Cast kicks off ‘Amazing’ week
Aweb of Spider-Man events were spun out Monday as the city kicked off the first day of the “Spider-Man Week in NYC.” First, Spidey fans braved the rain on Rockefeller Plaza to catch a glimpse of cast members Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Denis Leary and Rhys Ifans, along with director Marc Webb, as they visited NBC’s “Today” show.
Though the rain forced the “Today’ show segment indoors, hardcore fans stood strong to show their love for the web-slinger.
“I can relate to him in so many ways,” said New Jersey fan Matthew Vlossak, 24. “I’m adopted just like Peter, and my grandparents raised me, so they’re like my Uncle Ben and Aunt May.”
But Michael Carazona, 8, dressed in a full Spider-Man costume for the occasion, had a more comic-book-style reason for liking the superhero: “He’s the skinny guy who beats the crap out of everybody.”
’Nuff said, as Spidey’s co-creator Stan Lee might say.
On the morning show, the cast received an official proclamation declaring it “New York City Spider-Man Week.”
Then, the cast pulled the switch to light the Empire State Building “Spider-Man red and blue.” The landmark’s lights, which were set to turn on at dusk, will mark Tuesday’s “Be Amazing, Stand Up and Volunteer” event, a nationwide call to service.
After the ceremony, they rode the elevator to the observatory to sneak a glimpse of the Spider-Man-friendly view.
“I am absolutely the hero of the movie,” joked Leary, who plays NYPD Capt. Stacy. “I know it’s called ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ but they had to do that for marketing reasons.”
Garfield was more humble about putting on the famous mask.
“Spider-Man’s my hero — not even my favorite superhero, but my actual hero,” he said. “To be able to represent him and keep his flame aglow is an honor.”
jfantozzi@nydailynews.com