Like most heroes of Greek legend, Peter Parker became endowed with superhuman gifts: He was turned into a demigod, rather like a Hercules with inferiority issues who accepts his lot and even rises above inner dread, finding courage out of confusion. Stan Lee deified the nerd and found how those who are considered fearful of life learn -- and even embrace -- fearlessness.
Madonna is at the top of the Billboard charts, "Titanic" may be the highest-grossing movie of the week and "The Mummy," Twins, "Dumb and Dumber," "Summer School," "Anchorman," "Top Gun," "Total Recall" and even "Phantom of the Opera" are either getting sequels or being remade. Nothing is new, and that's sad.