He might just be the perfect superhero for our current times: A masked crusader whose web slinging has a way of keeping bystanders 6 feet at bay. But UNT Spider-Man's origins far predate the pandemic -- it was back in 2014 that the original New York-bred incarnation swung onto the radar. And while his graduation in 2018 left a Peter Parker-sized hole in Mean Green hearts, a worthy (and equally anonymous) successor has stepped up to assume the mantle.
Q: How did you become the second UNT Spider-Man?
A: When I was a senior in high school and I had just gotten my acceptance letter for UNT, I was super excited, and I looked up stuff about the university on Twitter and Reddit. I saw that UNT actually had a Spider-Man, and me as a cosplayer kind of nerdy kid, I was like, 'Oh my god, that's so cool.' And then I found out he was graduating the year that I was coming in. So I was like, wait -- it can't die.
Q: How do people react when they just randomly see you around campus in costume?
A: I would ride the campus buses in the suit and the bus drivers loved it. There were other people who would make a face and just be kind of rude about it. But I like having fun with it. People will take a picture and tell me, 'You made my day.' And that to me is really what it's all about.