I’ve been a Spider-Man fan for as long as I can remember. In fact, my earliest memories are of the fantastically 80s series, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. My family regularly taped the show for me (along with some of the 60s Spidey episodes for good measure), and that tape was a staple of my growing up. Likewise, the comics entertained me endlessly during my teens, while today; I live for seeing Spidey on the big screen and in video-games.

Initially, as it was for most young kids I guess, it was about this colourful superhuman with a witty retort for every situation, taking out the villains. This, incidentally, led to me donning my Spidey costume and jumping around my father’s pub pretending that patrons were evil doers, much to their amusement. However, I found that as I got older, I became as fascinated with Peter Parker as much as Ol’ Webhead, and specifically the themes of duality that his stories entailed. Somehow it changed from a classic tale of good vs. evil, to being a relatable and important story for me.

There are many Peter Parkers in this world, and as long as the world keeps spinning, there’ll be many more. I was one; socially awkward and inept, even as a child. I was nerdy; I’d like to think someway intelligent, sometimes bullied and often the outcast. Lacking the camaraderie of my peers, I was often stood on the edge, looking in with envy and bitterness. When life seemed its hardest, the knocks only seemed to keep coming. I’d felt this way right from my mid-teens right until my late twenties. A large part of the depression I suffered. Something I’d written about before in a freelance piece for Games.on.net.

Parker, though, was blessed with a gift that none of us other fake Parkers would ever get. With his Spider powers and subsequently, his mask, came the ability to be someone else, someone confident and charismatic, witty and strong. Peter Parker was how I always saw myself, and as Spider-Man, he was everything I’d always wanted to be. By that I didn’t mean that I wanted to scale walls or fight with foes with metallic tentacles; I simply wanted to be all the things I didn’t think I could be. That was a large part of my fascination, aside from all the awesome stories, too.

Like I did with gaming, when I was in a rut, I would often turn to all things Spidey, and specifically to Parker, to remind myself that I wasn’t on my own thinking like this. Remind me that things can change, things could be worse, and that determination can turn things around. When things are bad, be confident and determined in spite of it. Spidey was therapy. I wouldn’t be who I am today without knowing this character as well as I do, I’m certain of that.

Of course, Spider-Man was the creation of Stan Lee and Steve Dikto. I knew of Stan’s involvement even from the earliest age, from when he used to narrate the 80’s show. Just a few years later, me and my friends used to discuss how lucky his kids and grandchildren must be if they were comic fans. He was a big part of our Marvel fandom.

So, when my wife heard that Stan Lee was coming to Australia for the Melbourne leg of Oz Comic Con, she had already decided that this was my one and only chance to meet him, and that she would make that happen. Michelle pre-bought the tickets, we booked our flights and hotels, and she even pre-bought me a photo token to guarantee me that I would get meet him.

It’s since been a long weekend and I achieved all I wanted and more, but unfortunately, Comic Con was a bit of a shambles as an event. People who pre-bought their tickets often took second place to people who bought on the day, the venue was very much oversold, with queues outside being over a kilometre long, despite the main hall clearly being at capacity. We joined the line around 8am, the queue already massively long, and a two hour wait entailed. Once in, it was time to wait again to pick up our pre-bought tokens, as once again, people who bought on the day were getting in ahead of us. It happened once more, as another two hour wait came. Six hours to have my photo taken with the man of the moment.

It wouldn’t have been so bad if the queues were properly managed, but they were disorganised messes, with no barriers (only tape on the floor) and a handful of severely underprepared, ill-informed and under pressure staff failed to keep the simple things, like people pushing in, in check. Because of this, a lot of people who paid a lot more than we did for VIP tickets and such, missed out on what they’d paid for.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I was so single-minded on meeting and getting a photograph and autograph with Stan Lee, then I too would have likely gone away bitterly disappointed. Thankfully for me, I had no interest in the other guests. Sorry Patrick Stewart, Stan the Man took precedent.

To top off the poor organisation, though, we weren’t even allowed in the second day until after 3pm, once again, second best to those who’d chanced it and bought on the day. We spent all of that morning shopping in Melbourne City Centre instead, making our own fun in the rain.

Still, despite my complaints, I got what I wanted. I met the man in question twice.

The first time was for the photo below. I walked into the booth, shook his hand and thanked him for everything. He said he liked my tee, we posed and then I walked out with a big grin on my face. Later, I got his autograph, this time in a swifter moving queue that was rushed to get everyone through. Both times he was humble, and had a smile and a handshake for everyone.

Me and Stan the Man.

The time I actually spent in his presence would probably have clocked in at less than two minutes. That doesn’t matter to me. I shook the hand of an inspirational old man that, fifty years ago this year, had a hand in creating something that not only meant so much to me growing up, but will continue to mean so much to me going forward. That was an honour I’ll never forget.

Stan, you’ll never read this in a million years, but on behalf of all the fellow Peter Parkers in this world, I thank you sincerely. It was an absolute honour.

As usual, near to closing time, the smaller pools are generally quiet, save for a few just going in to relax. This time a bunch of kids, Asian in descent, were play-fighting, holding each other down under water etc; the things that kids do when in water.

This was fine, we didn’t mind as they weren’t near us, but then two older women got in the pool too.

It was at this point the lifeguard called one of the kids over to get them to calm down a bit. For some reason, one of the women got involved, and an argument ensued between the eldest youngster and the bigger of the two women.

Now, I’m not entirely what triggered it (I assumed something aimed at her weight), and she responded with a cheap‘Get back to your own country!’.

At this point, everyone’s jaws dropped. Even that of her friend, who was failing to keep her pal calm.

The thing is, the kid was clearly born and raised in Australia, with a broader accent than his nemesis who didn’t even carry a full on Aussie accent. She sounded to me as partly Greek, could even have been Italian, I’m not sure. The point is, just because the kid was Asian in Herritage, and she was white, she felt she could say it regardless of her knowledge of his upbringing.

The kid was rightfully outraged. It was totally uncalled for and everyone there was uncomfortable. The both of them stood feet away from each other, yelling constantly. The lifeguard had given up at this point, and waited until it simmered down, which it did eventually, with both parties going their separate ways.

It really didn’t occur to me at the time. I was likely the only immigrant in that pool. Should I have been offended, even though it wasn’t really aimed directly at me? Part of me wishes I spoke up to find out, but it was really nothing argument over something initially silly. It wasn’t worth getting involved.

While I was shocked and disgusted, should I have also been outraged? Fuck knows. It’s just a surprise to see that people still think like that.

First of all, I want to say what an awesome first Xmas I shared with my wife. We both truly spoilt each other rotten, and you can tell from her choices in presents for both my Birthday and Xmas, that she knows me like no-one else.

So what’s going on with me? Well, as I alluded to, myself and my wife have been heavily invested in the realm of Skyrim. She’s already finished the main quest and is now tackling the thieves guild, while I’m going the opposite way of placating my OCD by ticking off every quest I get before I carry on with that side of things.

The game is immense, though. It’s everything we’ve come to expect from a Bethesda RPG, but it’s improved tenfold and more accessible, though not to the point of dumbing down. Graphically it’s a huge step-up, although I wasn’t convinced of that at first, I booted up Oblivion and Fallout shortly after, and there’s a huge wealth of difference between them.

Away from that, I’ve made a start on my pile of shame. Starting with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which has only served to frustrate me shitless thus far. I see little point in providing the player that amount of freedom in customising their character to suit them for their play-style, if they throw bosses at them that require one play-style. It defeats the object of the freedom you’re aiming to create.

However, I have been given some tips courtesy of Ben Parfitt at MCV.com via twitter, and I’m expecting to have another crack at it this weekend. So far, though, it feels like the game doesn’t want me to play it.

In between that, I’ve been caning the shit out of Super Street Fighter IV again along with, well, every fighter I can get my hands on. All thanks to the fight stick my awesome wife got me for Xmas.

TIMJ has also reopened its doors following a much-deserved Xmas break, and we’re now back in full swing with some awesome editorials, reviews and features this side of the internet. Personally I’ve had two pieces up already, both Mario related reviews here and here, and I’ve got another piece coming this very morning. In about 30 minutes in fact. One for Street Fighter fans, so please keep an eye out.

Lastly, I’ll just sign off by saying that my PS Vita preorder is in and is already nearly paid for, so as it stands I’ll be providing most of our early Vita coverage, starting with the all important hardware review. Hopefully it’s everything Sony say it is.

Anyway, that’s it for now, just a swifty to let you all know what’s going on.

Both Bioshock games were stellar (the first more so), and with Levine back at the helm for this new world and adventure, I can’t wait to see what they’ve got up their sleeves.

I still have that slight issue of it baring the Bioshock name. We associate that with Rapture, though, and like System Shock before it, there’s no reason why it couldn’t have been a different ‘Shock’, however either way, this new Universe certainly intrigues like no other game can.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Whether I agree with it is another matter entirely.