Why Spider-Man used to suck...

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  • Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
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    In his first few comics, Peter Parker was an angry nerd who became a selfless hero! But then, things started to shift towards Spidey embracing Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism, becoming a selfish superhero. So let's talk about this horrible time in Marvel's history. There's definitely no politics in this video where I explain the real origin and terrible philosophy of Spider-Man and his co-creator Steve Ditko!
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    - CHAPTERS -
    0:00 spider-man? more like, relatable-man
    9:38 the origin of steve
    14:39 post-code horror
    20:18 I finally talk about spider-man
    24:03 from zero to hero to zero again
    27:36 sorry
    32:57 skip this section
    34:38 the infamous protest scene
    36:07 ditko vs critics
    38:53 I bought the worst book
    45:31 looters & producers
    50:31 other bad ideas
    52:34 the death of steve ditko
    54:38 sponsor time!
    56:44 the most important part of the video!
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    - SOURCES -
    Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko - Blake Bell
    The Complete Four-Page Series and Other Essays - Steve Ditko
    Ditko Shrugged - David Currie
    The Age of Selfishness - Darryl Cunningham
    How Ayn Rand Influenced Comic Books
    tcj.com/how-ayn-rand-influenc...
    The Untold Truth Of Steve Ditko
    looper.com/128148/the-untold-...
    Alan Moore’s Watchmen And Rorschach: Does The Character Set A Bad Example?
    stevensurman.com/rorschach-fr...
    - ABOUT NERDSYNC -
    Home of the popular Comic Misconceptions series, NerdSync makes video essays and in-depth analyses about nerdy pop culture. From comic books and superheroes, to Scooby-Doo and other classic cartoons, host Scott Niswander explores fascinating topics that range from history, philosophy, culture, and art. NerdSync makes fascinating, complex ideas a little more accessible through the heroes and villains from Marvel, DC Comics, and beyond! Subscribe for new videos every other Friday, you wonderful nerd!
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  • @NerdSyncProductions
    @NerdSyncProductions  2 роки тому +591

    Hey, so that occasional pink flashing behind the comics is really weird and not intentional. I think it’s a strange export error. My apologies if you are photosensitive. Like I said at the start, feel free to just have the audio on in the background and treat this like a podcast.

    • @umitatsuky
      @umitatsuky 2 роки тому +5

      Super random, but you saying wiiii was the highlight of this video to me. It was so adorable, you made me smile c:

    • @suisui7481
      @suisui7481 2 роки тому +3

      commenting to say I do like you and your content but cant be around 1st hour but will comment good stuff so the algorithim works

    • @danepatton2252
      @danepatton2252 2 роки тому +3

      Mr Negative cosplay when?

    • @Grizabeebles
      @Grizabeebles 2 роки тому +1

      Thanks for the deep dive Scott!! It got my through the whole day. Can I please, please beg you to consider doing a follow-up comparing the "late Ditko" era to the "Superior Spider-man" storyline? I wonder if there's anything good there to explore.
      Also, thank you again for doing "It's Probably Not Aliens". It's my absolute second-favorite podcast after "Well There's Your Problem" the podcast about engineering disasters (with slides).

    • @Smarfton
      @Smarfton 2 роки тому +2

      Hey, big fan of the channel, but I just wanted to bring something to your attention that inadvertently triggered my wife's anxiety and it has to do with some of the background effects with transitional panels. There's a flickering effect that's a pink/purple color ringing the inner panel. My wife took one look and she freaked out. She's fine now for reference.
      I know weird comment, but if it affected her like this, it probably has affected others. Thanks for reading, great video overall.

  • @mlp_firewind8129
    @mlp_firewind8129 2 роки тому +210

    I find it interesting that there is a clear pattern of people claiming to not care what others think in a way that show that they care immensely. I mean I guess we’ve all internalized a problem but that’s not a healthy thing to do. Especially not for 50 years.

    • @mycollegeshirt
      @mycollegeshirt 2 роки тому +8

      So true, I was thinking of the random person on Facebook posting "I dont care!" Without context

    • @luisoncpp
      @luisoncpp 2 роки тому +1

      Commenting about not caring doesn't necessarily imply that they care; there is a craving in commenting itself, regardless of the opinion of the others.
      Btw, I agree it's common to pretend that we don't care what other people think about us, but the truth is that we do care.

    • @mycollegeshirt
      @mycollegeshirt 2 роки тому +1

      @@luisoncpp I can see that, I'll give you that I could imagine someone writing in a diary I don't care not so someone will see it, but more as venting

    • @shadowtech9158
      @shadowtech9158 2 роки тому +9

      It is so odd when people adopt that world view because it is the complete opposite of our social interactions as a specias. We are literally social animals we need to interact with others but some of the ways we have set up our societies become polar opposite or even hinder that aspect.....If anyone has an answer to this let me know but "greed" is not an inherent trait in humans is it or just a learned one?

    • @robertt9342
      @robertt9342 Рік тому +1

      @@luisoncpp . I think they want the recognition. They crave it as a form of validation.

  • @JoshuaGoudreau
    @JoshuaGoudreau 2 роки тому +913

    Scott is one of those genuine people who even if I'm not super into what he's talking about I'll still sit and hang out with him for as long as he'd like to talk about whatever he's interested in today

    • @domsusefulstuff
      @domsusefulstuff 2 роки тому +10

      Yes

    • @wolfore
      @wolfore 2 роки тому +11

      Definitely it has everything to do with the passion and heart behind the presentation

    • @dew7555
      @dew7555 2 роки тому +8

      The world needs more people who would sit and listen

    • @TheRedCreeperTRC
      @TheRedCreeperTRC 2 роки тому +3

      Genuine? Genuinely smug perhaps.

    • @zlch4021
      @zlch4021 2 роки тому +2

      True

  • @marka.t.s.8344
    @marka.t.s.8344 2 роки тому +264

    That era of the character is one I appreciate quite a lot, because it isn't until you really compare Ditko's era Peter to any other version of him that you realize just how much of an unmature teenager Peter was, and even if some of the over the top dialogue and panels can be considered as a "Product of their time", it's one of my favorite eras of the character because you can really feel the pent up emotions of Peter, and when you later read about all the other characters that were further explored with Romita and new writers and artists even further down the line it feels nice to see just how far Peter has come, or at leas it feels like that to me

    • @gota7738
      @gota7738 2 роки тому +61

      Right. Peter going from being mutually antagonistic with Gwen, Harry and Flash to letting his guard down and having them (even Flash eventually) do so in turn feels like character development. In reality it's the switch from Ditko to Romita-Lee, but it feels natural.
      It may not have been Ditko's intent, but he put in place character flaws for later writers to use. I like seeing Peter struggle with his hot-headedness and his isolationist tendencies, to try and overcome them and do the right thing. Doing good isn't a natural instinct, it's a conscious choice. That's what makes Peter both relatable and inspiring to me.

    • @spider-man500
      @spider-man500 8 місяців тому +5

      ​@@gota7738Honestly who wouldn't be somewhat of a jerk in Peter's case?
      He lived his whole life without his parents and knowing why they even left him.
      He was bullied from the get go just for being himself
      Makes sense that onwards he is not so willing to be so nice anymore and has no issue being your enemy.
      Uncle Ben's death didn't help either

    • @Vicshade
      @Vicshade 14 днів тому

      Ditto’s run was the best run in my opinion. No story has come close to the Master Planner saga where Peter Parker redeemed himself, threw off his guilt, saved his Aunt, stood up to JJJ. Awesome payoff. He created all those characters, those villains still used today. Lot’s of unfortunate myths about Ditko out there. Not a perfect man, but I think his Spider-Man and Dr. Strange were the best versions.

  • @mattboy5296
    @mattboy5296 2 роки тому +623

    In a way I think having this era of Spider-Man history with Peter being a selfish objectivist jerk during his early years makes him more relatable. The reason being because a lot of teenagers, especially teenage boys, kinda go through that edgy "libertarian" like phase when they're that age and eventually learn to grow out of it when they actually grow up and begin to understand how the real world works and develop a sense of empathy.
    It's also realistic that Peter would still struggle with those feelings even after Uncle Ben's death because it's a process to change your worldview and it's possible to slip back into old habits or ways of thinking early on.
    Obviously that wasn't Ditko's intention as he simply thought these ideas were correct, but with hindsight this is an interesting perspective and something that makes Peter Parker feel more real.

    • @daelen.cclark
      @daelen.cclark 2 роки тому +28

      Funny how hindsight works, isn’t it?

    • @doclouis4236
      @doclouis4236 2 роки тому +6

      What's wrong with being Libertarian?

    • @hexogramd8430
      @hexogramd8430 2 роки тому +34

      @@doclouis4236 everything

    • @doclouis4236
      @doclouis4236 2 роки тому +3

      @@hexogramd8430 That doesn't explain anything and you're coming off as extremely ignorant.

