Spider-Man’s identity is about to become not-so-secret.
“My name is Peter Parker and I’ve been Spider-Man since I was 15 years old.
Any questions?” the web wonder proclaims at a Times Square press conference in the comic “Civil War” No. 2, which goes on sale today.
The announcement will make for the biggest change in the comic-book icon’s status quo since he got hitched to longtime gal pal Mary Jane Watson in 1987.
Marvel Comics editor-inchief Joe Quesada called it “one of the biggest revelations in comic-book history.” What Spider-Man does is “a comic-book taboo,” Quesada said, and “it will affect every area of his life, personally and professionally.” The character comes out at the urging of close pal and fellow superhero Iron Man, who’s enlisted the amazing arachnid’s help supporting the Super-Hero Registration Act.
The law was enacted after hundreds of people were killed in a superherosupervillain fight, and requires all superheroes to reveal their identities to the government and register as “living weapons of mass destruction.” Some of the heroes, including Marvel icon Captain America, balk, leading to the civil war of the title.
Spider-Man’s outing makes Mary Jane and his beloved Aunt May “walking targets for all of his nemeses,” and leaves many of his friends feeling betrayed.