Spider-Man unmasks himself in public

NEW YORK, June 15 (UPI) -- Forty-four years after Spider-Man was introduced to the world, he finally introduces himself to the public, as Peter Parker.

In the second issue of "Civil War," Spider-Man, Captain America and other heroes in Marvel Comics are struggling with federal legislation requiring that they register and reveal their identities.

That federal crackdown begins after hundreds of children are killed at an elementary school when a battle between heroes and villains spills onto their campus.

Spider-Man is the first major hero to give in, pulling off his mask at a Washington news conference.

"It can be very intimidating if you don't know where the story is going or how it ends; we do, so we're just excited about where it takes us and the story possibilities it offers," said Joe Quesada, Marvel's editor-in-chief.