Starting in June 1963, just three months after his US debut, Spider-Man swung into Mexico as El Sorprendente Hombre Araña. Published by La Prensa until October 1973, reaching 185 issues, the comic primarily reprinted stories from The Amazing Spider-Man. This article delves into the intriguing history of the Mexican Spiderman, a unique chapter in the web-slinger’s global legacy.
While El Sorprendente Hombre Araña largely mirrored its American counterpart, translating to both “The Surprising Spider-Man” and the more common “The Amazing Spider-Man,” there were notable differences. Documentation of Mexican comic book history is less comprehensive than that of other countries, making this exploration a blend of research and educated guesswork.
La Prensa held the license for numerous Marvel Comics, resulting in Spanish-language versions of Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Agente Internacional), Daredevil (Diabolico), Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos (El Sargento Furia y Sus Comandos), The Fantastic Four (Los 4 Fantásticos), and The X-Men (Los Hombres X), among others. Translations were generally accurate for the time, but early Spider-Man comics exhibit peculiar deviations.
Surprisingly, some issues didn’t even feature Spider-Man! This unusual practice and other unique characteristics of the Mexican Spider-Man comics warrant further investigation. While this article provides a foundational overview, further research is needed to fully understand the nuances of El Sorprendente Hombre Araña. The scarcity of readily available information presents challenges but also highlights the importance of preserving and studying this fascinating piece of comic book history. The Mexican Spiderman, though less documented, offers a captivating glimpse into the global impact of the iconic web-slinger.
