Michael Phelps, start 200m butterfly semis.

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The birth of SpiderMan

When we first met SpiderMan in Amazing Fantasy #15, he was just plain Peter Parker, an unpopular high school student. He was lonely and more interested in books than saving anything or anyone. However, due to the timely interference of a radioactive spider, Peter Parker gains the agility and strength of a spider. Armed with this newfound power, Peter Parker sews himself a red body suit (thank goodness for home economics), constructs a crude webbing device, and joins the professional wrestling circuit to make some money. Alas, Peter Parker is far more into making money with his new skills that helping anyone.

When he lets some thieves get away, they end up killing his uncle, setting the stage for the guilt that will drive SpiderMan through the rest of his career.

SpiderMan: the comic books

SpiderMan was written to be a one-time affair. His appearance in Amazing Fantasy, however, resurrected sagging sale, in fact, SpiderMan proved to be one of Marvels most profitable superheroes. Far from being a one-time affair, Spider-Man can now be found in an endless array of comic books series, from The Amazing Spider-Man, to Spectacular SpiderMan, Sensational SpiderMan, and even Ultimate SpiderMan (not to be confused, of course, with Spide-Man Unlimited).

SpiderMan: the franchise

SpiderMan is more than just comic books. His popularity has led Marvel to create a media franchise for Spider-Man, with his story appearing in television cartoons, video games, and even movies. The recent feature films to focus on SpiderMan star Tobey Maguire as SpiderMan and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson. The first movie, released in 2002, focuses on the start of SpiderMans career, with a genetically modified spider taking the place of the original radioactive spider. With his newfound powers, Spider-Man finds himself face to face with the Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe. Propelled by the success of the first movie, SpiderMan returned in 2004 in SpiderMan 2 to face off against Doctor Octopus, a multi-tentacled experiment gone wrong. SpiderMan 3 is scheduled for release in 2007. This time he is set to face his biggest enemy yet, himself in his black venom alien suit.

Building your SpiderMan comic book collection

While SpiderMan has been very successful away from comic books, to truly enjoy him, to truly be a fan, you have to go back to the comic books. This can be difficult, however; finding all of SpiderMans comics would be a Herculean task. If you need to locate older copies of Spider-Man comics, be sure to look on popular online auction sites. However, you should be prepared to pay for the pleasure of owning an early SpiderMan comic: SpiderMan is not just for kids anymore. Early editions of The Amazing SpiderMan can go for thousands of dollars! But you may be able to get by with slightly later versions of The Amazing SpiderMan, which only go for a few hundred dollars.

Country singer Randy Travis has apologized after being arrested on a charge of public intoxication outside a North Texas church.

Denton County sheriff’s spokesman Tom Reedy says police in the town of Sanger arrested Travis early Monday after spotting a vehicle parked in front of a church and finding an open bottle of wine and Travis smelling of alcohol.

Reedy says Travis, whose hits include “Forever and Ever, Amen,” was brought to the Denton County jail about 1:30 a.m. and released six hours later.

The singer, who lives in the small town of Tioga near Sanger, apologized in a statement to The Associated Press “for what resulted following an evening of celebrating the Super Bowl.”

Travis, who launches a concert tour Friday, says he’s “committed to being responsible and accountable.”

Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen leave the stadium after the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP)

It’s one thing to come to the defense of your quarterback husband after a loss –  it’s another to trash his receivers for blowing the game. 

Gisele Bundchen broke a  “code of brotherhood” by criticizing Tom Brady’s receivers, according to multiple sources inside the Patriots organization.

Teammates are “disappointed” the supermodel bashed the receivers after the game Sunday when she said, ”My husband can not f****ing throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times,” sources told TMZ.

They said they feel betrayed by Gisele’s behavior, saying the Patriot team is a brotherhood

Demi Moore (AP)

and Gisele’s criticism violated the code: that they win as a team and lose as a team.

As one source put it, “It’s like knocking someone when they are down.”

Shortly after Brady and the Patriots lost out to Eli Manning and the Giants 21-17 in the Super Bowl  match-up, the quarterback was reportedly spotted just sitting and staring at the floor of the Patriots locker room in shock for nearly 20 minutes.

Bundchen, on the other hand, was seen stalking moodily away from the stadium to meet him with an entourage trailing behind her in a video obtained by TheInsider.com. As fans heckled the supermodel, crying out “Eli rules!” and “Eli owns your husband,” Bundchen kept a tight smile on her face and kept walking.

