What made Spider-Man so popular?

[Revolutionary_Jack]

Uh, I really think you're underestimating how popular Superman was.

Possibly. But I am also pretty sure that Superman was never as big as Charlie Chaplin, as Bogart and Bette Davis or Babe Ruth in the 30s or 40s, and that he did not mean then what he came to mean later. Superman truly became Superman in the 50s and early '60s. I am talking Superboy, Legion of Superheroes, Floating City of Kandor, Supergirl, Krypto the Superdog, Luthor stealing those cakes.

After Seduction of the Innocent came out, a lot of superheroes disappeared from comics because of the increased scrutiny of the genre.

You are mistaken. Seduction of the Innocent and the Comics Code Authority killed off EC Comics and the non-superhero adults-only comics, removing them from the mainstream permanently. Superhero comics on the other hand were unaffected. Except for Batman and Robin getting girlfriends to prove they're straight (which was an accusation that Wertham made), it didn't have any effect.

In fact Wertham's homophobic screed and the CCA ultimately helped solidify the perception of superhero=comics which persists to this day. It created a perception that comics should be for kids and that the most childlike genres, the superhero genre survived the effects mostly unscathed. That led, in time, to the rise of the monopoly of the Big Two. By the way, the so-called Silver Age, i.e. Barry Allen's Flash by Carmine Infantino, that cover where Flash bursts out of a roll of film...that all comes after Wertham and CCA. The so-called Silver Age lasted little less than 20 years.

But, uh, is Ra's all of a sudden in the leagues of Thanos or Darkseid or Galactus?

He has the power to take over the world and/or end it. He has the resources to do doomsday schemes and has a vague ideology (cleansing the earth) that makes him keen to do it. His scheme Tower of Babel established him as a League-level threat. Ra's Al Ghul is very much Dr. Doom's level...and probably was inspired in part by Doom (what the Green suit with Golden clasps that Adams' intro of him had him wear). And besides, Ra's Al Ghul stories as a rule take Batman out of Gotham and around the world, whereas the Hand stuff still mostly centers on stuff in Hell's Kitchen in Miller's run and afterwards.

I very much doubt that.

As someone who studies history and historical process, it's very dangerous to assume that things are inevitable and things always would have been what they are. Contingency and chance are huge huge factors, and that's for the real big lasting stuff leave alone something ephemeral like comics with monthly ongoing titles. The idea that Spider-Man occupied a natural third place after Superman and Batman seems suggestive and natural now, but it didn't necessarily mean that way when it came out. It discounts the fact that Superman himself took a while to become what he became, as did Batman.

Spider-Man probably owes his status to the fact that he didn't have solid competition and challenges the way Superman did with Captain Marvel in his very early years. He was also at the outset the most traditional character in a fairly untraditional roster of heroes. The Hulk preceded Spider-Man as a solo title but an ongoing around a meek scientist who turns into a rage monster hounded by the military was pretty hard to do at the time. The Fantastic Four were a family of superheroes led by a 50s Dad and a 50s Housewife, with the cool characters being Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm...neither of whom had secret identities and as such any private life. Daredevil which came a little later had Matt Murdoch who was blind and also some kind of circus dude at the outset.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

Possibly. But I am also pretty sure that Superman was never as big as Charlie Chaplin, as Bogart and Bette Davis or Babe Ruth in the 30s or 40s, and that he did not mean then what he came to mean later. Superman truly became Superman in the 50s and early '60s. I am talking Superboy, Legion of Superheroes, Floating City of Kandor, Supergirl, Krypto the Superdog, Luthor stealing those cakes.

Dude. He evolved of course, but he was still HUGE in the late 30s and 40s. He became almost an overnight pop-culture sensation. I'd say he was probably still considered a children's character, but he was still well-known.

You are mistaken. Seduction of the Innocent and the Comics Code Authority killed off EC Comics and the non-superhero adults-only comics, removing them from the mainstream permanently. Superhero comics on the other hand were unaffected. Except for Batman and Robin getting girlfriends to prove they're straight (which was an accusation that Wertham made), it didn't have any effect.

Wertham also leveled accusations against Superman for being what he saw as a fascist and Wonder Woman for, get this, being a poor role model for girls because she exhibited "power and independence over nurturance." Because of that, a LOT of parents turned against comic books, including superhero comics and an attitude that "comic books cause delinquents" swept the country. So, DC and other publishers switched to the content they believed parents would find acceptable. They also severely retooled their characters in response. Wonder Woman, for example, basically became a housewife to Steve Trevor.

THAT was the environment in which Spider-Man made his debut, where a majority of parents were suspicious at best of comic books' influence on their kids. And honestly, that might have been part of what made him successful. The fact that he snuck out, keeping the fact that he was a superhero private from Aunt May may have mirrored how many kids felt about reading comics in secret without their parents' consent.

He has the power to take over the world and/or end it. He has the resources to do doomsday schemes and has a vague ideology (cleansing the earth) that makes him keen to do it. His scheme Tower of Babel established him as a League-level threat. Ra's Al Ghul is very much Dr. Doom's level...and probably was inspired in part by Doom (what the Green suit with Golden clasps that Adams' intro of him had him wear). And besides, Ra's Al Ghul stories as a rule take Batman out of Gotham and around the world, whereas the Hand stuff still mostly centers on stuff in Hell's Kitchen in Miller's run and afterwards.

