SPIDERMAN

Spider-Man, Spider-Man… you know the rest. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (not Jack Kirby, as so many assume), the face of Marvel Comics started life as a true original: a teenage boy with money problems, girl problems and family problems, who's imbued with extraordinary powers that make things more rather than less difficult for him.

Peter Parker was very different from the Supermen, Batmen and Fantastic Fours running around the comics world at that point. Since then, of course, Spidey has matured, learning that with great wotsit comes great something-or-other, and becoming a husband to Mary-Jane.

He’s died and come back with enhanced powers, he’s been cloned (that was a popular arc), he’s been attacked by alien symbiotes and irate newspaper editors, he's even revealed his secret identity in the recent Civil War crossover series, and yet Spidey retains his sense of humour at all times, firing off often genuinely witty wisecracks in the heat of battle (a trait the movies have yet to capture), while striking iconic poses that must be many a top artist’s dream (Todd McFarlane and Erik Larsen, to name but two, became superstar artists thanks to their work on Spidey).

The character and comics have often ventured to dark places, but soul-searching and brooding introspection doesn’t really suit your friendly neighbourhood webslinger. This is one spider that thrives in the bright light.

AKA: PETER PARKER

FIRST APPEARED IN AMAZING FANTASY #15 (1962)

CREATED BY STAN LEE AND STEVE DITKO