Sony Entertainment’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” is breaking box office records in theaters this week, but meanwhile in the Marvel Universe, Spider-Man himself may be in trouble. According to a limited 2011 comic book series, Spider-Man’s nemesis Norman Osborn (a/k/a the Green Goblin) is on the loose, with the help of an accomplice named “Pryor Cashman.”

Comic book giant Marvel Entertainment introduced the fictional “Pryor Cashman” in its Osborn: Evil Incarcerated series, in which several of Spider-Man’s adversaries escape from prison to wreak havoc. The comic book Pryor Cashman – alias “the Kingmaker” – was imprisoned alongside the Green Goblin and has the ability to influence the minds of others, a skill surely coveted by many in the legal industry. For a look at the comic book “Pryor Cashman,” please click here.

As the fictional Pryor Cashman appeared in early 2011, Pryor Cashman LLP was crossing paths with Spider-Man in the legal world. In June 2011, Pryor Cashman LLP represented The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (“SDC”), the union representing theater directors, in an arbitration against the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark for failure to pay royalties to Julie Taymor, the original director of the show and a Tony Award winner for Lion King.  The parties to the arbitration reached a settlement in February 2012.

After Taymor left the production, the storyline was revamped with assistance from Marvel’s Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada. The author of the Osborn series, Kelly Sue DeConnick, acknowledged naming the character after the law firm in an online fan Q&A.

The Osborn series concluded in April 2011, but it remains to be seen whether the fictional Pryor Cashman will reappear as a foe or friend to Spidey in the Marvel Universe.  Meanwhile,with great power comes great responsibilty so it is no surprise that Pryor Cashman LLP has been recognized by Law360 as one of the top five Media & Entertainment Groups in the U.S.