reported by Ivan Messier, FictionFanatic.com

Turns out, we aren't so scared of spiders after all.

According to a survey of U.S. consumers released today, Spider-man ranks as the most influential super-hero, edging two other heavyweight crime-fighters, Batman and Superman.

While Batman is the best-known super-hero among Americans, Spider-man is tops in terms of appeal, notice, and influence, according to the Davie Brown Celebrity Index (DBI), an independent index for brand marketers and agencies that determines a celebrity's ability to influence brand affinity and consumer purchase intent.

Created by Los Angeles marketing agency Davie Brown Entertainment, the DBI rates more than 1500 celebrities across eight attributes.

Among the three super-heroes, Superman ranked first in the DBI's "trust" and "aspiration" categories.

"Spidey's one of those characters that Americans have a clear affinity for," said Jeff Chown, president of Davie Brown Talent. "He's a likeable, trustworthy character who resonates with consumers."

Founded in 1985, Davie Brown Entertainment is the entertainment consulting division of The Marketing Arm (http://www.themarketingarm.com).