Spider-Man

Many followed, and as of 2005, the related titles are:. [55] [56] The defense of Stanley Tookie Williams stated that this was a lie purported by the police department, and in their Reply Petition for Executive Clemency they attached a declaration from Lafayette Jones' mother which declared, under penalty of perjury, that Lafayette was not Stanley Tookie Williams' son. After that, he was given his own series. The police department identified Jones as the son of Stanley Tookie Williams. Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15. In November 2005, the Fontana, California Police Department advised print and television media that a warrant had been issued for a registered sex offender, Lafayette Jones. James, who is best known for his stint in the WWF as "Road Dogg". was sentenced to sixteen years in prison for second-degree murder.

He was played by a wrestler known as Brad Armstrong (who had previously been known as "The Candyman"), the son of the legendary wrestler, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong, and brother of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling wrestler, B.G. Williams, Jr. Marvel got the character squashed. Stanley Williams' other son, Stanley "Little Tookie" Williams, Jr., a Neighborhood Crip, was found guilty of shooting a twenty year-old woman to death in an alley off Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. He used a web gun to shoot something like silly string during his entrances. [54]. In the early to mid-1990s, the wrestling organization then owned by Ted Turner, World Championship Wrestling featured a wrestler known as "Arachnaman" who wore a costume like Spider-Man's except rather than being blue and red, it was yellow and purple. He said, "I feel it's my duty to go on a worldwide campaign to show that redemption is real," he said.

See [3]. According to the December 21, 2005 article, "Funeral Service Celebrates Williams' Conversion From Violence to Peace; About 2,000 mourners hear celebrities and friends call the Crips' co-founder's execution a waste and praise his advocacy for children" written by LA Times Staff Writer Lisa Richardson, Willliams' son "brought the church to its feet" when he promised to teach Schwarzenegger about redemption. In the political sphere, David Chick used a Spider-Man outfit to obtain publicity for fathers' rights. Travon was the only family member who spoke at the funeral. children dressed up as Spider-Man, making it the year's most popular costume. [53]. On Halloween 2004, an estimated 2.15 million U.S. [52] Travon is married, a father, owns a home and works for a social services agency in the Los Angeles area, said Barbara Becnel, Stanley Williams' co-author, according to Associated Press writer Kim Curtis in November 2005.

It is a parody of the Billy Joel song "Piano Man", and recounts the events of the film. He said he was at peace with himself and proud of his son," who avoided the gang life, according to Leslie Fulbright, a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. The 2003 "Weird Al" Yankovic album Poodle Hat has a track entitled "Ode to a Superhero". "He was great. For other versions, see: Spider-Man (1960s animation). Williams Taylor talked to her ex-husband by phone that day. The 2002 movie features Jayce Bartok as a subway performer singing the classic song. Travon Williams, the older son by Bonnie Williams Taylor, whom Williams wed in 1981 before his conviction, was 32 years old at the time of his father's execution.

The catchy original 1960s Spider-Man cartoon theme song has been covered and reinterpreted by numerous musical acts, including The Ramones, Moxy Fruvous (often miscredited as They Might Be Giants), and Tenacious D. "It's nine-fifteen on twelve-thirteen and another black king will be taken from the scene" [51]. Spider-Man imitators in real life include:. Rapper Snoop Dogg recited a poem to mourners about the execution-. Spider-Man also appears as a boss in the video game Revenge of Shinobi. Teach them to promote peace and teach them to focus on rebuilding the neighborhoods that you, others and I helped to destroy.” (Stanley "Tookie" Williams). As a popular franchise character, many games starring Spider-Man, based on both the comics and the movies, have been released for different platforms. Teach them to strive for higher education.

Main article: Spider-Man (games). “Teach them how to avoid our destructive footsteps. In 2002, the company 2MA produced the first live-action Spider-Man stunt show, staged in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. I battled my demons and I was triumphant,” Williams said.
. “The war within me is over. There were also the "Spidey Super Stories" segments on the PBS educational series The Electric Company, which featured a Spider-Man that did not speak out loud but instead used thought balloons. At his funeral, the last words of Williams echoed from a tape played to mourners, whom he asked to spread a message to loved ones:.

Spider-Man has been adapted to television numerous times, through a short-lived live-action television series and several animated cartoon series. [50] It is planned that Williams' body will be cremated and his ashes will be sent to South Africa for scattering. These include:. Williams' funeral filled the 1,500 seat Bethel AME church and drew a wide variety of people from current gang members to celebrities and religious leaders. Other characters are spin-offs and exist in alternate versions of the Marvel Universe. [49] A memorial service was held in Los Angeles on 20 December 2005, where Becnel read his final wishes. Four of these actually exist in the Marvel Universe:. The viewing drew approximately 2000 people.

In the comics, others have used the Spider-Man identity. Williams' body was laid out for viewing on 19 December 2005. Like Spider-Man himself, a large percentage of these villains have their origins based in storylines featuring scientific accidents or the misuse of scientific technology. An archived copy of a Maura Dolan's Los Angeles Times November 29 article on the history of Becnel's efforts on behalf of Williams can be found here [48]. His most famous enemies include the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom. [47]. Spider-Man has one of the best-known rogues galleries (list of enemies) in comics. Williams’ spokeswoman and co-author, Barbara Becnel, said shortly after Williams's death that she is "now on a mission." [46] "That mission is one: to obtain justice for Stanley Tookie Williams by proving beyond a shadow of a doubt his innocence, (and) continuing to preserve the incredibly remarkable legacy of this man who personifies redemption." Williams directed Becnel to receive his body, and Becnel began making the funeral arrangements.

Unfortunately, Spider-Man had never learned to drive a car, and crashed the car into the Hudson River soon after receiving it. So take care.”. In addition, the Human Torch once helped Spider-Man build a car called the Spider-Mobile which had a paint job and modifications that followed his spider motif. So with that, I am grateful….I say to you and everyone else, God bless. He typically uses it not only for a light source, but as a way of unnerving opponents and to call attention. And whether others choose to believe that I have redeemed myself or not, I worry not, because I know and God knows, and you can believe that all of the youths that I continue to help, they know, too. Finally, the belt contains a strong light called a Spider Signal that creates an image of his mask when activated. That's the beauty about it.

The camera also has an automatic shutter mechanism linked to an internal motion detector so it will take a picture whenever Spider-Man moves in front of the camera lens. It's accessible for everybody. It also carries his camera, which has an extended rear metal plate that allows him to use his web to position it without interfering with its functions. And it doesn't -- is not predicated on color or race or social stratum or one's religious background. Spider-Man keeps his regular field equipment in a specially designed utility belt that contains his web fluid cartridges and his tracers. That's how I would like my legacy to be remembered as: a redemptive transition, something that I believe is not exclusive just for the so-called sanctimonious, the elitists. However, he eventually learned that he could tune the tracer signal frequency to his own spider-sense for more convenient use, but the receiver is still used as a back-up and long-range measure. And I say to you and all those who can listen and will listen that redemption is tailor-made for the wretched, and that's what I used to be….That's what I would like the world to remember me.

Spider-Man originally used a small receiver device to follow the tracers. So, therefore, I just stand strong and continue to tell you, your audience and the world that I am innocent and, yes, I have been a wretched person, but I have redeemed myself. While he originally threw his tracers at a target in the hopes that at least one hits, he later developed a wrist launcher which ejects tracers above the wrist while the web is fired from below to allow for more precise and reliable applications of the tracers. This is pure faith, and predicated on my redemption. The outer casing is shaped like a spider and is designed to cling to a target without attracting attention. It has nothing to do with machismo, with manhood, or with some pseudo former gang street code. Spider-Man has also developed small electronic "spider-tracers" which allow him to track objects or individuals. In an interview [45] on WBAI Pacifica radio hours before the execution, however, he had this to say: “[M]y lack of fear of this barbaric methodology of death, I rely upon my faith.

Spider-Man is now able to produce webbing without the aid of his web-shooters. [44] At the time of his execution, he provided no last words to the prison warden. The transformation, however, seemed to give Spider-Man organic web glands in his wrists. Williams requested no last meal and consumed only milk and oatmeal throughout the day. The end of the situation saw the Queen presumably dead and Spider-Man reverting back to human form. [43]. During this encounter, the Queen transformed Spider-Man into a human-sized spider. Adam Housley, a reporter for Fox News, described the experience as "choreographed", "sterile", and "clinical".

