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Spider-Man, the beloved superhero, has lived out of New York City ever since his creation at Marvel Comics (which, non-coincidentally, also resides in NYC). However, Amazing Spider-Man issue 1 (from 2014) hits a new low as our web-slinging hero is caught buck-naked by a slew of spectators, giving fans an unexpected glimpse of Spider-Man naked in action.
This issue was quite a shock to many fans who are used to seeing Spider-Man in his iconic red and blue suit. The sight of him without any clothes was both surprising and a bit humorous.
Skein (aka Gypsy Moth) is a thief working with a team of bandits. She has the power to re-weave clothing to, oh I don’t know, strangle or trap people I guess. This comes in handy when she uses it to get Spider-Man nude in the middle of New York City. The superhero then needed to react quickly to hide his junk with some webbing shorts. Thank goodness it dissolves within an hour, or that could cause some horrible circumstances for the future, not to mention an awkward situation for anyone wanting to cosplay as the naked Spider-Man. Skein’s powers are quite unique and add an interesting twist to the story. Her ability to manipulate clothing makes her a formidable opponent for Spider-Man.
As if Spider-Man naked in broad daylight on a packed street was not bad enough for Peter Parker, his girlfriend (which he knows nothing about because his mind was swapped with Doc Ock) recognized his freckles near his private parts, revealing his secret identity as Spider-Man. So now he was caught naked both literally and metaphorically. This revelation added another layer of complexity to Peter Parker’s life. Being recognized by his girlfriend in such an embarrassing situation was a major blow to his secret identity.
Before she made Spider-Man nude in public, I had never heard of Skein or Gypsy Moth. If I had, I would have been much more interested in this character. It is hard to think of a cooler power than the ability to embarrass anyone you like on a whim. It is also interesting that Anna Maria Marconi, Spider-Man’s girlfriend (really Doc Ock’s girlfriend) implied that they had been knocking boots. So not only does Peter have to explain himself to her, but he also needs to get tested for STDs. Who knows how many women Doc Ock slept with while borrowing his Spider-Man bodysuit? The introduction of Skein and the implications of Doc Ock’s actions while in Peter’s body added a lot of drama and intrigue to the storyline. It made readers question what other secrets might be revealed.
So there you have it. Spider-Man naked as the day he was born, running around wearing nothing but a mask and webbing. I can see Marvel Comics having a toast dedicated to how classy their company is. If you are looking for this comic, you are bound to get confused. This is from the third series of Amazing Spider-Man #1, from 2014. Surely this was to coincide with the Amazing Spider-Man movie. They decided to have another ASM #1 in 2015. If that were not enough, they also decided to have 50 different variant covers (Affiliate Link) of the 2014 version. Marvel’s parent company, Disney, will milk any franchise bone dry, that’s for sure.
Marvel’s decision to release multiple versions of the same comic issue and numerous variant covers shows their dedication to keeping fans engaged and excited. However, it also highlights their tendency to capitalize on popular franchises.
It’s rather ironic that he lost all of his clothes, consider how there is so much Spider-Man merchandise. You can find everything from Spider-Man boxers to full Spider-Man costumes and accessories. Just remember, unlike in this comic, it’s best to keep your Spider-Man underwear on when out in public.