take_10~colon~_marvel~apos~s_finest_couples |access-date=2010-04-27 |publisher=Marvel.com |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212184120/http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.2581.take_10%7ecolon%7e_marvel%7eapos%7es_finest_couples |url-status=live }}</ref> While Norman is usually portrayed as an amoral [[Business magnate|industrialist]] and the head of the [[Oscorp]] scientific corporation, the Goblin is a psychopathic alternate personality, born after Norman's exposore to some unstable chemicals that also increased his strength and agility. The Goblin is a [[Halloween]]-themed villain, dressing up like an actual [[goblin]] and utilizing a large arsenal of high tech weapons, including a glider and pumpkin-shaped explosives. Unlike most villains, who only aim to kill Spider-Man, the Goblin also targets his loved ones and shows no remorse in killing them as long as it caused pain to Spider-Man. His most infamous feat is killing [[Gwen Stacy]] in "[[The Night Gwen Stacy Died]]." While the Goblin was killed in the same story, he returned in the 1990s to plague Spider-Man once again. He also came into conflict with [[Dark Reign (comics)|other heroes]], such as the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]].<ref name="25.52">{{Cite web |last1=Yehl, Joshua |last2=Schedeen, Jess |title=Top 25 Spider-Man Villain: Part 5 |date=April 16, 2014 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/16/top-25-spider-man-villains?page=5 |access-date=19 April 2014 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418201319/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/16/top-25-spider-man-villains?page=5 |url-status=live }}</ref> Norman is sometimes depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, even when not being the Green Goblin.<ref name="IGN #132">{{Cite web |title=Norman Osborn is number 13 on greatest comic book villain of all time. |url=http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/13.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021220521/http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/13.html |archive-date=21 October 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014 |publisher=IGN}}</ref>

Doctor Octopus (a.k.a. Doc Ock) is a highly intelligent [[mad scientist]] who uses four mechanical appendages for both movement and combat. He has been described as Spider-Man's greatest enemy, and the man Peter Parker might have become if he had not been raised with a sense of responsibility.{{Sfn|DeFalco|Lee|2001|p=1}}<ref name="CNN">{{Cite web |last=Hanks, Henry |date=December 26, 2012 |title=Events in landmark 'Spider-Man' issue have fans in a frenzy |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/spidey-700-controversy |access-date=2 January 2014 |publisher=[[CNN]] |archive-date=June 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604141800/http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/spidey-700-controversy |url-status=live }}</ref> Doc Ock is infamous for defeating him the first time in battle and for almost marrying Peter's [[Aunt May]]. He is also the core leader of the [[Sinister Six]].{{Sfn|Hudson|2012|p=130}} Later stories depicted his mind in Peter Parker's body, where [[The Superior Spider-Man|he acted as the titular character]].<ref name="CNN" />

The Eddie Brock incarnation of Venom is often regarded as Spider-Man's deadliest foe, and has been described as an evil mirror version of Spider-Man in many ways. He is also among Spider-Man's most popular villains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spider-Man villains tournament: Championship |date=February 2006 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/01/spider-man-villains-tournament?page=5 |access-date=25 April 2015 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618223312/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/01/spider-man-villains-tournament?page=5 |url-status=live }}</ref> Originally a reporter who grew to despise Spider-Man, Eddie later came into contact with the Venom symbiote, which had been rejected by Spider-Man. The symbiote merges with Eddie and gives him the same powers as Spider-Man, in addition to making him immune to the web-slinger's "spider-sense". Venom's main goal is to ruin Peter Parker's life and mentally confuse him in any way he can. The character has a sense of honor and justice, and later starred in his own [[Venom (comic book)|comic book stories]], where he is depicted as an [[antihero]] and has a desire to protect innocent people from harm.{{Sfn|Cebulski|2024|p=448}} On several occasions, he and Spider-Man even put their differences aside and became allies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shutt |first=Craig |date=August 1997 |title=Villain Turned Hero: Venom |page=37 |work=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] |issue=72}}</ref>

=== Romantic interests ===
As a high-schooler, Peter Parker's romantic interests first included his first crush, fellow high-school student [[Liz Allan]],{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=21}} and his first date, with [[Betty Brant]],<ref name="origins">Lee, Stan, ''[[Origins of Marvel Comics]]'' ([[Marvel Fireside Books|Simon and Schuster/Fireside Books]], 1974)<!--Book predates publisher's change to ampersand in corporate name--> p. 137</ref> who was secretary to the ''[[Daily Bugle]]'' newspaper publisher J. Jonah Jameson. Peter eventually falls in love with his college girlfriend [[Gwen Stacy]],{{Sfn|Sanderson|2007|pp=30=33}} daughter of [[New York City Police Department]] detective Captain [[George Stacy]]. Her father is killed by Doctor Octopus,{{Sfn|Royal|2012|p=87}} and Gwen blames Spider-Man for his death, not realizing Peter's secret identity.{{Sfn|Wolk|2021|p=87}} Gwen Stacy later dies after being held hostage by the [[Green Goblin]].{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=60}} The Green Goblin throws her from a bridge and Spider-Man attempts to save her, but a "snap" sound effect suggests that Spider-Man's web broke her neck when it interrupted her fall. The event of her death and ramifications are revisited in many subsequent storylines.{{Sfn|Royal|2012|p=82}}

[[Mary Jane Watson]] is first introduced in 1965, but does not become fully visible until the following year. Peter's Aunt May constantly suggests her as a blind date, which Peter continually postpones. When he finally meets her, she declares "Face It Tiger.... You Just Hit the Jackpot!", which becomes a repeated catchphrase. They date off and on through storylines over subsequent decades.{{Sfn|Weiner|2012|p=168}} She become Peter's best friend; in a storyline of 1987, they marry.{{Sfn|Saffel|2007|p=124}} However, in a story written two decades later, their marriage is erased from the memory of the world by [[Mephisto (Marvel Comics)|Mephisto]], in exchange for saving Aunt May's life.{{Sfn|Weiner|2012|p=169}}

Felicia Hardy, the [[Black Cat (Marvel Comics)|Black Cat]], is a reformed [[cat burglar]] who was Spider-Man's only superhuman girlfriend and partner.{{Sfn|Sanderson|1998|p=93}}

=== Children ===
The main incarnation of Spider-Man has never become a father. However, over the course of the comics, alternate versions of Peter Parker had biological children, usually with Mary Jane Watson. These include [[Mayday Parker|Spider-Girl (Mayday Parker)]] and [[Benjy Parker]] from the MC2 universe, and Spiderling (Annie Parker) from Earth-18119.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=George |last1=Marston |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Spider-Man's children: The Marvel Comics history of Spider-Kids |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/spiderman-mary-jane-children/ |access-date=July 6, 2023 |website=[[GamesRadar+]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Spider-Man's Amazing Kids |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/meet-spider-man-s-amazing-kids |access-date=July 6, 2023 |publisher=Marvel Entertainment}}</ref>

=== Alternate versions of Spider-Man ===
{{main|Alternative versions of Spider-Man}}

Within the [[Marvel Universe]], there exists a [[Multiverse (Marvel Comics)|multiverse]] with many variations of Spider-Man.<ref name="i09">{{Cite web |last=Whitbrook |first=James |title=The Greatest Spider-Men of All Time, Ranked |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-greatest-spider-men-of-all-time-ranked-1796693647 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230115046/https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-greatest-spider-men-of-all-time-ranked-1796693647 |archive-date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |website=io9|date=July 7, 2017 }}</ref> An early character included in the 1980s is the fictional [[anthropomorphic animal]] [[parody]] of Spider-Man as a pig named [[Spider-Ham]] (Peter Porker).<ref name="Time">{{Cite magazine |date=September 3, 2009 |title=Top 10 Oddest Marvel Characters |magazine=Time |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2009/09/02/top-10-oddest-marvel-characters/slide/spider-ham/ |url-status=live |access-date=March 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107152200/http://entertainment.time.com/2009/09/02/top-10-oddest-marvel-characters/ |archive-date=January 7, 2012}}</ref> Many imprints of Spider-Men were created, like the futuristic version of Spider-Man in [[Marvel 2099]] named [[Spider-Man 2099|Miguel O'Hara]]. In the [[Marvel Comics 2]] imprint, Peter marries Mary Jane and has a daughter named [[Mayday Parker]], who carries on Spider-Man's legacy, while [[Marvel Noir]] has a 1930s version [[Spider-Man Noir|of Peter Parker]].<ref name="i09" /><ref name="Spider-Men">{{Cite web |title=10 Best SPIDER-MEN Of All Time |url=https://www.newsarama.com/15652-behind-the-mask-10-amazing-ultimate-spider-man-secret-ids.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729054310/https://www.newsarama.com/15652-behind-the-mask-10-amazing-ultimate-spider-man-secret-ids.html |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |access-date=December 30, 2017 |website=[[Newsarama]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="FoxNews">{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Bryan |date=August 16, 2011 |title=Remembering the First – and Forgotten – Latino Spider-Man |publisher=[[Fox News]] Latino |url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/08/16/remembering-first-and-forgotten-latino-spider-man/ |url-status=dead |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912162030/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/08/16/remembering-first-and-forgotten-latino-spider-man/ |archive-date=September 12, 2011}}</ref> Other themed versions exist within the early 2000s, such as a [[Marvel Mangaverse]] version and an Indian version from ''[[Spider-Man: India]]'', [[Spider-Man (Pavitr Prabhakar)|Pavitr Prabhakar]].<ref name="i09" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ong, Benjamin |last2=Kean Pang |date=July 16, 2008 |title=Remembering When West Has Met East |work=[[Newsarama]] |url=http://www.newsarama.com/446-remembering-when-west-has-met-east.html |url-status=dead |access-date=July 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051610/https://www.newsarama.com/446-remembering-when-west-has-met-east.html |archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>

''[[Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' was a popular modern retelling of Spider-Man, [[Spider-Man (Ultimate Marvel character)|Peter Parker]]. The version of Peter Parker would later be depicted as being killed off and replaced by a [[Black Hispanic and Latino Americans|Black Hispanic]] Spider-Man named [[Miles Morales]].<ref name="USAToday1">{{Cite news |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=August 2, 2011 |title=Half-black, half-Hispanic Spider-Man revealed |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-01-black-spider-man_n.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803021934/http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-08-01-black-spider-man_n.htm |archive-date=August 3, 2011}}</ref>

The storyline "[[Spider-Verse]]" brought back many alternate takes on Spider-Man and introduced many new ones, such as an alternate world where [[Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy)|Gwen Stacy]] gets bitten by a radioactive spider instead, along with a British-themed version named [[Spider-UK]], who is Billy Braddock from the [[Captain Britain Corps]].<ref name="Spider-Men" /><ref name="design">{{Cite web |last=Ching |first=Albert |date=March 13, 2015 |title=Slott Details the Unexpected Origins of Spider-Gwen and Spider-Punk |url=http://www.cbr.com/slott-details-the-unexpected-origins-of-spider-gwen-and-spider-punk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909235327/http://www.cbr.com/slott-details-the-unexpected-origins-of-spider-gwen-and-spider-punk/ |archive-date=September 9, 2016 |access-date=September 9, 2016 |publisher=[[ComicBookResources.com]]}}</ref>

==Reception and legacy==
In ''The Creation of Spider-Man'', comic book writer-editor and historian [[Paul Kupperberg]] calls the character's superpowers "nothing too original"; what was original was that outside his secret identity, he was a "nerdy high school student".<ref name="Kupperberg" />{{rp|5}} Going against typical superhero fare, Spider-Man included "heavy doses of [[Soap opera|soap-opera]] and elements of melodrama". Kupperberg feels that Lee and Ditko had created something new in the world of comics: "the flawed superhero with everyday problems". This idea spawned a comics revolution.<ref name="Kupperberg">{{Cite book |last=Kupperberg |first=Paul |url=https://archive.org/details/creationofspider0000kupp |title=The Creation of Spider-Man |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4042-0763-9 |quote=spiderman legacy ditko lee. |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{rp|6}} The insecurity and anxieties in Marvel's early 1960s comic books, such as ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', ''The Incredible [[Hulk]]'', ''The [[Fantastic Four]]'', and ''The [[X-Men]]'' ushered in a new type of superhero, very different from the certain and all-powerful superheroes before them, and changed the public's perception of them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fleming |first=James R. |year=2006 |title=Review of Superman on the Couch: What Superheroes Really Tell Us about Ourselves and Our Society. By Danny Fingeroth |url=http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v2_2/reviews/fleming.shtml |url-status=live |journal=ImageText |publisher=University of Florida |issn=1549-6732 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209205725/http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v2_2/reviews/fleming.shtml |archive-date=December 9, 2015 |access-date=December 4, 2015}}</ref> Later stories also affected the entire genre of superhero comics. Historians of the genre have argued that the dark, pessimistic conclusion of the 1973 story "[[The Night Gwen Stacy Died]]" is partly responsible from the shift from the idealistic [[Silver Age of Comic Books]] to the more violent and troubled [[Bronze Age of Comic Books]].{{Sfn|Royal|2012|p=83}}

