TRANSMEDIA ANALYSIS OF
Spider-Man
Table of Contents
1. Transmedia Text – General Story 2. Spider-Man´s History 3. Transmedia Storytelling
Comics TV Series Digital Cinema Rock Musical: Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark Games Viral Marketing Spider-Man Imitation
4. Merchandising 5. Target Audience
1. Transmedia Text- General Story
Peter Parker was only a young boy when his parents died in a plane crash
Lived with his father´s older brother and wife: Ben and Mary Parker
On High School Peter Parker was isolated and unpopular shy, highly intelligent, brilliant in science
On a science exhibit: was bitten by a spider that has received a dose of radioactivity
Result: gained spider-like powers super strength, reflexes
1. Transmedia Text- General Story
But: didn´t immediately become a crime-fighter
At first: became famous as a professional wrestler on television
After a match: robbery took place Peter chooses not to stop the thief
Later: Peter´s Uncel was killed in a robbery by the same thief
„With great power there must also come great responsibility.“ – Uncle Ben´s words
Peter began fight crime – Spider-Man was born
2. Spider-Man´s History
Spider-Man: one of superhero out of the Marvel stories
Characters made by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
The first Spider-Man story: intended as no more than a one-shot experiene
„Martin Goodman didn´t want to publish it at all.“- Stan Lee
2. Spider-Man´s History
The Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)
“Spider-Man issue of Amazing Fantasy was one of the best-selling books we´ve
ever had.”- Stan Lee
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Comic-centred transmedia storytelling Main theme: Peter Parker´s assessment
of personal needs and higher responsibility
Has an almost depressive mood changed: revelation of Spider-Mans identity led to a higher self-esteem of the
main character
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Amazing Spider-Man
• Original comic• Many great stories: including the origin of Spider- Man, creation of the villians
such as Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, the Venom
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Sensational Spider-Man
• Darker look• More appropriate for an
older audience • „Back in Black“
storyline
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
• A more cheerful tone• Shows the wise
cracking side of Spider-Man
• Lighter part of Spider-Man
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
• For younger audience
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Ultimate Spider-Man
• Ultimate line outside of regular Marvel continuity
• Refreshing some of their characters for today´s generation
• Marketed towards a teen audience
3. Transmedia Storytelling-Comics
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane
• Tells story of Peter Parker and Mary Jane as young teenagers
• Lighthearted and romantic
• young girls as target group
• Different art style: Manga influenced style
TV Series
Spider-Man: The Animated Series Ran on Fox Kids from 19th November 1994
to 31st January 1998 Producer: John Semper
Prodcuction company: Marvall Films Animation Synopsis: focus on Spider-Man and his
alter ago during his college years Already gained his superpowers, part-time
freelance photographer at the Daily Bugle
TV Series
Only in-house studio produced serie the second longest-running created
Marvel show after X-Men one of the most popular TV series on Fox
Kids After end of the series: still a huge impact
on the entertainment industry (boosting sales of Spider-Man merachandise)
Digital Cinema
1985: purchase of the rights to a motion picture based on spider-Man
Sony hired Sam Raimi to direct the first three movies: Spider-Man (2002) Spider-Man 2 (2004) Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Digital Cinema
Main actors: Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) Kirsten Dunst (Mary JaneWatson)
Digital Cinema
Villains: Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) Dr.Octopus (Alfred Molina) the Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) Venom (Topher Grace)
Digital Cinema
Sucess of Raimi´s trilogy: Grossed nearly 2.5 billion U.S. $ worldwide Each film set several box office records All 3 parts: top 20 highest-grossing
domestic films Series: eighth highest-grossing film
franchise ever
Digital Cinema
Reboot: The Amazing Spider-Manhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atCfTRMyjGU
Sony announced a reboot of the franchise with new director Marc Webb and a new cast:
Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker)Emma Stones (Gwen Stacey)Rhys Ifans (Dr.Court Connors, Lizard
Villain)
Digital Cinema
Story is very similar to the first part of Raimi´s trilogy
But: inlcudes new character, new plot elements
New innovations: different Spider-Man look, new idea about costume, the aim to create a very realistic and natural movement of the creatures
Digital Cinema
Success: Was released in 3D and IMAX 3D in July 2012 Production costs: 230 million U.S. $
most expensive one U.S. revenues are behind those of its predecessors
huge financial success, but less than the income of the previous Spider-Man movies
Rock MusicalSpider-Man: Turn off the Dark
• Premiere: 14th of June, 2011 on Broadway
• Cost of aound 70 million U.S.$ most expensive musical ever to be performed on Broadway
• Played at the Foxwoods Theatre
• Duration: nearly 3 hous• Musical impresses with
spectacular stunts
Games
Lego
Video Games
Viral Marketing Facebook
Viral Marketing
Spider-Man Imitation
Spider-Ham• funny animal parody of
Marvel Comics' Spider-Man
• First appeared: one-shot humor comic book Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #1
• ongoing bi-monthly series, Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham
Merchandising
Target Audience
Mostly for all ages and both gender Comic books: story told in ways which are
mainly attractive to female, appeal to younger readers
TV series: attractive to kids Musical: targets the whole family
Thank you!