Queirolo 1

Julianna Queirolo Ms. Bell English IV 26 August 2013 Comic Book Research: Spider-Man Comic books were invented to tell stories in a new way, using pictures and not as much writing. The industry of comic books is believed to be inspired from Greek mythological gods. The story of Spider-Man was more serious rather than comical. -History of Comic Books: Comic books have existed for a rather long period of time. Particular elements of comic book genres may even be traced as far back to ancient Greek mythological gods and superheroes (randomhistory.com). These stories were more than a form of entertainment for children. Comic books are serious and sophisticated art that feeds off of and creates cultural formulas and historical conducts (randomhistory.com). To this day, many people keep comic books as collectors items. Marvel and Detective Comics, or DC, are two major comic book publishers. DCs original name was National Periodical Publication. Marvel was first Timely Comics then changed their name to Atlas Comics during the 1950s (randomhistory.com). In 1991, Marvel became the first comic book publisher to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange.

610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 2

Ages were given to comic books to distinguish time periods that share concerns, storytelling techniques, marketing strategies, styles of art and writing, and the approach to genre conventions. The Golden Age lasted from 1938 to 1956. The years from 1956 to 1971 were the Silver Age. The Bronze Age consisted of the years 1971 through 1980. Seven years after that was considered the Iron Age. The Modern Age exists from 1987 to present (randomhistory.com). The comic book industry has many known originators. Benjamin Franklin created the first editorial cartoon in 1754. His cartoon was published in the American newspaper for all to see. Artists like Rudolph Topffer, Wilhem Bush, Christophe, and Angelo Agostini were authors of comic books. Angelo Agostini was the first Brazilian comic artist (inventors.about.com). -Superhero History: Spider-Man, Peter Parker, was introduced 50 years ago by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. He was shown in the last issue of Marvel Comics Amazing Fantasy. He was produced during the Silver Age of the comic book industry (superherocomicshop.com). Spider-Man is a teenage superhero whose personality and background story won over many fans. In 1963, Marvel gave him his own series, The Amazing Spider-Man. There have been multiple different shows, liveaction and animated, as well as a few movies and to follow the awesome comic book story. Other comic books were written after the first Spider-Man by different authors (comicbookresourses.com). Peters parents passed away in a plane crash, so his Aunt May and Uncle Ben took him in at a very young age. They treated him as if he were their child because they had none of their own. They lived in New York City, which is Peters hometown as well. In high school, Peter was

610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 3

a bright and imaginative boy, who was considered a nerd and wimp. Surprisingly, he still had the courage to ask out girls, though he would rarely get accepted for a date (superherostuff.com). After a bite from a radioactive spider, Peter began to take on supernatural powers including extreme speed and strength. He was able to climb up walls and shoot out webs that he could swing from. With these capabilities, Peter turned into the fascinating Spider-Man. He collected many fans while protecting the city and its people and occasionally fighting crazy villains (comicbookresources.com). Spider-Man was very popular because of his young age, which many readers could relate to, and the fact that he was a new type of hero. His powers were different, and he was not a sidekick. Spider-Man is recognized all around the world in his own stories and as a member of Captain Americas team, the Avengers (comicbookresources.com). -Writer/Artist: Stan Lee was born on December 28, 1922 with the name Stanley Martin Lieber in New York City. He changed his name when he was older to shorten it. Lee spent most of his childhood during the Great Depression with his younger brother and struggling parents (biography.com). Lee started to work for Marvel Comics when it was initially called Timely Comics in 1939 at the age of seventeen. He became an editor for the company in the early 1940s. He served in the Army during World War II while continuing to work as a writer and illustrator (biography.com).

610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 4

As Marvel Comics became more popular, Lee was promoted to editorial director and publisher in 1972. He was mainly known for creating his amazing characters with real problems. One of the famous quotes by Lee was, As far as Im concerned, a really great comic-book story is every bit as creative and important as a great story done in any other form of the media, (biography.com) Many great comic book characters and their stories were created by Lee, including Spider-Man. Lee also began his own company POW! Entertainment and wrote an autobiography. President George W. Bush gave him a Medal of Arts honor as he prepared his new show on the History Channel (biography.com). Steve Ditko, the other writer and illustrator for Spider-Man, was born on November 2, 1927 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He first started working in the comic book industry for DC in 1953. Ditko also worked for Charlton comics, a low budget printing shop, in 1954. Ditko and Lee met in 1955 at Marvel Comics when it was Atlas Comics. They mostly worked together in the 60s at Marvel (steveditko.com). -Summary: The comic book story tells that Peter lives in Forest Hills, Queen with his Uncle Ben and Aunt May. He goes to Midtown High, where he is seen by everyone at school as a nerd. Peter visits a showing on radiation and gets bitten by a shining, dangerous spider. He soon finds out that he has the superfast speed and strength of a spider (comicbookresources.com). In the original Spider-Man, Amazing Fantasy, Peter decides to use his new skills as he enters a wrestling competition, but chooses to wear a mask in case he looses. Peter defeats the pro wrestler and wins the competition. He is asked by a TV producer to appear on a TV show.
610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 5

The producer tells Peter to keep the mask angle since a secret identity is great showmanship. Peter then makes his own red and black costume with touches of blue, but later becomes just red and blue (comicbookresources.com). After Uncle Ben is killed by a robber that Peter couldve stopped, Peter leaves the TV show to help fight crime in the city and become the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. He can detect dangerous oncoming situations and stop them before they happen (comicbookresources.com). J. Jonah Jameson hires Peter to take picture of the suspicious Spider-Man for his NOW Magazine and also for the Daily Bugle newspaper. Little does Jameson know that Peter actually is Spider-Man (comicbookresources.com). Actually, no one knows that Peter is Spider-Man because he stays hidden in his costume while using his superpowers. There are many different versions and authors of Spider-Man in book, TV, and movies form, but they all branch off of the original comic book. Spider-Man is a hero in every story and will always continue to be one. He greatly served his community and the people that live in it, as well as fighting off evil villains along the way (comicbookresources.com). -Review: Spider-Man is a great comic book that can teach readers many things. One of the most important lessons it can teach you is the value of being good over evil. Spider-Man learned that being good is better than being evil when he witnessed the killing of his uncle. That was the moment he decided to help his community as much as he could by keeping the public safe and as out of harms reach as possible. He gained many fans and supporters in doing so, especially the support of his Aunt May, who eventually learned of Peters secret identity.
610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 6

Spider-Man goes through the daily struggle of feeling obligated to protect everyone. Being the great superhero that he is, he continues to choose to defend New York City and its surrounding areas and people. He must deal with society as being a famous superhero while also being an unpopular teenager. An enormous amount of selflessness is shown throughout Spider-Mans actions. He is constantly putting everyone and everything before himself, which is very amazing and hard to do for many people. He continually saves the city from disasters, especially the massive lizard that attempts to take over. Spider-Man will always remain an awesome role model for individuals all over the world. He continues to inspire people to choose good rather than evil. He also teaches young adults that not every hero has a cape and that you can be anything you set your mind to.

610035821@student.musd.net

Queirolo 7

-Works Cited: Comicbookresources.com Biography.com Steveditko.com Superherostuff.com Inverntors.about.com Randomhistory.com McFarlane, Todd. Spider-Man: Torment Spider-Man 1. Marvel

610035821@student.musd.net