Spider-Man has become one of the most recognizable fictional characters in the world, and has been used to sell toys, games, cereal, candy, soap, and many other products.<ref name="Knowles">{{Cite book |last=Knowles |first=Christopher |title=Our Gods Wear Spandex |title-link=Our Gods Wear Spandex |publisher=Weiser |others=illustrated by Joseph Michael Linsner |year=2007 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=93Mv-1R5yskC&pg=PA139 139] |author-link=Christopher Knowles (comics)}}</ref> After the comics depicted a real address in [[Forest Hills, Queens]], New York, as May Parker's residence, its residents received many letters from children to the superhero.<ref name="barron20230207">{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=James |date=2023-02-07 |title=Spider-Man, We Know Where You Live |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/nyregion/spider-man-letters-queens.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He has been used as the company mascot. When Marvel became the first comic book company to be listed on the [[New York Stock Exchange]] in 1991, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' announced "Spider-Man is coming to [[Wall Street]]"; the event was in turn promoted with an actor in a Spider-Man costume accompanying Stan Lee to the Stock Exchange.{{Sfn|Wright|2001|p=254}}  Comics scholars Robert G. Weiner and Robert Moses Peaslee argue that Spider-Man is the clear flagship character of [[Marvel Comics]] and one of the best-known superheroes worldwide, only rivaled by [[Batman]] and [[Superman]]. They draw from research that indicates he is a globally recognizable character.{{Sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2012|p=4}} They cite statistics that from 1966 to 2012 [[The Amazing Spider-Man]] sold an estimated 145-150 million copies.{{Sfn|Weiner|Peaslee|2012|p=6}} As of 2014, Spider-Man was the world's most profitable superhero.<ref name="Davis">{{Cite web |last=Davis, Lauren |date=November 14, 2014 |title=This Superhero Is More Lucrative Than Batman And The Avengers Combined |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/this-superhero-is-more-lucrative-than-batman-and-the-av-1658853707 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313104405/http://io9.gizmodo.com/this-superhero-is-more-lucrative-than-batman-and-the-av-1658853707 |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |access-date=November 14, 2014 |website=[[io9]] |publisher=[[Gizmodo Media Group]]}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=July 2023|reason=This sentence cites an article from 2014.}} In 2014, global retail sales of licensed products related to Spider-Man reached approximately $1.3 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Block, Alex |date=November 13, 2014 |title=Which Superhero Earns $1.3 Billion a Year? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/superhero-earns-13-billion-a-748281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116023001/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/superhero-earns-13-billion-a-748281 |archive-date=November 16, 2014 |access-date=November 13, 2014 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Lynne Segall]]}}</ref> Comparatively, this amount exceeds the global licensing revenue of [[Batman]], [[Superman]], and the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] combined.<ref name="Davis" />

[[File:Barack Obama with Spider-Man.jpg|thumb|left|U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] pretending to be webbed up by a boy dressed in a Spider-Man costume inside the [[White House]]|alt=A boy in a Spider-Man costume pretends to shoot out spider webs towards Barack Obama.|251x251px]]
Spider-Man joined the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] from 1987 to 1998 as one of the balloon floats,<ref name="APCBS">[http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/5021372.php? "Spider-Man Returning to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade"], [[Associated Press]] via [[WCBS (AM)]], August 17, 2009, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106155836/http://www.wcbs880.com/pages/5021372.php |date=November 6, 2009 }}</ref> designed by [[John Romita Sr.]],<ref name=sketch45>Spurlock, J. David, and John Romita. ''John Romita Sketchbook''.<!--Note: No "The" in copyrighted title or on book cover--> (Vanguard Productions: Lebanon, N.J. 2002) {{ISBN|1-887591-27-3}}, p. 45: Romita: "I designed the Spider-Man balloon float. When we went to Macy's to talk about it, Manny Bass was there. He's the genius who creates all these balloon floats. I gave him the sketches and he turned them into reality".</ref> one of the character's signature artists. A new, different Spider-Man balloon float also appeared from 2009 to 2014.<ref name="APCBS" />

When Marvel wanted to issue a story dealing with the immediate aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks]], the company chose the November 2001 issue of ''The Amazing Spider-Man''.{{Sfn|Flanagan|2012|pp=50-52}} In 2006, Spider-Man garnered major media coverage with the revelation of the character's secret identity,<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 15, 2006 |title=Spider-Man Removes Mask at Last |work=[[BBC]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5084326.stm |url-status=live |access-date=September 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823041653/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5084326.stm |archive-date=August 23, 2006}}</ref> an event detailed in a full-page story in the ''[[New York Post]]'' before the issue containing the story was even released.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brady, Matt |date=June 14, 2006 |title=New York Post Spoils Civil War #2 |url=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/CivilWar/CivilWar2_End.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011110225/http://newsarama.com/marvelnew/CivilWar/CivilWar2_End.html |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=April 2, 2008 |website=[[Newsarama]]}}</ref>

In 2008, Marvel announced plans to release a series of educational comics the following year in partnership with the [[United Nations]], depicting Spider-Man alongside the [[UN Peacekeeping Forces]] to highlight UN peacekeeping missions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lane, Thomas |date=January 4, 2008 |title=Can Spider-Man help UN beat evil? |work=[[BBC]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7172016.stm |url-status=live |access-date=April 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219201724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7172016.stm |archive-date=February 19, 2008}}</ref> A ''[[BusinessWeek]]'' article listed Spider-Man as one of the top 10 most intelligent fictional characters in American comics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pisani |first=Joseph |author-link=Joseph Pisani |date=June 1, 2006 |title=The Smartest Superheroes |url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/smart_heroes/index_01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111004559/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/smart_heroes/index_01.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2007 |publisher=Business Week Online}}</ref>

