Brainiac5 wrote:
I'm referring specifically to the earliest Amazing Spider-Man comics, the ones drawn by Steve Ditko.
In the early issues, Peter Parker is shown to be socially awkward, had no friends, and was constantly bullied by his high school peers. He had a high IQ, was a straight A student, and showed an obsessive interest in science, to the exclusion of any other interests.
After Ditko left the book and was replaced by John Romita, much of Peter's social ineptness disappeared, and his social troubles seemed to be exclusively due to his duties as Spider-Man interfering with his social life. I speculate that the more Autism-related elements to Peter's character were of Ditko's influence, as Ditko himself might be on the Spectrum. Ditko consistently refused to be interviewed throughout his career, stating that his work is what's important to the public and his personality. From what little is known of his personality, he seems to have an obsession with Objectivism philosophy and the writings of Ayn Rand.
On a side note, there's also ground to argue that Aunt May was in the early stages of Alzheimer's in those same issues.
You know, that that you mention it...
I can see how Peter Parker could have Asperger's, and how he had learned socialization and rid himself of his awkwardness as Spiderman.
-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer