In what year did Spider-Man first appear?

Spider-Man first appeared in 1962, in Marvel Comics’ Amazing Fantasy #15. The issue introduced Peter Parker, a teenager who gains spider-like abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider.

Amazing Fantasy #15 was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Steve Ditko. Published with an August 1962 cover date, it tells the origin story that established Peter’s powers, his web-shooters, and the principle that “with great power comes great responsibility.” The story also introduced Aunt May, Uncle Ben, Flash Thompson, and Liz Allan.

Spider-Man’s debut was unusual because Peter was presented as a flawed teenager and the main hero rather than a young sidekick. Amazing Fantasy was expected to end with issue #15, but the Spider-Man story sold strongly enough to launch The Amazing Spider-Man, whose first issue appeared in March 1963. That later series is why some references mention 1963, but the character’s first appearance was in 1962.