Recently, Spider-Man and Captain America crossed paths with a villain called the Queen. Lora Owens appeared very upset, according to MSNBC anchor Rita Cosby. In some versions of the character (such as in the popular movie series), the character generates webs organically from his own altered spider-like biology, instead of mechanical web shooters. Members of Albert Owens' family who witnessed the execution were described as stony-faced. The web-shooters can also be used to expel other liquids, using interchangeable cartridges, but are seldom used to do this. He talked with his guards throughout the process. In addition, Parker can modify the fluid formulation to suit particular specialized needs when called for (this explains why the webbing sometimes conducts electricity, but can also be used as an insulator). Williams apparently exchanged many glances with his supporters.

The substance is formulated to dissolve after one hour which is generally sufficient time for Spider-Man's needs while ensuring the webs he makes do not cause undue litter. Witnesses described a somber mood in the execution chamber. However, the default meshed spray generally allows for sufficient strength while being more versatile in its use and easier to remove when desired. Fagan later wrote a detailed description [42] of the execution. In addition, when Spider-Man desires it, he can fire the web fluid as a straight liquid when he needs to use the substance's maximum adhesive strength. And most strikingly at the end of the execution, as those three were heading out, they yelled, “The State of California just killed an innocent man!” which is the first time I ever heard any outburst in the death chamber there.". He can also form crude objects with a heavy application. We could see them, and throughout the last part of the execution -- or preparing him when he was still conscious, they gave what looked like black power salutes several times to him, one man and two women.

He can change the setting to a wide spray to ensnare criminals, and to form protective shields or nets. Becnel was among them, I understand. Typical uses of his webs include creating long swing lines which he uses to travel through the chasms between the Manhattan high-rises. The most notable thing was that Williams had supporters at the back of the room… Ms. The substance dries almost immediately into a strong material that can support very heavy loads: into the one-ton range. A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Kevin Fagan said, "This is the sixth one I have seen here at San Quentin, and I have to say this was very different. The default setting has the adhesive threaded through a special mesh to take on a spider web like design. He kept them on, and he kept looking…".

The placement of the trigger and the finger pressure needed to activate it yield Spider-Man's distinctive hand gesture, with the two outer fingers extended, and the two inner fingers on the palm. He had his glasses on the whole time. The trigger rests high in the palm and requires a double tapping from the middle and ring fingers to activate, so Peter can't accidentally fire the shooter if he makes a fist or his hand hits the trigger. Added Contra Costa Times reporter John Simerman, "They had some trouble with the second I.V., which was in the left arm… Williams, at one point, grimaced or looked almost out of frustration… at the difficulty there…. They are wrist mounted devices that fire a fibrous adhesive very similar to the material spiders use to construct webs. [41]. Spider-Man's web-shooters are one of the character's most distinguishing traits. The process which should take only a few minutes instead took about 20 minutes.

For example, he donned a padded suit to battle Electro, and used a very short-lived armored suit in Web of Spider-Man #100. According to CNN, the staff had difficulty inserting the needles. Every so often he will concoct a special armor or web fluid for a specific threat. An unnamed reporter at the execution said that Williams showed no resistance, neither when he came into the chamber shortly after midnight, nor after he was strapped onto the gurney. Although he is usually of limited financial means, Spider-Man has developed personal equipment that plays an important role in his superhero career. Their description is as follows: [40]. In comics, the activation of the spider-sense is often shown by wavy lines emanating from Peter's head, with his mask occasionally being half-drawn when he is out of costume as an additional cue. PST (08:35 UTC), several reporters who witnessed the execution held a news conference.

This ability is like a spider's, as spiders can see all around them. After Williams was declared dead at 12:35 a.m. Spider-Man has honed this sense to allow him to have 360 vision which ties in with the mystical totemistic side of his powers. He was the 12th person executed by the state since California reinstated the death penalty in 1977. The phrase "My spider-sense is tingling" has since become an often parodied catchphrase in American pop culture. Newsweek reported [39] thousands of protesters outside, most asking for clemency. Spider-Man approached the mannequin, believing his spider-sense to be warning him about a long-known enemy, learning only too late that it was actually warning him of the explosives as they went off almost in his face. After exhausting all forms of appeal, Williams was executed by lethal injection at San Quentin State Prison, California, on December 13, 2005.

Octopus. [38]. In one issue of "What if...?", the Punisher successfully kills Spider-Man by hiding bombs in a mannequin made to look like Dr. Williams about an escape plan which involved the killing of a bus driver and another accomplice. The fact that it is nonspecific has also been used directly against Spider-Man at times. Prosecutors had cited handwritten notes written by Mr. The ability to avoid Parker's spider-sense gives some supervillains an edge that Spider-Man often has trouble countering. Williams.".

Ben Reilly did not suffer from this problem as he never bonded with the symbiote. Oglesby told Von Ellerman that he was using the documents to testify against Williams and others "to obtain a reduction or eliminate charges against him." Von Ellerman also observed Oglesby copying from samples of Williams' handwriting "to create incriminating documents that would appear to be written by Mr. For instance if Peter were to slap or punch himself his spider-sense would not perceive the act as a threat and would not activate. Mr. The spider-sense recognizes both as a part of Parker's physical body. He states that he had observed his cellmate George Oglesby receive police reports on Williams and others from the Sheriff's department. This is believed to have been caused by the Venom symbiote's bonding with Peter Parker. It included reference to an affidavit by Gordon Bradbury von Ellerman attesting to belief in Williams' innocence and dated December 10 [36] states that he called the NAACP on December 8 after reading that date in the Daily Breeze [37] that his cellmate, George Oglesby, had testified against Williams.

Additionally, the alien symbiote Venom and its offspring Carnage are not recognized by the spider-sense. That same day, Jonathan Harris, a New York counsel with Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, filed a response [35], summarizing new evidence of innocence. For instance, the Green Goblin once secretly attacked him with a gas that temporarily suppressed this perceptive ability, allowing the supervillain to shadow him and learn his secret identity. Schwarzenegger summarized by basing his denial of clemency on the "totality of circumstances." (Summary – Details in PDF format). Although his spider-sense has saved his life innumerable times, Spider-Man has learned the hard way that it can be beaten. In his denial, Schwarzenegger cited the following:. When combined with his superhuman reflexes and agility, this makes him an extremely difficult target to shoot in combat and formidable in close quarters. On December 12, 2005, Schwarzenegger denied clemency for Williams.

Spider-Man also uses the spider-sense as a means to time his evasive maneuvers to the point where he can avoid multiple gunshots or machine gun fire. Williams work." [34]. The spider-sense not only alerts Spider-Man to threats to his physical safety, but also warns him to threats to his privacy such as being observed while changing identities. This position of peace would honor my husband's memory and Mr. While it cannot tell him of the exact nature of the threat, it is vaguely directional and Spider-Man can judge the severity of the threat by the intensity of the tingling. Williams to join me in sending a message to all communities that we should all unite in peace. A form of clairvoyance or sixth sense, it unconsciously activates and alerts him to any threat to himself, manifesting as a tingling at the back of his skull. I invite Mr.

Spider-Man's most subtle power is his spider-sense. Williams' peace initiative. In the recent films, he maintains his superb intellect with a mastery of physics and a degree from Columbia University. By contrast, on December 9, 2005, Linda Owens, Albert Owens' widow, issued a statement in support of Williams’ efforts to bring an end to gang violence and his call for peace between gangs: "I, Linda Owens want to build upon Mr. In the comics, he has a facility for chemistry and physics, and later pursues a graduate degree in biochemistry from Empire State University. [33]. Apart from his physical abilities, Peter has prodigious aptitude in the physical sciences. On December 8, 2005, Lora Owens, the stepmother of Albert Owens, one of the victims, made a statement expressing her opinion of Stanley Williams: "I think he [Williams] is the same cold-blooded killer that he was then and he would be now if he had the opportunity again." [32] Owens' two daughters, Rebecca and Andrea, who were 8 and 5 when their father was murdered, also opposed clemency and recalled that they were aghast when they had learned that their father's murderer was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The full extent of the change has not yet been revealed - it may turn out to be even more profound. Press conferences and rallies in more than a dozen California cities called for a halt to all executions and asked Governor Schwarzenegger to commute Williams’ death sentence to a sentence of life without parole; demonstrations against the death penalty also took place in numerous cities around the world. He is also much faster. The “California Moratorium on Executions Act”, A.B.1121, is scheduled to have its first hearing in January 2006. His spider-sense has improved dramatically - he can now see in the dark (or very low-light) and sense vibrations transmitted over his web lines. On November 29, 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California announced [31] that more than 175,000 Californians had signed a petition requesting the temporary suspension of executions in California until the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice could complete its study due by December 31, 2007. He now has stingers that can protrude from his wrists in periods of stress. Tony Ford, who is up for execution on March 14 in a disputed conviction, helped organize a prisoners' strike in Texas protesting Williams's execution.