But as she waited for an elevator she dropped the F-bomb angrily to those around her.

 Demi Moore is being treated at a rehab clinic in Utah.

The 49-year-old actress is reported to be on ‘total lockdown’ at the $1,000-a-night Cirque Lodge addiction treatment center in Sundance, according to E! News, where she is being treated for “an eating disorder and addiction issues.”

A source told the news outlet

Kim Kardashian (AP)

that Moore checked into the center the week after she was hospitalized following a collapse.

‘She’s on total lockdown and only talking to a small group of people,” the source told E! News.

‘It became clear to her that her way of coping with her stress was not working and she needed more help.’

Demi was hospitalized following a collapse at her Los Angeles home on Jan. 23.

She reportedly inhaled a large amount of nitrous oxide, which led to the 9-11 call.

At the time of her collapse her rep quickly released a statement saying she was seeking ‘professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health.’

Kim Kardashian isn’t secretly

Stacy Keibler (AP)

dating Mark Sanchez. And she isn’t interested in dating any other NFL player.

Actually, the reality star is completely done with football players in general, after her bad split from  Reggie Bush, sources told TMZ.

Sources close to Kim said her break-up with Bush in 2010 was so rough that she washed her hands of NFL players.

TMZ did note that seeing as how she’s sworn off NBA players, too, after Kris Humphries, she’s left with only baseball, hockey, soccer and golf — and Tiger’s available.

Stacy Keibler’s stock just keeps rising.

George Clooney’s former WWE wrestler girlfriend got least $25,000 (plus private jet, huge hotel suite and expenses for herself and friends) for being the host Saturday night at Bank nightclub in Las Vegas, the celebrity website Janetcharltonshollywood reports.

And Clooney wasn’t even there.

It was reported last week that Keibler’s also receiving $5,000 for each brand she wears at New York’s Fashion Week.

Lori Smith: 303-954-1207

or lsmith@denverpost.com

Twitter: @lorismithdp

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Bullhead City, AZ • taken for the Stakhanovite Twins’ First-Name Basis Signage Project (Pool)

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“I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”

Her outburst came at the end of a frustrating night which saw Brady give away two points in the opening moments, the first in a litany of mistakes by the Patriots.

The comments are unlikely to endear her to the wives of the other players, among whom she is reportedly already resented for her high-profile and outspoken views.

Before Sunday’s game – an almost Holy Day in the American national calendar – the 31-year-old made headlines by asking friends and family to pray for victory.

“I kindly ask all of you to join me on this positive chain and pray for him, so he can feel confident, healthy and strong. Envision him happy and fulfilled experiencing with his team a victory this Sunday” she emailed, in a note the Giants-supporting New York Post described as “disgustingly sappy”.

The blind auditions continued on Monday night’s (February 6) two-hour episode of “The Voice,” with each judge picking up two more contestants to fill out the 12-person teams they’ll take to the battle phase later in the season.

The episode opened with a flashy medley of Prince hits “1999,” “Little Red Corvette” and “Kiss” performed by judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, before the crew got right to business with the auditions.

Team ChristinaAguilera picked up two acts, including the evening’s first performers: platonic duo the Line. The pair’s rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” got all four judges’ attention, but despite much protest from Shelton, they picked Aguilera. Shelton later told the camera he thought they were “fooled by flash and boobs.”

She also scored an interesting choice in chanteuse Lindsay Pavao, who got Shelton and Cee Lo to swivel their chairs too. In one of the more unique performances of the night, Pavao transformed a Trey Songz tune into a ballad that Green compared to Fiona Apple. It was that uniqueness that won Christina over, and Pavao chose to join the “Beautiful” singer’s team.

Team AdamAfter being denied by two different singers, the Maroon 5 frontman picked up his first team member of the night in 50-year-old Kim Yarbrough — who revealed during an interview segment that one of her many past odd jobs was working security for the Dave Matthews Band. Her soulful rendition of Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” had all the judges dancing in their seats, but Adam won her over after asking for her name. When she said “Kim,” he corrected, “No, your name is Chaka Khan, baby.” Which is probably what any aspiring diva wants to hear after an audition.

Levine also added the night’s final contestant, 23-year-old Angel Taylor, to his team. The Los Angeles native grew up in an abusive household and turned to music to get through the tough times. Her performance of Adele’s “Someone Like You” packed an emotional punch.

