The Amazing Media Footprint of Spider-Man

Since the launch of The Amazing Spider-Man series in 1977, the titular hero has enjoyed mainstream penetration like few others on the big screen. The Spider-Man trilogy, between 2002 and 2007, propelled him further into pop culture – and it is not just in cinema where the impact has been felt.

In this article, we will consider the far-reaching places Spider-Man has made his mark. From lending his likeness to slots games in UK online casinos, to merchandise and video game crossovers.

Gaming

Perhaps Spidey’s broadest legacy is in the world of video games. The titles featuring the character are almost too numerous to count, and they include outings on 15 different gaming platforms across four decades.

The first Spider-Man game was released on the Atari 2600 and offers classic action featuring the pursuit of criminals across skyscrapers. It even includes a cameo appearance from the Green Goblin, whose bombs you must avoid.

Text-driven graphical adventure games followed, including an appearance in the Questprobe series of games, before a return to a more modern format in the late 80s and early 90s. Fast forward nearly 30 years and games like Marvel’s Spider-Man have helped keep the character at the forefront of the industry.

The title attracted rave reviews from critics and has helped to keep the franchise front of mind across the world in between big screen releases. And while many game adaptations of films flop horribly, Spider-Man has enjoyed a relatively smooth transition between formats, including sub-sectors like casino gaming, where his likeness is often seen in slot games.

TV shows

It’s common to to see films make the switch to the small screen, with live action and animated serialisations helping to entertain existing audiences and build new ones. And Spider-Man is no exception.

The majority of TV shows created featuring Spider-Man have been animated, starting with the original series in 1967, through to 2021’s upcoming Spidey And His Amazing Friends.

That the franchise can engage with audiences young and old is another string to its bow, and a huge advantage in the marketplace, especially at a time when streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus and Amazon Prime are commissioning a seemingly endless amount of original shows.

Merchandise and total value

Elsewhere, the Spider-Man merchandise industry is big business, with Amazing Fantasy #15 – the first comic to feature the character – worth just under $300,000. But although it’s the comics that command the biggest prices, everything from air fresheners to apple juice drinks can also be snapped up.

The current Sony-Disney split over Spider-Man – a result of the apparent divorce of Sony from Disney-Marvel – is helping to dive up the value of the IP. Far From Home, released in 2019, grossed $1.232bn at Box Office, from a budget of $160m, so it’s no surprise that the world’s biggest media giants are battling for control.

Whether it’s the films themselves, the extensive library of TV shows and games, or the infinitely collectible series of comics, it’s beyond question that Spider-Man enjoys one of the biggest media footprints in all of modern pop culture.