He also gained a number of additional abilities. Other prisoners were also involved in activism to save Williams's life. Unfortunately, this seems to have been a one-time occurrence - he does not have the power to heal himself (as, for example, Wolverine does). See photos of some of the activist events to stop the execution. Most dramatically, his body had regenerated all damaged tissue, including an eye he had lost in a battle with Morlun. Celebrities also joined the fight, including Snoop Dogg, who appeared at a clemency rally wearing a shirt advertising the Save Tookie website and performed a song he had written for Williams, and Jamie Foxx, who - noting that Tookie's execution date was his birthday - publicly stated that the only birthday present he wanted was clemency for Williams. When he finally experienced this period of dormancy, in the Spider-Man: The Other storyline, Spider-Man emerged with substantial changes. Tookie's friend, co-author and political collaborator, Barbara Becnel, helped to spearhead much of the organizing.

The symptoms manifested themselves because Parker was simply too stubborn to allow himself to hibernate; he finally did so as a result of a near-death experience. Many anti-death penalty and civil rights organizations around the country organized activist campaigns to stop the execution, including the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the NAACP, and others. Spider-Man's recent intermittent black outs and loss of superpowers were the result of the involuntary attempt of his body to enter this dormant state. The recurring segment offended some members of the public, who filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. It was revealed in the story arc "Evolve or Die" that Spider-Man enters a state of dormancy and sheds his skin and outer tissues, just like an actual Spider, at least once in his life time. In the hour, they interviewed advocates of both sides of the issue and expressed their support of the impending execution. His myopia was corrected as a result of the spider bite. In mid-November 2005, talk show hosts John and Ken of the John and Ken Show on Clear Channel's KFI radio in Los Angeles, California started a "Tookie Must Die (For Killing Four Innocent People)" hour on their show daily until the execution of Williams.

He can also recover from poisons, but he is not immune to natural diseases - he has once nearly lost a confrontation with Rhino because of a bad cold. Also during this period, the media, community organizations, and relatives of the victims were speaking out. His recovery time from injury is somewhat faster than that of an ordinary human, although not nearly as fast as those with true healing factors. [30]. His bodily tissues are substantially more durable and resistant to impact or trauma than an ordinary human, making it more difficult to injure him, although he is certainly not invulnerable. Supporters of Williams also made another plea directly to Governor Schwarzenegger to stay the execution. This allows him to outmaneuver foes and to dodge automatic gunfire. On December 11, 2005, the California Supreme Court denied Williams' request for a stay of execution.

Another aspect of his physical prowess is his superhuman agility and amplified reflexes. [29]. Now, according to the 2005 Spider-Man handbook, he can lift 15 tons (this is in part due to the transformation to a spider by the Queen in the Avengers Dissembled event) but has been known to lift more under duress, before he found the alien symbiote), and the muscles in his legs have developed to the point where he can jump the distance of several city blocks in a single bound, or multiple stories straight up. On November 30, 2005, the California Supreme Court, in a 4-2 decision, refused to reopen Williams' case. He is super-strong, allowing him to lift objects many times his own body weight (Spider-Man says that he could barely lift a VW Beetle, which is about 800 kg. While the clemency petition was pending before the governor, Williams also filed further appeals in the courts. This posited explanation became crucial in his fight against the villain Electro, who used his powers of electricity to nullify Spider-Man's "sticking power." However, at another time, it was implied that his "sticking power" was somehow based on his pores actually being the important element, and Spider-Man had been momentarily subdued using a gaseous fog that supposedly "plugged" his pores. Schwarzenegger described the decision whether to grant clemency as "the toughest thing when you are governor, dealing with someone's life.".

At one point in the comic series, it was suggested that his ability to adhere to surfaces was due to the fact that he could create a field of static electricity around his body. The one-hour, closed-door meeting took place as a crowd consisting of both supporters of Williams and proponents of capital punishment congregated outside the Capitol in Sacramento. While the exact nature of this has never been pinned down in comics (and various attempts to explain it have contradicted one another), in the live-action movies Peter is shown to have barbed hairs or bristles similar to those of real spiders which extend or retract through his skin. On December 8, 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger held a clemency hearing. It follows that he can grip an object with any part of his body with this talent. At least one commentator felt this strategy was flawed: San Francisco Chronicle writer Bob Egelko noted doubts stated by the courts handling the appeals and quoted Austin Sarat, professor of law and politics at Amherst College in Massachusetts and author of Mercy on Trial, a book about clemency: "It's [actual innocence] about the only ground in which governors grant clemency in the modern period...I know of no case in which a death row inmate has been spared (solely) on the basis of post-conviction rehabilitation." [28]. With this, he is able to support something many times his own weight while clinging to a hard vertical surface such as the side of a building. The clemency petition emphasized the theme of Williams' redemption, rather than his claim of actual innocence.

Spider-Man gained the ability to adhere to any smooth surface using any part of his body. Williams said he didn't want to be a "snitch." [27]. Peter Parker became Spider-Man when he was bitten by an irradiated spider, causing a variety of changes in his body which gave him his superpowers. The Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney, and other law enforcement disputed that Williams had in fact reformed, saying that he refused to divulge information on other gang members, or debrief officials on the tactics and communication methods that gangs use. The suit is rumored to have a variety of optional extras as well. The state, through the office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney, opposed the clemency petition. Recently, it has been revealed by Marvel Comics that, after the events of The Other, Iron Man is giving Spidey a new costume with a red and gold color scheme. (See below for the full text of the documents filed in these proceedings.).

His costume was altered as well, incorporating aspects of the black costume (large spider chest symbol, and square patches on the gloves) with his classic red-and-blue costume. In early November, 2005, Williams' attorneys filed his formal petition for executive clemency, as well as a motion to obtain new evidence. The House of M saga had Spider-Man become a famous celebrity (as Scarlet Witch used her reality warping powers to give Spider-Man the life he always wanted). Those who campaigned against the execution included celebrities, politicians, and Nobel laureates. He did however wear a non-living version of the black costume until the new occupant of the living costume, Venom, frightened Mary Jane so badly that she could no longer stand to see Peter in the non-living black costume. In late 2005, a campaign began to urge the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to grant clemency for Williams in consideration of his work as an anti-gang activist and asserted "redemption." Thousands of people signed online petitions calling for Schwarzenegger to commute the death sentence. Spider-Man rejected the symbiote after finding out it was alive and trying to merge with him. The appellate court denied Williams' appeal in 2002, but noted that the federal courts were not his only forum for relief and that he could request clemency from the Governor of California.

The costume turned out to be a living symbiotic creature, capable of generating its own webbing and improving most of Spider-Man's abilities. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard Williams' appeal from the lower federal court. He appeared in an almost all-black costume, with a large white spider emblem on the chest and back, and with built-in webshooters on the back of his hands. In 2001, the U.S. The most significant alteration to Spider-Man's costume came about in the mid-1980s, after his return from the Secret Wars. The lower federal court denied the habeas petition. The gloves had web-shooters on the outside, and the web design on the boots and gloves was partially replaced with dark blue. The State courts affirmed the conviction.

Instead of a large red spider on his back, the web pattern and spider emblem were repeated there. Williams appealed his conviction in the state courts, and filed a petition in the federal courts for habeas corpus relief. He placed more emphasis on the spider on the chest, making it large enough to cover the entire torso. The Nobel Prize may not be awarded posthumously, therefore Williams is no longer eligible. Several alterations occurred when Ben Reilly replaced Peter Parker in the role. William Keach, a Brown University Professor of English Literature, nominated Williams for the Nobel Prize in Literature.[26] The Nobel Committee keeps nominations secret for fifty years. He is sometimes depicted with "under-arm webbing" connecting his arms to his torso. Nominations came from Mario Fehr, a member of the Swiss Parliament [24] and four times by Notre Dame de Namur University Philosophy and Religion Professor Phil Gasper [25].

