Wonderland Burlesque's
Down The Rabbit Hole:
Peter Parker Peeked a Peck of Pickled Peckers
Yes, you and I, dear... we live in a world where 'this' happened!
It seems that a young Peter Parker was 'seduced' (raped!) and cornholed by an older school mate!
It seems that a young Peter Parker was 'seduced' (raped!) and cornholed by an older school mate!
In 1984, as part of a joint effort between Marvel Comics and the National Committee For Prevention Of Child Abuse, our beloved Spiderman tries to console a young boy after a female babysitter playing 'the tickle game' reveals less-than savory intentions. Our super hero does so by relating a story of 'another' young boy in a similar situation (spoiler alert - it's Spidey!)
Now, sexual abuse is nothing to make light of, yet this particular attempt to reach the masses strikes me as rather mindboggling; that Marvel comics, a publisher with a history of never backing away from 'dark matter,' would take this on, making it forever a part of the canon of one of their most beloved super heroes is rather amazing, and a bit of backstory I don't believe too many casual fans are aware of.
The brainchild of Spider-Man regulars Jim Salicrup, Jim Mooney and Mike Esposito, with John Byrne creating the cover, Spidey relates a tale of woe regarding a lonely, bullied boy who is befriended one day by an older white-haired (?) school mate, named Skip. After winning the younger boy's trust, Skip invites his new chum over for a 'playdate.' Salacious magazines appear and young Petey gets quite the eyeful. Skip, who doesn't let a little thing like consent stand his way, then suggests that they recreate what the adults in the magazine are doing - going from older possible-friend to handsy predator in the space of a single panel.
The brainchild of Spider-Man regulars Jim Salicrup, Jim Mooney and Mike Esposito, with John Byrne creating the cover, Spidey relates a tale of woe regarding a lonely, bullied boy who is befriended one day by an older white-haired (?) school mate, named Skip. After winning the younger boy's trust, Skip invites his new chum over for a 'playdate.' Salacious magazines appear and young Petey gets quite the eyeful. Skip, who doesn't let a little thing like consent stand his way, then suggests that they recreate what the adults in the magazine are doing - going from older possible-friend to handsy predator in the space of a single panel.
The actual 'deed' is left to the imaginations of the readers, but Petey eventually tells his beloved aunt and uncle all about it, which is where the story ends (?)
Apparently, Skip's only punishment is the denial of young Petey's company and life goes on (leaving the perv to find new victims, I mean, 'friends.') And, it would seem, the boy's tale comes as no surprise to Uncle Ben (been there, done that?) as the older gentlemen doesn't even bother to put his newspaper down upon hearing the news.
I bet, if anyone is foolish enough to sell their copy, this issue goes for big bucks on eBay. Again, that this exists? Staggers the mind.
For your viewing pleasure, I've included all the pages I could find, and for your listening pleasure, we have The Black Lips performing their cultural contribution cementing this incident as part of rock's lexicon.
So, tuck this little bit of information in your trivia trove. Who knows? I could come up the next time a drag queen hosts Trivia Night at your local gay bar.
Yes, indeed...
Spider-man got cornholed!
Spidey's Curse - Black Lips
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5 comments:
OMG, I never knew!
I literally own that Spiderman comic!
Have any of you ever seen 'Boys Beware'? Nasty piece of homo-fright propaganda. A Sid David production, in his line of 'social guidance' films. Brrrr.
Who the Hell knew indeed! What a fascinating and very surprising fact.
I have to wonder if this comic isn't in fact really about some kind of homophobia of that time? A gay panic that fed into other things like McCarthyism of the 1950s. Moral weakness leads to communism and other nasty things???
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