My favorite Marvel character finally makes his debut in Amazing Fantasy #15 (June 1962): Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man! Like Superman and Batman, we pretty much all know the origin story, but it’s still so much fun to show some of that old Steve Ditko art. After getting bit by a radioactive spider, high school nerd Peter Parker finds he has the powers of a spider.
He immediately tries to figure out how he can use his powers to better his own life, after years of being picked on by everyone except his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, who are the sweetest old couple you ever did see. Peter puts his scientific genius to good use, fashioning web shooters and a skin-tight, breathable costume.
After filming a tv special showcasing his amazing abilities, a criminal runs by him, but does Spider-Man lift a finger to stop him? No way bub. That’s the policeman’s job. Peter is thru being pushed around — by anyone!
Weeks later as Spider-Man’s celebrity begins to grow, Peter finds out that a criminal has murdered Uncle Ben and his holed up in a warehouse. Spider-Man rushes to the warehouse and captures the criminal only to learn – –
– – it was the very criminal he late escape two pages earlier! This may be the one and only time we see pupils through Spiderman’s mask?
It really is a brilliant origin story! Putting the focus not on super-heroics but on consequences and responsibility was a great idea. Making Peter Parker a teenager with real bully problems was also very clever. It’s still very raw at this stage, no super-villains, no wise-cracking, no romances, but it’s still great!