    • @hexogramd8430
      @hexogramd8430 2 роки тому +4

      @@doclouis4236 I think all right leaning people are fundamentally flawed in their ideology, but right wing libertarianism is especially corruptible to bad actors. The amount of pedophile arguments I’ve heard from self described libertarians about how it shouldn’t matter what the age is etc is too much to count.

  • @ericpeterson8732
    @ericpeterson8732 2 роки тому +611

    "You know, billionaires who actually want to help people." Scott, you are hilarious!

    • @daelen.cclark
      @daelen.cclark 2 роки тому +31

      At least Scrooge McDuck existed.

    • @littleghost4686
      @littleghost4686 2 роки тому +43

      The fact he prefaced it with our desire to indulge in 'escapist fantasy' makes it even funnier.

    • @michael.471
      @michael.471 2 роки тому +16

      Being older made me unable to make billionaire vigilantes who were actually good people

    • @cleftturnip7774
      @cleftturnip7774 2 роки тому +5

      Just because you're cynical,doesn't mean you're right.

    • @JunAoi
      @JunAoi 2 роки тому +1

      Batman and Iron Man and literally no one in the real world, or in comics for that matter?

  • @FrankLeeYoung
    @FrankLeeYoung 2 роки тому +576

    Ditko's downward spiral into loneliness and Objectivism is actually quite tragic and worst of all I kinda understand after being screwed over by Marvel like that.

    • @Obscure_man31
      @Obscure_man31 2 роки тому +29

      His downward spiral was always there but it wasn't as extreme back then

    • @thepegasuskid4186
      @thepegasuskid4186 2 роки тому +7

      Are you referring to how long it took Marvel to acknowledge his contributions?

    • @hiphopmansion3140
      @hiphopmansion3140 2 роки тому +51

      @@thepegasuskid4186 no but I get why you’d think that. He’s referring to Ditkos belief in Ayn Rands political ideology which he tried to force into Spider-Man’s characterization. Which no matter how you feel about that particular ideology doesn’t really mesh well with Peter Parker. Stan Lee had to overturn a bunch of weird decisions Ditko had made.

    • @sboinkthelegday3892
      @sboinkthelegday3892 2 роки тому +19

      "which he tried to force into Spider-Man’s characterization"
      No, he just put it there, because his ACTIONS spoke louder than words that he valued the cooperation. You on the other hand pretend to support "cooperation", but only admire Spider-Man because in your mind you DELETE that actual Ditko half of the character to make him the same old, collectivist, friendly neighborhood, only acceptable, superhero archetype.
      Spider-Man is carved from the same rare wood as Iron Man and Mr. fantastic. It's you closeted ABSOLUTISTS, who pretend objectivism is the stricter ideology of the two. No, subjectivity or objectivity are not in YOUR wheelhouse. Subjectivty REQUIRES objectivty to not become collectivist absolutism.
      Ditko may have died alone, but this new mode of thought is in constant mental health trouble over feeling alone even IN groups, and this channel isn't an exception. Your loneliness is far deeper, because what Ditko overdid, less and less people have even stepped their toes in to a healthy degree. All your friends are just bodies you write a new personality for, in your head-canon fan-fiction, just like "friendly neighborhood" Spider-Man. Grow up with Where The Wild things Are, and Spider-Man will enter your teenage life when this toddler development has already ran its course.

    • @Urayuss
      @Urayuss 2 роки тому

      @@sboinkthelegday3892 I have no idea what a single sentence of your long, senseless diatribe meant... And I think I'm glad about that. Jesus, dude. Go be overly inflammatory somewhere else, please. Hopefully where nobody else can hear/read what you have to say lol

  • @PowerPackers90
    @PowerPackers90 2 роки тому +274

    Actually, according to Ditko, Norman was always the plan. If you go back and read his Goblin issues, Norman's in the background of Johan's country club almost every time. Ditko last few issues heavyly have Norman doing Goblin things. Like having enough power to knock out Spider-Man with a punch, and sniping someone who was on the top floor of a skyscraper. Norman could only reach him on with some kind of flying machine. Stan's pushback was wanting it to be grander with Harry being Peter's BFF and Norman as a father figure. Where Ditko just wanted him to be an evil businessman friend of JJJ, and his son Harry was a rich jerk in the popular kids who loner Peter hated. Stan's idea was clearly the right move.

    • @jokx4409
      @jokx4409 2 роки тому +7

      So Stan's idea is what became of the Raimi movies, huh? Unless that's exactly what ended up happening, idk, I haven't read those earlier comics.

    • @Cr3zant
      @Cr3zant 2 роки тому +39

      @@jokx4409 Stan's idea is what ultimately happened and became the coded gospel for the characters, Ditko's is what he wanted it to be. Ditko was a fantastic artist with great ideas, but Stan as a writer really understood drama and pathos, and that greatly elevated the work Ditko and his other collaborators put out.

    • @deadpool630
      @deadpool630 2 роки тому +19

      Well, it actually has more to do with the fact that Stan refused to give Steve his due credit because with the Marvel Method, the artist was basically writing and pacing half of the book along with their art duties. Stan balked at the idea of listing Steve as a co-writer, and when he did it was in such a backhanded way. So Steve, rightfully frustrated and recently converted to objectivism, quit.

    • @gota7738
      @gota7738 Рік тому +11

      Huh, do you have source for those being Stan's ideas/plans? With his first appearance under Ditko and Lee establishing right off the bat that Norman and Harry had a poor relationship despite Harry being otherwise unsympathetic, I always wondered where it would have gone if Ditko hadn't left.
      On the other hand, I'm not sure I buy that Stan planned for Norman to become a father figure, as that element isn't introduced untill decades later and after Norman's revival.

    • @turtleanton6539
      @turtleanton6539 10 місяців тому

      😊😊😊

  • @NerdSyncProductions
    @NerdSyncProductions  2 роки тому +309

    Here’s the thing. I have a habit of making really long, in-depth videos this time of year. Videos that eat away at me for months at a time, straining relationships with everyone around me. While I love how those videos turn out, I don’t want to make this into a stressful holiday tradition. So here’s a more chill but still overly-researched video. Hope you like it! Happy holidays!

    • @jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545
      @jackmackakaheavyguyhaiku545 2 роки тому +6

      I like this video. One thing: whatever Ditko's motive, Peter rejecting Betty could be seen by some as a defensive measure. Not saying that that can explain it all, but it is an interesting idea.

    • @user-jp7tw3sd3x
      @user-jp7tw3sd3x 2 роки тому +4

      Love the video.
      However I would appreciate if you don't use the flashing bright colorful single frame in the animated background. I'm not photosensitive, so it only annoys me, but there are people who get sick from such kind of stuff.

    • @frankfoster6088
      @frankfoster6088 2 роки тому +1

      Your stuff is great man. I would enjoy more videos looking into how creators personal lives and politics influenced there art. Feels like there is a lot of potential interesting content there. Just my 2 cents. Keep it up!

    • @emilymcplugger
      @emilymcplugger 2 роки тому +1

      The phrase I do think is really important in life is this
      Be curious
      Some of what Ayn Rand said about the creator and free thinking is spot on. But if we just follow our own desires and block ourselves off from others we tend to stagnate, we can’t develop and grow.
      The irony is that objectivism, the thing that sees itself as the ally to the creator is actually the creator’s enemy.

    • @novaprime9084
      @novaprime9084 2 роки тому

      Love your videos

  • @echoingquery
    @echoingquery 2 роки тому +283

    Scott is like that cool older cousin with a lot of opinions on various subjects that you listen to regardless of what he's saying because it's nice to see him talk about things he enjoys.

    • @CherryDKaya
      @CherryDKaya 2 роки тому +5

      I’d say that would be me but scott’s on topic rants are much more organized than I could ever be

  • @TheJohno95
    @TheJohno95 2 роки тому +18

    For anyone that thinks Stan Lee did absolutely NO writing on Spider-Man, they should be glad that Stan kept Steve Ditko under control by editing his Spidey ideas. If it had been left completely up to Steve, Spidey would be darker than Batman and be acing those villains at the end of his stories. His obsession with Ayn Rand's philosophy led him to the belief that everything is black and white and you must do whatever is best for you. Stan kept pulling back on the reins of his darker tinges about Spidey until he eventually quit. Yeah, Steve definitely gave birth to Spidey. But it might have been stillborn if Stan hadn't held Steve back.

  • @jackalvonstone250
    @jackalvonstone250 2 роки тому +56

    I think there are some horrible interpretations of that whole Betty Brant situation. Peter turning her away from him due to obnoxious behaviour was deliberate because he didn't want to endanger her with his life as Spider-Man anymore. It's a classic trope. Hero purposely makes everyone hate and turn away him so that he can "protect" them. I remember that entire situation.

