Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Encyclopedia
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was a comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
. The title is derived from a trademark self-referential comment often made by Spider-Man
(as in "just another service provided by your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!"), ironic in that Spider-Man is often falsely considered by the general public to be a dangerous vigilante and/or a criminal, and to many his perceived reputation is anything but "friendly". The series began in October 2005 and was primarily written by Peter David
.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was canceled after issue #24, part 2 of J. Michael Straczynski
and Joe Quesada
's "One More Day
" storyline. Kurt Busiek has revealed that in 1995 he originally suggested "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" as the title of the series which was eventually published as Untold Tales of Spider-Man
. He believes that this choice of title contributed, at least in part, to the relative market failure of Untold Tales.
, "Spider-Man: The Other
", one-third of which was told in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (the other two-thirds told in Marvel Knights Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man
).
meets up with Vanna in an unidentified park. They talk, and Mary Jane shows Vanna Spider-Man's bloodied mask, thus proving her thoughts of him surviving were wrong. Mary Jane then walks away.
, and discussion of the meaning of being an icon. Spider-Man also struggles with the combination of both science and magic in his origin, and uses scientific means to take down a magic foe.
(nicknamed Hobby) is the alternate Hobgoblin. She enjoys killing alternate or future versions of Spider-Man, but accidentally dies by her own retcon bomb (a bomb that not only kills the victim, but erases them from ever existing). Early in the storyline, she brings an alt-Uncle Ben to the 616 reality as part of a mind game for Peter. As Spider-Man 2211 prepares to return Uncle Ben to his proper reality, Uncle Ben shoots him, deciding to stay in this one. This Uncle Ben is later revealed to be the Chameleon of 2211.
returns as the new Mysterio
and traps Spider-Man and the students and staff of Midtown High inside the building. Daniel Berkhart, the second Mysterio, enters the fray as well as Quentin Beck, the original, long thought dead from a gunshot wound. Also of note is the inclusion of Miss Arrow
, a nurse who falls in love with Flash Thompson
and may be more than she seems: she is able to emit stingers from her wrist, much like Spider-Man himself.
Spider Man also unmasks Mysterio and finds that his face is distorted.
is recruited to kill off Spider-Man because he is now "Beside the Law". Meanwhile, Spider-Man receives a cloaking device from Beast
in an abandoned church and uses the device to get a job at Midtown (as Ben Reilly
). In the second issue familiar characters are brought back (including Debra Whitman
and Betty Brant
). Deb has written a book titled “TWO FACED: How Spider-Man Ruined My Life.” The Vulture predicts Peter will show up and a battle is staged in medias res. The issue ends with the Vulture and Spider-Man falling off of a building. As they fall, Spider-Man gains his composure long enough to save himself and the Vulture and take Toomes to the hospital. Meanwhile Deb Whitman confesses to Betty Brant that the Daily Bugle
pressured her and gave her money to write the scathing tell-all book, and apologizes. As Vulture lies in a paralyzed state in the hospital, Spider-Man sneaks in his room using his cloaking device. Vulture asks him to kill him, as his state is a sign of weakness, but he knows Peter won't. He then says that Peter's uncle is lucky for dying, so he wouldn't see how weak his nephew is. Spider-Man snaps and puts a pillow over Toomes' face as he struggles for life. At the last second Peter relents, stating for that a man who wants to die so bad, he struggled pretty hard. He leaves Toomes with a statement about how compassion is a good thing.
. Sandman had earlier broken into prison to rescue Floyd Baker, his father, but failed and enlisted Spider-Man to help by claiming the man Baker murdered was Ben Parker (see issues #8-10) though he'd been dead for years. Along the way they meet a stoner named Dennis who had seen Ben Parker shoot Spider-Man 2211 and taken the murdered Spider-Man 2211's helmet and was waiting to go to the future. Meanwhile Flash Thompson was on a date with Betty Brant until she was attacked in the restroom by thousands of spiders. Upon inspection, cocaine was discovered and the matrie'd asked them to leave. Miss Arrow appeared soon after, as she had been hiding in the stall. Afterwards, Betty distracted Flash and caused them to wreck a police car. Taking the helmet (and allowing the stoner to come along), Spider-Man and Sandman followed its instructions to Midtown High where they discovered the mystery. The Ben Parker that the Hobgoblin 2211 had derailed from the timeline was murdered and a Chameleon 2211 had ingested his DNA and morphed into him. Revealing its true form, Spider-Man and Sandman were able to stop the creature moments before Floyd Baker was executed. Yet something puzzled Spider-Man; the helmet had registered 11,000 targets in the school with Chameleon, but he was alone when they found him.
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...
series published by 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...
. The title is derived from a trademark self-referential comment often made by 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...