The mask has large white eyes rimmed with black that allow him to see but hide his eyes. Williams was reportedly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize every year from 2001 to 2005. There is a large red spider outline on his back, and a smaller black spider emblem on his chest. [23]. From the waist up, the fabric is the red-and-black web pattern, except for his back, sides, and insides of his upper arms, which are dark blue. Bush commending him for his social activism, one of some 267,000 "Call To Service Awards" that were sent out. From the waist down, it is dark blue (or sometimes even black, depending on the colorist), except for mid-calf boots with a black web pattern on a red background. President George W.

The standard costume is a form-fitting fabric covering his entire body. Harrison, a minister from West Monroe, Louisiana, Williams received a letter from U.S. Although the details and proportions have changed somewhat over the years, with a few notable exceptions, Spider-Man's costume has remained fairly consistent. On the nomination of William A. The last issue of "The Other" series revealed two of Spider-Man's new abilities including the ability to see in the dark and an ability to "feel" his environment as he can detect vibrations from his immediate surroundings due to his web and hairs on his arms. In 2004, he helped broker a peace agreement, called the Tookie Protocol For Peace, for what had been one of the deadliest and most infamous gang wars in the country, between the Bloods and the Crips, in both the state of California and the city of Newark, New Jersey. In a 2005 story arc spanning 12 parts, across several titles, Spider-Man finds himself cursed, killed, and eventually reborn in a metamorphic experience which "evolves" his powers, including the addition of new "stingers," as well as upgraded speed and spider-sense. In 1997, Williams wrote and posted on his website an apology for his role in creating the Crips.

Thanks to Spider-Man's membership in the latest incarnation of the Marvel Universe superhero team the Avengers, Peter, Mary Jane and Aunt May were able to move into Tony Stark's Stark Tower. Williams' books have not enjoyed strong sales [22], though they may have been distributed as donations to schools, children's centers, and the like. In 2004, an altercation with a former classmate turned superhuman, Charlie Weiderman, led to the destruction of both Peter's apartment and Aunt May's house. He wrote several children's books advocating non-violence and alternatives to gangs, an autobiography Blue Rage, Black Redemption, public service announcements, and Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story, a Hollywood movie which honored him. Currently, Parker works as a science teacher for his old high school while still moonlighting as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. After being released from solitary confinement, Williams gained world-wide attention and praise for his work in prison. The plan was a success, and Peter battled Morlun again, and aided by the impurity in his blood, defeated the villain, which led to Morlun's apparent death at the hands of his own lackey. [21].

After a fight between Peter and Morlun that spanned New York, wherein Morlun severely beat Peter—whose attacks had no effect on Morlun—Peter fell back onto his last plan: Morlun wanted only pure spider-blood, so Peter injected another dose of radiation into his bloodstream, attempting to 'poison' his powers. "The particular set is known as the Blue Note Crips, and that information we have received since his arrival here in April 1981 and as recent as June of 2000," Crittendon said. Morlun had come to New York for that reason: He feeds off the powers possessed by those connected to animal totems. But we have also received information that has identified him as an active member of the Crips," Crittendon said. Ezekiel suggested that the accident that gave Peter his abilities might not have been a fluke, and that he might have a deeper connection to a totemic spider spirit (not unlike DC's Animal Man, and his connection to "The Red"). Though the prison guards noted that he still remained a member of the Crips gang, "The violations are usually involving batteries on inmates, batteries on staff. Peter's life had begun to calm down in recent years, until a villain named Morlun, and an ally named Ezekiel (possessing the same powers as Peter) appeared. The prison official had observed no gang activity and complimented Williams on his behavior for the last ten years.

This was called "clone deterioration", and was the final proof that Ben Reilly was the clone, and Peter was the original. According to a classification report found on page 8 of filings by his lawyers during the clemency proceedings [20], dated August 5, 2004, Williams had no violations since that time. Reilly was killed saving Peter's life, and shortly thereafter, his body crumbled into ashes. [19] The following is a list of Stanley Williams prison record through 1993. Norman Osborn (the original green goblin) was resurrected (in a controversial storyline itself) and revealed that he had manipulated the tests which indicated Reilly as the real Parker. As inmate CDC# C29300 [17] Williams spent 6 1/2 years in solitary confinement in the late 1980s [18] for multiple assaults on guards and fellow inmates. For a brief stint, Ben Reilly was Spider-Man, and even defeated Venom singlehandedly. In response to questioning by the trial judge, the alternate juror stated that the jurors sitting in the center of the jury box had told her that after the verdicts were read, Williams looked at the jury and said that he was going to get all of them.".

When Ben Reilly came to New York to see Aunt May, it was revealed that he was the true Peter Parker. The trial record shows that after the jurors returned their guilty verdicts, Williams said, “Sons of bitches,” in a voice sufficiently loud that the court reporter included this statement in the trial transcript." "On the day that the jury began its penalty-phase deliberations, an alternate juror reported to the bailiff that some jurors believed that Williams had threatened them. Miles Warren (aka the Jackal). The Court of Appeals summary of the case [16] Williams stated "that various jurors misconstrued as a threat a question that he asked defense counsel at the close of the guilt phase. It was revealed that the clone had survived the first "clone saga", involving Dr. [15]. In one of the most controversial stories of the 1990s, Marvel reintroduced a short-lived clone of Spider-Man, now calling himself Ben Reilly. According to Williams' defense attorneys, in two subsequent cases, District Attorney Robert Martin was censured by the California State Supreme Court for using race as a criterion in jury selection and had two murder convictions overturned on those grounds.

Ultimate Spider-Man. [14]. Television. According to the clemency petition, in his closing arguments, Martin described Williams as a "Bengal tiger in captivity in a zoo" and said that the jury needed to imagine him in his natural "habitat" which was like "going into the back country, into the hinterlands." In a radio interview, Martin stated that the analogy was not meant to be racial, and instead was a metaphor to the fact that Williams appeared in court dressed in business attire much like an animal in a zoo appears more docile than it would be in the wild. Comics. [13]. Peter Parker/Spider-Man has many love interests in his life:. The defense, however, has neither stated whether or not his mother was actually Filipino, nor refuted the evidence that McLurkin was black.

Eventually, the two married, but the stresses of Parker's dual identity, combined with Mary Jane's tempestuous career, led to a separation, though the couple later reconciled. McLurkin's driver license photo and the fact that both he and his mother were born in the Phillipines was presented as additional evidence in a November 2005 petition for clemency. After years of single living, interspersed with several romantic relationships, including the cat burglar and sometime crimefighter Black Cat, Parker became serious with longtime girlfriend, Mary Jane Watson, a fashion model and actress when she returned after a lengthy absence with a newly found maturity and revealing her knowledge of Peter's secret identity since the beginning of his career. McLurkin was black. He then enrolled in the fictional Empire State University where he befriended Harry Osborn—the son of his archenemy the Green Goblin—and Gwen Stacy, with whom he would have a lengthy romance before the Goblin killed her. They maintain that the trial record indicates that none of the lawyers -- and particularly the prosecutor -- thought Mr. He continued working as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle and living with his elderly and somewhat fragile Aunt May until he graduated from high school. [12] The defense responded that, contrary to the sworn affidavit, McLurkin did not appear black.

However, as with many characters published for many years and handled by multiple creators, Spider-Man's history is convoluted. [11] The District Attorney provided proof, however, in the form of a death certificate and the sworn affidavit of another juror, that juror #12, William James McLurkin, was black. As originally conceived by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Peter Parker was something of an Everyman character. Williams' lawyers claimed that he was convicted by a jury that had no Blacks, one Latino, one Filipino-American, and "ten Caucasians". Shortly after the second film, the Spider-Man of the comics was captured by a supervillain named Queen and during this incident gained some "upgrades" to his powers, including not only new, organic webbing, but a spider-sense made more sensitive in ways yet to be disclosed. The prosecution removed three Blacks from serving as jurors in Williams' trial. The first exception to this was the movie version of the story, in which his famous webbing emanates naturally from his wrists (a concept first used for the title character of Marvel's futuristic semi-spinoff Spider-Man 2099). [10].