    • @harrylane4
      @harrylane4 6 місяців тому +5

      Except in order to read that you’d need to ignore how he acts throughout the rest of the story and pretend that the arc is following that trope, when it very much isn’t.

    • @GigaDonk99
      @GigaDonk99 2 місяці тому +3

      I'm reading these comics right now and that's not what happened at all. Betty told Peter that Ned had proposed to her, but she wants to marry a man who does not live an exciting or dangerous life, and that was why she fell in love with Peter. But Peter knows she wouldn't want anything to do with him being Spider-Man, so he cuts her off before she can finish confessing her feelings to him, screams at her and treats her like garbage. He ignores her phone calls for DAYS, and gives up on her completely without ever giving her the courtesy of saying "no thanks, go be with Ned instead".
      It had nothing to do with "protecting" her. It was just Peter being a jealous asshole.

  • @Bonxicm
    @Bonxicm 2 роки тому +157

    Scott actually in sync with a comic movie released?? Always enjoyed everything you produce!!!

  • @MatSjo
    @MatSjo 2 роки тому +468

    Love how sincere and earnest the content feels since you moved to a home studio and talked openly about your struggles! No need to be fancy with editing and props when the actual content is this great!

    • @calboyalexander8181
      @calboyalexander8181 2 роки тому

      Dude is a Dc fan talking trash on marvel. He's always praising dc and lowballing marvel😐

    • @Atomicdelta765
      @Atomicdelta765 2 роки тому +4

      agreed, Scott seems happier also. Keep up the good work Scott!

    • @de132
      @de132 2 роки тому +3

      @@calboyalexander8181 What? Scott isn't a fanboy

    • @zinkheroofyoutube8004
      @zinkheroofyoutube8004 2 роки тому +1

      @@calboyalexander8181 Scott’s always seemed to be a bigger Marvel than Dc fan

    • @-Teague-
      @-Teague- Рік тому +1

      @@calboyalexander8181 bruh he said "used to suck" not "has always sucked" lol

  • @VideoGameStoryTime
    @VideoGameStoryTime 2 роки тому +460

    Nice to see Skrull Scott again, your videos about politics in comics are the reason I'm subscribed.
    I actually kind of like Peter's Randian moment here in the context of his narrative arc. It feels believable that, over time, someone with great power would find it redefining their worldview, causing them to feel like they can survive without other people. Academic studies have suggested that intelligent people often struggle to make friends and form strong bonds specifically because they don't actually *need* to rely on others for help as much.
    ...Then Peter meets Normal Osborn and sees where Randian objectivism will take him if he carries on down that path. Osborn is selfishness personified, cutting himself off from business partners and his son under the belief that he's better than other people. That's what makes him such a great foil for Spider-Man: he has great power but feels no responsibility to others. So from a narrative perspective, it makes sense that an increasingly socially detached Peter would rethink and course-correct after the Goblin reveal.

    • @harmonlanager2670
      @harmonlanager2670 2 роки тому +46

      Oh that’s a really cool thought! I really like the parallel that Peter adopted his secret identity so he can fulfill his responsibilities while Norman uses his Goblin identity to escape his

    • @galactic85
      @galactic85 2 роки тому +25

      I'm not sure how much if that is stuff you can actually extract from the text of the original spider-man comics but that sounds like a great idea for a character arc In a spider-man movie. Actually it's kind of what happens in the first raimi movie when the goblin has Peter on the rooftop.

    • @daelen.cclark
      @daelen.cclark 2 роки тому +4

      @@galactic85
      And I find it humorous that he got stabbed after saying those things

    • @luisoncpp
      @luisoncpp 2 роки тому +13

      Peter himself was not that bad, at least from the examples presented here. Betty was going to marry another man, so Peter was upset and he just left to avoid the conversation getting worse; when Betty saw Peter with bruises, Peter just wanted to confirm that he shouldn't date her while being Spiderman; in the protest, the protesters were just obnoxious (remember, I'm referring the protesters that appeared in that comic book, not the real-life protesters of that time); in the story arc of not being Spiderman in order to protect aunt May, at the end she just told Peter that she doesn't need his protection.
      I think the issue is that the whole story arcs have underlying themes that glorifies being a lone wolf and not caring for the others, is not just Peter's personality.

    • @harmonlanager2670
      @harmonlanager2670 2 роки тому +20

      @@galactic85 It’s kinda referenced in the comics. The Green Goblin during the reveal mentions he became a villain cause he was stronger and smarter than everyone so thus deserved better.
      In the first appearance of the Hobgoblin, he mentions that Norman’s notebooks say he used the Goblin identity as a way to escape societal expectations

  • @pacosoentken303
    @pacosoentken303 2 роки тому +61

    I'm studying culture and media, and honestly this video feels like it could be a lecture in one of my classes. The link between the philosophy and the media, the creating process, the inequality between writers and artists. Very well done! Without knowing it you create content that's not only entertaining but also useful! Truly awesome!

  • @adhambarbour
    @adhambarbour 2 роки тому +79

    Man why does this video hit me so hard? I totally feel like Steve right now, I feel like I just want to be alone and push everyone away but after watching this I feel like Scott is speaking to me and telling me, "Hey man, I'm here for. We're here for you!💜" Thank you Scott for not making me feel so alone right now.💜

    • @gljames24
      @gljames24 2 роки тому +2

      We're here for you!💜

  • @losyen4487
    @losyen4487 2 роки тому +141

    i love how scott went on a deep dive looking through flaws on ditko's belief, but then ties it back to how he fell into such belief. instead of villainizing ditko, he put a lot of empathy on his commentary, staying true to his critic of objectivism.

    • @sigmasix3719
      @sigmasix3719 Рік тому +7

      Yes he didn't paint Ditko in black and white terms 😊

  • @lakshmiyamajala471
    @lakshmiyamajala471 2 роки тому +7

    It's funny how people say Andrew Garfield Spider-Man is not comic accurate. But when you actually read the original comics he is probably the closest in personality.

    • @soychidoese
      @soychidoese 2 роки тому +1

      Yes! Implicitly Pretentious points this out. Tobey's is the least accurate in this regard while Tom's is closer but Garfield's maintains the sly trickster aspect more than the others.
      Also, the tone of Ditko's stories are a comedic sitcom which was depicted well in the Watts films, a tone people took issue with when the other adaptations tried to apply the more dramatic tone that the Romita run depicted.
      Not an objectivist myself but this guy misses the point, but Peter's confidence and self confidence is built up and beautifully paid off through the Spider-Man No More arc as he decided to be the hero without caring what other people think, especially Jameson.

    • @lakshmiyamajala471
      @lakshmiyamajala471 2 роки тому +5

      @@soychidoese I think people miss interpret the point when they say that "this" is the best Spider-Man, all I can i see and hear in their view is the best idealistic version of a hero. Thats not Peter/Spidey. The whole point was that Peter is a constantly growing and changing character, he is a young teen growing into a young man obviously he is self centered when he has no parents, he is an outcast who is not accepted and is kinda poor.
      Raimi's Peter never changes he literally stays the same throughout the 3 films bcz when he changes he becomes selfish (SM3), guilt is the driving force of those films.
      You put it right that Watts got the sitcom tone right. Raimi got the essence of what a hero means (and also made 2 fantastic films). Webb got the characters right but the setting, the story, the pacing, the editing of the films were not that great.
      And Agreed that Spider-Man No More arc was great.

  • @cincymutt
    @cincymutt 2 роки тому +22

    I echo some sentiments that Peter starting out that way is actually a neat unintentional character-growth thing. Like, just seeing start as a pissed off nerd and then see him soften up a bit as the series progresses.

    • @petergilveet6666
      @petergilveet6666 8 місяців тому

      I always felt like Spider-Man No More storyline was when Peter actually learned that "with great power comes great responsibility", and it was a whole way until there.

  • @frightening_volleyball1231
    @frightening_volleyball1231 2 роки тому +15

    Wait, around 26:55 Peter joined the FF for money, *not* to be apart of a team
    Edit: I always kinda liked the idea of Peter starting out more insulated, and slowly becoming more & more open. It just feels more relatable

    • @Falkaisis
      @Falkaisis 10 місяців тому +3

      I know I'm so late to this video, but I'm glad to find I comment that brought that up! Cause I'm was gonna mention that. It comes across as him leaving out certain details to better paint the narrative that he wants to tell. Whether he meant to or not, it brings into question the validity of his argument.
      I agree, I like Peter starting off that way. While a lot of my favorite supeheroes are more "boy scout" like and have a strong moral compass, Peter's daily struggles, anger issues, and selfish/selflessness inner war are very relatable. A lot of his problems are pertaining to his life and the people he cares about. I like the idea that he struggles with being selfish and selfless. He could make life so much easier for himself, but doesn't. It's a fine line and realistic line of selflessness and selfishness. There are plenty of times where he wants to be selfish, but he knows he can't be. Then there are times where his selfishness gets the better of him and it bites him in the ass. Throw in the whole, "Why can't I be selfish and be happy? Don't I deserve to be happy?" bit and it makes for a very realistic and compelling character.

