Spider-Man: With Great Power
Encyclopedia
Spider-Man: With Great Power is a five-issue comic book
limited series
from Marvel Comics
written by David Lapham
and illustrated by Tony Harris
, which premiered on January 9, 2008. Starring Marvel's flagship character, the series examines Spider-Man
's formative days, focusing on the period between the accident that gave Peter Parker superhuman powers and the murder of his Uncle Ben. The series was published under Marvel's Marvel Knights
imprint in order to avoid any links to current continuity.
years previously when flipping through Amazing Fantasy
#15 (the comic book in which Spider-Man first appeared), and noted the various newspaper headlines "Spider-Man Wins Showbiz Award", "Spider-Man Plays to Packed House", and "Who Is Spider-Man?". Tony Harris explained that With Great Power takes place in between the two panels in which Amazing Fantasy writer Stan Lee
's narration mentions the coming weeks and months that passed, during which Spider-Man used his superhuman abilities to become a celebrity. Lapham explained that the series would examine how a teenager would deal with gaining superhuman powers, becoming a national celebrity, and upholding his responsibilities as a high school student. The inciting incident of the story would be Peter being bitten by the radioactive spider, and being approached by fight promoter Monty Caabash after successfully fighting wrestler Crusher Hogan. Other characters and themes will include mobsters involved with Spider-Man's professional wrestling career, a Mrs. Robinson
figure in Peter's life, giant monsters, and childhood love. Perennial Spider-Man supporting cast members such as Flash Thompson
, Liz Allen and J. Jonah Jameson
will also be present.
Harris also stated that his rendition of the series would retain as much of the source material's designs as possible, including the "nerd
y" wardrobe and glasses worn by Parker 45 years previously, but that he would give him an updated hairstyle. Harris stated that he expanded upon the design of the machine that irradiated the spider that would bite Peter Parker, though it would be familiar to those who read Amazing Fantasy #15, and that he would depict a mix of automobiles in background scenes from various eras that would obscure the time period in which the story takes place.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
written by David Lapham
David Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
and illustrated by Tony Harris
Tony Harris (cartoonist)
Tony Harris is an American comic book artist, known for his work as series such as Starman, Iron Man, and Ex Machina. He has been nominated for five Eisner Awards for his work.-Career:...
, which premiered on January 9, 2008. Starring Marvel's flagship character, the series examines Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
's formative days, focusing on the period between the accident that gave Peter Parker superhuman powers and the murder of his Uncle Ben. The series was published under Marvel's Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights is an imprint of Marvel Worldwide, Inc. that contains material taking place within the mainstream Marvel Universe .-Production:...
imprint in order to avoid any links to current continuity.
Production
Editor Warren Simons explained that the idea came to David LaphamDavid Lapham
David Lapham is an Eisner Award winning American comic book writer, artist, and cartoonist, best known for his work on his groundbreaking independent comic book Stray Bullets.-Biography:...
years previously when flipping through Amazing Fantasy
Amazing Fantasy
Amazing Fantasy is an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics from 1961 through 1962, and revived in 1995 and in the 2000s. It is best known as the title that introduced the popular superhero character Spider-Man in 1962...
#15 (the comic book in which Spider-Man first appeared), and noted the various newspaper headlines "Spider-Man Wins Showbiz Award", "Spider-Man Plays to Packed House", and "Who Is Spider-Man?". Tony Harris explained that With Great Power takes place in between the two panels in which Amazing Fantasy writer Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
's narration mentions the coming weeks and months that passed, during which Spider-Man used his superhuman abilities to become a celebrity. Lapham explained that the series would examine how a teenager would deal with gaining superhuman powers, becoming a national celebrity, and upholding his responsibilities as a high school student. The inciting incident of the story would be Peter being bitten by the radioactive spider, and being approached by fight promoter Monty Caabash after successfully fighting wrestler Crusher Hogan. Other characters and themes will include mobsters involved with Spider-Man's professional wrestling career, a Mrs. Robinson
The Graduate
The Graduate is a 1967 American comedy-drama motion picture directed by Mike Nichols. It is based on the 1963 novel The Graduate by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from Williams College. The screenplay was by Buck Henry, who makes a cameo appearance as a hotel clerk, and Calder...
figure in Peter's life, giant monsters, and childhood love. Perennial Spider-Man supporting cast members such as Flash Thompson
Flash Thompson
Eugene "Flash" Thompson is a supporting character in Marvel Comics’s Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 ....
, Liz Allen and J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson
John Jonah Jameson Junior is a supporting character of Spider-Man in the .Jameson is usually the publisher or editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, a fictional New York newspaper and now serves as the mayor of New York City...
will also be present.
Harris also stated that his rendition of the series would retain as much of the source material's designs as possible, including the "nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
y" wardrobe and glasses worn by Parker 45 years previously, but that he would give him an updated hairstyle. Harris stated that he expanded upon the design of the machine that irradiated the spider that would bite Peter Parker, though it would be familiar to those who read Amazing Fantasy #15, and that he would depict a mix of automobiles in background scenes from various eras that would obscure the time period in which the story takes place.