The instincts he learned from the spider that bit him combined with his bent for chemistry, enabled him to concoct a webslinging device that he wore on his wrists. "It's as simple as that," said Williams' spokeswoman Barbara Becnel. Oddly enough, his most notable ability, that of generating webs, was not originally a superpower. They stated that people who appreciate Williams' work sent him money. His amazing abilities, combined with his natural intelligence and inclination towards science, have allowed him to emerge victorious against these odds on a great number of occasions. Opponents also pointed out that he received a significant amount of money from outside sources. Spider-Man has amassed a slew of major enemies over the years, most taking a particular interest in harming the hero, and some even targeting Peter Parker himself. When contacted about Williams' alleged ongoing gang activity, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman April Harding said there was no evidence of his gang leadership.

This moral continues to serve as the major theme of Spider-Man's story. Critics point to the fact that although he apologized for and renounced gangs and the founding of the Crips, Williams never renounced his gang membership, and allegedly continued to associate with Crips members in prison. Although these problems have pushed him to the edge numerous times, he has always continued on as Spider-Man because of his strong belief that "with great power comes great responsibility", the immortal words which his Uncle Ben instilled in him when he was a youth. The shell recovered from the Yang crime scene was conclusively matched to Williams' weapon "to the exclusion of all other firearms."[9]. His relationships with his aunt, his co-workers, his best friends, and most importantly, his love interests, have always been hampered by his secret life as a masked super-hero. The two shells recovered from the Owens crime scene were consistent with shells fired from this gun, with no exclusionary markings. Frequently, his powers complicate his relationships (especially when he unknowingly gained the Captain Universe powers which made him irritable due to his advanced Spider-Sense, the mistakes he had made during his time as Captain Universe caused the world to hate him thus adding more pressure than he could handle), his responsibilities as a student (in the earlier stories) and his varied careers as a photographer for the Daily Bugle and as a teacher at his old high school. Williams' lawyers have claimed that the District Attorney quashed a murder investigation in exchange for their testimony.

Despite having amazing spider-like abilities, Spider-Man cannot solve his emotional and personal problems with his super powers. According to the District Attorney, the husband was undergoing sentencing for receiving stolen property and tried for extortion. Ironically, Parker has spent much of his life working, off-and-on, as a freelance photographer for Jameson, selling photographs of himself as Spider-Man. Williams' gun was found in the home of a couple with whom he had been living. Jonah Jameson, publisher of the Daily Bugle. The Defense claims this expert's methodology was "junk science at best." [8]. He is often considered little more than a costumed menace himself, largely thanks to a smear campaign by J. No second examiner verified his findings.

Spider-Man consistently tries to do the right thing, but is viewed with suspicion by many authority figures. Even the shotgun shells found conveniently at each crime scene didn't match the shotgun shells that I owned." However, the prosecution's firearms expert, a sheriff's deputy, testified during trial that the shotgun shell recovered from the Yang murder crime scene matched test shells from the shotgun owned by Stanley Williams. Realizing that stopping the thief when he had the chance would have prevented his uncle's murder, Spider-Man devoted himself to fighting injustice, driven by the realization that "with great power there must also come great responsibility.". They didn't match my boots, nor eyewitnesses. His legal guardian and beloved Uncle Ben was later killed by a thug that Peter had allowed to escape. From the beginning of his sentence, Williams maintained his innocence regarding the four murders, alleging prosecutorial misconduct, exclusion of exculpatory evidence, ineffective assistance of counsel, biased jury selection, and the misuse of jailhouse and government informants.[7] Williams claimed that the police found "not a shred of tangible evidence, no fingerprints, no crime scenes of bloody boot prints. In current Spider-Man continuity, he produces his webs from organic spinnerets in his wrists and no longer requires the mechanical web shooters, most likely to bring character recognition inline with fans who mainly know him from his movie incarnation. [6].

In addition to his physical powers, Peter Parker successfully designed and utilized mechanical "web-shooters" of his own design to spin webs in a variety of ways. The jury recommended the death penalty, and the judge accepted the recommendation and sentenced him to death. These powers included the ability to cling to walls and ceilings, super-human strength, and an extra-sensory "Spider Sense". The jury also convicted him of robbery in both cases, and found that he personally used a firearm in the commission of the crimes. The spider bite gave Parker an array of spider-like powers. Stanley Williams was convicted in 1981 of all four murders with special circumstances on each count of felony murder (robbery) as well as multiple murder in the case of the Brookhaven event. When he was 15 years old, Parker attended a science exhibition where he was bitten by a spider which had been irradiated. Witnesses testified that Williams referred to the victims in conversations with friends as "Buddha-heads", a derogatory term for Asians.

(Note: In virtually all retellings of his origin, Peter's eyesight really was poor and somehow got fixed by the spider bite, but this is not the case in the original comic book series.). Yu-Chin Lin was shot once in the upper left face area at a distance of a few feet. When these glasses were broken in a schoolyard fight with Flash Thompson, he didn't bother to get new ones, since they were never really needed in the first place and only made him look awkward. Tsai-Shai also received two close range wounds, one to the tailbone, and the other to the front of the abdomen, entering at the navel. In addition, Aunt May made him wear non-prescription glasses to protect his eyes, since she was worried that his constant reading would have a negative effect on his eyesight. The forensic pathologist testified that Yen-Yi Yang suffered two close range shotgun wounds, one to his left arm and abdomen, and one to the lower left chest. He was often the target of jokes by more popular fellow students like Flash Thompson, the high school's star athlete, who ironically would later become Spider-Man's biggest fan and one of Peter's best friends. It was later determined that the Brookhaven incident netted Stanley Williams approximately one hundred dollars.

The exceptionally bright Peter showed more interest in his studies, especially science, than in any kind of social life. Robert entered the motel office and found that his mother, his sister, and his father had all been shot; the cash register was empty. Over time he grew to be a lonely, timid teenager. Shortly thereafter he heard a female scream, followed by gunshots. Though Peter was always loved by the aging couple, he was unpopular among those of his own age. Robert, asleep with his wife in their bedroom at the motel, was awakened by the sound of somebody breaking down the door to the motel’s office. The infant Peter Parker was left in the care of his Uncle Ben and Aunt May (Richard's older brother Benjamin Parker and his wife May Reilly Parker), who lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, New York. Inside the office, Williams shot and killed Yen-Yi, Tsai-Shai, and Yu-Chin, after which he emptied the cash register and fled the scene.

Malik found out about their plans and arranged a plane-crash that resulted in their deaths, although this retconned backstory was not known at the time of the creation of Spider Man's character. According to court transcripts, at approximately 5:00 am on March 11, 1979, Stanley Williams entered the Brookhaven Motel lobby and then broke down the door that led to the private office. Their last assignment was the infiltration of the criminal organization of Albert Malik, the third Red Skull. Yu-Chin had recently joined them from Taiwan. (a fictional secret agency). They ran the Brookhaven Motel located at 10411 South Vermont Avenue in South Central Los Angeles along with their forty-three year old daughter, Yu-Chin Yang Lin, and son Robert. Peter Benjamin Parker was born to Richard Parker and his wife Mary Fitzpatrick-Parker, both of whom were agents of the CIA and later of S.H.I.E.L.D. Yang, were immigrants from Taiwan.

The three comics were sold without the Comics Code approval, but met with such critical acclaim that the industry's self-censorship was undercut. The Yang family, husband seventy-six year old Yen-Yi Yang, and wife sixty-three year old Tsai-Shai C. Norman Osborn), Spider-Man vanquished Norman by simply showing him his sick son. Williams said that he “didn’t want to leave any witnesses.” Williams also said he killed Owens “because he was white and he was killing all white people.” Coward testified that Williams had bragged about the shooting, stating, “You should have heard the way he sounded when I shot him,” as he made gurgling or growling noises and laughed about Owens’ death. Most notably, Harry Osborn started taking pills and became so ill that, when Spider-Man fought the Green Goblin (a.k.a. Once back in Los Angeles, Sims asked Williams why he had shot Owens. However, The Amazing Spider-Man #96–98 (May–July 1971) featured a story arc that showed the negative effects of drug abuse (a storyline conceived at the request of government drug-prevention authorities). They had netted approximately $120 in the robbery.