Team Cee LoThe night’s two most compelling stories came from Jamar Rogers and Angie Johnson, both of whom opted for team Cee Lo. Rogers is a 29-year-old former drug addict from New York who was also featured on “American Idol” during season eight alongside his best friend and eventual finalist Danny Gokey. During his addiction, he contracted HIV. Now that he is clean and sober, Rogers volunteers for food-delivery services for the disabled in the Bronx. He also idolizes Cee Lo, so it’s good that the “Forget You” Grammy winner turned his chair around for Rogers’ performance of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”

Cee Lo also picked up Staff Sergeant Angie Johnson, who was discovered and pushed to audition for “The Voice” after her fellow soldiers uploaded a video to YouTube of Johnson singing Adele on a military base while deployed in the Middle East. The video eventually tallied over a million views, which gave Johnson the confidence to hit the stage with a gutsy rendition of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker.” “I love a girl with guts and confidence,” Cee Lo told the singer.

Team BlakeBlake’s first choice of the night fit firmly in his country wheelhouse: North Dakota native Gwen Sebastian, a musician who agreed with her drummer husband to hold off on having kids so she could take a go at being a performer. After her performance of “Stay,” Shelton remarked, “You are a great country vocalist … and I’m a country guy. I’m your man.”

A more surprising choice for the country superstar came late in the show, when he promised he’d do everything he could for Jermaine Paul, a backup singer who has toured the world with Alicia Keys. Keys even sent Paul a video message wishing him good luck. He made a surprising song choice in Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” which also earned props from Cee Lo, who told Paul he could “hear the swag” in his voice. And even though it looked like Paul was favoring Cee Lo, he opted to move out of his R&B comfort zone and into Shelton’s country/rock genre.

Four singers got the ax during the show when no judges swiveled around to offer a spot on their team. The judges went back and forth over country crooner Neil Middleton and pop singer Dez Durmon and ultimately regretted their decisions to pass on the singers. Durmon in particular had the judges all worked up, and when they turned around to see a handsome Yale football player standing in front of them, they practically slapped themselves across the head. “And it’s a good-looking guy,” Shelton sighed.

Such is the point of “The Voice,” though. Durmon would have been a sure thing if the judges had gotten a look at him beforehand, but it’s all about the pipes — at least for now — on NBC’s reality hit, which kicked off its season to some pretty great post-Super Bowl ratings.

Who was your favorite singer on the latest “Voice” episode? Let us know in the comments!

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The blind auditions continued on Monday night’s (February 6) two-hour episode of “The Voice,” with each judge picking up two more contestants to fill out the 12-person teams they’ll take to the battle phase later in the season.

The episode opened with a flashy medley of Prince hits “1999,” “Little Red Corvette” and “Kiss” performed by judges Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, before the crew got right to business with the auditions.

Team ChristinaAguilera picked up two acts, including the evening’s first performers: platonic duo the Line. The pair’s rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” got all four judges’ attention, but despite much protest from Shelton, they picked Aguilera. Shelton later told the camera he thought they were “fooled by flash and boobs.”

She also scored an interesting choice in chanteuse Lindsay Pavao, who got Shelton and Cee Lo to swivel their chairs too. In one of the more unique performances of the night, Pavao transformed a Trey Songz tune into a ballad that Green compared to Fiona Apple. It was that uniqueness that won Christina over, and Pavao chose to join the “Beautiful” singer’s team.

Team AdamAfter being denied by two different singers, the Maroon 5 frontman picked up his first team member of the night in 50-year-old Kim Yarbrough — who revealed during an interview segment that one of her many past odd jobs was working security for the Dave Matthews Band. Her soulful rendition of Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Tell Me Something Good” had all the judges dancing in their seats, but Adam won her over after asking for her name. When she said “Kim,” he corrected, “No, your name is Chaka Khan, baby.” Which is probably what any aspiring diva wants to hear after an audition.

Levine also added the night’s final contestant, 23-year-old Angel Taylor, to his team. The Los Angeles native grew up in an abusive household and turned to music to get through the tough times. Her performance of Adele’s “Someone Like You” packed an emotional punch.

Team Cee LoThe night’s two most compelling stories came from Jamar Rogers and Angie Johnson, both of whom opted for team Cee Lo. Rogers is a 29-year-old former drug addict from New York who was also featured on “American Idol” during season eight alongside his best friend and eventual finalist Danny Gokey. During his addiction, he contracted HIV. Now that he is clean and sober, Rogers volunteers for food-delivery services for the disabled in the Bronx. He also idolizes Cee Lo, so it’s good that the “Forget You” Grammy winner turned his chair around for Rogers’ performance of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.”

