Spider-Man

Spider-Man first appeared in Marvel Comics’ Amazing Fantasy in 1962. The following year, he was given his own comic-book series, The Amazing Spider-Man. This was soon Marvel's top-selling title, and the character became a cultural icon.

In 1972, Spider-Man’s popularity was used to raise the profile of other superheroes and villains with the Marvel Team Up series of comics, in which the young web-slinger was paired with a different character every issue.

Spider-Man’s first appearance in a live-action movie was 1969’s unauthorized Spider-Man. A number of other movies followed, leading to the 2002’s big-budget Spider-Man. This was followed by a succession of solo and ensemble projects, including Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

The enduring success of Spider-Man has resulted in the character becoming a hot property among toy manufacturers. With countless mini action figures, LEGO® playsets and other gifts for kids, available, it seems Spider-Man is as popular as ever.

Spider-Man and Peter Parker, the teenage Marvel superhero.

Peter Parker is an orphaned schoolboy who lives with his Aunt May. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, he displayed amazing spider-like abilities. As Spider-Man, he uses these powers to help others – while struggling with more familiar teenage issues as his ordinary self. Spider-Man’s spider gifts include super strength, endurance and an ability to leap around with supreme agility and grip to almost any surface. With his wrist-worn web-shooters, he can fire out synthetic, high-strength ‘web’, with which he can swing from building to building and immobilize bad guys.

With lasting respect for the high-tech heroics of Iron Man (Tony Stark), Spider-Man developed a friendship with the billionaire inventor – though the teenager’s rebellious nature does sometimes cause friction between the pair. Spider-Man makes periodic appearances with his fellow superheroes, but he is usually happiest when fighting crime solo on the streets of his own neighborhood. Here he encounters a number of small-time villains as well as his arch-antagonist, the Vulture.