Previously, it was forbidden to depict illegal drugs, even negatively. Williams, Darryl, Coward, and Sims then fled in the two cars and returned home to Los Angeles. In 1971, Spider-Man was the first comic to challenge the rigid Comics Code. Records show that Williams shot out a security monitor and then killed Owens, shooting him twice in the back at point blank range as he lay prone on the storage room floor. Although another issue of Amazing Fantasy was in production, he says, the title was cancelled to clear a space in the limited distribution schedule for another series. He then heard a shot and glass breaking, followed by two more shots. He speculated that Goodman's skepticism about the feature, and a possible attempt to revitalize Amazing Fantasy, led to Spider-Man appearing there. Coward said that he next heard the sound of a round being chambered into the shotgun.

Murray based this on the launch pattern of several Marvel characters at the time, including Thor (in Journey into Mystery), Ant-Man (in Tales to Astonish) and a solo Human Torch feature (in Strange Tales), as well as on the production numbers for individual stories. Court records show that as Darryl and Sims walked to the counter area to take money from the register, Williams walked behind Owens, pulled the sawed-off shotgun from under his jacket and told Owens to “shut up and keep walking.” While pointing the shotgun at Owens’ back, Williams directed him to a back storage room and ordered him to lie down. Will Murray in Comic Book Marketplace #44, suggested that Lee originally might have been considering Spider-Man's debut for the anthology Tales of Suspense rather than Amazing Fantasy. Williams and Coward followed Owens into the store. Goodman called for a regular series for the character. When Darryl and Sims entered the 7-Eleven, Owens put the broom and dustpan he was using on the hood of his car and followed them into the store. The story was published in issue #15, and months later, sales figures indicated that the cover story was unexpectedly popular. The store clerk, twenty-six year old Albert Lewis Owens, was sweeping the store parking lot.

When publisher Goodman was eventually presented with the concept, he was resistant to the unorthodox ideas of a teenage hero with a troubled personal life, but allowed the character to be used as a cover story for an anthology title, Amazing Fantasy, that was already scheduled to be canceled, so there was nothing to lose. Transcripts show that next Coward and Sims followed Williams and Darryl to the 7-Eleven market located at 10437 Whittier Boulevard, near Whittier, California. I did costume, web gimmick on wrist & spider signal. He then told the men that they would find another place to rob, and that they would all go inside so he could demonstrate to them how a robbery was done. GARY - Who originated Spider-Man?
STEVE - Stan Lee thought the name up. Williams reportedly became very unhappy that Darryl and Sims did not follow through on the plan. Much earlier, in a rare contemporaneous account, Ditko specified his and Lee's contributions, in a mail interview with Gary Martin published in Comic Fan #2 (Summer 1965), and reprinted at the defunct but cached site Excerpt:. And then we left.".

Ditko's recollections in Comic Book Artist #3 (Winter 1999) were similar. Sims then "walked back from the back ‘cause there was somebody in there and just walked out the door and got back the car with, uh, Blackie. [1]. Garcia provided and lit one for him. Ditko, on first seeing those pages, commented, 'This is Joe Simon's Fly.' Steve Ditko worked up his own version of the character's costume. Sims testified that he and Darryl entered the market, after which Sims walked to the back of the store while Darryl approached Garcia and asked for a cigarette. [Later,] Stan handed the pages over to Steve Ditko. Johnny Garcia, the clerk on duty at the Stop-N-Go at the time, testified that he was just finishing up mopping the floor, and noticed a station wagon, along with four black men standing outside the door of the store.

Jack held onto the sketches and when Stan Lee asked Jack for new ideas, Jack brought the original Spider-Man pages to Marvel Comics. Darryl was carrying the .22 pistol that Williams had deposited in the station wagon earlier. I gave the Silver Spider sketches to Jack Kirby and I changed the name again, this time to The Fly. Darryl and Sims, at the request of Williams, entered the store with the apparent intention of robbing it. In the late 1950s, Archie Comics asked me to create a new line of superheroes. Both vehicles exited the freeway in the vicinity of Whittier Boulevard, where they drove to a nearby Stop-N-Go market. Elsewhere, Simon gave additional details:. Darryl and Williams got into the station wagon, Coward and Sims got into the Cadillac, and shortly thereafter they were on the freeway headed toward Pomona.

². Williams then suggested that they should all go to Pomona. Lastly, the Spider-Man logo was redone and a dashing hyphen added. Upon returning, Williams had a .22 caliber pistol, which he placed in the station wagon. .. Afterward, they went to another residence, where Williams left the others for a period of time. In this life, he became high-school student Peter Parker, who gets his spider powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. The three men then went to the home of Tony Sims, where they discussed where in Pomona, California they could go to make some money.

and completely redesigned Spider-Man's costume and equipment. Williams went into the Garret residence, and in about ten minutes returned with the shotgun. ignored Kirby's pages, tossed the character's magic ring, web-pistol and goggles .. Williams frequently stayed with Garret, and kept some of his personal effects at that location including a 12-gauge shotgun. He turned Spider-Man over to Steve Ditko, who .. Coward followed the two in his 1969 Cadillac. .. A time after the initial meeting, Darryl, driving a brown station wagon and accompanied by Williams, drove to the home of James Garret.

Kirby had had him turn into...Captain America with cobwebs. "Blackie", a reference to his African American heritage. But when Kirby showed Lee the sample pages, it was Lee's turn to gripe, He had been expecting a skinny young kid who is transformed into a skinny young kid with spider powers. Williams introduced Darryl to a friend of his, Alfred Coward, a.k.a. Kirby...using parts of an old rejected superhero named Night Fighter...revamped the old Silver Spider script, including revisions suggested by Lee. Court transcripts state that [5], Stanley Williams met with a man who is only identified in court documents as "Darryl" late sometime on Tuesday evening, February 27, 1979. Stan Lee said, 'Perfect, just what I want.' [After obtaining permission from publisher Martin Goodman,] Lee told Kirby to pencil-up an origin story. Williams always maintained his innocence, though subsequent court reviews concluded that there was no compelling reason to grant a retrial.[4].

Kirby laid out the story to Lee about the kid who finds a ring in a spiderweb, gets his powers from the ring, and goes forth to fight crime armed with The Silver Spider's old web-spinning pistol. Williams was convicted of two separate robbery/murders in 1979. Jack brought in the Spider-Man logo that I had loaned to him before we changed the name to The Silver Spider. And eventually, we morphed into the monster we were addressing."[3] According to one version, the original name of the gang was the word Cribs from the first name of the gang, the Avenue Babies, and a reference to their youthfulness. .. But I was totally wrong. For instance, there was no Black Magic involved at all. Williams said "we started out—at least my intent was to, in a sense—address all of the so-called neighboring gangs in the area and to put, in a sense—I thought I can cleanse the neighborhood of all these, you know, marauding gangs.

[T]here were a few holes in Jack's never-dependable memory. According to many of the original members of the gang, it was initially started as a means to keep the streets safe, reducing violence and police brutality. Simon, in his 1990 autobiography, disputes this account:. Williams joined Washington in 1971, forming the west side Crips. So the idea was already there when I talked to Stan".¹. The eastern side Crips were formed by Raymond "Truck" Washington in 1969. But Joe had already moved on. Williams Jr.

and I said Spider-Man would be a fine character to start with. [2] People mistakenly believe that "Tookie" was a nickname, but it was in fact his given middle name, which was shared by Williams and his son, Stanley T. I had a lot of faith in the superhero character that they could be brought back .. Fremont Senior High School, but was expelled and did not graduate. I believe I said this could become a thing called Spider-Man, see, a superhero character. He attended John C. Black Magic folded with Crestwood [Simon & Kirby's 1950s comics company] and we were left with the script. Born to a 17-year-old mother in New Orleans, Louisiana, Williams moved to the impoverished South Central Los Angeles neighborhood when he was 6, where he made a name for himself for being a fighter and a "general" on the streets of South Central's West Side.

The Silver Spider was going into a magazine called Black Magic. . We had a strip called the 'The Silver Spider'. On December 13, 2005, Williams was executed via a botched lethal injection amidst debate over the death penalty and whether his anti-gang advocacy in prison represented genuine atonement. It was the last thing Joe and I had discussed. [1] A 2004 biographical feature film entitled Redemption: The Stan Tookie Williams Story featured Jamie Foxx as Williams. "Spider-Man was discussed between Joe [Simon] and myself. He co-wrote children's books and participated in efforts intended to prevent youths from joining gangs.

