Since 1962, a mild-mannered newspaper photographer has been battling crime as the Amazing Spider-Man in a monthly comic-book (see entry under 1930s—Print Culture in volume 2) series published by Marvel Comics (see entry under 1960s— Print Culture in volume 4). Many years after his debut, Spider-Man remains Marvel's most popular character and a pop-culture icon (symbol) on par with Superman and Batman (see these two entries under 1930s—Print Culture in volume 2). A feature-film version of the superhero's adventures, released in 2002, starring actor Tobey Maguire (1975–), seemed sure to introduce "Spidey" to an even wider audience.

Created by Marvel Comics' editor-in-chief Stan Lee (1922–), Spider-Man made his first appearance in issue #15 of Amazing Fantasy in August 1962. There the character's origin and powers were explained. Teenager Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider while attending a science lecture. The bite gave him the proportional strength of a spider, as well as the...