This is more so a video about the things Marvel would rather you forget.
Because, let’s be honest, if they didn’t want you to know, this information wouldn’t
of been accessible in the first place.
Just saying.
10 Creator Controversy Let’s start off with the painstakingly frustrating
debate of who Spider-Man’s true creators are.
According to comic historian Greg Theakston, Kirby had approached Lee about a character
idea that he had initially formed with Joe Simon in the 50’s, but the story aside from
the protagonist living with an old couple, was quite different.
After Kirby whipped up a few pages, Lee wanted to go in a different direction.
Ditko, who was suppose to ink the story, was then turned to, and he formed the visual style
of the character, which has pretty much remained consistent ever since.
While there’s no doubt that Ditko should be credited as a creator, Kirby contended
Lee’s involvement, which was seconded by Eric Stanton, who had shared a studio with
Ditko at the time of the character’s creation.
9 The Amazing Spider-man 1978 Here’s another one you guys are probably
pretty familiar with.
This one makes the list for being an adaptation that Marvel likely would rather you forget
about.
Unlike the glorified 60’s Adam West Batman series, here we have a product of the late
70’s that produced a whole lot of cringe campiness as opposed to adored campiness.
Fun.
Producer Daniel R Goodman helmed the show, and consistently clashed with Stan Lee over
the direction of the show.
Lee even called it “too juvenile”.
The show was eventually canned due to CBS wanting to not be perceived as a one-dimensional
‘superhero network’, having the likes of the incredible hulk, wonder woman, and
others also under it’s belt.
8 His parents Back in 1968’s Amazing Spider Man Annual
#5, it was revealed that Peter’s parents were accused of treason when he was a small
infant.
They were secret agents infiltrating an organization headed by the 3rd Red Skull and KGB.
They died in a plane crash because their aircraft was sabotaged by that organizing.
Flash forward to Amazing Spiderman 365 in 1992, and the Green Goblin has created robots
to impersonate his parents.
THEN in 1997, in Untold Tales of Spiderman minus 1 (minus since it was a flashback issue
month) it’s revealed that they are agents of shield who were once tasked with saving
Wolverine.
With a story that has fluctuated so much, it’s easy to see why the whole silly cyborg
plot was written off as it was, and only turned out to be an evil personal ploy by The Green
Goblin.
7 Spiderman Kills Peter Parker isn’t perfect.
Yes, he’s a relatable hero whose thematic battle with inadequacy and coming of age spoke
to a lot of readers.
But sometimes, he’s a bit of a dick.
And as we’ve seen with Batman, even when a hero has a code of morals they try to stick
to, sometimes things get a little on the grey side.
Which happens - when Peter accidentally punches Wolverine’s friend charlie in the face so
hard that it kills her in Spiderman vs Wolverine, that’s one of those times.
But let’s take a look at that time he killed Moodark.
When on vacation grieving after Gwen Stacey’s death, Peter kicks Moondark through a portal
above the golden gate bridge, killing him.
Upon saying “guess nobody but me will even remember what went on tonight!
He feels its appropriate to crack a joke about it.
Harsh, dude.
6 Spiderman killed MJ with sex, radioactive sperm
Speaking of killing!
During the Spider-Man Reign story arc, Peter gives Mary Jane cancer.
From sex.
His sperm is radioactive and gives her cancer.
And fans were like, are you fucking kidding me?
5 Fan Rage So these days, many of you probably know the
black spider symbiote suit as one of the more popular suits Peter has ever donned.
But there was a whole lot of controversy about it before it even made it’s debut in Secret
Wars.
Marvel was getting a lot of hate mail about it, so writers had to come up with a way to
remove the costume.
Enter the symbiote story line.
But then the tide changed - fans loved it, but artist Todd McFarlane told Marvel he didn’t
want to draw it.
So the story changed further more - Peter rejects the suit after Reed Richards helps
him get it off, and it’s real sad, and finds Eddie Brock, bonding with him instead.
4 Norman Osborne Gwen Stacey weird affair In Amazing Spider Man 509, a mystery starts
to unravel concerning the now deceased Gwen Stacy.
Over the next few issues, Peter discovers that Gwen was pregnant and secretly had twins,
who, although were birthed prematurely, had grown to full adulthood incredibly fast, and
targeted Peter.
After DNA tests he finds out the two attacking him are 100% her children.
When telling MJ about this, she reveals she knows the truth of who the father of Gwen’s
kids really were, having overheard an argument between Gwen and Norman, that Gwen then explained
to her afterwards.
And she retells Peter the full story.
And naturally he’s horrified.
Moving on.
3 Randian Objectivism - Peter Parker student protesters - Steve Ditko’s ayn rand ideology
It may come to you as a surprise that Steve Ditko was greatly influenced by the Ayn Rand
philosophy of Objectivism.
If you’re unfamiliar with what that is, let me break it down for you as simply as
I can.
Objectivism is the belief that the moral purpose of one’s life is the pursuit of one’s
own happiness through rational self interest, that reason is the means of human knowledge,
and that the individual’s primary moral obligation is to achieve his or her own well
being - the philosophy rejects the ethical doctrine of altruism.
Yeah, a mouthful there.
So how did this influence his run on Spiderman?
Subtly, of course.
Towards the end of his run, there’s one infamous scene where Peter remarks on the
lack of productivity protests actually have.
This ideology seeped into some of his other work, like Hawk and Dove, too.
2 1984 Spiderman molestation So if the radioactive splooge wasn’t enough
for you, or the weird love affair between Osborne and Gwen Stacey, this one takes the
cake.
Which is terrible because it’s actually a pretty well done PSA on how to deal with
sexual assault which is incredibly important.
And for some fans, it had a positive reaction.
To others, well, it’s gone down as a what the hell moment.
So the story is that Spidey overhears a babysitter trying to molest a young boy - in a very untactful
and blunt way, might I add.
Anyway, he then tells the kid about “a boy I know”.
He starts a friendship with an older man who then shows him nudie mags and wants to conduct
an experiment of his own with Peter.
Good thing is, the boy Peter tells this to is inspired to talk to his parents about his
baby sitters.
So that’s something?
Right?
1 Where the money comes from It’s easy to see why Spider-man is iconic.
And why he’s been one of the best selling Marvel superheroes of all time.
So much so that he’s the most profitable superhero for the company in general.
But that’s not where he rakes in the dough.
Oh no.
Not from the comics or the movies, but rather because of the merch.
In 2013, Marvel sold around 13 billion dollars of Spidey products.
Which greatly surpassed other Marvel and DC heroes, at the time, none of which had surpassed
the billion dollar point.
Impressive.
there we have it!
Did you guys know any of these facts?
Which ones do you think Marvel regrets the most?
Let me know in those comments below!
but for now I’m Kelly Paoli for top 10 nerd and I’ll catch you guys in the next one!