Spider-Mensch

It was debated in an episode of Seinfeld Friends whether "Spiderman" is a Jewish name. Now comes confirmation.

“Peter Parker’s a nerd who grew up in Forest Hills, his middle name is Benjamin and he’s motivated by guilt…I see a connection,” jokes Rabbi Simcha Weinstein, author of “Up, Up, And Oy Vey! How Jewish History, Culture and Values Shaped the Comic Book Superhero."

Weinstein’s suspicions about Spider-Man were confirmed when he came across golden age comic book illustrator Patti Cochran, who told him that the Marvel Comics editorial staff always worked off the belief that Peter Parker was Jewish. [Link]

Jughead Genealogy

From Comic Book Resources:

TRAVEL THROUGH TIME WITH ARCHIE & FRIENDS

by Arune Singh, Staff Writer
Posted: December 9, 2005

[snip]

One long-time mainstay of the Archie stories have been those stories which place the familiar Archie Comics characters in historical situations. Through the ages, "ancestors" of Archie and his friends have been through it all. Whether cavemen avoiding dinosaurs, ancient philosophers, medieval royalty, explorers discovering new worlds, inventors creating new innovations, lawmen in the old west, or simply Americans in an earlier decade, the Archie teens have reflected upon and kidded past history.

This April, a trio of stories built around historical themes is sure to carry on the Archie Comics tradition of thrills and laughter! BETTY #155, ships 4/5. 32-page, full color comic, $2.25 US. "Family Glee": Researching her family tree, Betty can't help but imagine if there were Archies and Veronicas in her ancestors' lives! SCRIPT: George Gladir. ART: Stan Goldberg.

[snip]

[Read the whole story]