    • @frightening_volleyball1231
      @frightening_volleyball1231 10 місяців тому +2

      @@Falkaisis Honestly, my favorite interpretation of him. So much more relatable, and you almost never get to see it

  • @sashikalachoudhury1803
    @sashikalachoudhury1803 2 роки тому +75

    I think having Spider-Man being selfish, angry and arrogant is what makes a teenager because it was the first 38 issues which perfectly capture his temper and immaturity. Also if people are going to fear you, hate you, think you as a menace despite what all you have done for them then it is better to not be a superhero at all. He puts his life at stake, loses the people he loves but somehow he comes back to become Spider-Man just because of " with great power comes great responsibility"?? Also if you are dating someone like Betty Brant who gets jealous when she sees Peter just talking to Liz and later on asks whether she should marry ned or not despite dating peter, then you have the right to get angry. Also the protestors stated that they were protesting about some other protest meeting which was kind of ridiculous and he talked to them after he had an argument with ned Leeds, got screamed by Jonah, was worried about Betty Brant after she suddenly disappeared and after he fought another villian.

    • @GigaDonk99
      @GigaDonk99 2 місяці тому

      To be fair, the way Betty and Liz are written in these early issues is a super sexist portrayal that is both of its time and very incel-ish. It's not right to excuse Peter's actions when the writer knowingly created female characters who behave like morons just so his self-insert can righteously defy them and call them out on their jealous, fickle ways.
      Not to mention, Peter literally interrupted Betty before she had the chance to say "But I'm NOT agreeing to marry Ned, I love you" and ghosted her for days because he already decided he can't be with her anymore. She didn't do anything wrong in that particular incident

  • @paperbag4477
    @paperbag4477 Рік тому +8

    Spidey being a jerk is a lot more relatable and understandable seeing how his adolescence shaped him. From the start, his parents died, he was bullied, his only friend came from privilege, and his crush barely recognized him. He would’ve been equal to reed Richard’s on intellect if he wasn’t so poor. By those factors alone, why would he stop that criminal after his wrestling match?
    Ofc, we know what went down: Ben dying in the process and Peter trying to live up to that code instilled by his uncle. But what new comics lack is Pete’s emotional growth. After uncle Ben dies, Pete just resets himself to be good & funloving. That’s wayy too much of a drastic step to what he was before the accident. I myself imaged that Peter himself has been emotionally avoidant after that moment. Hell, even having more of a shorter temper. And his road to being a better hero is that keeps that temper in place for the sake of others.
    That’s what ditko got right about Pete’s chracter. Your flaws doesn’t change after being scared straight, you have to put in the work in order to push through those weaknesses.
    And with those flaws that we wouldn’t have “ Spider-Man no more” or Peter swearing to kill Goblin after he killed Gwen.
    In a sense, Ditko’s Pete is very layered compared to what he is today. Instead of a sad underdog who can’t catch a break, we have a troubled boy trying his best to be the man his uncle wants him to be. A f**k up who will redeem himself in the long run.

    • @zinkheroofyoutube8004
      @zinkheroofyoutube8004 Рік тому +5

      The thing is though, Dittko didn't see Spiderman’s flaws as flaws, he saw them as strengths, which is the problem Scott is pointing out

  • @tomtudorweaver1078
    @tomtudorweaver1078 2 роки тому +28

    I got the Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus Vol.1 two years ago and I actually liked how different the characterization was. Peter was unlikeable, Jameson was a genuinely awful person, and Spider-Man did not care at all about the people behind the masks of his villains and just wanted to make a quick buck taking photos of beating them up.
    I remember when he first beats Electro he pulls his mask of and says 'I don't know this guy, whatever the police can deal with it' and just leaves. That always stuck with me since I really like the idea that in spite of Uncle Ben's death, Peter Parker still doesn't quite become a truly heroic character until a while into his superhero career, and if he were better from the start maybe he wouldn't have so many villains.
    I think the Ultimate comics did a good job reworking this by having Peter be a more realistic teenager, a flawed character and because of the tight timespan still dealing with Uncle Ben's death to explain why he could be unlikeable at times.
    Also side note from the intro: I never minded Mysterio's Tony Stark connection since the hologram tech was such a clever link, plus his base motivation of wanting fame and his voice to be heard despite how petty he was still very much felt like the comic character.

    • @greggoat6570
      @greggoat6570 2 роки тому

      Yeah well according to this video those classic comics actually suck because this whiny bald goblin man disagrees with a dead guy’s politics!

    • @raphaelcurley
      @raphaelcurley Рік тому +4

      Wrong! ASM drops hard off a cliff after Ditko, there's a reason his stuff gets reprinted every year and the rest of the stuff is yawn.

  • @Deadshadow1405
    @Deadshadow1405 2 роки тому +62

    Very interesting history on Steve Ditko, sort of disagree with the take on Spider-Man, his explosive temper was something that was a big part of the character for many more years after Steve Ditko left.
    Also the Sandman being caught by police was only able to happen because Spider-Man beat him up first and he was too tired to fight back properly.

    • @wrensart1335
      @wrensart1335 2 роки тому +11

      Late response but yeah, Peter’s anger issues is something that’s a component to him. I don’t really like the modern idea of making Peter / Spider-Man relatable in the sense that he’s treated as a blank slate when he isn’t. Peter is a character with a distinct personality.

    • @MegaBond101
      @MegaBond101 2 роки тому +7

      Also in the comics when he was going through a hard time with his emotions and not to mention his anger issues he bonded to venom. And in the later comics this is one of the reasons Venom became more corrupted. I feel really bad for all the spiderman villains. Like this kid fr just makes my blood boil even though he's a fictional character I'm passionate about characters lol 😅

    • @wrensart1335
      @wrensart1335 2 роки тому +1

      @@MegaBond101 lol yeah I feel it man

    • @daelen.cclark
      @daelen.cclark Рік тому +4

      Partly because Stan wrote that issue alongside Ditko.
      That teenage angst and temperamental attitude is captivating, I’ll give it that, but can be self-destructive if left unchecked.

  • @natsmith303
    @natsmith303 2 роки тому +120

    I used to have an avowed ancap in my friendgroup. No idea if he was at all influenced by Ayn Rand directly, but SO MUCH of her ideology reminds me of him. And lo and behold, Rorschach was the unqualified hero of Watchmen in his eyes.
    I would really like to emphasize the "used to" in my first sentence.

    • @christopherb501
      @christopherb501 2 роки тому +9

      Paul Ryan, a former (and very recent) Speaker of the House constantly advocated for her books. As the anti-vaxxers like to tout these days, "Let that *sink* in."

    • @frankfoster6088
      @frankfoster6088 2 роки тому +14

      Holy shit...lol Rorschach? That's a bit on the nose for your old friend. Folks who idolize him and say Rick scare me. I can't believe people don't get that they are good characters because they are bad people.

    • @natsmith303
      @natsmith303 2 роки тому +12

      @@frankfoster6088 Dude was also passionate about the Punisher, which I now see as, like, seven red flags at once.

    • @galactic85
      @galactic85 2 роки тому +7

      Ah rorschach. The psychopathic stinky murderer who pretends he doesn't compromise his moral code and reads a white supremacist newspaper. Or for teenagers who read watchmen for the first time, their favorite 'superhero.'

    • @joshheralal8758
      @joshheralal8758 2 роки тому +12

      @@galactic85
      Rorschach : "Rape bad. I kill rapists."
      *Comedian rapes Silk Spectre*
      Rorschach: "This is fine."

  • @Tojuniorproductions
    @Tojuniorproductions 2 роки тому +47

    The Ditko having issues with Green Goblin being Norman isn't actually true; Ditko has discussed this in interviews, but to make a long story short Norman Osborn was implied to be the Goblin for a LONG time with him being pretty much the only suspect (There is even a scene of him killing a scientist from an elevated position when Goblin and Vulture were the only two flying villains at the time) the argument of the connection to Peter also doesn't work due to Harry not becoming friends with Peter until the Romita era.

  • @potatohat3994
    @potatohat3994 2 роки тому +41

    I’ll admit this is def the best combo of comic book talk and other topics. I feel like I’m getting a good balance of both. Happy holidays, here’s to another year of cool content!

  • @shebjess
    @shebjess 2 роки тому +64

    Steve, as a fan of your work, I have to say that your essays are doing a good job in showing why artists/writers really need editors to help them.

