The superhero-verse is chock-full of neurotic characters, from a guilt-ridden Captain America to an alcoholic Tony Stark to a self-absorbed Dr. …
The superhero-verse is chock-full of neurotic characters, from a guilt-ridden Captain America to an alcoholic Tony Stark to a self-absorbed Dr. Strange. But who nabs the unwanted prize for the most neurotic superhero? For the comic book experts at a San Diego Comic-Con panel on Friday, the answer was clear. Spider-Man, who dealt with guilt and shame after the death of his uncle, has become the « poster boy for the neurotic superhero, » according to Travis Langley, a speaker during Neurotic Superheroes and the Writers Who Love Them at SDCC 2021. Langley, author of nonfiction books such as Batman and Psychology, echoed panelist Danny Fingeroth, who said the honor obviously went to Spidey. « Spoiler alert, (it’s) Spider-Man, no surprise, » said Fingeroth, who was the longtime group editor of Marvel’s Spider-Man line of comics. « He had it built into his origin. » SDCC went online last year amid the coronavirus pandemic and continued the format this year, offering free online panels Friday on topics such as the Fear Street Trilogy, Rick and Morty and this talk fest, where comic book writers and editors gathered to discuss neurotic heroes. Panelist Marv Wolfman, creator of The New Teen Titans comics, added that the young age of Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man’s secret identity) could’ve contributed to his neurosis.