In 2015, the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] decided ''[[Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment, LLC]]'', a case concerning royalties on a [[patent]] for an imitation web shooter. The opinion for the Court, by Justice [[Elena Kagan]], included several Spider-Man references, concluding with the statement that "with great power, there must also come—great responsibility".<ref>{{Citation |last=Caldwell |first=Patrick |title=Justice Elena Kagan Had Some Fun Writing About Spider-Man |date=June 22, 2015 |url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/06/elena-kagan-spider-man-supreme-court-kimble-marvel |work=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623064544/http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2015/06/elena-kagan-spider-man-supreme-court-kimble-marvel |access-date=June 23, 2015 |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Spider-Man has become a subject of scientific inquiry. In 1987, [[James Garbarino|researchers]] at [[Loyola University Chicago|Loyola University]] conducted a study into the utility of Spider-Man comics for informing children and parents about issues relating to [[Sexual abuse#Children|child abuse]].<ref name="pmid27065510">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Garbarino, J |year=1987 |title=Children's response to a sexual abuse prevention program: A study of the Spiderman comic |journal=Child Abuse & Neglect |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=143–148 |doi=10.1016/0145-2134(87)90044-5 |pmid=3828869}}</ref>

{{Quote box
|quote  = The culmination of nearly every superhero that came before him, Spider-Man is the hero of heroes. He's got fun and cool powers, but not on the god-like level of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. He's just a normal guy with girlfriend problems and money issues, so he's more relatable than playboy billionaire [[Iron Man]]. And he's an awkward teenager, not a wizened adult like [[Captain America]]. Not too hot and not too cold, Spider-Man is just right.
|source = 
|align=right
|width=25em
|author = —IGN staff on placing Spider-Man as the number one hero of Marvel.<ref name="heroes" /> }}

In 2005, [[Bravo (U.S. TV network)|Bravo]]'s ''Ultimate Super Heroes, Vixens, and Villains'' TV series declared that Spider-Man was the number 1 superhero.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Ultimate Super Heroes, Vixens, and Villains Episode Guide 2005 – Ultimate Super Villains |url=https://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=191868&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=4615590 |url-status=live |magazine=[[TV Guide]].com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501204412/http://www.tvguide.com/detail/tv-show.aspx?tvobjectid=191868&more=ucepisodelist&episodeid=4615590 |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine ranked him the fifth-greatest comic book character of all time.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters |url=https://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=5 |url-status=live |magazine=Empire Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122170913/http://www.empireonline.com/50greatestcomiccharacters/default.asp?c=5 |archive-date=January 22, 2012 |access-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]'' magazine placed Spider-Man as the third-greatest comic book character on their website.<ref name="Wizard">{{Cite magazine |title=Top 200 comic book characters |magazine=[[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]}}</ref> In 2011, Spider-Man placed third on [[IGN]]'s Top 100 Comic Book Heroes of All Time, behind [[DC Comics]] characters [[Superman]] and [[Batman]],<ref name="heroes">{{Cite web |title=IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes |url=https://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106211419/http://www.ign.com/top/comic-book-heroes/3 |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2011}}</ref> and sixth in their 2012 list of "The Top 50 Avengers".<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 30, 2012 |title=The Top 50 Avengers |url=https://www.ign.com/top/avengers/6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831012100/http://www.ign.com/top/avengers/6 |archive-date=August 31, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> In 2014, IGN identified Spider-Man the greatest Marvel Comics character of all time.<ref name="Marvel">{{Cite web |last1=Yehl |first1=Joshua |last2=Lakes |first2=Jeff |title=Top 25 Best Marvel Superheroes – IGN – Page 5 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/10/top-25-best-marvel-superheroes?page=5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507235206/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/09/10/top-25-best-marvel-superheroes?page=5 |archive-date=May 7, 2016 |access-date=May 4, 2016 |website=IGN}}</ref> A 2015 poll at [[Comic Book Resources]] named Spider-Man the greatest Marvel character of all time.<ref name="CBR">{{Cite web |last=Conin |first=Brian |date=November 5, 2015 |title=2015 Top 50 Marvel Characters 3–1 {{!}} Page 2 of 2 {{!}} Comics Should Be Good @ CBR |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/05/2015-top-50-marvel-characters-3-1/2/#storyContinued |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423013926/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2015/11/05/2015-top-50-marvel-characters-3-1/2/#storyContinued |archive-date=April 23, 2016 |access-date=May 4, 2016 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref> IGN described him as the common everyman that represents many normal people, but also noted his uniqueness compared to many superheroes with his depicted flaws as a superhero. IGN wrote that despite being one of the most tragic superheroes of all time, he is "one of the most fun and snarky superheroes in existence."<ref name="heroes" /> ''Empire'' praised Spider-Man's always-present sense of humor and wisecracks in the face of the many tragedies he faces. The magazine website appraised the depiction of his "iconic" superhero poses, describing it as "a top artist's dream".<ref name="Wizard" />

In 2022, Penguin Random House released a Penguin Classics edition of the first issues of Spider-Man as part of a line of Penguin Classics editions of other Marvel characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/93203-why-it-matters-that-marvel-comics-are-becoming-penguin-classics.html |title="Why It Matters That Marvel Comics Are Becoming Penguin Classics", ''Publishers Weekly''}}</ref>

===Real-life comparisons===
Real-life people who have been compared to Spider-Man for their climbing feats include:

*In 1981, skyscraper-safety activist [[Dan Goodwin]], wearing a Spider-Man suit, scaled the [[Sears Tower]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], the [[Renaissance Tower (Dallas)|Renaissance Tower]] in [[Dallas]], [[Texas]], and the [[John Hancock Center]] in Chicago.<ref name="Skyscraper Defense">{{Cite web |title=Skyscraper Defense |url=http://skyscraperdefense.com/building_climbs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716083034/http://www.skyscraperdefense.com/building_climbs.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2011}}</ref>
*[[Alain Robert]], nicknamed "Spider-Man", is a rock and urban climber who has scaled more than 70 tall buildings using his hands and feet, without using additional devices. He sometimes wears a Spider-Man suit during his climbs. In May 2003, he was paid approximately $18,000 to climb the {{convert|312|ft|adj=on|disp=flip}} [[Lloyd's building]] to promote the premiere of the movie ''Spider-Man'' on the British television channel [[Sky Movies]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moss |first=Stephen |date=2003-05-14 |title=I'm Spider-Man |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/may/14/features.stephenmoss |access-date=2023-07-29 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
*"The Human Spider", alias Bill Strother, scaled the [[Lamar Building]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]], in 1921.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cobb |first=Jocelyn |date=September 19, 1999 |title=Recalls 1921 climb of 'human spider' |work=[[The Augusta Chronicle]] |url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/091999/opi_032-5758.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=June 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211141818/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/091999/opi_032-5758.shtml |archive-date=December 11, 2007}}</ref>
* In Argentina, [[Crime in Argentina|criminals]] that climb buildings and [[trespass]] into private property through the open balconies are said to use the "Spider-Man method" (in Spanish, ''el Hombre Araña'').<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Video: un robo con la modalidad "hombre araña"en un departamento de Belgrano |trans-title=Video: a theft with the "Spider-Man" method at a Belgrano apartment |url=https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2017/02/17/video-un-robo-con-la-modalidad-hombre-aranaen-un-departamento-de-belgrano/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114608/https://www.infobae.com/sociedad/policiales/2017/02/17/video-un-robo-con-la-modalidad-hombre-aranaen-un-departamento-de-belgrano/ |archive-date=November 10, 2017 |access-date=November 10, 2017 |publisher=Infobae |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2008 |title=Un "hombre araña" asaltó y violó a una profesora de gimnasia |language=es |trans-title=A "Spider-man" raped and stole from a gym teacher |work=Clarín |url=https://www.clarin.com/policiales/hombre-arana-asalto-violo-profesora-gimnasia_0_H1lSvIRC6tx.html |url-status=live |access-date=November 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110061829/https://www.clarin.com/policiales/hombre-arana-asalto-violo-profesora-gimnasia_0_H1lSvIRC6tx.html |archive-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref>

