Is your spider-sense tingling? The Amazing Spider-Man (PG-13) blasts back onto the big screen on July 3, in a new 3D adventure from Marvel Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. This latest release isn’t a continuation of Sam Raimi’s blockbuster trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, but a reboot of the film franchise that presents a new installment in the Spider-Man cinematic opus. Andrew Garfield assumes the red-and-blue, be-webbed mantel in the new motion picture, which is directed by Marc Webb with a screenplay based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s classic Marvel comic book.
Peter Parker (Garfield), an outsider with an interest in photography, struggles with typical high school tribulations such as standing up to bully Flash Thompson (Chris Zylka) and untangling his tongue in the presence of his major crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone). Left in the loving care of his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field) when he was a boy, Peter is haunted by the long-ago disappearance of his parents and questions about his own identity. When he finds a briefcase left behind by his father, he’s determined to get to the truth, and his ensuing investigations take him to Oscorp and the lab of scientist Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans), Richard Parker’s one-time associate. Bitten by a mysterious spider, the teen finds himself in possession of astounding new abilities and faced by unfamiliar challenges. As Peter hurtles toward a showdown with the terrifying Lizard (the result of Connors’ experiment gone wrong), he must confront the mysteries of his past while making important choices that will determine the course of his future.
On the Web
Teens can visit the official movie website to sample the movie’s blend of gritty-looking realism, web-swinging acrobatics, and explosive action. Photos and brief bios introduce the main players, and viewers can browse video clips, an interactive trailer with additional click-to-access facts, and a gallery of inviting movie photos. A selection of wallpapers and other images are available for downloading, and YAs can also try their hand at taking on villains-and unlocking achievements- in a multileveled online movie game. Additional trailers and videos, photos, and movie news are available at Marvel’s website, along with a round-up of online games featuring the character. Kids who are curious about Spidey and his 50-year-long comic book career can check out the Marvel Universe Wiki for quick-click facts (powers, abilities, weapons, paraphernalia, and more) and a detailed biography that includes images and links to related characters and events in the Marvel Universe.
Book Tie-ins
The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie Prelude (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) draws in film fans with a movie poster front cover and a photo of Garfield and Stone in character on the back. This graphic novel opens with the newly minted Spider-Man taking on a bevy of masked fiends, while flashbacks to several weeks ago highlight important moments that have brought him to his current circumstances and state of mind. Some of the storytelling is done from Gwen’s perspective, adding depth to her character and foreshadowing the intricacies of the movie plot. High-energy artwork and succinct scripting keep the pages turning quickly. The book also includes an eye-dazzling reprint of an old-school “Amazing Spider-Man” three-issue comic book bonanza penned by Lee in 1969, in which the hero tussles with the deadly Lizard.
Also adorned with an inviting film photo cover, The Amazing Spider-Man: Secret Origins (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) collects together several comic book tales that inspired the film plot and provide insight into the characters. Included here are Lee and Ditko’s original story about Peter Parker’s transformation into Spider-Man first published in 1962; installments from the “Amazing Spider-Man” series detailing edge-of-your-seat encounters with the Lizard and other menacing villains; and a tale from Paul Jenkins’s “Spectacular Spider-Man” (2003) that provides a contemplative look at Peter’s inner conflicts and motivations revealed through a graveside “conversation” with his beloved Uncle Ben. Introducing characters such as Flash Thompson and Gwen Stacy, the stories also underscore Spider-Man’s trademark blend of superhuman ability and innate scientific smarts, his struggle to balance the commonplace challenges of day-to-day life with the demands of his alter ego, and his deep-seated sense of responsibility for taking care of others. The artwork is crisply and colorfully reproduced, and the volume ends with a 25-page section of detailed character profiles.
More Great Graphic Novels
Expand the movie-going experience—and update your graphic novel collections—with a selection of recently published works told with a contemporary sensibility that will reel in teens and offer a sampling of the vast body of Webhead lore.
Spider-Man: Season One (Marvel, 2012; Gr 7 Up) provides a slick update of the classic origin tale with modernized details and settings. Detailed artwork and snappy dialogue effectively convey Peter Parker’s experiences, from the fateful bite to his well-known power-equals-responsibility epiphany. A clash with the villainous Vulture provides a fitting climax and sets the tone for future adventures. Spider-Man’s acrobatic antics are depicted in vibrant hues and clean black lines, and the action often bursts beyond the panels’ borders to fill full pages. Plagued by self-doubt and forced to learn on his feet, Spidey is far from invincible and comes across as a believable and vulnerable teenager. Touches of humor—Peter gleefully bending Uncle Ben’s barbell into pretzel shape or trying out a sagging homemade costume and (thankfully) quickly discarded new name (Johnny Arachnid)—abound, along with web-flinging action scenes and instances of self-reflection, adding up to a well-paced and emotionally satisfying tale.