Cee Lo also picked up Staff Sergeant Angie Johnson, who was discovered and pushed to audition for “The Voice” after her fellow soldiers uploaded a video to YouTube of Johnson singing Adele on a military base while deployed in the Middle East. The video eventually tallied over a million views, which gave Johnson the confidence to hit the stage with a gutsy rendition of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker.” “I love a girl with guts and confidence,” Cee Lo told the singer.

Team BlakeBlake’s first choice of the night fit firmly in his country wheelhouse: North Dakota native Gwen Sebastian, a musician who agreed with her drummer husband to hold off on having kids so she could take a go at being a performer. After her performance of “Stay,” Shelton remarked, “You are a great country vocalist … and I’m a country guy. I’m your man.”

A more surprising choice for the country superstar came late in the show, when he promised he’d do everything he could for Jermaine Paul, a backup singer who has toured the world with Alicia Keys. Keys even sent Paul a video message wishing him good luck. He made a surprising song choice in Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated,” which also earned props from Cee Lo, who told Paul he could “hear the swag” in his voice. And even though it looked like Paul was favoring Cee Lo, he opted to move out of his R&B comfort zone and into Shelton’s country/rock genre.

Four singers got the ax during the show when no judges swiveled around to offer a spot on their team. The judges went back and forth over country crooner Neil Middleton and pop singer Dez Durmon and ultimately regretted their decisions to pass on the singers. Durmon in particular had the judges all worked up, and when they turned around to see a handsome Yale football player standing in front of them, they practically slapped themselves across the head. “And it’s a good-looking guy,” Shelton sighed.

Such is the point of “The Voice,” though. Durmon would have been a sure thing if the judges had gotten a look at him beforehand, but it’s all about the pipes — at least for now — on NBC’s reality hit, which kicked off its season to some pretty great post-Super Bowl ratings.

Who was your favorite singer on the latest “Voice” episode? Let us know in the comments!

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots contend there is no finger-pointing after their Super Bowl loss, even if supermodel Gisele Bundchen won’t abide by that code.

The wife of New England quarterback Tom Brady complained dropped passes doomed the team to a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday — the Patriots’ second loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl in five seasons.

Bundchen was caught on video by TheInsider.com saying, “You (have) to catch the ball when you’re supposed to catch the ball. My husband cannot (expletive) throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.

“I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.”

Bundchen was the target of a pro-Giants heckler at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis after the game.

New York quarterback Eli Manning was voted the game’s most valuable player, as he was when the Giants beat the Patriots 17-14 in the 2008 Super Bowl.

According to multiple media reports, the heckler shouted “Eli rules!” toward Bundchen and added, “Eli owns your husband!”

Brady was not available for comment Monday, when the team traveled from Indianapolis by plane and arrived at Gillette Stadium on buses. Asked if the team had any comment, Patriots spokesman Stacey James pursed his lips together and shook his head from side to side.

Manning completed 30 of 40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown; none of his passes was intercepted. Brady was 27 of 41 for 276 yards and two TDs; he had one pass picked off.

Late in the game, usually dependable receiver Wes Welker dropped a Brady pass; tight end Aaron Hernandez and receiver Deion Branch also had their struggles.

Welker’s drop came in a second-and-11 situation at the Giants’ 44-yard line, with New England leading 17-15 and 4:06 remaining.

Brady’s pass was slightly behind him, but Welker said, “It hit me right in the hands. I mean, it’s a play I never drop, I always make. Most critical situation and I let the team down.”

Patriots defensive back James Ihedigbo said, “You can’t point fingers at anybody. Wes made amazing plays all season.”

Embora tenha estado apagado do mundo dos jogos desde Junho de 2009 muito por falta de tempo para me dedicar a eles nunca deixei de seguir esta excelente revista, comprando-a todos os meses desde a primeira edição (Abril 2009) até à 12ª e ultima (Abril de 2010). Começou o mês de Maio e nada sobre o paradeiro desta revista. A 13 de Maio o pior confirmou-se: A revista Smash foi suspensa, tal como a sua antecessora, a Hype. Até sempre Smash. Nesta foto estão as 12 edições da revista

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