Oh, yes. Indeed it seems to be Marvel’s policy to retroactively re-explain all the super heroes powers as having to do with genetic alteration rather than radiation. This of course creates a problem of explaining why then mutants are special in that regard.
http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManD/amazing_spiderman_100.htm
The Sam Ruby site, in fact, has a whole page on Spidey’s various transformations:
http://www.samruby.com/Spiderverse/Spiderman/costumetransformations.htm
I haven’t been following the Spider-titles in ages, but wasn’t there a story arc a few years ago where it was revealed that Peter was actually channeling some sort of spider-spirit? That the “accident” was not the cause, but the effect, or somesuch?
It also explained why Spidey’s Rogues’ Gallery tended to be animalistic as well (The Puma, Scorpion, etc.), because of the various animalistic spirits’ goings-on…?
Speaking as someone who works with DNA every day, I am resisting the urge to slap you all silly, because I am not an asshole. At least I try.
Anyway, I got that out of my system, so please feel free to continue with your speculations.
There was a storyline during the JMS issues in which that ‘totem power’ explanation was toyed with. It may not be as sciency-sounding, but it has a certain logic that the radiation and genetic explanations don’t. By that I mean that the body weight to lift ratio of a spider has more to do with the physics that apply to very small things than it has to do with some genetic multiplier that can be turned on. But if you’re willing to believe that there’s some abstract quality of proportional strength in the universe that the spider partakes of, then it makes sense that giving it to a human would have that effect. To the extent that the notion makes any sense at all, that is. Which it doesn’t. But, you know. It’s a comic book.
(Might be a little off-topic)
The most recent treatment of Spidey becoming more spider than man was Paul Jenkins pre-Avengers Disassembled storyline “Changes” which was the point at which the comic book Spidey went from having mechanical webspinners to organic ones like in the movies. I didn’t care for it personally.
FWIW, it has begun.
Nor would I.
This constant “mutation” of the original theme is exactly what drove me away from comic books/graphic novels.
As I understand it, Marvel’s mutants all have the exact same mutation, a difference from normal humans in a very specific spot on their chromosomes (the “X-gene”). They simply show this mutation in lots of different ways. All mutants are the same genotype, with wildly varying phenotypes. (Did I get the terms right?) I think I read an explanation somewhere, not sure if it’s canon or not, that the x-gene mutation actually gives them reality-altering abilities, and they all subconsciously choose to manifest the ability in different ways. Spidey has a different kind of mutation than “Mutants.”
Not at all. Mutants were born with their superhuman powers which usually manifest themselves at puberty. Everybody else had their genetic structure jacked with via external supernatural or (comicbook) scientific sources.
For the record — at least as of this writing —several of Marvel’s heavy hitters still have radioactive power catalysts. The Hulk still got his power from “Gamma” Bomb, Daredevil still got his power from “radioactive waste”, “Vita-Rays” are still responsible for balancing out Captain America’s Super Soldier Serum. For that matter, I think Spider-Man still has “radioactive blood” (unless he was “cured” of it via his “The Other” rebirth.)
Your description of the “X-gene” sounds more like DC’s “metagene.” Looking at the Wikipedia mutant article it doesn’t mention it. Spider-Man is considered a “mutate” in Marvel mythology since he wasn’t born with his powers but underwent a mutagenic change.
Yeah, they haven’t entirely written out the radiation as part of the phenomenon, as per the song:
Is he high? Listen, blood,
He’s got radioactive bud!
(Or, it was something like that, you know.)
I must say, I preferred the Spider-Man song from the animated 90s show.
Did that have lyrics? All I ever heard was like an electronic voice going wah-de-wak-tik, wah-de-wak-tik, wayyoo ack-tic wah-de-wak-tik…
The only word I could make out was what sounded like “Radioactive”.
Little bit of trivia…
On 1995’s “Saturday Morning: Cartoon’s Greatest Hits,” the punk pioneers Ramones performed a cover of this classic Spider-Man theme song. Here’s a really low-res version of the video for it.
The Ramones were formed in Forest Hills in Queens, NY.
Which is also where our friendly neighborhood wall-crawler is from.
‘Spider-Man, Spider-Man, radioactive Spider-Man.’ music, repeat.
