It’s the 50th anniversary of Marvel’s Spider-Man, and all year Hero Complex will talk to notable names about the character’s success and singular appeal.
Today: A guest essay by Neal Adams, one of the most influential comic-book artists of the modern era and one of the industry’s leading voices for artists’ rights.
And so with Superman the concept of superhero was born and flourished … until the dark ages of comics showed up with the fanatical attacks of Fredric Wertham and Congress. Comics nearly shut down, except for Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, a bevy of new sparkle-toothed-born do-gooders. Not one bad thought existed in the minds of these heroes, whose books shared the spinner-rack with DC’s Pat Boone comics (yes, I said Pat Boone comics) and Jerry Lewis.
I was there, and it was hell.
Image: Panel from the first Spider-Man story. Credit: Marvel Comics
Andrew