THE AMAZING ORIGINS OF SPIDER- MAN
1954: New York costume company Ben Cooper, Inc., sells outfit called “SpiderMan.”” Marvel Comics cs artist Jack Kirby rby is rumored to haveave worked briefly forf thecompany, perhaps designing costumes.
Late 1950s: Ben Cooperalters its “Spider Man” costume design, swapping the bag- like mask for a yellow, plastic spider’s web. Thenew design is sold until 1962. 1962: Writer- editor Stan LeeLe assigns KirbyKirb to produce Marvel’s new du v comic, “SpiderMan.” M TheT artist drawsdra a few pages,p ag but LeedeemsLee them not right and hires Steve Ditko instead. Ditko claims to design costume. August 1962 ( cover date): Spider- Man debuts in “Amazing Fantasy” No. 15. March 1963 ( cover date): The hero’s solo title, “The Amazing SpiderMan,” hits shelves.
October 1963: Ben Cooperstrikes deal withMarvel— terms unknown— andbegins selling a licensed SpiderMan costume, makingit the comic company’s first piece of merchandise.