    • @mickeyconnor830
      @mickeyconnor830 2 роки тому +2

      Hi there, his name is Scott. 💜

    • @timothy.2401
      @timothy.2401 2 роки тому +6

      @@mickeyconnor830 They're talking about Steve Ditko

    • @shebjess
      @shebjess 2 роки тому +15

      @@mickeyconnor830 Oh, I'm not referring to Scott. I'm referring to Ditko's essays where he feels the need to say the same thing 3 times like he's MoJo JoJo from Power Puff Girls

  • @woollypar353
    @woollypar353 2 роки тому +118

    I think a lot of Ditko's frustrations with editors and fans are actually valid. They'd be more valid if he WASN'T hateful and very public about how hateful he was, but nobody's perfect

    • @kennethliyanto9833
      @kennethliyanto9833 2 роки тому +24

      The problem with his criticism on his fans and comic book fan culture is that he was a comic book fan himself and it helped shaped his life. He was a big Batman fan as a kid, an even bigger Jerry Robinson fan and this inspiration and mentorship helped made him the great artist he was. He just failed to see himself in them.

    • @anenemystand5582
      @anenemystand5582 Рік тому +9

      His frustration with his editors and some (probably a lot of fans) is valid. I think that's why he embraced objectivism so readily. Because it was in his mind an easy antidote to those issues that made him the hero of the story.

    • @robertt9342
      @robertt9342 Рік тому +5

      @@anenemystand5582 . I think you are putting the cart before the horse here. Likely he had started down this path many years before and he projected a lot of meaning behind the interactions of his relationships.

  • @justjackson7152
    @justjackson7152 2 роки тому +81

    This idea of self preservation reminds me of Jesse Pinkman’s arc in Breaking Bad he learns to live for himself instead of letting the people around him make the choices for him the difference being that Jesse was locked in a hole for five months for Walt’s mistakes while Ditko and those who share that philosophy blame their own mistakes on others it’s a very small tight rope to walk but it’s important to walk that line in a good way

    • @galactic85
      @galactic85 2 роки тому +30

      There is a difference between practicing self care and fundementally believing "my interests always matter more than yours for arbitrary reasons."

    • @os_boy8745
      @os_boy8745 2 роки тому +8

      I think it's safe to say this is one of those things in which you need to strike a balance. Selfcare is important, that goes without saying, but we also need to look out for each other.

  • @liltaco4119
    @liltaco4119 2 роки тому +20

    The part about Steve Ditko wanting Green Goblin being some random guy was wrong i think because if i recall correctly, Steve actually drew Norman Osborn before in multiple issues so the set up would pay off in the end. Great video though. Really, i have been looking for a Spider-Man comic documentary type video for days now since the hype and this video was pretty much what i wanted

    • @friendbreakfast
      @friendbreakfast 2 роки тому +1

      i think Scott didnt mean that they made the decision at the last minute, but rather that before the Norman Osborn thing wasnt decided and the clues hasnt been left yet, thats what Steve Ditko wanted. But then together they decided on the Norman Osborn twist and set it up properly from there

    • @liltaco4119
      @liltaco4119 2 роки тому

      @@friendbreakfast ohh i see my bad

    • @bishopcruz
      @bishopcruz 2 роки тому +1

      @@friendbreakfast But the clues had been left, already.

  • @rykx0r
    @rykx0r 2 роки тому +110

    "Which sounds like what a super villain would say."
    I mean it is Objectivism. I'm pretty sure Ayn Rand was one of the Masters of Evil.

    • @QuintarFarenor
      @QuintarFarenor 2 роки тому +9

      Funnily enough, for my RPG-groups I do define "Evil" in that way, being self-centered, egoistical, narcists. Or "Tell me you're evil without saying you're evil" it works so good to give such characters these kinds of motivations, makes them not only evil by definition but subjectively too! Also makes you see (this kind of) Evil in the real world too, which is a bit sad but expected.

    • @TheRageaholic
      @TheRageaholic 2 роки тому +3

      All the mass murders and other assorted evils of the 20th and now early 21st century have stemmed from Collectivism.
      Did Steve Ditko or Ayn Rand starve 65 million people to death through collectivization of agriculture in China and the Ukraine?
      There are much worse things to be than selfish.
      You, for example.

    • @rykx0r
      @rykx0r 2 роки тому +11

      @@TheRageaholic Ah yes, and I forgot what a blameless engine of progress capitalism was. What with the reckless usage of our planet's resources and the dehumanization of others as a means of providing labor.
      Obviously I don't think letting millions of people die is good. But I can say "Stalin sucked" and also think "a philosophy that espouses absolute autonomy without reflection on the deep interconnectedness of humanity sucks" too. People should care about and for each other. Now more than ever.

    • @juancarloshernandez2333
      @juancarloshernandez2333 2 роки тому +3

      @@TheRageaholic interesting. It's not like China has at least 1828 documented instances of widespread famine prior to the collectivization of their agriculture, as opposed to just one instance after collectivization.

    • @juancarloshernandez2333
      @juancarloshernandez2333 2 роки тому +3

      Similarly, in pre-Soviet Russia, famines used to be a regular occurrence every 10 to 15 years. The USSR faced two famines during the 20's and 30's and then remained famine-free until the 90's.
      Really makes you wonder if those famines in the 20th century weren't necessarily because "muh collectivism" but rather because Russia and China have been historically prone to famines that kill millions of people.

  • @Painocus
    @Painocus 2 роки тому +164

    So Spiderman became a living megaphone shouting "selfishness is good actually"?
    Of-course Ditko is behind it.

    • @ronpetersen2317
      @ronpetersen2317 2 роки тому +23

      Well his character started out that way. That is a major part of his origin. I suppose it makes sense he might need to relearn that a couple times later for that lesson to finally sink in completely. But it was there from the start as a powerful moral lesson ... the whole with great power comes great responsibility.

    • @christopherb501
      @christopherb501 2 роки тому +2

      @@ronpetersen2317 Still prefer both the Ultimate version and the Sam Raimi version.

    • @ronpetersen2317
      @ronpetersen2317 2 роки тому +11

      @@christopherb501 That's fine ... but there is a reason why the orginal comic version is THE superhero for Marvel. Ultimates ... pft. Fine if you like them but just not the same.

    • @radiokunio3738
      @radiokunio3738 2 роки тому +5

      ​@@christopherb501 Same, this a bit personal, but as a child was told by my groomer that he "would hurt my parents if i told". I didn't tell till 5 or 7 years later, and at that point i had forgot his identity beyond his face. This sounds kind of stupid, but i relate to peter parker in sense we both should of acted sooner but didn't. I still feel guilty that "man" is out there uncaught and mostly likely harming more children. I might lack the powers to help others on a grand a scale, but still do my to report anything that i find and comfort victims. that's why i find that MCU and Objectivist Spiderman, misunderstand what i relate to on a core level. Peter saw what apathy leads to in his uncle's death, and thus becomes Spiderman. the other two are motivated by self interest, like showing up to Stark. They remind me of people who send death threats to pro-shippers and pretend that "helps" grooming victims to get attention. i don't if this makes any sense, but that what peter should be based on my personal code. Some who suffered and acts to prevent the suffering of others, despite if it benefits him personaly.

    • @tyshekka
      @tyshekka 2 роки тому +1

      Randian selfishness is misunderstood.
      Her claim was that all people behave in a selfish way. We act on anything which helps what we're interested in. If your friends are being insulted, your interest in them will cause you to defend them. If you're part of a group, you'll defend it. You defend your family, your community. That's a form of selfishness.

  • @legogoldenglider6684
    @legogoldenglider6684 2 роки тому +19

    I know it was quick moment, but the breakdown of Rorschach being a joke was very much appreciated

  • @Neil070
    @Neil070 Рік тому +4

    I remember the British TV presenter Jonathan Ross, a huge Marvel comics fan, and a devoted admirer of Ditko, trying to get an interview.
    After much effort, he was delighted to be allowed to talk, alone, off the record, to him.
    Ross was unable to tell us much of the meeting as I recall, but it was a high point of his own life, and one of the last such meetings Ditko would grant

    • @cha5
      @cha5 Рік тому +2

      Ross and comics writer and The Sandman creator Neil Gaiman both got to meet Ditko, Gaiman actually recounted it in his story in Amazing Fantasy #1001.

  • @csharley1993
    @csharley1993 2 роки тому +110

    I will never not love when a NerdSync video comes out. This was a solid way to decompression from the new Spider-Man movie. This couldn't have come out at a better time. And i could watch Scott teach me stuff about comics for the rest of my life lol

    • @danielhart7435
      @danielhart7435 2 роки тому +1

      He came across as a self righteous twat in this episode.

  • @BigIsBehindYou
    @BigIsBehindYou 2 роки тому +9

    Thank god Steve Ditko never discovered Twitter.

