5+Critical+Story+Components

[[image:BIGBITE.jpg width="154" height="101"]][[image:USPR_bite.jpg width="150" height="148"]][[image:cartoon-parker-bitten-200.jpg]][[image:spider-man_spider-bite.jpg width="118" height="177"]]
(Fig. 18. Spider bite, n.d.) (Fig. 19. Ultimate spider bite, 2009) (Fig. 20. Parker gets bitten, n.d.) (Fig. 21 Peter Parker is bitten, n.d.)

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In all versions, Peter is at a science exhibit/tour when an unusual spider bites him. The exact location, the people Peter is with, the details of the bite and Peter’s reaction are all slightly different. In the film version, Peter is at the Science Department at Columbia University with his classmates and is bitten by a genetically altered spider that has escaped from its container after it descends from above. Peter is fine at the time, but by the time he gets home, he is not well and shows signs of fever and chills and a desperate need to sleep. In USPR, Peter is with classmates touring Osborn Industries labs, owned by Norman Osborn, Harry’s father, where cutting edge experiments on genetically engineered substances as well as with genetically altered creatures, are being conducted. We don’t see exactly where the spider has come from before it bites Peter, although we know from earlier panels that the spider escaped from its containment jar. Peter has a painful reaction to the bite, vomits and loses consciousness. When he gets home, after a visit to the doctor (that we aren’t shown), he goes straight to bed to rest. This is the only instance where Aunt May and Uncle Ben are aware that Peter was bitten by a spider. In AF the spider is descending from above when it is caught in a demonstration of radioactive rays. The spider falls and lands on Peter’s hand, biting him as it dies. Peter’s reaction to the bite is minimal with only an “ouch!” and a slight strange feeling and a need for air. In his daze, Peter immediately discovers that he is able to climb walls as he avoids being hit by a passing car. SC presents the identical story as AF, but allowing Peter more time to figure out that the bite has caused some changes.======

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In AF, Peter decides to wrestle for the selfish reasons of making money and displaying his new abilities for fame. The wrestling is televised and Spider-man becomes famous. In AS Peter reprises his wresting role, but this time to help Aunt May pay the bills after Uncle Ben’s death. In USPR school bully, Flash Thompson, sues the Parkers after Peter, in self-defence, breaks Flash’s hand. Peter wrestles to help raise money for the lawsuit. In the film, Peter wrestles to make money to buy a sports car in order to impress Mary Jane. In SC Peter wants to cash in on his new abilities to pay back Aunt May and Uncle Ben for all their years of looking after him. Peter's encounter with the escaping thief is directly related to the wrestling or television studio location.======

Introduction Story Summaries Adaptation to Film Characters What makes a Spider-man? Additional Spider-man Information Bibliography

Source codes: AF (Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962 debut); AS (Amazing Spider-man, vol. 1 1963); USPR (Ultimate Spider-man, vol. 1 2009, Power and Responsibility); SM (Spider-man movie, 2002); SC (Spider-man cartoon, episode 21, 1967)