Unlike past generations of adolescents, the baby boomers also commanded disposable incomes that could make Spider-Man a best seller.Īlthough it bears some resemblance to an “overnight sensation,” the web-slinger’s success was in fact carefully planned by his creators, Saunders explains. Spider-Man and Peter Parker were a grand metaphor for the angst, excitement, and transitions of adolescence itself, and 1960s teenagers-a brand-new category of person that rather suddenly evolved from the older concept of “kids”-readily identified. When Spider-Man appeared, he expanded the emotional scope of the whole superhero genre.” How Robin, for example, feels about being an orphan boy who finds himself with the weirdest stepdad ever plays no part in the narrative machinery of earlier Batman stories. “The interiority of the sidekick had not been of interest to the creators of comics in the 1940s and ‘50s. ![]() “They were breaking new ground by making Peter Parker’s adolescence the emotional center of their stories,” Saunders says. They’d continue to bedevil Spidey and frequently reappear in other Marvel titles over the decades. “To me, it really comes down to either Batman or Spider-Man.”įrom Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin to Kingpin and Kraven the Hunter, early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man introduced more than a dozen supervillains who proved to be nearly as popular as the hero himself. “Hardcore comic book nerds like to argue about which title produced the best rogues gallery,” Saunders confesses. What can account for Spider-Man’s out-of-the gate success and enduring appeal? According to these experts, it must come down to a variety of factors-but the most important may be Spider-Man’s underlying psychology, and his impressive list of enemies. The organizers anticipate that tens of thousands may also attend their new, one-character show. ![]() People will get to experience pieces of the fictional worlds of Spider-Man, and also learn the real-life history behind them.”Īn exhibit that Saunders and Reed previously worked on together, Marvel: Universe of Superheroes debuted at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture in 2018 and met with sufficient acclaim to subsequently tour the country. “But we’ve also used modern, digital technologies and brought in something like a theme-park construct of world building. “Our show is rooted in classic museum structure-the power and resonance of the artifacts on display,” he says. He promises that visitors will not only be immersed in the world of classic and contemporary comic books-but can anticipate a large-scale, multi-media experience encompassing Spider-Man’s entire journey through the popular imagination: cinema, animation, gaming, collectibles, and much more. Reed is an events professional and independent pop culture historian. Saunders’ collaborator in the show’s creation, Patrick A. A well-penciled and inked comics page is, I think, some of the most beautiful art you can find.” “For several years my focus in curation has been getting this production art, which most of the public has never seen, onto gallery walls where it can be appreciated. “When you get to see the original artwork, the traditional distinctions between fine art and commercial art break down,” he says. The series editor for Penguin Classics’ historic new series of Marvel anthologies, Saunders also served as co-curator of the new exhibit, which features original art drawn for comics of all eras, plus thousands of unique artifacts spanning every facet of the hero’s lifetime in media. And the real-world narrative of Marvel is every bit as fascinating as the fictional, superhero worlds they’ve created.” ![]() ![]() “Some of the finest commercial artists in history have worked at Marvel, from the 1950s right up to the present day. Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – the Exhibition opened July 1 at San Diego’s new Comic-Con Museum.Īccording to Ben Saunders, director of the University of Oregon’s comics and cartoon studies program, gallery walls are a fitting stage not only owing to the character’s status in popular culture-but also the genius of Spider-Man’s creators. Featured for decades in films, television, toys, video games, apparel, and innumerable other media, the iconic web-slinger’s latest stop is a major museum exhibition. Marvel quickly made him the star of his own title, establishing a classic character of the Silver Age of Comic Books. Created by the collaborative team of writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, Spider-Man was an instant sensation with readers. The wall-crawling crime-fighter was introduced to the world in August 1962, debuting in the anthology comic book Amazing Fantasy #15. It’s truly amazing! Marvel’s Spider-Man turns 60 this year. Story By Jason stone | Original Art and graphics by marvel
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