==In other media==
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 | footer_background = 
 | footer_align      = left
 | footer            = [[Tobey Maguire]] (''left''), [[Andrew Garfield]] (''center''), and [[Tom Holland]] (''right'') have portrayed [[Spider-Man in film]].
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{{Main|Spider-Man in other media}}
{{Further|Spider-Man in film|Spider-Man in television|Spider-Man in literature|List of video games featuring Spider-Man}}

Spider-Man has appeared in comics, cartoons, films, video games, coloring books, novels, records, children's books, and [[The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man|theme park rides]].<ref name="Knowles" /> On television, he first starred in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] animated series ''[[Spider-Man (1967 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (1967–1970),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spider-Man (1967) |url=http://www.ugo.com/comic-con/?cur=spiderman-1967 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424153033/http://www.ugo.com/comic-con/?cur=spiderman-1967 |archive-date=April 24, 2008 |access-date=February 13, 2009 |publisher=[[UGO Networks]]}}</ref> ''[[Spidey Super Stories]]'' (1974–1977) on [[PBS]], and the [[CBS]] live-action series ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (TV series)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' (1978–1979), starring [[Nicholas Hammond]]. Other animated series featuring the superhero include the [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] ''[[Spider-Man (1981 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (1981–1982), ''[[Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends]]'' (1981–1983), [[Fox Kids]]' ''[[Spider-Man: The Animated Series]]'' (1994–1998), ''[[Spider-Man Unlimited]]'' (1999–2000), ''[[Spider-Man: The New Animated Series]]'' (2003), ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)|The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' (2008–2009), ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' (2012–2017),<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 30, 1999 |title=Ultimate Spider-Man |url=http://www.superherohype.com/features/articles/100587-animated-ultimate-spider-man-coming-to-disney-xd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113155840/http://www.superherohype.com/features/articles/100587-animated-ultimate-spider-man-coming-to-disney-xd |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> [[Disney XD]]'s ''[[Spider-Man (2017 TV series)|Spider-Man]]'' (2017–2020), and ''[[Spidey and His Amazing Friends]]'' (2021–present). Spider-Man was first portrayed in live-action in ''[[Spidey Super Stories]]'', a recurring skit on ''[[The Electric Company]]'' from 1974 to 1977.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weiss |first=Brett |date=October 2010 |title=Spidey Super Stories |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=44 |pages=23–28}}</ref>

A [[tokusatsu]] series featuring Spider-Man was produced by [[Toei Company|Toei]] and aired in Japan. It is commonly referred to by its Japanese pronunciation [[Spider-Man (Toei TV series)|''Supaidā-Man'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japanese Spider-Man |url=http://marvel.com/movies/spider-man.japanese_spiderman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103133806/http://marvel.com/movies_and_tv |archive-date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> Spider-Man also appeared in other print forms besides the comics, including novels, [[Children's literature|children's books]], and the daily newspaper comic strip ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (comic strip)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'', which debuted in January 1977, with the earliest installments written by Stan Lee and drawn by [[John Romita Sr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Romita Interview |url=http://www.keefestudios.com/studio/romita/interview.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206045037/http://www.keefestudios.com/studio/romita/interview.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2012 |access-date=February 8, 2009 |publisher=www.keefestudios.com}}</ref> Spider-Man has been adapted to other media including games, toys, collectibles, and miscellaneous memorabilia, and has appeared as the main character in [[Spider-Man video games|numerous computer and video games]] on over 15 gaming platforms.