(as in "just another service provided by your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!"), ironic in that Spider-Man is often falsely considered by the general public to be a dangerous vigilante and/or a criminal, and to many his perceived reputation is anything but "friendly". The series began in October 2005 and was primarily written by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was canceled after issue #24, part 2 of J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
and Joe Quesada
Joe Quesada
Joseph "Joe" Quesada is an American comic book editor, writer and artist. He became known in the 1990s for his work on various Valiant Comics books, such as Ninjak and Solar, Man of the Atom...
's "One More Day
Spider-Man: One More Day
"One More Day" is a four-part, 2007 comic book crossover storyline, connecting the six main Spider-Man series concurrently published by Marvel Comics at the time. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada, with art by Quesada, this story arc concludes the fallout of Spider-Man's actions...
" storyline. Kurt Busiek has revealed that in 1995 he originally suggested "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" as the title of the series which was eventually published as Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man is an American comic book series starring Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics for 26 issues from September, 1995 to October, 1997....
. He believes that this choice of title contributed, at least in part, to the relative market failure of Untold Tales.
"The Other" (issues #1-4)
The first story arc is the twelve-part crossoverFictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
, "Spider-Man: The Other
Spider-Man: The Other
"The Other" is a comic book crossover story arc published by Marvel Comics from October 2005 to January 2006. It was the first Spider-Man crossover since 2001, and was published in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1-4, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19-22, The Amazing Spider-Man #525-528.-Publication...
", one-third of which was told in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (the other two-thirds told in Marvel Knights Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
).
"Web Log" (issue #5)
"Web Log" was a one-issue storyline featuring a young woman, Vanna Smith, who is convinced Spider-Man has been stalking her since high school, because over the years, Spider-Man just happened to be around when Vanna was doing something. She later gets a restraining order against Spider-Man. The story then moves to approximately 50 years into the future. Mary JaneMary Jane Watson
Mary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
meets up with Vanna in an unidentified park. They talk, and Mary Jane shows Vanna Spider-Man's bloodied mask, thus proving her thoughts of him surviving were wrong. Mary Jane then walks away.
"Masks" (issues #6-7)
A storyline notable for its use of luchadores, lucha libreLucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
, and discussion of the meaning of being an icon. Spider-Man also struggles with the combination of both science and magic in his origin, and uses scientific means to take down a magic foe.
"Jumping the Tracks" (issues #8-10)
The story begins in an alternate, future timeline. The daughter of Spider-Man 2211Spider-Man 2211
Spider-Man 2211 is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. Spider-Man 2211 was created by Peter David and first appeared in the One-Shot comic "Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man."-Fictional character biography:...
(nicknamed Hobby) is the alternate Hobgoblin. She enjoys killing alternate or future versions of Spider-Man, but accidentally dies by her own retcon bomb (a bomb that not only kills the victim, but erases them from ever existing). Early in the storyline, she brings an alt-Uncle Ben to the 616 reality as part of a mind game for Peter. As Spider-Man 2211 prepares to return Uncle Ben to his proper reality, Uncle Ben shoots him, deciding to stay in this one. This Uncle Ben is later revealed to be the Chameleon of 2211.
"I Hate a Mystery" (issues #11-13)
Francis KlumMysterio (Francis Klum)
Mysterio is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular as an adversary to Spider-Man...
returns as the new Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
and traps Spider-Man and the students and staff of Midtown High inside the building. Daniel Berkhart, the second Mysterio, enters the fray as well as Quentin Beck, the original, long thought dead from a gunshot wound. Also of note is the inclusion of Miss Arrow
Miss Arrow
Miss Arrow is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She was created by Peter David, Mike Wieringo, and Todd Nauck.-The Other:During the events of The Other, Spider-Man died fighting his enemy Morlun...
, a nurse who falls in love with 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 ....
and may be more than she seems: she is able to emit stingers from her wrist, much like Spider-Man himself.
Spider Man also unmasks Mysterio and finds that his face is distorted.
"Taking Wing" (issues #14-16)
The VultureVulture (comics)
The Vulture is the name of six comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The best known Vulture in the Marvel Universe is Adrian Toomes, an elderly enemy of Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 .-Golden Age Vulture:In Young Men #26, a scientist...
is recruited to kill off Spider-Man because he is now "Beside the Law". Meanwhile, Spider-Man receives a cloaking device from Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
in an abandoned church and uses the device to get a job at Midtown (as Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly is a fictional character in the . He is a clone of Peter Parker , and is prominent in the "Clone Saga" story arc...
