Spider-mania!

Young Chang

The appeal of Spider-Man is that he’s an ordinary guy underneath the

web-shooting, ceiling-scaling, evil-ridding exterior, said fan Brenda

Parrish.

Parrish was lounging outside Big Edwards Newport on a lawn chair for

her second hour on Friday. She and her husband Jeff were waiting in their

shaded spot for the 9:40 p.m. showing of “Spider-Man,” which opened that

day.

It was 2 p.m.

Anyone wanting to really revel in the blockbuster experience won’t

watch an earlier showing, the couple said. The late-evening shows are

always filled with livelier, rowdier theatergoers who stir up a chaotic

sort of thrill the minute they start mobbing in.

The Parrishes planned on being part of that scene.

The perfect picture of summer, despite this time of May being an early

date for what looks to be the typical summer hit-flick, the couple camped

out with coolers, sandwiches, books and a laptop to play their part in

the Hollywood hype surrounding the 1960s comic-book concept.

Other Newport-Mesans lined up outside area box offices Friday to get

matinee tickets. Comic book stores sold more “Spider-Man” issues than

before the movie came out and Sherron Newberg, owner of House of Humor

costume house, catered to patrons wanting to rent or buy Spider-Man

suits.

She had a customer in on Friday who wanted to rent a costume for this

weekend.

“He’s probably gonna go dress up and go to the movie,” Newberg said.

But one Costa Mesan, who probably knows Spider-Man better than any of

us, wasn’t buying into the hype.

Dan Kemp, the 25-year-old colorist for the Spider-Man comic book

published by Marvel Comics, literally renders the superhero in living

color and brings him to life on paper.

“I’m excited to see Spider-Man get the push ‘cause I think it’s a

quality product,” Kemp said. “But I don’t care for Hollywood’s direction

with anything. It’s such a rich property that you’re only gonna see

little tid bits in the movie.”

Spider-Man is rich in its simplicity, the colorist explained. It’s a

classic story involving a simple character (he’s done in primary colors

and in a simple design), an interesting setting and the best surrounding

cast.

The modest nature of the original Spiderman design and story is what

gives it staying power through the generations, Kemp added.

“That’s why properties transcend their time frame,” he said. “Because

of their simplicity.”

Characters and stories nowadays get turned too easily into soap operas

surrounded by complexities that serve no purpose, Kemp added. Bright

personalities get darkened in an attempt to be cool and the more complex,

gothic feel of stories attempts to appeal to audiences looking for new

spins.

“Our society’s caught on a dark trend... but I don’t think people need

to introduce negative art into society,” Kemp said. “The original

Spiderman is bright and fun and it’s not even cheesy.”

Brenda Parrish agreed with Kemp in that Spiderman’s ordinary and

uncomplicated background helps her relate to the story.

“It’s interesting to see what happens if that happened to a normal

person,” the 34-year-old said.

She and her husband said they were waiting 10 hours early to get the

best seats, despite predictions that a line would start at about 6 p.m.

“This is the biggest theater in Orange County,” said the Orange

resident. “And there’s a big rush to get the good seats.”

Meanwhile, at Superior Comics in Costa Mesa, manager Dan Wakefield

sold three Spider-Man comics Friday afternoon to a young customer.

“They’ve been selling better,” Wakefield said. “I think it’s because

of the movie.”

Before the Tobey-Maguire-is-Peter-Parker craze, the small store sold

an average of seven Spider-Man comics a week. Now, Superior Comics sells

about 20 of them weekly.

“Not only does it relate to his heroic efforts, but it talks about the

drama that goes on between him and girls, him and Aunt May, something

most people can relate to even if you’re not too into superheroes,”

Wakefield said.

The humanizing appeal of Spider-Man has heightened in Newport-Mesa

even when it comes to dressing up.

Newberg said she’s booked five parties in the last two weeks asking

for a Spider-Man to entertain.

Her only caveat to people wanting to rent the costumes is that the

wearer be tall and slim.

“You have to be very slim to wear tights and a leotard,” the owner

said.