Spider-Man was featured in a [[Spider-Man in film|trilogy of live-action films]] directed by [[Sam Raimi]] and starring [[Tobey Maguire]] as the [[Peter Parker (2002 film series character)|titular superhero]]. The first ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' film of the trilogy was released on May 3, 2002, followed by ''[[Spider-Man 2]]'' (2004) and ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'' (2007). A third sequel was originally scheduled to be released in 2011; however, [[Sony]] later decided to [[Reboot (fiction)|reboot]] the franchise with a new director and cast. The reboot, titled ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man (film)|The Amazing Spider-Man]]'', was released on July 3, 2012, directed by [[Marc Webb]], and starred [[Andrew Garfield]] as the [[Peter Parker (The Amazing Spider-Man film series)|new Spider-Man]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 11, 2010 |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'Spider-Man 4' Scrapped; Sam Rami & Tobey Maguire & Cast Out; Franchise Reboot for 2012 |url=https://deadline.com/2010/01/urgent-spider-man-4-scrapped-as-is-raimi-and-cast-out-franchise-reboot-planned-21993/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804174841/http://www.deadline.com/2010/01/urgent-spider-man-4-scrapped-as-is-raimi-and-cast-out-franchise-reboot-planned/ |archive-date=August 4, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2010 |title="Spider-Man" Film Gets Reboot; Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire Out |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/01/spider-man-film-gets-reboot-sam-raimi-tobey-maguire-out.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907194220/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/01/spider-man-film-gets-reboot-sam-raimi-tobey-maguire-out.html |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2010 |publisher=Zap2it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 12, 2010 |title=Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi part ways with Spider-Man franchise |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6970745/Tobey-Maguire-and-Sam-Raimi-part-ways-with-Spider-Man-franchise.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428185549/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6970745/Tobey-Maguire-and-Sam-Raimi-part-ways-with-Spider-Man-franchise.html |archive-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> It was followed by ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man 2]]'' (2014).<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Andrew Garfield & Marc Webb Return For 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/andrew-garfield-marc-webb-amazing-spider-man-2_n_1924327.html |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213155445/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/andrew-garfield-marc-webb-amazing-spider-man-2_n_1924327.html |archive-date=December 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=July 20, 2013 |title=Garfield relishes web-swinging in 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/07/20/andrew-garfield-amazing-spider-man-movie-comic-con/2570725/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921064700/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/07/20/andrew-garfield-amazing-spider-man-movie-comic-con/2570725/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, Sony and [[Disney]] made a deal for Spider-Man to appear in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lesnick |first=Silas |date=February 9, 2015 |title=It's Official: Spider-Man Enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe! |url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/329465-its-official-spider-man-enters-the-marvel-cinematic-universe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210181459/http://www.superherohype.com/news/329465-its-official-spider-man-enters-the-marvel-cinematic-universe |archive-date=February 10, 2015 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |publisher=SuperHeroHype}}</ref> [[Tom Holland]] made [[Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|his debut as Spider-Man]] in the MCU film ''[[Captain America: Civil War]]'' (2016), before later starring in his standalone film ''[[Spider-Man: Homecoming]]'' (2017), directed by [[Jon Watts]].<ref name="VarietyTitle">{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brett |date=April 12, 2016 |title='Spider-Man' Movie Gets Official Title |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/spiderman-title-1201752204/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413132937/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/spiderman-title-1201752204/ |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 13, 2016 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="MarvelSonyJune23">{{Cite press release |title=Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios Find Their 'Spider-Man' Star and Director |date=June 23, 2015 |publisher=Marvel.com |url=http://marvel.com/news/movies/24758/sony_pictures_and_marvel_studios_find_their_spider-man_star_and_director |access-date=June 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623195515/http://marvel.com/news/movies/24758/sony_pictures_and_marvel_studios_find_their_spider-man_star_and_director |archive-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> Holland reprised his role as Spider-Man in ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Busch |first=Anita |date=February 11, 2017 |title=Robert Downey Jr. Confirms Spider-Man Character in 'Avengers: Infinity War' On FB Live |work=Deadline |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/spider-man-avengers-infinity-war-robert-downey-jr-fb-live-1201908712/ |url-status=live |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211031529/http://deadline.com/2017/02/spider-man-avengers-infinity-war-robert-downey-jr-fb-live-1201908712/ |archive-date=February 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |title='Avengers: Infinity War': Kevin Feige Reveals Spider-Man's Screentime |url=https://collider.com/avengers-infinity-war-spider-man-screentime/ |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428180826/http://collider.com/avengers-infinity-war-spider-man-screentime/ |archive-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'' (2019),<ref name="HollandAvengers4">{{Cite web |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |last2=Couch |first2=Aaron |date=April 18, 2017 |title=Marvel's Kevin Feige on Why the Studio Won't Make R-Rated Movies, 'Guardians 2' and Joss Whedon's DC Move |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvels-kevin-feige-why-studio-wont-make-r-movies-guardians-2-joss-whedons-dc-move-99507 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418171806/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvels-kevin-feige-why-studio-wont-make-r-movies-guardians-2-joss-whedons-dc-move-99507 |archive-date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2017 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]'' (2019),<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=December 9, 2016 |title='Spider-Man: Homecoming 2' Shoots Web Around Independence Day 2019 Frame; 'Bad Boys 4' Moves To Memorial Day |url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/spider-man-homecoming-2-bad-boys-4-1201867983/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210015214/http://deadline.com/2016/12/spider-man-homecoming-2-bad-boys-4-1201867983/ |archive-date=December 10, 2016 |access-date=December 9, 2016 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> and ''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]'' (2021); Maguire and Garfield reprise their roles in the latter film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Debruge |first=Peter |date=2021-12-14 |title='Spider-Man: No Way Home' Review: Tom Holland Cleans Out the Cobwebs of Sprawling Franchise With Multiverse Super-Battle |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/spider-man-no-way-home-review-tom-holland-1235132550/ |access-date=2021-12-14 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214115857/https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/spider-man-no-way-home-review-tom-holland-1235132550/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jake Johnson]] voiced an alternate universe version of Spider-Man in the animated film ''[[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Sony Unveils Plans for Animated 'Spider-Man' and 'Emojimovie: Express Yourself' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sony-unveils-plans-animated-spider-904574 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126071645/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sony-unveils-plans-animated-spider-904574 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> and reprised the role in its sequel ''[[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]'' (2023). [[Chris Pine]] also voiced another version of Peter Parker in ''Into the Spider-Verse''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=J.K. |date=November 29, 2018 |title='Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' Features Chris Pine in a Surprising Cameo |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/11/29/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-chris-pine-cameo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130144328/https://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/11/29/spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-chris-pine-cameo/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref> In 2021, [[Hudson Thames]] was cast as the voice of Spider-Man in animated anthology series ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'', replacing [[Tom Holland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a37512846/what-if-tom-holland-spider-man-hudson-thames/|title=Here's Why Tom Holland Didn't Voice Spider-Man in 'What If...?'|date=September 9, 2021|website=Men's Health|access-date=January 25, 2025|archive-date=April 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406214859/https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a37512846/what-if-tom-holland-spider-man-hudson-thames/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thedirect.com/article/spider-man-tom-holland-what-if-voice-actor-replacement-hudson-thames-exclusive|title=Tom Holland's Replacement Actor Breaks Silence on Spider-Man Voice Role In What If (Exclusive)|website=The Direct|last=Roembke|first=Matt|date=June 3, 2022|access-date=January 24, 2025|archive-date=July 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711102004/https://thedirect.com/article/spider-man-tom-holland-what-if-voice-actor-replacement-hudson-thames-exclusive|url-status=live}}</ref> He later reprised the role for animated series ''[[Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man]]'' (2025).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hickson |first=Colin |date=October 6, 2023 |title=Spider-Man: Freshman Year Synopsis Teases a 'New Era of Spider-Man' |url=https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-freshman-year-synopsis/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007192113/https://www.cbr.com/spider-man-freshman-year-synopsis/ |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |access-date=October 7, 2023 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/spider-man-actor-hudson-thames-your-friendly-neighborhood-casting/|title=Spider-Man Actor Addresses "Very Suspicious Phone Call" That Led To 2025 Marvel Casting|first=Andy|last=Behbakht|date=January 22, 2025|website=ScreenRant|access-date=January 25, 2025|archive-date=January 23, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123114913/https://screenrant.com/spider-man-actor-hudson-thames-your-friendly-neighborhood-casting/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following a brief contract dispute over financial terms, in 2019, Sony and Disney reached a deal to allow Spider-Man to return to the MCU, with the two studios jointly producing Spider-Man films.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=September 27, 2019 |title=Spider-Man returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sony and Disney strike a new deal |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/27/20887093/spider-man-marvel-cinematic-universe-sony-disney-tom-holland-kevin-feige |access-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930200416/https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/27/20887093/spider-man-marvel-cinematic-universe-sony-disney-tom-holland-kevin-feige |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Broadway musical]], ''[[Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark]]'', began previews on November 14, 2010, at the [[Foxwoods Theatre]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], with the official opening night on June 14, 2011.<ref name="Lustig">Lustig, Jay. [http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2011/01/spider-man_turn_off_the_dark_-.html "''Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark''"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121211316/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2011/01/spider-man_turn_off_the_dark_-.html |date=January 21, 2011 }}. [[New Jersey On-Line]]. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011.</ref><ref name="playaug">Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141945-Reeve-Carney-Jennifer-Damiano-Patrick-Page-to-Star-in-Spider-Man-Performances-Begin-in-November "Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, Patrick Page to Star in Spider-Man; Performances Begin in November"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501090333/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141945-Reeve-Carney-Jennifer-Damiano-Patrick-Page-to-Star-in-Spider-Man-Performances-Begin-in-November |date=May 1, 2011 }}. Playbill.com, August 10, 2010</ref> [[Reeve Carney]] originally played the starring role.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2010 |title=Complete Cast Announced for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark |url=http://www.broadway.com/shows/spider-man-turn-off-the-dark/buzz/153279/complete-cast-announced-for-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112192349/http://www.broadway.com/shows/spider-man-turn-off-the-dark/buzz/153279/complete-cast-announced-for-spider-man-turn-off-the-dark/ |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=October 9, 2010 |publisher=Broadway.com}}</ref> The music and lyrics were written by [[Bono]] and [[The Edge]] of the rock group [[U2]], with a book by [[Julie Taymor]], [[Glen Berger]], and [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=SpidermanBroadway.Marvel.com |url=http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104081237/http://spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com/ |archive-date=January 4, 2012 |access-date=April 10, 2010 |publisher=Spidermanonbroadway.marvel.com}}</ref> ''Turn Off the Dark'' is currently the most expensive musical in Broadway history, costing an estimated $70 million.<ref name="March">Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/146654-Troubled-Spider-Man-Turn-Off-the-Dark-Delays-Broadway-Opening-Again "Troubled ''Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark'' Delays Broadway Opening Again"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117105307/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/146654-Troubled-Spider-Man-Turn-Off-the-Dark-Delays-Broadway-Opening-Again |date=January 17, 2011 }}. Playbill.com. January 13, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2011.</ref> In addition, the show's unusually high running costs are reported to have been about $1.2 million per week.<ref>[https://theweek.com/article/index/206033/spider-man-the-musical-an-instant-guide "Could Spider-Man the Musical be the 'biggest disaster in Broadway history'?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110120165023/http://theweek.com/article/index/206033/spider-man-the-musical-an-instant-guide |date=January 20, 2011 }}. ''[[The Week]]''. August 13, 2010 (updated November 4, 2010).</ref>