  • @arthurdurham
    @arthurdurham 2 роки тому +12

    It's fascinating that arguably (one of) the most popular superhero of all time was created by two people are basically the polar opposites of each other; Ditko isolationism and relentless ego with Stan's jovialness and almost pathologic need to be loved.
    (Excluding the Ditko only run) I think this really shaped who Spiderman was. A misunderstood self made genius who solves problems with his own skill and determination even against the crowd but who also desperately just wants to belong and make people happy.
    And in most of the best Spiderman stories both those aspects are part of him. He saves the day and is a true hero but often at some kind of self sacrifice no one gives him credit for.

  • @Three_Tiny_Robots
    @Three_Tiny_Robots 2 роки тому +3

    Scott, you're a treasure. Every day that includes a new Nerdsync video is a good day. I still go back through your old videos just to hear you talk about comicbooks and superheroes while I'm doing my chores around the house everyday, I love the tone of your work and how much work you clearly put into researching your scripts and shooting your videos. This post has no real point, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. 😄😄

  • @AsgersWeb
    @AsgersWeb 2 роки тому +9

    They should make a low budget teen flick 2 hour long origin of SPIDER-MAN that would be in line with proper teen flicks like perks of being a wall flower. No action, no super villains. Just a film titled "Parker".

    • @Painocus
      @Painocus 2 роки тому +2

      He get's bit by the spider in the final minute epilogue right before the credits roll.

  • @plkrtn
    @plkrtn 2 роки тому +76

    5 mins 13 secs in and if this isn't a "Steve Ditko loves Ayn Rand" video I'll be absolutely shocked. Man loved him some objectivist nonsense.

    • @kalerohde9759
      @kalerohde9759 2 роки тому

      Can I ask how it’s all nonsense?

    • @Whiteythereaper
      @Whiteythereaper 2 роки тому +11

      @@kalerohde9759 it's all faux "wake up Sheeple" talk that just exists to prop up the ego of the person saying it

    • @gljames24
      @gljames24 2 роки тому +8

      @@kalerohde9759 One of the key tenets of "objectivism" is that altruism and self-interest are incompatible, but that is completely and verifiably false. The ideas of open source, open standard, and mutual benefit and their results show that you can align your own self interests with others and mutually benefit. From another angle, if you look at the idea and evolution of trust in game theory, doing everything for your own benefit actually benefits you less mathematically than if you play a tit for tat strategy where you cooperate if the other person is willing to cooperate. "Objectivism" is just a spitefully and mistrusting position people take when they have something to gain from reinforcing their own status and pulling up the ladder from anyone who could challenge their position.

    • @kalerohde9759
      @kalerohde9759 2 роки тому +1

      @@gljames24 I read atlas shrugged as a young adult and pulled some things from it that would be seen as objectivist, the main thing I pulled was that I shouldn’t have to help if I don’t want to. Especially people who don’t want to help themselves. The “leaches” if you will. I have a cousin who doesn’t work, doesn’t try to get a job, all she does is whine about not having enough to take care of her kids. The family keeps giving, and giving and giving. They expect me to do the same, and I refuse. Because I worked for the things I have, if I chose to help then I will. But if I’m being pressured because “it’s the right thing to do” I refuse. Maybe I’m a dick, probably am actually. But I don’t want to give because someone else doesn’t want to do the work

    • @thelionsshare6668
      @thelionsshare6668 2 роки тому +3

      @@gljames24 Having read Ayn Rand AND Aristotle, I'm going with altruism and self-interest, at their extremes, are incompatible. But for every virtue, there are two vices, one an excess, and the other a deficiency. Clearly altruism to the point where you're letting people take advantage of you, or enabling their bad habits (at your own expense) is bad for you, and the people you ostensibly want to help. Likewise, self-interest has its limits as well.

  • @Obi-Wan_Kenobi
    @Obi-Wan_Kenobi 2 роки тому +12

    I find myself very conflicted about what makes art good, an individual vision or one that is the result of a collaboration. George R.R. Martin's quote "Art is not a democracy" comes to mind and it personifies the former view.
    I guess one of my baselines for all of this is George Lucas and how he wrote Star Wars. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (did my profile pic and name not give it away) and I have tremendous respect for the story Lucas put out. He created a story that could have only come from him and had he given the people working with him too much power, the saga very likely would not have been as good as it was.
    But then again, some of the greatest ideas in Star Wars came about because George Lucas listened to his family, his friends, his directors, etc. While Star Wars is obviously his baby and he was the primary visionary, it was a team effort that became the fantastic story it was because of other people.
    I do think that there is a danger in art becoming too beholden to multiple opinions. I think that so many different perspectives and opinions lead to inevitable contradictions and if all these different perspectives have a voice in the final product it will lead to the art contradicting itself. For proof, look no further that the Star Wars sequel trilogy. But I think art needs to be criticized and tested and that opinions of people who know what they are talking about need to be valued.
    So at the end of the day, I am in favor of a more singular vision for art. I think that a single person needs to have the courage and conviction to spearhead a project that could only come from them. But I also think that that person should be humble enough to draw inspiration from a large variety of sources and that includes hearing out what the other people working with him on the project have to say. Those other voices should never over power the primary creator, but they need to be listened to respected. I think that's what George Lucas did with Star Wars and it resulted in a 6 part (yeah, I'm counting the prequels!) masterpiece!
    I'm even going to include the Clone Wars in there because listening to behind the scenes footage of Dave Filoni and how he tempered some of Lucas's more outlandish ideas is also very entertaining and again exemplifies my point about how it's great to have a singular vision that tempered by those around you.

    • @zachthomas8597
      @zachthomas8597 2 роки тому +1

      Honestly my favorite example of collective/democratic art is just... Mythology. Or if I had a specific example, the Illiad and the Odyssey. Sure they were written/codified by Homer, but those stories are at least 2900 years old.

  • @abhirao8582
    @abhirao8582 2 роки тому +38

    I love Stan Lee's Spider-Man but his tenure got better after Ditko left. When Romita came on board, the series got really good and the character started to really grow up

    • @raphaelcurley
      @raphaelcurley Рік тому +2

      Wrong!

    • @paulheap1982
      @paulheap1982 Рік тому +3

      @@raphaelcurley care to elaborate? Oh yeah, you can't cause you are the one who is wrong and contraian just because.

    • @raphaelcurley
      @raphaelcurley Рік тому +1

      @@paulheap1982 yeah thinking Ditko is greatest Spider-Man artist and plotter is a contraian statement?! It's a mainstream opinion.

    • @cantthinkofaname5046
      @cantthinkofaname5046 11 місяців тому

      @@raphaelcurleyOh please, he was good but he was never the best one. Just because he was an objectivist like you doesn’t mean you should be sucking him off

    • @harrylane4
      @harrylane4 6 місяців тому +2

      ⁠​⁠​⁠@@raphaelcurleyit’s really not very mainstream lol. I’d argue even romita isn’t the most common choice for best spidey artist. macfarlane is THE most popular spidey artist, by far, and Bagley is my personal choice for favorite. Ditko isn’t even top 5, if it weren’t for the fact that he was The First Guy, he wouldn’t be remembered for his work on spider-man.

  • @katherinealvarez9216
    @katherinealvarez9216 2 роки тому +91

    It's kind of something that Peter has changed over the times, even when marvel keeps resetting him and trying to keep him static.
    I enjoy the MCU Peter because... honestly? He's willing to take the harder path if it might doing the right thing or save the other person. And others will see it and do better in turn. Peter is kind.
    I'm not sure what the future is, but whatever is thrown at him, Peter always perseveres and continue to be a hero.

    • @fanfanpay
      @fanfanpay 2 роки тому +8

      « I enjoy the MCU Peter because… I honestly don’t know the real comics Peter and throw a bunch of thing who are supposedly different betters MCU Peter and real comics Peter Parker”
      Nice dude

    • @aug.6259
      @aug.6259 2 роки тому +7

      @@fanfanpay ah yes, the "real" spiderman gatekeepers

    • @RemixerUltimate
      @RemixerUltimate 2 роки тому +9

      @@fanfanpay dude never said that comics Peter didn't do those things. Get over yourself.

    • @katherinealvarez9216
      @katherinealvarez9216 2 роки тому +9

      @@RemixerUltimate let’s just focus on the stuff we like about any iteration of Spidey. He has heart, he has quips, he has brains, and somehow not a lot of common sense and is a doom magnet.

  • @williamdavis8718
    @williamdavis8718 2 роки тому +47

    Loved this one!
    Especially loved the Willem Dafoe joke and highlighting the commas in Ditko's statements

  • @PyckledNyk
    @PyckledNyk 2 роки тому +3

    Wow, no wonder people don’t credit Spider-Man to Steve Ditko. I don’t think Steve Ditko would credit himself either.

