I realize I throw a lot of names, characters and general Spider-Man related goodies at you in certain posts, and since this blog is as much about me as it is Spider-Man, some of you may not know what I’m talking about. Consider this your handy-dandy Spidey glossary of things you need-to-know:
Amazing Spider-Man – Spider-Man’s flagship title published by Marvel Comics. The first issue debuted in 1963 and was published up to issue #700 in 2012. My shorthand for the series is ASM.
Aunt May – Peter’s elderly Aunt who raised him.
Avenging Spider-Man – Spider-Man spin-off series starring Spider-Man and usual another hero from the Marvel universe. Similar to Marvel Team-Up from the 1970s and 1980s.
Betty Brant – Early love interest for Peter Parker. She worked at the Daily Bugle. She would later marry Ned Leeds and date Flash Thompson.
Brand New Day –The series of Amazing Spider-Man issues immediately following “One More Day” where Peter is no longer married to Mary Jane. See also One More Day.
Carnage – Spider-Man villain that is another spawn of the same alien that produced Venom. Real name is Cletus Kassady, a convicted serial killer. His rampage around New York City is captured in the mega-crossover “Maximum Carnage.” See also Venom.
The Clone Saga – Perhaps one of the most controversial Spider-Man plotlines in the history of the series. One of Spidey’s villains, The Jackal, clones Peter. The clone is believed to be dead, but is revived in the 1990s and later revealed to be the real Peter Parker. This storyline is then reversed again back to the status quo. He goes by the alias Ben Reilly.
The Daily Bugle – Fictional New York City newspaper where Peter used to work as a photographer.
DC – A comic book publisher that has created such characters as Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and Green Lantern.
Doctor Octopus – Another one of Spider-Man’s arch villains. His first appearance was Amazing Spider-Man #3. He has four mechanical arms that create havoc. His mind is now stuck in Peter Parker’s body creating the Superior Spider-Man. Also known as Doc Ock or Otto Octavius.
Electro – Spider-Man villain blessed with the power of live current. First appearance is Amazing Spider-Man #9.
Flash Thompson - As a teenager, was one of the main antagonists for Peter Parker. The two have since become friends. Flash has become a decorate war hero and amputee. He’s now wearing the symbiote in Marvel’s Venom series. Also see Venom.
Green Goblin – Supervillain who’s first appearance was Amazing Spider-Man #14. His secret identity is Norman Osborn, a wealthy industrialist and father of Peter’s best friend Harry Osborn. Harry has also worn the Goblin mask. He is killed in Amazing Spider-Man #122, but is later revived in the 1990s.
Gwen Stacy – Peter Parker’s first serious girlfriend who is killed in Amazing Spider-Man #121. This is considered one of the most significant moments in comic book history as the hero’s “girl” had never been killed off before.
Hobgoblin - Green Goblin spin-off villain introduced in the 1980s by writer Roger Stern. One of the great mysteries after his debut was who was wearing the mask. Stern left Amazing Spider-Man and the mystery was resolved in confusing fashion, first revealing Ned Leeds as the villain and then later fashion/business titan Roderick Kingsley. In current continuation, Phil Urich, nephew of Daily Bugle journalist Ben Urich.
Jackal - Costumed villain who’s actually former Empire State University professor Miles Warren. His obsession for Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker led him to create clones of both. See also Clone Saga and Scarlet Spider.
J. Jonah Jameson – Daily Bugle editor who has an irrational hatred for Spider-Man. He’s now the Mayor of New York City.
Kingpin – New York City crime boss who was first introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #50. He was a prominent Spidey villain in the 1960s, but has since migrated over to the Daredevil series. He still makes appearances in the Spidey universe.
Kraven the Hunter – Spidey villain who is an extreme game hunter. In one of the most famous Spider-Man story arcs, “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” Kraven captured and buried Spider-Man alive, before killing himself.
The Lizard – Spider-Man villain who is actually Dr. Curt Conners, a scientists who ingested a serum to try and regenerate his missing arm, turning him into the Lizard.
Marvel – The publisher of Amazing Spider-Man. Other Marvel comics include The Fantastic Four, X-Men, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Avengers and Daredevil.
Marvel Team-Up - Spidey spin-off series from the 1970s and 1980s starring Spider-Man and typically another hero from the Marvel universe.
Mary Jane – Peter’s ex-wife who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #42. Their marriage is later annulled when Peter makes a deal with the devil to save his dying Aunt May, thereby wiping their union from memory. The storyline is considered a lowpoint for Spider-Man fans.
Massacre - Villain created in the past two years who operates as a remorseless killing machine.
Mysterio – Spider-Man villain who is a master of special effects. His first appearance was Amazing Spider-Man #13.
One More Day - Controversial storyarc from the mid-2000s where Spider-Man makes a deal with Marvel’s “devil” Mephisto where his marriage to Mary Jane is erased in exchange for rescuing his dying Aunt May.
Peter Parker – The man under the mask. When the series started, Peter was in high school, but he’s now a full-fledged adult. He’s worked as a newspaper photographer and a science teacher, among other jobs. He lives in New York City. He becomes Spider-Man after being bitten by a radioactive spider in Amazing Fantasy #15, the first official appearance of the character in popular culture.
Sandman – Spider-Man villain who is a shape-shifter able to turn his body into sand. His first appearance was Amazing Spider-Man #4.
Scarlet Spider - Ongoing series launched by Marvel in 2012 starring Kaine, the abandoned clone of Spider-Man/Peter Parker. This series takes place in Houston.
Sinister Six – A “supergroup” of villains that made their first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. The line-up has consistently changed over the years, but the original included Doctor Octopus, Kraven, Electro, Vulture, Sandman and Mysterio.
The Spectacular Spider-Man – Spinoff Spider-Man series launched in 1976. It is no longer published.
Spider-Ock - My shorthand name for the Superior Spider-Man, a mix of Doc Ock’s mind with Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s body.
Spidey-Sense – An innate “sense” that allows Peter to anticipate and react to danger.
Stan Lee – The creator of Spider-Man and a God among men. ‘Nuff said.
Superior Spider-Man - Comic book series that launched following the “death” of Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #700. The series stars a mind-swapped Doc Ock as Spider-Man.
Steve Ditko – The original Spider-Man artists who’s last issue with the comic was Amazing Spider-Man #38.
Uncle Ben – Peter’s Uncle and May’s husband. He was killed by a burglar in Amazing Fantasy #15. He coined the oft-used phrase “with great power comes great responsibility.”
Venom – Of all the villains introduced in the past 20+ years, Venom may be the most significant. His real identity is Eddie Brock, a former Daily Bugle reporter who is fired after running a story falsely identifying Spider-Man’s true identity. Venom is created when a mysterious alien symbiote that had been rejected by Peter finds Brock. Their shared hatred for Parker and Spider-Man creates Venom, a villain that has all of Spidey’s powers. His first full appearance is Amazing Spider-Man #300.
Venom - Comic book series that launched in 2011 starring former high school bully Flash Thompson as Venom.
Vulture – A Spider-Man villain that has the ability to fly. First appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #2.
Web of Spider-Man – Spinoff series launched in 1985. It is no longer published.