How the Movies Saved Spider-Man

L O S  A N G E L E S, May 4 -- He may be on top of the world this weekend, but just six years ago Spider-Man and all his buddies at Marvel Comics — the Hulk, The Fantastic Four and The X-Men — were bankrupt and looking like losers.

THUD!

It became a colossal fight between bankers and businessmen over the value of Marvel's characters. But the winners had super vision, according to a new book, Comic Wars: How Two Tycoons Battled Over the Marvel Comics Empire — and Both Lost.

"At one point in the bankruptcy, one of the current heads of the company said to a group of bankers, Spider-Man alone is worth a billion dollars," said the book's author, Dan Raviv. "And he didn't mean from one movie. … He meant all the movies that will be made — TV series and toys, and all the other accessories and pajamas and lunchboxes."

Suddenly — GASP! — Hollywood came casting, and — KWHAMM! — the superheroes were back.

It started with Blade, a movie about one of Marvel's lesser-known characters. But it was a hit, and X-Men followed.

Literature for Teenage Boys

"When you hear the words 'comic book,' for some reason it gets a little less respect than it deserves, because these are great literature," said Avi Arad, president of Marvel Studios. "These are great stories, great characters."

It's literature made for teenage boys who fantasize about saving the world and getting the buxom girl — things they can only dream about in real life.

Spider-Man's creators say the superhero and all Marvel characters are based on idealized real-life people who have one special talent, but also are mired in real-life problems. They believe young boys can relate to stepping up to the plate with their special powers when, for instance, a little old lady is crossing a street in front of a bus.

"Spider-Man is this much fantasy," said John Romita Jr., the primary artist for the Spider-Man comics, holding his thumb and forefinger close together.