Avenging Spider-Man (Marvel, 2012; Gr 8 Up) collects together the first several issues of a new series by writer Zeb Wells and artist Joe Madureira that teams the Webhead up with other super-powered dynamos. In this stand-alone volume, Spidey goes underground—literally—alongside the gargantuan Red Hulk to save Manhattan from a subterranean invasion, partners up with the sharp-shooting Hawkeye on a stakeout, helps Captain America reconnect with the geeky comics-drawing youngster he once was, and more. Filled with dazzling colors, dynamic energy, and shifting perspectives, the artwork depicts both the events and the emotions. The storytelling is powered by spine-tingling action, clever plot twists, and Spidey’s snide humor and trademark quips. Revealing moments shine through, as readers catch appealing glimpses of Peter Parker’s personality—insecure, racked with self-doubt, kindhearted, often noble, and totally relatable to teens.
The Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: Ultimate Collection (Marvel, 2012; Gr 9 Up), a hefty compilation of riveting—and more recent (2010- )—issues of this long-running series, gives teens a taste of a more updated version of the Webhead and his world. In these pages, Peter Parker’s personal life finally seems to be settling down (he has a steady girlfriend and a new dream job in a think tank at Horizon Labs, while Spider-Man (who gets to work alongside the Avengers and the Fantastic Four) tangles with a cavalcade of fearsome bad guys tricked out with all manner of super abilities and high-tech gear. It will take all of the hero’s ingenuity, scientific know-how, clever thinking, and perseverance to meet this new array of challenges. The adventures featured here represent a satisfying variety of moods and plotlines, as the protagonist wisecracks his way through conflicts, uses both his superpowers and wits in battle, grapples with personal issues, and bids farewell to a loved one. Readers will be swept away by the sublime storytelling and scintillating artwork.
Set in the alternate reality of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli’s Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man: Volume 1 (Marvel, 2012; Gr 8 Up) introduces the next-generation incarnation of the web-slinging wonder. Miles Morales, a likeable kid with loving parents, has just won a spot in a prestigious charter school that might be the ticket out of his dead-end Brooklyn neighborhood. However, when he is bitten by a mysterious spider at the apartment of his uncle (a thief recently seen rooting around an Osborn Industries lab), he suddenly finds himself with abilities that seem similar to those of-unbelievably-Spider-Man. Stunned, scared, and even a bit stoked, Miles keeps his metamorphosis a secret from his parents, while wrestling with what the change means to his future: does he have the wherewithal to live up to the responsibility that comes along with the power? His dilemma is pushed to the forefront when the real Spider-Man is tragically killed, and Miles must decide if he is ready to wear the mask. Filled with humor, heartbreak, and pulse-pounding action, the well-written script and detailed artwork create a believable and multi-dimensional character. The youngster’s perspective is spot on and compellingly expressed, as he navigates through difficult challenges and dangerous circumstances with courage and candor. It’s hard for anyone to step into Peter Parker’s shoes, but the charismatic Miles will quickly win over teens.
Movie and comics fans will find a wealth of information and full-color images in Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero (DK, 2012; Gr 7 Up). This handsome volume begins with a foreword by Lee, who puts a finger on why his character has made such a long-lasting impression (“…he’s possibly the most realistically human of all Super Heroes”) and continues to strike a chord with young adults (he is, after all, a teenager himself, and the first to step out of sidekick status and into role of full-fledged champion). Beginning with a recap of the character’s creation and comic book premiere in 1962, colorful spreads introduce Spider-Man (with in-depth treatments of his origins, suits, powers, web-producing abilities, and alter ego), his loved ones and allies, and the numerous villains who have set their sights on his destruction. An eight-page illustrated timeline details important events and relationships. Sections organized by decade outline major plotlines, providing plenty of meaty backstory and tracing the character’s evolution through the years. Overviews of key comic book issues appear throughout, providing a glimpse of each work’s plot and art and explaining its importance to the oeuvre. The well-written text is abundantly illustrated with spectacular reproductions of comic book art that span five decades and showcase a variety of artistic tones and styles. Both fun to browse and informative, this volume also deserves a place in library comic book collections.
Looking for materials for younger readers? Click here to check out movie tie-ins and related reads.
Publication Information
COHEN, Tom. The Amazing Spider-Man: The Movie Prelude. illus. by Neil Edwards. Marvel. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780785164999.
LEE, Stan & Paul Jenkins. The Amazing Spider-Man: Secret Origins. illus by Steve Ditko, John Romita, Gil Kane, & Mark Buckingham. Marvel. 2012. pap. $14.99. ISBN 9780785164722.
BUNN, Cullen. Spider-Man: Season One. illus. by Neil Edwards. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785158202.
WELLS, Zeb. Avenging Spider-Man: Volume 1. illus. by Joe Madureira. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785157786.
SLOTT, Dan, Fred Van Lente, et al. The Amazing Spider-Man: Big Time: Ultimate Collection. illus. by Humberto Ramos, Neil Edwards, et al. Marvel. 2012. pap. $39.99. ISBN 9780785162179.
BENDIS, Brian Michael. Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man: Volume 1. illus. by Sara Pichelli. Marvel. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780785157120.
MANNING, Matthew K. Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero. DK. 2012. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780756690892.