Spider-Man J

Spider-Man J
Cover Of Spider-Man J Volume 2
スパイダーマン J (Supaidāman J)
Genre	Action, Adventure
Manga
Written by	Yamanaka Akira
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	^NA Marvel Comics
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Comic Bom Bom
Original run	November 9, 2004 – May 11, 2005

Spider-Man J (Japanese: スパイダーマンJ Hepburn: Supaidāman J) is a manga by Yamanaka Akira. It ran in the shōnen magazine, Comic Bom Bom, from November 9, 2004 to May 11, 2005. The manga is in no way connected to Ryoichi Ikegami's Spider-Man: The Manga.

Plot

In the year 200X, a supervillain who goes by the name Lord Gokibu wants to steal the fossil of the Insect King,^[1] 15 year-old Sho Amano uses his new spider powers to become Spider-Man J, to prevent this from happening. During his time as a superhero, he meets Japanese versions of Elektra, Dr. Doom, Blade, and the Fantastic Four.

Characters

Sho Amano (天野翔 Shō Amanō) is a 15-year-old boy with the paranormal abilities of a spider. He keeps his identity as Spider-Man J a secret, fearing his family or friends might get hurt. The only person who knows Sho is Spider-Man J is Detective Makoto. He specializes in a number of weapons that he creates using his web-shooters. He is shy and clumsy, and barely has any friends. He has 3 pets, a cat named Leo a dog named Par and a bird named Don, a nod to Toei's Spider-Man Show, where Spider-Man had a giant robot named Leopardon. In the English version, he is known as Peter Parker.

Makoto (誠) is a detective who became a cop because he wanted to protect people. He has a goofy sense of humor, but has a good heart and believes in justice. In the English version, he is known as Detective Flynn.

Mami Amano (天野真美 Amanō Māmi) is Sho's young, happy go-lucky aunt. She loves Sho like he is her own son, and is overprotective of him. She owns her own dress shop. She is quite relaxed, and is known for her spicy curry.^[2] In the English version, she is known as Aunt May.

Megumi (めぐみ) is Sho Amano's classmate and girlfriend. She is a tomboy, and is very careful for everyone, especially Sho, whom she is madly in love with. In the English version, she is known as Mary Jane Watson.

Densuke (デンスケ) is Sho's classmate and friend. He is a fan of Spider-Man J and Comic Bom Bom, judgeing by his shirt that reads "Bom".^[3] In the English version, he is known as Harold Osborn.

Lord Gokibu (ゴキブ・リーダー Gokibu Riidaa) is the main villain of the manga. Not much is known about him, or his past. In the English version, he is known as Lord Beastius.

In other media

Spider-Man J is now considered canon in the Marvel Multiverse, and is designated as having taken place on Earth-7041. During the Spider-Verse crossover, this Peter is explicitly named as one of several Japanese Spider-Men taking part in the final battle against Morlun and the Inheritors now played by Jason Orange

Reception

When the manga came out in Japan, it enjoyed a loyal fanbase of otakus.^[4] However, the response from American fans was mixed, some positive, some negative.^[5]

Publishing

The manga was translated into English in Spider-Man Family, starting in issue 1, volume 2.^[6] and has been released also in 2 English sized tankōbon, called "Digests" by Marvel Comics. The first volume was called "Japanese Knights" and the second was called "Japanese Daze".

References

1. "Comics: Spider-Man Family (Vol. 2) #7". Retrieved 2009-6-2.
2. Yamanaka, Akira; Yuko Fukami (2008). "The Bigger They Are...". In Jordan White. Spider-Man J: Japanese Knights (1st ed.). New York, New York: Marvel Comics. ISBN 978-0-7851-3212-7.
3. Yamanaka, Akira; Yuko Fukami (2008). "A New Assassin From Beast Road". In Jordan White. Spider-Man J: Japanese Knights (1st ed.). New York, New York: Marvel Comics. ISBN 978-0-7851-3212-7.
4. Yamanaka, Akira; Yuko Fukami (2008). "Back Cover". In Jordan White. Spider-Man J: Japanese Knights (1st ed.). New York, New York: Marvel Comics. ISBN 978-0-7851-3212-7.
5. Retrieved 2009-6-2.
6. Retrieved 2009-6-2.