When I was a little kid, I wanted to do everything that little kids love to do. I wanted to play with dolls, watch cartoons, draw pictures, play video games and eat so much ice cream. My childhood days were fun, however, they became even more fun on May 3rd, 2002. That day was my 6th birthday.
May 3rd, 2002 was also the release date of the first Spider-Man movie with Tobey Maguire. My dad used to read comic books when he was young and he told me everything about Spider-Man. I was so amazed by the idea of him that we both had to go see it together.
I fell in love with the movie, and by the time the DVD came out, all I wanted to do was watch it over and over again. I even got the soundtrack of the movie too. In that moment, Spider-Man became my favorite superhero and my love and fascination with this superhero have only grown since.
I remember when my dad and I would go to this arcade in my hometown, Jackson, Michigan. Today, unfortunately, the arcade is out of business but there were always so many games to play. Though there many, only one game really stuck out to me and it was Marvel vs. Capcom.
Marvel vs. Capcom is a fighting game filled with characters from both Marvel and Capcom. I remember that I would have to force myself to not play it for so long because I was sure that other people would want to play it too. I just loved it so much!
One day, I was challenged in this game by a boy who seemed a little older than I was. I played as Spider-Man and I can't remember what character the boy chose but I beat him. He looked so surprised and said "Wow, you are really good at this game!" I didn't really think I would beat him, but I did. It made me feel so good, like I was invincible.
I started to play more games that involved Spider-Man. I would get so excited whenever the new movies come out, even if it had more to do with other Marvel characters.
It's interesting how Stan Lee himself would come up with brilliant ideas for a superhero. I'm sure that people have their own reasons why they like a superhero and I have my own reasons too.
Peter Parker is a guy who tries to live an ordinary life. He goes to high school and does what any high schooler would do like getting an education, having crushes and other things. However, he was bitten by a radioactive spider and it became a whole different world for him.
Peter now has two different kinds of lives: One being his normal high school self, Peter Parker, and the other, being Spider-Man. He was always a pretty average person. He was only a teenager when he was bitten and he's not rich in any sense. I perceive Spider-Man as a neighbor down the street that helps people and stops crimes from happening. It makes sense how he calls himself "The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" because I'm sure that he knows he's just an ordinary guy since he's Peter Parker after all.
As of now, my room is filled with Spider-Man paraphernaliaand I'm excited for what is yet to come with anything Spidey, as well as the other characters too, of course.
Peter Parker, Spider Man, whatever alter ego he's embracing, I believe he lives up to one of my favorite quotes of all time:
