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in: Comics, Spider-Man: Life Story Vol 1, Chip Zdarsky/Cover Artist,
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Spider-Man: Life Story Vol 1 1

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Quote1 Son, responsibility doesn't mean you're at the whims of the world. We all have our own journey. This is mine. You do good work here - I see that every day. Responsibility is about a lot of things, but first and foremost, it's about selflessness and sacrifice. And seeing you throw yourself into danger's way, it's clear... you understand both of those things. Let your heart guide you. And I'll see you soon. Quote2
—Captain America

Appearing in "Chapter One: The War at Home"

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Synopsis for "Chapter One: The War at Home"

Peter Parker was born in the year 1947, and in 1962 became Spider-Man. It is now the year 1966, and a 19-year-old Peter attends Empire State University. As a result of his student status, Peter is exempt from the Vietnam War Draft, and while not an active protestor, remains against it due to the fact that his spider powers would become noticeable on the field.

Following a battle with Mysterio, Peter arrives on campus to meet with Harry Osborn. There, Peter meets Norman Osborn for the first time, who has apparently read up on Peter’s academic career; he offers Peter an internship, but he already has one at the Baxter Building. As they leave, Peter’s Spider-Sense begins tingling.

Peter eventually goes to his lab class, where he is partnered with his mutual crush, Gwen Stacy. The two briefly flirt as Peter makes excuses for his tardiness, but they are stopped by Miles Warren, their teacher. Afterwards, Peter goes to his job at the Daily Bugle, where J. Jonah Jameson bashes on the photos of Spider-Man he took. As he is leaving, Betty Brant tells Peter that Jameson is on edge after people began suspecting that he funded the Scorpion and the Spider-Slayers. On the TV, Peter sees that Iron Man has been helping the American troops in Vietnam and that Captain America may follow suit, making Peter wonder if he really should go to war as a metahuman himself.

That evening, the college friends are attending a farewell party for Flash Thompson, who volunteered to serve in the war. Norman and Harry arrive, the former of whom thanks Flash while also putting down the latter. Frustrated, Harry goes to talk to Gwen and Mary Jane Watson when Peter arrives. Peter and Flash, their high school days not fully behind them, get into a verbal argument that Gwen breaks up. Gwen convinces Peter to apologize to and make amends with Flash, and he does so. Peter properly asks why Flash, only for Flash to say that his inspiration was Spider-Man, wanting to help people in Vietnam the way Spider-Man does in New York. As Flash walks away, Peter sits at the bar contemplating his responsibility in Flash’s decision when Norman sits next to him. Norman then reveals the truth: he knows far more about Peter than he initially let on because he is the Green Goblin, and thus knows that Peter is Spider-Man. He then reveals he has planted pumpkin bombs all over the bar, and threatens to detonate them if Peter does not comply. Norman instructs him to leave through the back of the bar, and upon doing so, attacks him as the Green Goblin. After a brief chase, the Green Goblin subdues Peter and tries to forcibly give him Goblin Serum, believing him to be his true successor, not Harry. However, Peter drops a billboard on top of him, and after rescuing Norman from the blaze, discovers that he now has amnesia.

Spider-Man claims that Norman was attacked by unknown assailants, and Norman begins living a normal life again. However, Peter remains fearful that he could remember at any moment. While on patrol, Spider-Man sees Captain America beating up some thugs, and assists in taking them down. As the two heroes leave for the rooftop, Spider-Man directly asks Cap what he will do in Vietnam. Cap tells him he is going to go, not out of obligation to the country, but in order to see the extent of what they have done there without the filter of the media. Despite this, he encourages Spider-Man to remain home and continue fighting for the people of New York, as one’s responsibility is not tied to the world but to an individual’s journey.

Inspired by Cap’s words, Peter calls an anonymous tip on Norman and gets him arrested for being the Green Goblin; though pitying him for not remembering his crimes, Peter remains satisfied knowing that Norman cannot harm anyone again. As Peter watches Norman get arrested, he remembers that Flash is leaving that day, and quickly dressed as Spider-Man to head to Grand Central, unaware that Norman watches him leave.

Peter arrives at the station and finds Gwen, only to learn from her that Flash has already left. Gwen then proceeds to chastise Peter, claiming that she knows he cares about people, but questions the extent of that care when things constantly appear contrary to that. Peter tries to apologize to Gwen, when she notices Spider-Man’s suit beneath his haphazardly-assembled clothes. The two stare at each other quietly, marking the beginning of their relationship.

One year later, a group of Americans attempt to attack the Viet Cong in order to steal glory away from Iron Man. When the paranoid platoon leader tries to kill them, Cap suddenly appears and knocks them out with his shield. Looking down upon a soldier who calls him a traitor, Cap declares the Viet Cong are under his protection.

Solicit Synopsis

In 1962, in AMAZING FANTASY #15, 15-year-old Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and became the Amazing Spider-Man! Fifty-seven years have passed in the real world since that event — so what would have happened if the same amount of time passed for Peter as well?

A special high-end limited series that’s a part of the celebration of Marvel’s 80th anniversary, SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY combines the talents of Chip Zdarsky (SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, MARVEL 2-IN-ONE) and Mark Bagley (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) to tell the entire history of Spider-Man from beginning to end, set against the key events of the decades through which he lived!

In this first oversized issue, when Flash Thompson is drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, Spidey must weigh the question of where his responsibility truly lies!

Notes

Trivia

  • The film The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was released in theaters in Italy in 1966, but wasn't released in the US until December 29, 1967.
  • The credits page indicates that in 1962, Peter Parker was bitten by the spider when he was 15 years old. This might mean his birth year is 1947, which makes him 19 years old in this story.
  • On Earth-616, Flash Thompson didn't voluntarily enlist on his own; he was drafted.[1] Additionally, this drafting happened some time after Earth-616 Peter's confrontation with Norman Osborn.[2] The implication seems to be that Iron Man's direct participation in the Vietnam War spurred Flash to enlist before he was drafted.

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