  • @Obi-Wan_Kenobi
    @Obi-Wan_Kenobi 2 роки тому +24

    *"Steve Ditko made up completely fictional people to get angry at, a classic tactic!"*
    Classic is right Scott! You just described the strawman fallacy, where you distort or exaggerate the point of contention to the point where no one would defend it. But it's a dishonest tactic, because no one is actually advocating for that extreme point, they are arguing something much more realistic and tangible.
    I've increasingly been seeing strawman fallacies in everything from political speeches, to the news, to even tv shows and movies. It really irritates me because all this strawman arguments do is misrepresent real issues. That just causes viewers to misunderstand these very real issues and it just makes said issues more controversial because no one even understand what is being argued about.

  • @blaineleavitt3600
    @blaineleavitt3600 2 роки тому +5

    9:53 I’m literally wrapping presents and had a mild panic attack thinking I was being watched, so thanks for that.

  • @aikisteven0616
    @aikisteven0616 2 роки тому +11

    So by your own admission you won't read this comment (since it comes too late), but wow, probably the best essay you've done. Too many comic review channels are just "hey, here's a thing. this comic sucks", but your deep dives into the background, political leanings, and philosophies of the creators, and how that informed what they did is really unparalleled and truly brings a better, deeper understanding of their creations and the themes they were trying to get across, for better or worse... (side note, reading back, I think that's the longest sentence I've ever written. English teachers may weep, but I'll just leave it as is for posterity sake if nothing else!) Rambling aside, chalk this up to another vote in the 'you don't need elaborate sets and flashy effects, please just keep your sincerity, love of the medium, and great insights coming, and we'll follow you for as long as you want to keep going' column.

  • @Aletreya
    @Aletreya 2 роки тому +2

    Recently discovered this channel. Love the intentionality he puts in to making the dry content fruitful and the confusing parts accessible. Your commitment to be well-researched is evident, good sir.

  • @cosmicgrub360
    @cosmicgrub360 2 роки тому +8

    Tbf peter was bitter and had the right to be, he had basically nothing he was basically hated as peter and hated as Spider-Man and he saved peoples lives and yet he was hated, even the woman he “loved” rejected him and when he did go off to become Spider-Man to save people he was called cowardly and looked down on, so i say peter rejected the world because peter felt rejected

  • @dcbandit
    @dcbandit 2 роки тому +7

    I love that joke about William Dafoe. Great stuff.

  • @prestonroe268
    @prestonroe268 2 роки тому +3

    If the spider in my room can pay you to convince me to let him live here, then why isn't he paying rent

  • @atosm8300
    @atosm8300 2 роки тому +2

    The rhythm and flow of your videos are absolutely magnificent. One hour passes by and I don't even notice, it's fantastic. Thank you so much.

  • @christianzamora-dahmen8475
    @christianzamora-dahmen8475 2 місяці тому

    I really love your videos, Scott, I think I’ve watched a lot of them already, even switched to my personal account so I could comment without “work” getting the way. I adore comics, and one of the things I love most is putting all of it in context, learning the behind the scenes and, ohh… these essays you do are just phenomenal. Thank you so much!

  • @BonJoviBeatlesLedZep
    @BonJoviBeatlesLedZep 2 роки тому +4

    So Ditko drew and wrote Peter Parker to reflect himself, while Stan Lee created and wrote J. Jonah Jameson and Reed Richards to reflect himself... What tells me is that the 1960s reaaaally needed therapists.

  • @OverlyPositiveFanboy
    @OverlyPositiveFanboy 2 роки тому +7

    Honestly, I love the Mysterio/Stark connection in Far From Home. Having Quentin Beck be the developer of B.A.R.F. was a stroke of genius on the filmmakers' part.

  • @willbeaty6892
    @willbeaty6892 2 роки тому +5

    My favorite professional "subtweet" about Ditko's politics was in Uncanny X-Men 123, where Spider-Man cameos in an Arcade story. Chris Claremont (with John Byrne) has Spidey ranting in an internal monologue about how broke he is after paying his income taxes. It's delightful.

  • @mindlessyoutubeuser6435
    @mindlessyoutubeuser6435 2 роки тому +5

    I like at the beginning that he is more arrogant, selfish and the vibe of a teen that has a chip on his shoulder to the more understanding and selfless, caring Peter.
    Its kinda like he changes after the battles and the lessons he learns, I know that wasn't planned out but I like to think so

  • @jgrayson1940
    @jgrayson1940 2 роки тому +7

    Great video, Scott. Love the deep dives into history of comics.
    Sad story about a sad man who impacted so many of us in such big ways.

  • @ReiAyanami8
    @ReiAyanami8 2 роки тому +12

    Man...Steve Ditko really liked synonyms. There's probably, almost most definitely, other and better things to take away from this video...but that's what I went with.

  • @aimeerose27
    @aimeerose27 2 роки тому +1

    Hearing you talk in so much depth about these really interesting topics and going into detail about the context surrounding the comics and their creators is really one of my favourite things!!! You always keep me so interested in what you’re saying so I love these longer videos!

  • @drcheesenut896
    @drcheesenut896 2 роки тому +2

    Ngl, the Stark villains complaint isn't even accurate. Vulture, wasn't mad at Stark, he didn't even seem to hold much of a grudge, he was just mad he was fired

  • @Samantha_yyz
    @Samantha_yyz 2 роки тому +28

    Perfect Opening! Awkward clumsiness.
    I have to say I disagree with the points against Far From Home. Its one of my Fav MCU films and really fits into this Spidey's story. Being forced to carry Iron-man's mantle after losing his mentor, trying to get back into being a student again after the world has moved on 5 years. Taking Place in EU makes sense as Peter clearly didnt feel at home in NYC anymore, everyone was watching him and expecting him to just instantly be like the new Head of the avengers. So Petter being like F it school trip to EU, yes let me just be Peter for a bit, let me not have to think about Iron-Man or my new place in all this.
    And the villain being some who hates Iron-Man is totally fine, Iron-Man was Peter's mentor and now Peter has inherited everything but he is still just a naive Kid. The perfect mark for someone trying to destroy Iron-Man's Legacy, and do you do that best, destroy the hero Iron-Man trained to be the better version of himself.
    Also ROMANCE WAS CUTE! MCU GIVE ME MORE ROMANCE LIKE THAT ITS CUTE!
    Thank you for coming to my TedTalk

    • @nathanmason7044
      @nathanmason7044 2 роки тому +5

      Absolutely agree I definitely think it’s become overhated ( definitely amongst Spider-Man fans)

  • @NikonatorX
    @NikonatorX 2 роки тому +28

    5:33 I think that's out of context. Between those panels, Betty tells him that she doesn't need any more excitement in her life, and doesn’t even wanna talk about Spider-Man because of what happened to her brother. I take that scene as Peter self-sacrificing, so Betty may be with a much better match, according to what she’s outright saying. I mean, for him to actually being selfish, he would tell her: “I Love you, and btw I’m Spider-Man, please live with the daily fear of me fighting criminals and maybe not coming home ever again”.

  • @yasianproductiontales8640
    @yasianproductiontales8640 2 роки тому +1

    Scott, you are AMAZING and an inspiration! Especially when it comes to my own UA-cam channel. I’m always beating myself up about how I’m never good enough or how my stories are terrible. But your content always brings encouragement. Thank you!

  • @jamessaltzburg9549
    @jamessaltzburg9549 2 роки тому

    Another great discussion thanks Scott ! I do recognize you tube creators like you who show effort and thought are the reason I spend more time here than on "real tv"

  • @themangoman9315
    @themangoman9315 2 роки тому +10

    Objectivism is a joke of a philosophy

    • @an8strengthkobold360
      @an8strengthkobold360 2 роки тому +3

      Yes, I find people who pretend to be objective tend to be blind to their own bias.

    • @ronpetersen2317
      @ronpetersen2317 2 роки тому +2

      Never heard of it until this video ... I just think how people use the term objective completely wrong ... like on the boobyoutubes someone will always call some film objectively bad. Portions of that idea make sense though. Such as not making other people's problems yours. Like if someone is a jerky and bullys you ... that reflects on them and it serves no purpose taking their problems and making them yours.

  • @ronpetersen2317
    @ronpetersen2317 2 роки тому +22

    To be fair ... fans can be jerks. Ask Lucas and every superhero post that dwindles into DC vs Marvel. Ditko isn't entirely wrong. It was just magnified later by the internet.

    • @TupocalypseShakur
      @TupocalypseShakur 2 роки тому +3

      You're not wrong about fans

    • @ronpetersen2317
      @ronpetersen2317 2 роки тому +2

      @@TupocalypseShakur Check the internets. Certainly not all fans but there are just too many that can be.

