You left out a very interesting aspect of Spider Man. At least traditionally he isn't loved and he isn't respected. The authorities and one extremely powerful newspaper publisher see him as a bad guy. Action is his reward. Sound like a country we know?
Regarding Michael Chabon, his pulitzer prize winning novel "The Amazing Adventures of Cavilier and Clay" is a sort of retelling of the saga of Siegel and Schuster and is a must read. Virtually all of the classic comic book heroes were created by Jews. All have classic American Jewish motifs. But all are deliberately given Waspy names.
Additionally, in the very first Spider-Man story, Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, after Peter refuses to stop a fleeing burglar, that same burglar later kills Uncle Ben. Peter catches the killer and realizes he was the man he had allowed to escape. The final narration states: “With great power there must also come—great responsibility!”
Similar to: כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh = “All Israel is responsible for one another.” (Talmud, Shevuot 39a)
Except that Spider-Man was largely the creation, not of Stan Lee, but of the Gentile Steve Ditko. Kind of blows the whole thesis of this piece to bits.
Does not blow anything. With a little digging…Steve Ditko (1927–2018) was an American comic artist best known as the co-creator of Spider-Man. He drew the first 38 issues of The Amazing Spider-Man and helped create many of Spider-Man’s supporting characters and villains with Stan Lee.
Great story. I never looked at Superheroes from this angle .
You left out a very interesting aspect of Spider Man. At least traditionally he isn't loved and he isn't respected. The authorities and one extremely powerful newspaper publisher see him as a bad guy. Action is his reward. Sound like a country we know?
Regarding Michael Chabon, his pulitzer prize winning novel "The Amazing Adventures of Cavilier and Clay" is a sort of retelling of the saga of Siegel and Schuster and is a must read. Virtually all of the classic comic book heroes were created by Jews. All have classic American Jewish motifs. But all are deliberately given Waspy names.
I also grew up in Forest Hills in Queens NY
Additionally, in the very first Spider-Man story, Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, after Peter refuses to stop a fleeing burglar, that same burglar later kills Uncle Ben. Peter catches the killer and realizes he was the man he had allowed to escape. The final narration states: “With great power there must also come—great responsibility!”
Similar to: כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh = “All Israel is responsible for one another.” (Talmud, Shevuot 39a)
Yes, Jewish roots.
Except that Spider-Man was largely the creation, not of Stan Lee, but of the Gentile Steve Ditko. Kind of blows the whole thesis of this piece to bits.
Does not blow anything. With a little digging…Steve Ditko (1927–2018) was an American comic artist best known as the co-creator of Spider-Man. He drew the first 38 issues of The Amazing Spider-Man and helped create many of Spider-Man’s supporting characters and villains with Stan Lee.
Really interesting post...I agree, he is Jewish.