Kirby stated in a 1982 interview in Will Eisner's Spirit Magazine that Lee had minimal involvement in the creation of the character:. In 1993, Williams began making changes in his behavior, and became an anti-gang activist while on Death Row in California, Although he continued to refuse to assist police in their gang investigations, he renounced his gang affiliation and apologized for the Crips' founding, while maintaining his innocence of the crimes for which he was convicted. Lee turned to artist Steve Ditko, who found the concept particularly appealing and developed a visual motif Lee found satisfactory. While in prison, Williams refused to aid police investigations with any information against his gang, and was involved in attacks on guards and other inmates as well as multiple escape plots. When discussing this in documentaries, he often comments, "I've told this story so many times, it may actually be true." Originally, Lee assigned Jack Kirby to illustrate the story, but after seeing sample pages, decided Kirby's style was "too 'larger than life'" for what he wanted. In December 2005 he was executed for the 1979 murders of Albert Owens, Yen-Yi Yang, Tsai-Shai Lin, and Yee-Chen Lin. In the Spider-Man movie DVD extras, Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters and Marvels and elsewhere, Lee said he was inspired by seeing a fly climb up a wall. Stanley Tookie Williams III (December 29, 1953 – December 13, 2005), was an early leader of the Crips, a notorious American street gang which had its roots in South Central Los Angeles in 1969.

One influence Lee has described for the character's name is the non-superpowered pulp magazine crimefighter The Spider. The Nation, (December 14, 2005). Speaking in the 1980s, Stan Lee said the idea for the series sprang out of the apparent increased teenage interest in the new Marvel comic books, and that he wanted to create a character that could cater to them. "Hypocrisy Trumps Clemency". Various accounts of the character's creation have been given. Tookie's Mistaken Identity: On the Trail of the Real Founder of the Crips. . The Peoples' Clemency Hearing Socialist Worker.

Since his debut in the 1960s Silver Age of comic books, Peter Parker has grown from a shy high school student to a troubled college undergrad and graduate student, to a married man and a professional, but the core of the character has remained the same. State's high court won't spare Williams. Marvel has published multiple ongoing comic book series featuring the character, the flagship being The Amazing Spider-Man. Schwarzenegger hears Snoop Dogg's clemency plea. Through the years, he has appeared in many media, including several animated series, a daily and Sunday comic strip, and two very successful films, with a third one debuting in 2007. NAACP Steps Up Efforts to Save Stanley Tookie Williams. Spider-Man is one of the most recognizable of all superheroes. THE HUTCHINSON REPORT: Why 'Tookie' Williams?.

Since his creation, his popularity has led to many of the superheroes who predated him being reworked with more complex personas. Retrieved December 8, 2005. Spider-Man expanded the dramatic potential of the fantasy and superhero subgenres by having a strong focus on a younger, more troubled character and his personal struggles. October 26, 2005. He has since become one of the world's most popular characters. "Stanley Tookie Williams, Could be First Gang Member Executed in California", Street Gangs Magazine. He first appeared in the comic book Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), with a cover drawn by Jack Kirby and Ditko. Alonso, Alex.

Spider-Man is a fictional character, the alter ego of Peter Parker and a Marvel Comics superhero created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. Retrieved December 1, 2005. Set outside the regular Marvel continuity. December 1, 2005. Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1— (Marvel Comics, December 2005—, sequel to Mary Jane and Mary Jane: Homecoming miniseries), written by Sean McKeever and illustrated by Takeshi Miyazawa. "Reformed gang leader awaits death", BBC News. Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #1- (Marvel Comics/Marvel Adventures; May 2005—; continuation of Marvel Age Spider-Man), written by Sean McKeever, set during Spider-Man's high school years but not within regular Marvel continuity. Leithead, Alistair.

Ultimate Spider-Man #1— (Marvel Comics/Ultimate Marvel; October 2000—), written by Bendis and penciled by Mark Bagley, set in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Retrieved December 13, 2005. Part of Marvel UK's "Collector Edition" line, reprinting US stories from 2–3 years earlier. December 13, 2005. Astonishing Spider-Man #1— (Panini Comics/Marvel UK; Unknown month 1994—). "Stanley 'Tookie' Williams Executed", ABC KGO-TV / Associated Press. This book is not one of the official Spider-Man titles but includes him as part of the current team line-up. Redemption : From Original Gangster to Nobel Prize Nominee - The Extraordinary Life Story of Stanley Tookie Williams (Paperback) by Stanley Williams, 2004, (HB) ISBN 1903854342.

3), written by Brian Michael Bendis and penciled by David Finch. Life in Prison by Stanley Tookie Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1998, (PB) ISBN 1587170949, 80 pages, Reading level: Ages 4-8 (royalties donated to the Institute for the Prevention of Youth Violence). New Avengers #1— (Marvel Comics; January 2005—, continuation of Avengers Vol. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence.) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 1568381379, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 4-8. 3 #1— (Marvel Comics; March 2004—), showcasing Spider-Man in stories by new writing talent. Gangs and Your Neighborhood (Williams, Stanley. Spider-Man Unlimited Vol. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gangs.) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 156838136, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 4-8.

Currently written by Reginald Hudlin and penciled by Pat Lee. Gangs and Your Friends (Williams, Stanley. Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1— (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights; June 2004—). Gangs and Weapons (Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence) by Stanley Tookie Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 1568381328, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 9-12. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1— (Marvel Comics; December 2005—), written by Peter David and penciled by Mike Wieringo. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence.) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 156838131X, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 9-12. Michael Straczynski, and penciled by Michael Deodato. Gangs and Wanting to Belong (Williams, Stanley.

Currently written by J. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gangs.) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 1568381344 (HB} ISBN 0823923452, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 4-8. 2 #1–58, #500— (Marvel Comics; March 1963–November 1998, January 1999–December 2003, January 2004—). Gangs and Violence (Williams, Stanley. The Amazing Spider-Man #1–441, Vol. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence.) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, ISBN 1568381301, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 9-12. Peter's father is named Richard Parker for the same reason. Gangs and the Abuse of Power (Williams, Stanley.

Parker. Gangs and Self-Esteem: Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence (Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1999, (PB) ISBN 061302690X, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 4-8. The surname Parker was chosen to honor Richard Parker, a childhood friend of Stan Lee and father to famed personal injury attorney Larry H. Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence,) by Stanley Williams, Barbara Cottman Becnel, 1997, (PB) ISBN 1568381352, 24 pages, Reading level: Ages 9-12. In May 2003, he was paid approximately $18,000 to climb the 312-foot Lloyd's of London building to promote the premiere of the movie Spider-Man on the British television channel Sky Movies. Gangs and Drugs (Williams, Stanley. He sometimes wears a Spider-Man suit during his climbs. Blue Rage, Black Redemption: A Memoir (Paperback) by Stanley Tookie Williams, 2005, (PB) ISBN 0975358405.

Alain Robert nicknamed Spiderman, rock and urban climber who has scaled more than 70 tall buildings using his hands and feet, without using additional devices. In this case, the one thing that would be the clearest indication of complete remorse and full redemption is the one thing Williams will not do.". "Spider Dan" Goodwin, who in 1981 climbed the glass of the Chicago skyscrapers the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center using suction cups. Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings there can be no redemption. [2]. "Is Williams’ redemption complete and sincere, or is it just a hollow promise? Stanley Williams insists he is innocent, and that he will not and should not apologize or otherwise atone for the murders of the four victims in this case. The studio has announced a theatrical release date of May 4, 2007. "The dedication of Williams' book Life in Prison casts significant doubt on his personal redemption and… the mix of individuals on [the dedication] list is curious" … "but the inclusion of George Jackson on the list defies reason and is a significant indicator that Williams is not reformed.".

Spider-Man 3 began production in 2005 under director Raimi. From 1995 he "tried to preach a message of gang avoidance and peacemaking" … "It is hard to assess the effect of such efforts in concrete terms, but the continued pervasiveness of gang violence leads one to question the efficacy of Williams' message.". Spider-Man 2 was also the first motion picture released in the Sony Universal Media Disc format for the PlayStation Portable, being included for free with the first one million PSP systems released in the United States. Williams had written books that instruct readers to avoid the gang lifestyle and to stay out of prison. The only higher single-day movie grosses were Shrek 2's $44.8 million in the first weekend of its May 2004 release and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith's $50 million on the first day of its May 2005 release. A "close look at his post-arrest and post-conviction conduct tells a story different from redemption.". Its first-day gross ($40.5 million) surpassed its predecessor's $39.4 million record. "Cumulatively, the evidence demonstrating Williams is guilty of these murders is strong and compelling" … "there is no reason to second-guess the jury's decision of guilt.".

