Spider-Man Success Highlights Importance of CGC Certification for VHS and Video Game Collectibles

Spider-Man is having an amazing moment, as the latest film, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has now crossed the $2 billion mark worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Spider-Man movie ever and one of the biggest films in history. Meanwhile, the hero is poised for another milestone: Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is scheduled for release in September 2026, bringing Peter Parker’s flagship comic book series to a landmark issue.

To celebrate these milestone accomplishments, we’re recognizing two distinctly different pieces of Spider-Man history that highlight the importance of CGC certification beyond comic books. These collectibles demonstrate the character's ability to leap into virtually every corner of pop culture.

The Genesis of Spider-Man

When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962, Marvel was taking a chance on a hero who looked and behaved very differently from many of the larger-than-life characters already dominating superhero comics. Peter Parker was a teenager dealing with school, money, relationships, and the consequences of his own choices. His powers were extraordinary, but his problems were remarkably ordinary. That relatability helped make Spider-Man something more than another superhero.

After the character's debut proved enormously successful, Marvel quickly launched The Amazing Spider-Man in 1963. The series became the foundation of one of comics' most enduring franchises, introducing generations of readers to Peter Parker and a rogue’s gallery that includes Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Venom, Sandman, Mysterio, and many others.

But the character's appeal has never been confined to comics.

Spider-Man has appeared in animated series, video games, toys, trading cards, films and countless other forms of merchandise. His famous red-and-blue costume and instantly recognizable spider emblem have become cultural shorthand for the character, allowing him to remain relevant even as generations of fans have grown up and passed the character along to the next.

Swinging onto the Screen

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While it may seem like Spider-Man movies are everywhere these days, there was once a time when fans thought he might never reach the big screen. It wasn’t until 2002, after many failed attempts, that the wall-crawler made his major theatrical debut, from which CGC has certified a Spider-Man (2002) VHS graded CGC 9.9 A++ First Print.

Spider-Man was directed by Sam Raimi and starred Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson, Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, and James Franco as Harry Osborn, with J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson. A major commercial success, Spider-Man became the highest-grossing film of 2002 and was widely praised for Raimi's direction, its cast, and its balance of superhero action with Peter's more human story. The film was followed by two sequels, and Maguire reprised the role in the 2021 film, “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

Finding a VHS from that era in exceptional condition is one thing. Finding one with a CGC 9.9 grade and an A++ seal takes it to another level. For collectors, that combination makes this particular Spider-Man VHS an especially striking example of a modern-era collectible.

The Spider-Man of Genesis

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In addition to the VHS, CGC has also certified a Sega Genesis Spider-Man graded CGC 9.9 A+ with Marvel Comics Offer.

Released for the Sega Genesis in 1991, Spider-Man was developed by Technopop and published by Sega, with the game drawing heavily from the character's comic book adventures. Players control Spider-Man as he battles a roster of familiar Marvel villains, including Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Kingpin, Sandman, Venom, and Lizard. The game also featured a special Marvel Comics offer that connected the video game directly to the comics that inspired it, making surviving copies with the original promotional material particularly special to collectors today.

A Brand New Day Ahead

It is difficult to think of many fictional characters with a cultural footprint large enough to simultaneously generate a $2 billion blockbuster, reach issue #1,000 of an ongoing flagship comic, and inspire collectors to preserve everything from vintage comics to VHS tapes and video games. What began as a teenager in a comic book has become one of Marvel's defining characters!

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games, and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs, and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.