In the fine arts, since the [[Pop art|Pop Art]] period of the 1960s, the character of Spider-Man has been "appropriated" by multiple visual artists and incorporated into contemporary artwork, including [[Andy Warhol]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sargent |first=Antwaun |date=2018-11-01 |title=Seven Artists on the Warhol Influence |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/arts/design/seven-artists-on-the-warhol-influence.html |access-date=2020-07-09 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618032354/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/01/arts/design/seven-artists-on-the-warhol-influence.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Marvels |url=https://www.warhol.org/marvels/ |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=The Andy Warhol Museum |date=August 11, 2011 |language=en-US |archive-date=July 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717024024/https://www.warhol.org/marvels/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roy Lichtenstein]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grebey |first=James |date=2018-12-11 |title=Forget Uncle Ben – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse's real hero is Ben-Day dots |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/spider-man-into-the-spider-verses-real-hero-are-ben-day-dots |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019221700/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/spider-man-into-the-spider-verses-real-hero-are-ben-day-dots |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=SYFY WIRE |language=en}}</ref> [[Mel Ramos]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-30 |title=From Superheroes to Pin-Up Girls |url=https://www.art-scene.tv/en/news/details/datum/2015/07/23/from-superheroes-to-pin-up-girls.html |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=Arts Scene |language=en |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807082201/https://www.art-scene.tv/en/news/details/datum/2015/07/23/from-superheroes-to-pin-up-girls.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Vijay (actor)|Vijay]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Vaseegara Movie Scenes-Vijay in Spiderman costume | website=Youtube | date=2021-11-23 | url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/-oy15jZ2vKw | access-date=2024-05-30}}</ref> [[Dulce Pinzon]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinzon |first=Dulce |title=Mexican Superheroes |url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2008/04/mexican-superheroes-dulce-pinzon/ |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118224226/https://www.motherjones.com/media/2008/04/mexican-superheroes-dulce-pinzon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mr. Brainwash]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-18 |title=30 Life Is Beautiful Graffiti Pop Art By Mr Brainwash |url=https://painted.com/graffiti-pop-art-brainwash/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806012309/https://painted.com/graffiti-pop-art-brainwash/ |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=2020-07-09 |website=Painted.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[F. Lennox Campello]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spiderman Naked (2013) {{!}} Washington Project for the Arts |url=https://www.wpadc.org/artist/florencio-lennox-campello/spiderman-naked |access-date=2020-07-15 |website=Washington Project for the Arts |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807115351/https://www.wpadc.org/artist/florencio-lennox-campello/spiderman-naked |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2025, Chicago's Griffin [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]] opened ''Marvel's Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spider-Man |url=https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/spider-man |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=www.msichicago.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Christopher Borrelli {{!}} Chicago |date=2025-06-04 |title=Spider-Man spins a complicated web. This new exhibit at Griffin MSI is just for fun. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/06/04/spider-man-exhibit-griffin-msi/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> It spans two galleries. The ''Chicago Tribune'' reports, "The first is dedicated to building the character; the other to its ripening and expansion," and the exhibit includes archival material not from Marvel or DC but from eight collectors, as well as film props and a final station with supplies that enable visitors to draw their own interpretation of Spider-Man.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[List of Spider-Man storylines]]
* [[List of Marvel Comics superhero debuts]]
* [[The Leopard from Lime Street]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
* [[File:CC BY-SA icon.svg|50px]] Content in this article was copied from [http://characters.wikia.com/wiki/Spider-Man Spider-Man] at the Fictional Characters wiki, which is licensed under the [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 (Unported) (CC BY-SA 3.0) license].
{{Reflist}}

