Real Name: Peter Parker

Location: New York City

First Appearance: Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)

Created By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Team Affiliations: New Avengers

Spider-Man's Powers

Spider-Man has spider-like abilities including superhuman strength and the ability to cling to most surfaces. He is also extremely agile and has amazing reflexes. Spider-Man also has a “spider sense,” that warns him of impending danger.

Spider-Man has supplemented his powers with technology. Being a brilliant chemist and scientist, Peter has made web-slingers, bracelets that shoot out a sticky webbing, allowing him to swing from building to building and ensnare opponents. He has also developed stingers that shoot powerful energy blasts that can stun foes.

In the recent storyline, Spider-Man has been reborn with even stronger abilities. He has the ability to see in the dark, enhanced senses, and can feel the vibrations through his webbing. In addition to this, the new, “Iron Spidey,” suit has enhanced his strength further and gives protection from damage. Recently, however, he has gotten rid of the suit and returned to the classic costume.

Interesting Fact:

The publishers didn't want to do a character named Spider-Man at first, they thought it was too scary.

Spider-Man's Main Villains

Green Goblin

Venom

Sandman

Hobgoblin

Vulture

Doctor Octopus

Lizard

Kraven

Chameleon

Mysterio

Rhino

Carnage

Spider-Man's Origin

Peter Parker was an orphaned teenage boy who lived in Queens, New York with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben. He was a shy boy, but highly intelligent and excelled in science. He was often teased by other more popular kids like longtime nemesis Flash Thompson, but his life was soon to change on a visit to the science museum.

At the science museum, Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider. The spider bite gave Peter spider-like powers with super strength and reflexes. He also had a “spider-sense” alerting him to danger. Armed with these new powers, Peter first sought fame and money before fighting crime. He worked with a wrestling circuit and got some fame and appeared on a television show. During a robbery of the television show, Peter has the chance to stop the thief but chose not to.

Peter later finds out that the same robber that he could have stopped at the television studio attempted to rob his aunt and uncle's residence, and his Uncle Ben was killed in the struggle. The words of his late uncle, "with great power there must also come great responsibility,” drive Peter to fight crime instead of chasing fame. Spider-Man was truly born.

One of the greatest turning points in Peter’s life was his relationship with Gwen Stacy. During his younger years, Gwen was the love of Peter’s life. The blond bombshell was a perfect fit for Peter. This relationship had a sad end when during a battle with Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, Gwen is killed. Peter did everything he could to save her. This event has always haunted Peter and made it difficult for him to trust others with his identity, fearing that they would become targets of his enemies.

Peter eventually dealt with his grief over Gwen and began a relationship with Mary Jane Watson, a high school friend and now model and actress. Their relationship was rocky, with Peter ever fearful that he would put Mary Jane in harm's way. Mary Jane finally told Peter that she has known for some time that Peter was Spider-Man, something that helped cement their new relationship.

In the mini-series, Secret Wars, many of the Earth’s heroes and villains are transported to a planet by the omnipotent being, “The Beyonder.” During his time there, Peter gets a new black costume that can alter its shape by the power of thought and has an unlimited supply of webbing. Peter takes the costume back to Earth and continues to fight crime in his new suit. The suit turns out to be an alien symbiont and tries to merge completely with Peter.

With the help of the Fantastic Four, Peter manages to free himself of the black costume and goes back to wearing his typical red and blue suit. The alien symbiont, however, bonds with fellow journalist and rival Eddie Brock, turning him into the villain Venom. The two have since become major enemies and continue to fight each other.

Peter has since learned that his powers are linked to the totem-like power of the Native Americans. In a ferocious battle with a being called Morlun, Peter died, only to be reborn again with stronger spider-like abilities. It was also during this battle that his Aunt May discovered that Peter was Spider-Man and is now one of his more vocal supporters.

Lately, Peter has come under the wing of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. Tony Stark has given him a new costume that further enhances his strength and abilities, such as protecting him from bullets. As part of Tony’s initiative to reign in superheroes with the Superhuman Registration Act, Peter served as the ultimate poster child, announcing his secret identity to the world. An act that may have serious consequences for the superhero in the future.

It took Peter some time, but he soon came to the realization that he was on the wrong side and defected to join Captain America's rogue band of heroes. When the war ended and Iron Man won, Peter went underground and donned his black costume again. He is now on the run from the authorities.