Marvel's flagship character and company mascot Spider-Man was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and made his first appearance in August 1962 in Amazing Fantasy #15.
To give you some idea how popular the character is, Amazing Fantasy #15 lists for about $50,000 today.
Before Spidey, most teenagers in comics were just sidekicks. But Spider-Man broke that mold and made a kid a hero without an adult mentor or teacher.
Spider-Man is one of the most popular and commercially successful superheroes of all time, so it amazes me that it took nearly 25 years of development for a movie to be made.

The webslinger finally hit the big screen in 2002 in a movie directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Willem Dafoe.
To put it mildly I loved this movie.
Really the only things that bothered me was Spider-mans organic webshooters (although I understand the reasoning behind it.) and the Green Goblin's armor.
I liked Tobey Maguire as Spidey, and Willem Dafoe as the Goblin.
Okay...I really wasn't that crazy about Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane. She just didn't have that "Face it tiger...you just hit the jackpot" look.
And instead of MJ, I wish it had been Gwen Stacy.
But overall I loved it.
The movie made over  $822 million worldwide and set the stage for the sequel.......

Spider-Man 2 came out two years later in 2004, and was again directed by Sam Raimi.
Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Willem Dafoe all returned and added to the cast was Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus.
Again, I loved it. I thought Doc Ock was fantastic.
Spidey 2 grossed over $784 million worldwide, and won an Academy Award for Visual Effects.
Some people think 2 was actually better than the first one, but I really see them as equal.
I didnt have that problem with the third one though...

The third installment came out in 2007, again directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco, but this time with Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Thomas Haden Church gave what I thought was a really good performance as the Sandman.
But thats really all I liked in this movie.
Even though we finally got Gwen on screen, the whole film felt like they were trying to do too much at one time.
Like I said, I liked Church as Sandman, but he didn't chew up the scenery like Molina did as Doc Ock.
Venom was okay....but the character really didn't grab me like I thought it would.
And the "Emo" Peter Parker....no comment.
The film did well though, pulling in over $890 million dollars.

As it stands right now, Spider-Man 4 is a go, with Sam Rami, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst (possibly) returning.
And who will be the villian (s)?
Rumors have said Kraven the Hunter, Vulture ( Ben Kingsley was supposed to be in talks about the role for 3), Electro and Morbius, the Living Vampire.
Of course I hope it's the Lizard since they have been teasing us with that since the first movie.
And there is a possibility that Venom could return.

AND Spider-Man 4 could be released in 3-D.