Archive for May, 2009
Using spiderman to convey a public message
Posted by: | CommentsIn the 1970s a spiderman story led to changes in the the Comics Code. Before, the Code did not allow the depiction of the use of illegal drugs. But in 1970 the Nixon administration’s Department of Health asked Stan Lee to publish an anti-drug message in one of it’s top-selling titles. Stan Lee chose the The Amazing Spider-Man; featured in a story on the negative effects of drugs. In the theme, Harry Osborn becomes addicted to pills.
And when Spider-Man fights the Green Goblin he defeats him, by revealing Harry’s drug addiction. Even though the story had an anti-drug message, the Comics Code Authority refused to issue its seal of approval. But Marvel published the three issues without their approval or seal. The issues sold so well that the industry’s self-censorship was undercut and the Code was soon changed after that.
The Amazing Spider-Man , the first of three non-Comics Code issues that prompted the Code’s first update, allowing publications to show the negative effects of illegal-drug use.
The spiderman costume and its origins
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Spiderman costume for boys and men
The popularity of the spiderman costume has its origins in the story of Spiderman.
Spiderman’s alias is Peter Parker and he is introduced as an orphaned teenager living with Aunt Mae in New York City. He is a great student but is made fun of by his classmates who see him as very studious. Flash Thompson, in particular taunts him by calling him “Puny Parker” on a daily basis. One unforgettable day he takes a bite from a radioactive spider during class. After this moment , he gains spider-type powers and great strength, with the ability to climb walls, together with jumping skills. Peter Parker’s own brain power allows him to create gadgets that fire a webbing strand.
In his Spiderman costume, he becomes well known on TV and on one particular occasion he refuses to stop a criminal, because it is up to the police to stop the villain. A few minutes later his Uncle Ben, is killed and a vengeful Spider-Man takes off to capture the perpetrator. When he catches him, he discovers the man is the the burglar he refused to stop earlier that day. Spiderman from then on, becomes a vigilante turning his skills to combat crime.
When his uncle dies Peter Parker and Aunt May suffer from financial problems so he takes a job as a staff photographer at the local daily paper selling his shots to J. Jonah Jameson, who hates Spider-Man. As he starts fighting criminals, he finds it difficult to balance his personal life with the one of fighting crime.
Peter finally graduates and secures a place at Empire State University, where he meets and develops a close friendship with Harry Osborn and girlfriend Gwen Stacy. His Aunt May also takes an interest in his relationships and introduces him to Mary Jane Watson. As Peter tries to help Harry with his drug problems, Harry’s father appears as the Green Goblin.
The story develops as the Green Goblin murders Gwen. Peter is affected greatly by her death , but starts to date Mary Jane Watson.
In more recent stories, spiderman develops additional abilities including biological web-shooters, toxic stingers , the ability to stick individuals to his back, greater Spider-sense and the ability to see at night. Peter joins the New Avengers, and shows his civilian identity to the world, which only serves to make his problems worse. By this time he had married Mary Jane.
The story was one of the great Marvel successes and was so intriguing that had has survived many decades so that fathers and sons recognise him as their childhood hero.