). In the second issue familiar characters are brought back (including Debra Whitman
Debra Whitman
Debra "Deb" Whitman is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe, and was a brief love interest of Peter Parker in the Spectacular Spider-Man and The Amazing Spider-Man comic titles in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
and Betty Brant
Betty Brant
Elizabeth "Betty" Brant is a supporting character in Marvel Comics’s Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 .-Fictional character biography:...
). Deb has written a book titled “TWO FACED: How Spider-Man Ruined My Life.” The Vulture predicts Peter will show up and a battle is staged in medias res. The issue ends with the Vulture and Spider-Man falling off of a building. As they fall, Spider-Man gains his composure long enough to save himself and the Vulture and take Toomes to the hospital. Meanwhile Deb Whitman confesses to Betty Brant that the Daily Bugle
Daily Bugle
The Daily Bugle is a fictional New York City newspaper that is a regular fixture in the Marvel Universe, most prominently in Spider-Man comic titles and their derivative media...
pressured her and gave her money to write the scathing tell-all book, and apologizes. As Vulture lies in a paralyzed state in the hospital, Spider-Man sneaks in his room using his cloaking device. Vulture asks him to kill him, as his state is a sign of weakness, but he knows Peter won't. He then says that Peter's uncle is lucky for dying, so he wouldn't see how weak his nephew is. Spider-Man snaps and puts a pillow over Toomes' face as he struggles for life. At the last second Peter relents, stating for that a man who wants to die so bad, he struggled pretty hard. He leaves Toomes with a statement about how compassion is a good thing.
"Sandblasted" (issues #17-19)
Starting with the "Back In Black" storyline, Spider-Man now hides out under the guise of Ben Reilly and takes a job as Flash Thompson's assistant coach. Soon, Flash realizes Ben is Peter and offers him shelter at his apartment. While resting, Peter is visited by Flint Marko a.k.a. SandmanSandman (Marvel Comics)
Sandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A shapeshifter endowed through an accident with the ability to turn himself into sand, he eventually reformed, and became an ally of Spider-Man...
. Sandman had earlier broken into prison to rescue Floyd Baker, his father, but failed and enlisted Spider-Man to help by claiming the man Baker murdered was Ben Parker (see issues #8-10) though he'd been dead for years. Along the way they meet a stoner named Dennis who had seen Ben Parker shoot Spider-Man 2211 and taken the murdered Spider-Man 2211's helmet and was waiting to go to the future. Meanwhile Flash Thompson was on a date with Betty Brant until she was attacked in the restroom by thousands of spiders. Upon inspection, cocaine was discovered and the matrie'd asked them to leave. Miss Arrow appeared soon after, as she had been hiding in the stall. Afterwards, Betty distracted Flash and caused them to wreck a police car. Taking the helmet (and allowing the stoner to come along), Spider-Man and Sandman followed its instructions to Midtown High where they discovered the mystery. The Ben Parker that the Hobgoblin 2211 had derailed from the timeline was murdered and a Chameleon 2211 had ingested his DNA and morphed into him. Revealing its true form, Spider-Man and Sandman were able to stop the creature moments before Floyd Baker was executed. Yet something puzzled Spider-Man; the helmet had registered 11,000 targets in the school with Chameleon, but he was alone when they found him.
Collected editions
- Spider-Man: The OtherSpider-Man: The Other"The Other" is a comic book crossover story arc published by Marvel Comics from October 2005 to January 2006. It was the first Spider-Man crossover since 2001, and was published in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1-4, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19-22, The Amazing Spider-Man #525-528.-Publication...
(reprints issues Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1-4, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19-22, and The Amazing Spider-Man #525-528) 288 pages, hardcover ISBN: 0-7851-2188-9, softcover ISBN: 0-7851-1765-2 - Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Volume 1: Derailed (reprints Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #5-10) (softcover)
- Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Volume 2: Mystery Date (reprints Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #11-16) (softcover)
- Spider-Man: Back in Black (reprints Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #17-23 and Annual 1, and Amazing Spider-Man #539-543) (released as hardcover and softcover editions)
- Spider-Man: One More Day (collects Amazing Spider-Man #544-545, Sensational Spider-Man #40, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #24 and Marvel SpotlightMarvel SpotlightMarvel Spotlight is the name of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics as a try-out book for new characters. The first series ran for 33 issues from November 1971 to April 1977...
: "Spider-Man - One More Day/Brand New Day", 112 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, April 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2633-3, softcover, August 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2634-1)
Letters page
One popular component contributing to Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man's success has been its letters pages, running through issues #9-17 and making a comeback in issue 20. While letters pages are almost as old as comics themselves, the Friendly letters page also served as a forum through which fans could communicate not just with the creative team and editors but also with each other, with regular letter writers such as Adrian J. Watts and Paul DiFillippo regularly interacting directly with one another about aspects of the series.External links
- Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man at Marvel.com