    • @deadpool630
      @deadpool630 2 роки тому

      Alan Moore literally stopped going to conventions because fans wouldn’t leave him the fuck alone, even if he was going to the bathroom.

  • @exeacua
    @exeacua 2 роки тому +2

    Loved this video, I love how your channel and Implicitly Pretentious are uploading videos about the early years of Spidey comics. I think people ussualy only talk about the Amazing Fantasy 15 and maybe the first issue of Amazing Spiderman whrn they talk about this period. Thanks.

  • @monkabove
    @monkabove 2 роки тому +1

    Loved this video! The amount of research that goes into making these must be phenomenal. Great work!

  • @Alex_YJ_Reed
    @Alex_YJ_Reed 2 роки тому +61

    "Rorschach is a joke, and if you like him, you missed the entire point."
    I never really liked the Watchmen movie, and now I think I know why: Zack Snyder missed the entire point, and by extension, all the fans of the movie did too, not just Rorschach, but everything else in it as well.

  • @johnrau2265
    @johnrau2265 2 роки тому +3

    Having heard you reveal that Ditko was seriously disillusioned/angry about a lot of stuff when he headed back to Charlton, my first though was, "Well, that explains the Question. Then you appeared to agree.
    If you want to explore that in a video, I'd watch it. You could even connect Vic Sage, crusading commentator (Question) with Jack Ryder, investigative reporter (the Creeper- another Ditko creation. I suppose the dichotomy of Hawk and Dove folds in there somewhere.
    [Had to edit- had a character name wrong. Right name hit me right after I posted]

  • @ApertureHistory
    @ApertureHistory 2 роки тому +1

    So happy to see this part of the Spider-man story told! Great video!

  • @DoomPastries
    @DoomPastries 2 роки тому +2

    Great video, Scott! Keep up the great work!

  • @Nimi856
    @Nimi856 2 роки тому +3

    Prefect video! you are one of the only creators i can watch a full hr video of, without doing something else in the meantime

  • @ultimablackmage
    @ultimablackmage 2 роки тому +3

    Ditko wrote a lot of my favourite Spidey stories out of all the stories I've read.

  • @inzanemonkey0510
    @inzanemonkey0510 2 роки тому +1

    Great video as always! I’ve always respected you’re drive to make something this long, in depth, and interesting with no guarantee to be successful, keep it going!

  • @bradleyaleshire8706
    @bradleyaleshire8706 2 роки тому

    Due to your extensive backstory and context on such a multitude of topics, I could legit watch you do a video about anything. Thank you for all your hard work!

  • @raidenvakarian9362
    @raidenvakarian9362 2 роки тому +9

    I had a friend in high school who was OBSESSED with Ayn Rand and objectivism (because, y'know, he'd just played a little game called Bioshock and thought the dystopia of Rapture was actually pretty rad apparently). He read every book and wouldn't shut the fuck up about it. So I, being the open-minded friend that I was, grabbed a copy of Atlas Shrugged from the library, opened it up and read the introduction, where Ayn Rand proudly exclaims that while she was able to make amends to the book for the reprint, she refused to do so because it was already objectively perfect in every way. After that, I put the book back, figuring that was all I really needed to know about her. Turns out I was wrong, it's actually much worse and cringier than I ever suspected. So thanks for that, Scott!

  • @_thomas1031
    @_thomas1031 2 роки тому +3

    Scott, I have to say your channel is one that I genuinely get excited about. The vids are always clearly put together with so much effort + the abundance of personality you bring to each topic🤌. Haven't finished watching, but know its already a great one😄!🙌🙌🙌

  • @darshvia
    @darshvia 2 роки тому

    Absolutely love these videos. Thanks so much for making them and for diving into all the subjects with such gusto and passion.

  • @markzaban9314
    @markzaban9314 Рік тому +2

    At 30:06 u left out a lot of context on why he wants to quit being Spider-man and when he decided to be Spider-man again it wasn't because Aunt May said "u worry about yourself and I worry about myself" she taught Peter a lesson about NEVER QUITING! And Peter didn't mean that he won't have to worry about Aunt May forever, just right now. Peter would have done anything to save Aunt May, even give up being Spider-man so May won't die of heartbreak, if by any chance Peter dies in a battle. He lost Uncle Ben not long ago, and he wouldn't have let May die because of his own failure like last time with Uncle Ben.

  • @Madbmberwhatbmbsatmidnight
    @Madbmberwhatbmbsatmidnight 2 роки тому +4

    I’m sorry that you had to expose yourself to Rand enough to pull quotes for this video.

  • @OnlyMagikarp
    @OnlyMagikarp 2 роки тому +7

    I never thought that the Peter in that period of time was supposed to be right. I always thought he was wrong and having outbursts because of the world hating Spider-Man

  • @johnsilwanus9774
    @johnsilwanus9774 2 роки тому +2

    Brilliant work, Scott! Loved your conclusion of working together equals better art. Also, this was a perfect watch/listen while baking holiday cookies. Thanks!

  • @johnnyboy_
    @johnnyboy_ 2 роки тому

    Dude I can't imagine the effort it takes to make a video like that. I learn a lot from your channel. I don't know anyone who shares the same interests so it's great to hear you talk about these subjects.

  • @zachclawges6932
    @zachclawges6932 2 роки тому +68

    "There are plenty of legitimate reasons to bully Steve Ditko" is SO damn funny. I had to pause the video because I couldn't stop laughing

    • @danielhart7435
      @danielhart7435 2 роки тому +10

      And this is why I’m growing to hate Scott

    • @Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat
      @Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat 2 роки тому +17

      @@danielhart7435 You know Scott is joking there, right? I'm pretty sure Scott would not consider it okay to bully someone.
      This video is Scott critiquing Ditko making spiderman a bit annoying with over the top objectivist viewpoints, which is not bullying, that's just basic art criticism. It's maybe unkind to say Steve himself was closed off and isolated because of these beliefs but that also seems to be exactly what actually happened and Ditko made that choice himself.
      Don't agree with the video and continue liking objectivism if you want but it is not bullying. Scott outright praises Ditko in a few places for his high quality art and being pretty good at telling a story when working with a writer who can tone down Ditko's objectivism a bit.

    • @chart6454
      @chart6454 2 роки тому +1

      Why is that’s funny?

  • @TheOgreMan
    @TheOgreMan 2 роки тому +5

    I didn’t know what to expect from this video with me just discovering your channel, but I love how detailed and interesting you made the rather boring topic of objectivism. Great job on the video! I can’t wait to check out more of your content

  • @jabachunkie9335
    @jabachunkie9335 7 місяців тому +1

    I love how the symbiote is clearly just crushed up blackberries, and he just kept it in his hand for several minutes instead of cutting

  • @nickbock142
    @nickbock142 2 роки тому +1

    This was an amazing video. Really well made, a lot of awesome information. Would love one on The Question/Rorschach comparison.

  • @benbrill7828
    @benbrill7828 2 роки тому +4

    Man imagine if Scott shaved his head. How smooth would his head be? Do you think it would help him remember jokes he made a couple of months ago but that we've only heard this week? Who knows

  • @Logan_Irrelevant
    @Logan_Irrelevant 2 роки тому +13

    I love this style of content, I want a super deep dive into Stan Lee. ZYou’re creativity and writing and research could be insanely interesting. Please Scott I beg lol.

  • @JamesBrophy
    @JamesBrophy 2 роки тому +1

    Brilliant video, Loved the structure and really even handed context about the talent of Ditko before you get into his personal views. I had vague awareness of a lot of this, but the specificity of your breakdown with individual issue numbers is great.

  • @FlynnTheRedhead
    @FlynnTheRedhead 2 роки тому

    I was not expecting the intro 9 minutes in haha. Strapping in for the next 50 minutes. Always love the longer videos

  • @twistedyogert
    @twistedyogert 7 місяців тому +3

    Honestly, Spider-Man being a jerk makes him more relatable. He was 14-15 when he got bit by that spider.
    This might come as a shock to most of us but: Teenagers are awful people sometimes.

    • @Turn4theWorse
      @Turn4theWorse 6 місяців тому +1

      The thing is Peter was not only in college, but also has already grown from that exact mindset, and the problem was that this wasn’t treated as a regression in character for a certain reason, it was just treated as the right thing

  • @nintendohandheld9556
    @nintendohandheld9556 2 роки тому +3

    Did he make fun of the protesters or just tell him he doesn't have a reason to join the protest? I'm pretty sure it was the later.

  • @xxpiewizardxx
    @xxpiewizardxx 2 роки тому

    I look forward to everything you put out. I appreciate your style and cadence. Thank you for living your best life.

  • @Jedihho
    @Jedihho 2 роки тому

    Man I love your videos Scott!! You're just so easy to listen too! Keep up the amazing work!