Just three months the after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Marvel published a comic following Spider-Man at the rubble of Ground Zero — mourning the tragedy. The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #36 is regarded as one of the heaviest and most poignant comics of all-time.
When I was rummaging through boxes at a comic book fair the other day, I came across The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #36. I recognised the issue right away. Unlike the many thousands of other comics, this one — known as ‘The Black Issue’ — is entirely black but for the title, signifying the raw emotion, mourning and grief inside.
Written by J. Michael Straczynski with illustrations from John Romita Jr., the issue was released just three months after the World Trade Center attacks. It takes a step away from the witty, energetic Spidey fans were used to, providing a highly poignant commentary and directly addressing the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Featuring Spider-Man, New York’s most iconic hero, watching on helplessly from the rubble of Ground Zero, it sets the serious tone right from the first page. “…God…” Spider-Man says, hands on his head, utterly devastated by the scenes.
It’s not just Spider-Man who watches on either. There’s other Marvel heroes, such as Captain America, Thor, Ben Grimm, Scott Summers, and Daredevil. Villain Wilson Fisk, a character known for his immense love for the city, watches on in tears, too. Some readers did find the addition of villains Doctor Doom (who sheds a tear) and Magneto a little inappropriate, though. The creative decision still decides opinion over 20 years later.
Spider-Man is not the hero of the comic; he’s a witness rather than a saviour. He watches on as first responders enter the scene: firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and so on. These are depicted as the real heroes. There’s some real gut-wrenching moments, like a woman confronting Spider-Man, asking him how he could let something like this happen — and he looks to Captain America for guidance
There’s very little dialogue in the issue. Naturally, it’s highly introspective. The captions are almost poetic and philosophical, carrying huge emotional weight and speaking to the readers directly.
The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #36 remains one of the most historically profound works of the medium ever — it asks for unity and togetherness in a time of unprecedented devastation. It deals with historical trauma, so soon after it happened, putting the spotlight on first responders as the real heroes.
Marvel continued to commemorate the tragedy on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, releasing ‘The Four Fives.’ The eight-page story saw Spider-Man and Captain America honour the victims of 9/11 by taking part in a memorial service at ground zero of the World Trade Center attacks.
