Cobwebs #69: Happy Birthday Spider-Man!

Today (October 14th) is Spider-Man’s birthday!  So celebrate by reading this article and then either with the newest issue today or go back to your long box and read your favorite arc!  Walloping web-snappers! 

So, how do I know it is the web-slinger’s birthday?  Because I do my homework! 

In 2012, to acknowledge Spider-Man’s 50^th year of being in print, Marvel’s Stephen Whacker declared that October 14^th was Spider-Man’s birthday.  This conveniently coincided with the New York Comic Con.  Marvel pulled out all the stops to celebrate.  They had a free digital comic with Spider-Man teaming up with the mayor of New York that you can read here: https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/44528/ultimate_spider-man_infinite_2012_1 (but unlike other Marvel Unlimited comics, you have to download the Marvel App to read it).

They also broke the world record for most contributions to a birthday card.  Marvel and Hallmark made an 8 foot wide, 6 foot tall birthday card for Spidey and 2,707 people signed their well wishes on it.  That blew away the previous record, which was a paltry 1,816.

This is confirmed somewhat in canon in Amazing Spider-Man #1 Vol 4:

For those of you not up to date on your astrology, a libra is born between September 23 and October 22 and libras are supposed to be fixated on balance and harmony, traits that maybe aren’t quite up Peter’s alley.

Of course, some of you right now are saying, but what about the passport?

But guys, we’re talking about 616 Spidey.  That’s 199999 Spidey.  And while it was neat to reference the date of the first comic book as his birthday, I think it would have been even cooler if they had referenced his already established birthday.

And yes, I put in a reference to the MCU Spidey just to trigger Chi-Town. Speaking of, I’d better get going. I have a review to write and if Norbot beat me to it, I won’t ever hear the end of it!

Sources:

Faragher, Aliza Kelly. “Each Zodiac Sign’s Unique Personality Traits, Explained by an Astrologer.” Allure, Conde Nast, 27 Sept. 2020, www.allure.com/story/zodiac-sign-personality-traits-dates.

Seifert, Mark. “Marvel’s Stephen Wacker, New York City Officials Announce Spider-Man Day, Sunday October 14 in NYC.” Bleeding Cool, 12 Oct. 2012, bleedingcool.com/comics/recent-updates/marvels-stephen-wacker-new-york-city-officials-announce-spider-man-day-sunday-october-14-in-nyc/.

“Spider-Man Swings into World Record at New York Comic Con.”  Guinness World Records, 18 Oct. 2012, www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2012/10/spider-man-swings-into-guinness-world-records-title-at-new-york-comic-con-45556.

Credible Hulk

 ‘Nuff Said!