Mike Fichera

Article Credits

Articles: Aunt May Parker, Bambi, Candi, and Randi, Calypso, Ezekiel, Gwen Stacy, Gwen Stacy (Clone), Elizabeth (Allan) Osborn, Mary Jane Watson-Parker, Rhino, Robertson, Joe "Robbie", Seymour O'Reilly

Review Credits

Marvel Fanfare: #42

Spider-Man 2099 (Vol. 1): #1, #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #2, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27 [Pt 1], #27 [Pt 2], #28 [Pt 1], #28 [Pt 2], #29 [Pt 1], #29 [Pt 2], #3, #30 [Pt 1], #30 [Pt 2], #31, #32 [Pt 1], #32 [Pt 2], #33 [Pt 1], #33 [Pt 2], #34 [Pt 1], #34 [Pt 2], #35, #36, #37, #38 [Pt 1], #38 [Pt 2], #39, #4, #40, #41, #42, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9

Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1): #289, #500

Spider-Man/Human Torch: #3, #4, #5

Spider-Man Unlimited (Vol. 2): #2, #3, #4, #5

Spider-Woman (Vol. 3): #10, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #7, #8, #9

Ultimate Spider-Man Novels: Ultimate Mary Jane, Ultimate Mary Jane 2

Introduction

Mike's an enviromental engineer, cartoonist, amateur film maker, action-figure customizer, freelance writer for the Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe, and all around Spiderphile. Growing up in Queens, New York City, 15 minutes from Peter's hometown of Forest Hills, Mike began his association with the webbed one by age 5. He easily related to Spidey in many ways. Was is that microscope he used to play with as a kid? Was it the love of science and research? Maybe he just liked the Electric Company?

Collects

Spider-Man, Spider-Girl, lots of X-Men, and action-figures...lots of action- figures.

Why Spider-Man

I've been a Spidey fan since 4 or 5 with Spidey on the Electric Company and comics my sister bought for me. My first issue was Spidey vs. the Shocker during Gwen's clone mess - yeah, the clone mess BEFORE Ben Reilly!

So many people say it, and I will too - I totally related to Peter Parker growing up. I was (ok, am) a science and math nerd, professional wallflower (not so much anymore), a square, often last chosen for teams in gym class. I played with a microscope as a kid and was horrible socializing until late high school when I started to get the hang of talking to people.

Plus, the Green Goblin tossed MY girlfriend off a bridge too! I thought, "I can relate to this Spider-Man guy!" But seriously...here was a character that always did the right thing with intense will power no matter how unlucky or how against the current he was.

Favourites

My favorite stories were around Roger Stern's Hobgoblin and the return of MJ. We saw the power of Spidey's determination then - something I think has been absent ever since. Watching him pound relentlessly on the windshield of Hobgoblin's battle van ("Impossible!") - or being beaten down but still struggling to stand tall after Mephisto and the Beyonder played games with his head - stuff like that honestly inspired me when life was grinding me under its heel. Peter Parker sweating the details of his morality with things as obscure as the golden notebook created by the Beyonder I found more interesting than just trading punches with the villain of the week.

Spidey was a great role-model to grow up with. I also enjoyed Peter David's work in Spectacular (especially the surprise that the ol' Parker luck was extra bad for a reason - the Black Cat!). I'm excited to have him back with Friendly Neighborhood SM. Paul Jenkins and Joe Straczynski have kept things three- dimensional, plus Bendis on Ultimate has been doing wonderful work keeping Spidey stories alive and vibrant. Artistically, I'm partial towards John Romita Jr and Sr, and Ron Frenz's run in the 80's. Mike Deodato has been fantastic as well!