Kontraband Know It All

What's the difference between the Spider-Man films and The Amazing Spider-Man?
Before Batman became the best big screen superhero, Spider-Man ruled supreme. In 2002 Spider-Man, directed by Sam Raimi and starring the thoroughly un-superhero like Tobey Maguire, cleaned up at the box office, grossing over $800 million. The 2004 sequel was also successful, making $780 million. However, 2007's Spider-Man 3 lost the plot, with Peter Parker becoming an evil emo who made Mary Jane suffer with an excruciating dance routine. Although it made $890 million it received poor reviews, especially compared to the still fantastic Spider-Man 2. Raimi wanted to make Spider-Man 4, but Sony had different ideas and the two parted company.
Realising what a cash cow Spider-Man is, Sony have rebooted the series, starting with The Amazing Spider-Man, directed by Marc Webb. The titular web-slinger is played by Andrew Garfield, who wowed audiences in The Social Network. The all-important villain this time will be The Lizard, played by Rhys Ifans. The film has a more angsty edge to it, being more about Peter Parker and his life before becoming Spider-Man. A 2014 sequel has already been planned so clearly Sony feels confident about it. However with Sally Field (Places in the Heart, Steel Magnolias) as Aunt May it could be possible Sony have made The Amazing Spider-Man into a chick flick. So watch out for teary moments, torn consciences, drastic consequences and someone dying.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Which actor was the best Spider-Man?
Andrew Garfield seems a touch geeky to be playing a streetwise tough hero like Spider-Man, but Tobey Maguire managed to pull it off reasonably well and this was a man whose best known role beforehand had been playing a high school nerd in Pleasantville. However, the best Spider-Man in film was played by Nicholas Hammond, who appeared in the 1970s TV series The Amazing Spider-Man and the pilot movie. Although the show oozed cheesiness it was considerably popular and Hammond was ideal, playing the role tongue in cheek without being too camp. Tobey Maguire could have been the best until his performance in the 3rd Spider-Man film ruined it for him. It remains to be seen how convincing Andrew Garfield will be, but Hammond is to Spider-Man as Christopher Reeve is to Superman.
Garfield has to do well as Spider-Man is a valuable commodity. Sam Raimi's trilogy of films grossed almost $2.5 billion and the first appearance of Spidey in a comic itself is worth over $1 million. The budget for the upcoming 2012 film is believed to be well over $200 million. Still, producers should feel secure that this precious brand and all this money is safe in the hands of the man who directed the music videos for Ashlee Simpson's Boyfriend, Miley Cyrus' Start All Over and most spectacularly Hilary Duff's video for Wake Up. Did someone say chick flick?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

When did Spider-Man first appear? What was the inspiration behind the character?
Spider-Man made his first appearance in a comic called Amazing Fantasy 15, published in 1962. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, working for Marvel Comics. Lee has stated that he was inspired by watching a spider climb up the wall (good job it wasn't a cockroach). Lee has also commented that he was influenced by a pulp fiction hero called The Spider, which was created by Harry Steeger in 1933. The Spider actually had a lot in common with Batman; he was a stinking rich playboy with no special hero powers who had nothing better to do than prowl the city nights wearing dark tights and a mask. It says a lot that comicbook writers often created characters who liked to patrol a bustling city after dark wearing tights or underpants outside their costumes and looking for trouble. Clearly these men needed to get a girlfriend.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

What other Spider related heroes and villains are there? Is Spider-Man the most popular superhero ever?
Teenagers reacted to Spider-Man in a very positive manner, which meant the writers could come up with all manner of Spider-Man offshoots. Some have been impressive, such as the character of Venom, an arch enemy of Spider-Man. Some have been silly, like Spider-Ham, a jokey version of Spider-Man as he would be if he was a pig (his alter-ego was Peter Porker). Other characters inspired by the popular red and blue costumed wall-crawler include Spider-Woman, Spider-Girl, Spider-Man 2099 and Scarlet Spider.
There would be many fans who would argue that Spider-Man was the most popular superhero ever, he has more of a human edge to him than Batman has and is not godlike or squeaky clean like Superman. He has a greater universal appeal than Wolverine, is funnier than the Hulk and doesn't kill as many people as The Punisher. Spider-Man has been popular in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 2000s and 2010s whereas both Batman and Superman suffered from more severe wanes in popularity. On this evidence Spider-Man deserves to be number 1. Superman is the original superhero, but he has become quite tedious whereas Batman has taken leaps and bounds mainly thanks to Christian Bale's recent incarnation. So it is fair to say Spider-Man and Batman are the joint most popular, but at least Spider-Man never had nipples on his costume.