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* {{Cite book |last1=Evanier |first1=Mark |title=Kirby: King of Comics |last2=Gaiman |first2=Neil |publisher=Abrams |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-8109-9447-8 |author-link=Mark Evanier |author-link2=Neil Gaiman}}
* {{Cite news |last=Harrington |first=Richard |date=February 4, 1992 |title=Stan Lee: Caught in Spidey's Web |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/02/04/stan-lee-caught-in-spideys-web/9e7bf42e-4287-4f9c-9fa1-a5f73fb2ee7e/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123172213/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1992/02/04/stan-lee-caught-in-spideys-web/9e7bf42e-4287-4f9c-9fa1-a5f73fb2ee7e/ |archive-date=November 23, 2020}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Kempton|first=Sally|date=April 1, 1965|title=Spider-Man: Super-Anti-Hero In Forest Hills|journal=[[The Village Voice]]|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/spider-man-super-anti-hero-in-forest-hills/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120222914/https://www.villagevoice.com/spider-man-super-anti-hero-in-forest-hills/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2023|access-date=October 4, 2025}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Stan |title=Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee |last2=Mair |first2=George |publisher=Fireside |year=2002 |isbn=978-0-684-87305-3 |author-link=Stan Lee}}
* {{Cite book |last=Manning |first=Matthew K. |title=Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-0756692360 |editor-last=Gilbert |editor-first=Laura}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Mondello |first=Salvatore |date=March 2004 |title=Spider-Man: Superhero in the Liberal Tradition |journal=The Journal of Popular Culture |volume=X |issue=1 |pages=232–238 |doi=10.1111/j.0022-3840.1976.1001_232.x }}
* {{cite journal |last=Murray  |first=Will |date=August 2020|title=The Secret Origin of Spider-Man |journal=RetroFan |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |location=United States|issue=10 |pages=24–29}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Peaslee|editor-first1=Robert Moses|editor-last2=Weiner|editor-first2=Robert G.|year=2012|publisher=[[McFarland & Company]]|title=Web-Spinning Heroics: Critical Essays on the History and Meaning of Spider-Man|isbn=978-0-7864-4627-8}}
**{{harvc|last=Cunningham|first=Phillip Lamarr|c=Donald Glover for Spider-Man|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=22-28}}
**{{harvc|last=Drucker|first=Aaron|c=Spider-Man: MENACE!!! Stan Lee, Censorship and the 100-Issue Revolution|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=90-100}}
**{{harvc|last=Flanagan|first=Martin|c='Continually in the Making': Spider-Man's New York|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=40-52}}
**{{harvc|last=Hudson|first=Rick|c=The Sinister Six: Anti-Villains in an Anti-Heroic Narrative|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=128-133}}
**{{harvc|last=Lee|first=Peter|c=Have Great Power, Greatly Irresponsible: Intergenerational Conflict in 1960s ''Amazing Spider-Man''|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=29-39}}
**{{harvc|last=McWilliams|first=Ora C.|c=The Incorrigible Aunt May|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=187-194}}
**{{harvc|last=Royal|first=Derek Parter|c=Strategies of Narration in Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale's ''Spider-Man Blue''|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=81-88}}
**{{harvc|last=Weiner|first=Robert G.|c=Three Stories, Three Movies and the Romances of Mary Jane and Spider-Man|year=2012|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=166-176}}
**{{harvc|last1=Weiner|first1=Robert G.|last2=Peaslee|first2=Robert Moses|year=2012|c=Introduction|in1=Peaslee|in2=Weiner|pages=4-21}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Ridout|editor-first=Cefn|title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History: New Edition|publisher=DK|year=2022|isbn=978-0-7440-5451-4}}
**{{harvc|last=Manning|first=Matthew K.|year=2022|c=2000s|in=Ridout|2022|pages=280-333}}
**{{harvc|last=Sanderson|first=Peter|year=2022|c=1970s|in=Ridout|2022|pages=136-183}}
**{{harvc|last=Wiacek|first=Stephen (Win)|year=2022|c=2010s|in=Ridout|2022|pages=334-379}}
* {{cite book |last=Saffel|first=Steve|title=Spider-Man the Icon: The Life and Times of a Pop Culture Phenomenon|year=2007|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=978-1-84576-324-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Sanderson|first=Peter|title=Marvel Universe: The Complete Encyclopedia of Marvel's Greatest Characters|publisher=Harry N. Abrams|year=1998|isbn=0-8109-8171-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sanderson |first=Peter |title=The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4165-3141-8}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders|editor-first=Ben|year=2022|title=The Amazing Spider-Man by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|isbn=978-0-14-313572-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Simon |first=Joe |title=Joe Simon: My Life in Comics |publisher=[[Titan Books]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-84576-930-7 |location=London, UK}}
* {{Cite book |last=Theakston |first=Greg |title=The Steve Ditko Reader |publisher=Pure Imagination |year=2002 |isbn=978-1-56685-011-7 |location=Brooklyn, New York}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Thomas |first=Roy |date=August 2011 |title=Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Interview! |journal=[[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]] |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=104 |pages=3–45}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Wilkins|editor-first=Jonathan|year=2022|title=Spider-Man: The First 60 Years|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|isbn=978-1787739369}}
* {{cite book |last=Wolk|first=Douglas|year=2021|title=All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told|publisher=[[Penguin Press]]|isbn=978-0-7352-2216-8}}
* {{Cite book |last=Wright |first=Bradford W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_iYL9qTMu1EC |title=Comic Book Nation |publisher=Johns Hopkins Press: Baltimore |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-8018-7450-5 |oclc=53175529}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=no|wikt=spiderman|b=no|q=Spider-Man|s=no|commons=Category:Spider-Man and his cast|n=Spider-Man|v=no|d=Q79037}}
* [https://www.marvel.com/characters/spider-man-peter-parker Spider-Man] at Marvel Universe Wiki
* {{Comicbookdb|type=character|id=389|title=Spider-Man}}
* [https://cosmosmagazine.com/physics/the-science-of-spider The science of Spider-Man], ''[[Cosmos (Australian magazine)|Cosmos]]''
* {{Marveldatabase|Peter_Parker_(Earth-616)|Peter Parker (Earth-616)}}

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