It premiered in more North American movie theaters (4,152) than any previous movie. The basis of his request for clemency is the "personal redemption Stanley Williams has experienced and the positive impact of the message he sends," yet "it is impossible to separate Williams' claim of innocence from his claim of redemption.". Spider-Man 2 was 2004's second-most financially successful movie and 15th-most financially successful movie of all time. "The possible irregularities in Williams’ trial have been thoroughly and carefully reviewed by the courts, and there is no reason to disturb the judicial decisions that uphold the jury’s decisions that he is guilty of these four murders and should pay with his life.". Spider-Man went on to become the sixth highest-grossing film in North American history and is ranked 11th worldwide with a total take of more than $821 million internationally. 15). box offices, it was the highest-grossing movie of the year while also opening up at a record $114.8 million. Exh.

Earning more than $403 million at U.S. (P. Although the film adaptation took a number of liberties with the character's history and powers, most notably giving him organic web-shooters rather than mechanical ones, it was essentially true to the character and was widely embraced by the viewing public. Subsequently, a stabbing instrument ("shank") made of sharpened plastic was recovered from where the fight had occurred. The film featured a number of impressive CGI effects used to bring Spider-Man to life. After a warning shot was fired, the fighting stopped. It was directed by Sam Raimi and stars actor Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. A guard ordered the inmates to stop, but the fight continued.

Spider-Man: On May 3, 2002, the feature film Spider-Man was released. Williams was one of the combatants. Spider-Boy of the Amalgam Universe is a merged character of the Ben Reilly Spider-Man and Superboy after all characters from Marvel Comics and DC Comics were merged due to the war between the two universes. On July 6, 1993, a large fight broke out in the shower area. Spider-Woman in an alternate reality, "Exiles: Legacy", issues #20–22. 14). Mary-Jane Watson a.k.a. Exh.

Pavitr Prabhakar in the Indian adaptation of Spider-Man, Spider-Man: India. (P. Spider-Ham, a pig in a funny animal version of the Marvel Universe. After the shot was fired, guards gained control over Williams. Peter Porker a.k.a. Eventually, gun officers responded by firing a round near Williams. Peter Parquagh in the 1602 miniseries. Once again, despite being ordered to stop, Williams continued with the assault.

Takuya Yamashiro (山城拓也), the Spider-Man of Spider-Man (tokusatsu). On December 24, 1991, Williams was involved in another fight with an inmate. Yu Komori (小森ユウ Komori Yū) in Spider-Man: The Manga. 13). Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of Marvel 2099. Exh. Spider-Girl, the daughter of Peter Parker, set in an alternate reality. (P.

May "Mayday" Parker a.k.a. On October 19, 1988, Williams was placed in Administrative Segregation based on his association with the Crips street gang. Blood Spider was an evil version of Spider-Man created by the Taskmaster and the Red Skull. 13). She later became Spider-Woman for a time. Exh. Jonah Jameson, who assumed the role with a padded costume when Parker temporarily quit. (P.

Mattie Franklin, the niece of J. Prison officials subsequently learned that this stabbing was done in retaliation for a September 22, 1988 stabbing of another inmate ordered by Williams. Kraven the Hunter donned Spider-Man's costume for a short time in Kraven's Last Hunt. On October 10, 1988, Williams was involved in a fight that led to him being stabbed by Tiequon Aundray Cox (aka Lil Fee), a Rolling 60s Crips member, and fellow death row inmate. Ben Reilly, a clone of Parker, who also fought crime as the Scarlet Spider. 12). This effectively makes Kitty his crimefighting partner. Exh.

This issue reveals that they spend much of their time hunting criminals to fight. (P. Issue 66 of Ultimate X-Men showed Kitty and Spidey on a date. Eventually, after gun officers responded, Williams stopped the attack. [3]. The guard ordered Williams to stop but Williams continued with the assault. Brian Michael Bendis, writer of Ultimate Spider-Man, plans to continue with Kitty as a supporting character in USM. On July 4, 1986, Williams stepped between a guard and another inmate and began to beat up the inmate.

In Ultimate Spider-Man #87, Kitty and Peter are dating for the first time in the "real" comic. 11). In the Ultimate Marvel continuity, Spider-Man's love interest is Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat of the X-Men after breaking up with MJ. Exh. This made MJ jealous. I have dusted many officers on the street, one more would not make any difference." (P. Later in the series, he fell in love with Indy, a girl who works for Empire 1, a news channel. When the guard advised the female of the prison policies, Williams became verbally hostile and stated, "you are looking around too much and that's not your job.

In the MTV's Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, Peter's love interest was still MJ. On June 8, 1984, Williams was observed participating in inappropriate behavior with a female visitor. Lady Vermin, one of the Knights of Wundagore, has feelings for Spider-Man but he does not reciprocate. 10). Naoko Yamada Jones who reminds Peter a lot of MJ. Exh. In the Spider-Man Unlimited animated series, Peter's Counter-Earth love interest was Dr. (P.

Spider-Man also has feelings for the Black Cat and most fans think that she was a better love-interest for Spidey than MJ. Only after a guard fired a warning shot did Williams stop fighting. Later in the series, Peter married MJ and found out she was a clone made by Miles Warren for Morris Bench/Hydro-Man. Williams, however, continued to fight. She then returned in the series without explanation. In an effort to stop the attack, the guard blew his whistle and drew his weapon. MJ was thrown into a portal created by the Green Goblin. On February 16, 1984, a guard saw Williams bending over another inmate and striking him with his closed fists.

In Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Peter's love interest was Mary Jane Watson. 9). The relationship between Spider-Man and Black Cat was short lived after Spider-Man learned that Felicia Hardy was only interested in him as Spider-Man and not Peter Parker. Exh. Black Cat. (P. Another love interest of Spider-Man was Felicia Hardy a.k.a. On January 29, 1982, Williams again attacked a guard by throwing a chemical substance on him.

Later Peter and MJ gave birth to another child, a boy named Ben who is most likely named after Peter's Uncle Ben or Ben Reilly, Peter's clone. 8). In the MC2 continuity, Peter and Mary Jane gave birth to their daughter, May Parker (Spider-Girl) who is named after Peter's Aunt May. Exh. After many years of dating, Peter and MJ finally got married. (P. Like Peter, MJ lives with her aunt. As a result of that assault, the guard suffered from chemical burns to these areas and had to be taken to the hospital where he received emergency care.

She works as an actress and a model. In one of these instances, Williams threw a chemical substance in the eyes and on the face of a guard. Before Peter, Mary Jane has also dated Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn. On January 28, 1982, Williams had two separate instances where he threw chemical substances at guards. After Gwen Stacy, Peter's next and most well known girlfriend was Mary Jane Watson, who is also currently Peter's wife. 7). In the House of M storyline, Gwen is still alive and married to Peter with a baby son. Exh.

Many years later, Gabriel and Sarah decided to kill Spider-Man in an attempt to seek revenge. Williams responded by saying "you'll get yours boy, I can do anything now because I know what the gunmen will do…one of these days I'll trick you boy." (P. When the twins were older, Norman told them that Spider-Man killed their mother. The guard then explained the line-up procedure to Williams. Gwen told Norman that she wanted Peter to be the father of the twins which was another reason why Green Goblin killed her so that he can have the twins for himself. Williams refused the order and became hostile. She later gave birth to twins, Gabriel and Sarah. On January 26, 1982, Williams was ordered to lineup for his return to his cell.

The consensual encounter resulted in a pregnancy that she then hid from Peter with a trip to Europe. 6). In the Sins Past saga, it was explained that Norman Osborn and Gwen Stacy—in a moment of weakness for both—had a romantic tryst. Exh. Many years later, the Green Goblin killed Gwen by throwing her off a bridge. (P. Peter's first real girlfriend was Gwen Stacy. Only after repeated orders did Williams stop.

Later, Betty Brant married Daily Bugle reporter, Ned Leeds. When Williams was ordered to cease fighting, he ignored the order. They dated for sometime but in the end broke up. Williams was observed kneeling over the other inmate and striking him in the head with his closed fists. Peter's next love interest was Daily Bugle's secretary, Betty Brant. On June 30, 1981, just two months after being sentenced, Williams was involved in a violent fight with another inmate. Instead Liz married Peter's friend, Harry Osborn.

The first love-interest of Peter was Liz Allen though they never got together.