‘Spider-Man’ Must Always Be Straight And White, Marvel Says: And The Big Deal Is?
Spider-Man swooped in on slung web to save Gawker’s Sam Biddle from a slow news day. Apparently the knowledge that Marvel has an agreement with Sony that Peter Parker/Spidey should always be straight and white didn’t sit well.
That knowledge comes by way of leaked Sony emails in which Marvel specifies per the terms of their intellectual property agreement that Parker’s just not into other guys.
Well, he’s not unless Marvel decides that he is an alter ego. Biddle mistakenly assumes that Marvel must be homophobic in spite of ample evidence to the contrary.
Under the section “Mandatory Spider-Man Character Traits,” the agreement lists the following.
“Male
Does not torture
Does not kill unless in defense of self or others
Does not use foul language beyond PG-13
Does not smoke tobacco
Does not sell/distribute illegal drugs
Does not abuse alcohol
Does not have sex before the age of 16, does not have sex with anyone below the age of 16
Not a homosexual (unless Marvel has portrayed that alter ego as a homosexual)”
The traits were similar for the Peter Parker side of Spidey’s character.
“His full name is Peter Benjamin Parker.
He is Caucasian and heterosexual.
His parents become absent from his life during his childhood.
From the time his parents become absent he is raised by Aunt May and Uncle Ben in New York City
He gains his powers by attending either middle school or college.
He gains his powers from being bitten by a spider
He designs his first red and blue costume.
The black costume is a symbiote and is not designed by him
He is raised in a middle class household in Queens, New York
He attends or attended high school in Queens, New York, and he attends or attended college in New York City, New York.”
Biddle believes that portrayals of gay heroes haven’t gone far enough cinematically, noting that “onscreen AAA, marquee heroes and villains still generally resemble a Young Republican luncheon.”
In the comments section, he engaged with readers, who felt he was being ridiculous.
When asked why it was so important that Spider-Man be gay, Biddle had this to say.
“Why?????? We’re talking about made up characters here, they can literally be anything, legislating race and gender of superheroes with a legal contract is weird!!!”
(Almost as weird as getting bent out of shape that the creator of said made-up character doesn’t want another entity making their character gay while explicitly reserving the right to do so for themselves if they so desire.)
Like I said, slow news day, Gawker.
Do you think it’s important to have a gay Spider-Man on film? Sound off in the comments section.
[Image via TheMarySue]