And Norman Oborn has proven himself an Avengers-level threat through stories like Dark Reign. Does that make Spider-Man less street-level for having fought him in stories that took place solely in NYC? Also, dude, I've read Daredevil stories where he globe-trots all over Europe and battles supervillains in Spain. And let's not forget the Shadowland event, during which Matt takes control of the Hand (again, a clan of mystical ninjas) and it's later revealed that that happened because he was possessed by an actual demon while doing so. So, how does that qualify as street-level...

Again if you wanna continue this discussion (and it is a fascinating one), can we please do so over private message? I don't wanna detract too much from the thread.

[Lee]

Possibly. But I am also pretty sure that Superman was never as big as Charlie Chaplin, as Bogart and Bette Davis or Babe Ruth in the 30s or 40s, and that he did not mean then what he came to mean later. Superman truly became Superman in the 50s and early '60s. I am talking Superboy, Legion of Superheroes, Floating City of Kandor, Supergirl, Krypto the Superdog, Luthor stealing those cakes.

Comics sold better in the 1940s. The 1940s also had the Superman radio show, the big budget animated shorts and a live action movie serial, said to be the most profitable movie serial in history.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

Wertham also leveled accusations against Superman for being what he saw as a fascist and Wonder Woman for, get this, being a poor role model for girls because she exhibited "power and independence over nurturance." Because of that, a LOT of parents turned against comic books, including superhero comics and an attitude that "comic books cause delinquents" swept the country. So, DC and other publishers switched to the content they believed parents would find acceptable.

Superhero comics were still published. EC Comics were put to pasture. There was a modification of content, and a hysterical reaction followed by hasty over-correction which is typical but superhero comics thrived and benefited from the rise of the Comics Code, far more than any genre. It is thanks to the comics code that superhero comics ultimately claimed a monopoly on comics as a genre when in the Golden Age this was not the case.

EC Comics was where the revolution was at, and it was their wings that got clipped. And indeed, comics fandom was created by EC and a lot of the gimmicks that Stan Lee gets credit for at Marvel, his persona as affable EIC, promoting a "Marvel Bullpen", creating a profile of his crew as if they were zany collaborators that Lee was barely keeping in line and so on...was all done by William Gaines and his staff at EC.

THAT was the environment in which Spider-Man made his debut,

Seduction of the Innocent was 1954, Spider-Man came out in 1962, a near decade later. By the time Spidey arrived, everything had calmed down and mellowed considerably. Heck Wertham's entire hysteria was mocked in the Hollywood movie Artists and Models starring Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in 1955, just a year later.

You had Barry Allen's The Flash in 1956 which is the start of the Silver Age, followed by other retools like Hal Jordan as GL. Brainiac and Supergirl came out in 1958 (and both appearances were big deals at the time in superhero comics, and ultimately Brainiac became so ubiquitous that his name entered the lexicon as a slang for genius). The Justice League of America likewise came out shortly, that first issue where they all fought Starro on the cover. The Fantastic Four was inspired by JLA, and the idea to start a super-team.

And honestly, that might have been part of what made him successful. The fact that he snuck out, keeping the fact that he was a superhero private from Aunt May may have mirrored how many kids felt about reading comics in secret without their parents' consent.

There might be something to this. It sounds interesting certainly.

[Ozymandias]

THAT was the environment in which Spider-Man made his debut, where a majority of parents were suspicious at best of comic books' influence on their kids. And honestly, that might have been part of what made him successful. The fact that he snuck out, keeping the fact that he was a superhero private from Aunt May may have mirrored how many kids felt about reading comics in secret without their parents' consent.

That's probably a key component of the character's appeal. Being a teen wasn't new, but living with relatives and evading their supervision to do prohibited things, was. Well isolated, let's not forget that the first portable radio was sold in 1954, contributing to the new generations being more rebellious.

[Speed Force League Unlimited]

For one he used to be a unique character.

[Alan2099]

That's probably a key component of the character's appeal. Being a teen wasn't new, but living with relatives and evading their supervision to do prohibited things, was. Well isolated, let's not forget that the first portable radio was sold in 1954, contributing to the new generations being more rebellious.

That's another part of Spider-man's appeal. Kids used to just be sidekicks. Here was a "kid" saying he was an man and taking on the responsibilities of a man. one of the best parts about that was it showed that he wasn't always ready sometimes and other times he did better than anyone ever expected. He wasn't shoe boxed into a specific age.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

He wasn't shoe boxed into a specific age.

Agreed. Amen.

[AndyB23]

Just think he's a character that's not perfect and each generation can relate to him. Sure he wins his share of fights but he also gets his butt handed to him plenty also. Plus his quips in dire situations also do help!

[Mister Mets]

It's probably a combination of things.

He was a teenager with agency and realistic problems, at a time when teens had disposable income.
He had a fantastic supporting cast, power set and rogues gallery.
Things didn't always go well for him (although just as importantly, it sometimes went well for him.)
His sense of humor was fantastic.
The full body-suit made it easier for kids to imagine being him.
His first instincts were selfish.
He had some really good stories. His origin is one of the best Marvel comics ever. The Master Planner Saga might have been the best superhero comic up until that point (surpassed the next month by the Fantastic Four's Galactus saga.)

[Alan2099]

Let's also not forget that he had a ton of really great villains right from the start. It seems like he consistently had more great bad guys than a lot of early marvel titles.

[Mister Mets]

Let's also not forget that he had a ton of really great villains right from the start. It seems like he consistently had more great bad guys than a lot of early marvel titles.

That's fair. He had Chameleon, Vulture, Dr Octopus, Sandman and Lizard in his first year. Compare that to Daredevil, Iron Man or the Johnny Storm solo book.