National Post graphic columnist Steve Murray on the new CN Tower’s EdgeWalk.

TORONTO — Unsurprisingly, I often think of Spider-Man when I’m high up in a building, picturing myself swinging through the air in form-revealing Spandex, body coursing with radiation.

But this time, up in the CN Tower while waiting to step out onto a platform 356 metres off the ground as part of the new EdgeWalk attraction, I’m thinking about Spider-Man, the musical. Specifically the number of injuries and kinks that they worked through during their previews.

Luckily for me, and the people below, the CN Tower apparently takes safety more seriously then Broadway does as it prepares to open its new attraction to the public on Aug. 1.

Safety, as you’d expect, begins on the ground. Before shooting up in the classic scenic elevator, I’m treated to a stylish jumpsuit and harness, like a jolly jumper for a baby astronaut.

My shoes are checked, double-checked and triple-checked for snugness and I get to blow into a breathalyzer, so they can scan for any “liquid courage” that may be coursing through my blood, kind of like the aforementioned Spider-Man radiation. (“Is he drunk? Listen, bud. He’s got alcohol in his blood.”)

The nervousness I had approaching the tower is alleviated slightly by just how much safety is on the brains of the staff. Anything that isn’t clothing is left on the ground in a locker, from rings to loose change to tissues. My science background is poor, thanks to comic books, but I’m pretty sure a tissue dropped from that height wouldn’t kill somebody. They clearly don’t want to take that chance.

When I make it to the EdgeWalk level, high above the city, they tether me twice: once in the front, my main, reassuringly thick tether; and once in the back, a lighter backup tether IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS (sorry, I accidentally hit my caps-lock).

Once I venture out onto the steel-grate flooring that circles the tower, it’s . . . well, it’s refreshing at first. The walkway is 1.5 metres wide, it’s a nice summery day, beautiful view, many lovely safety features stopping me from dying, etc.

But when our guide, Rob, gets us to stand on the edge of the grate, our toes poking over, that’s when the terror kicks in.

Our group of five, bookended by the guide and his assistant, spend 20-30 minutes walking the 150-metre circumference, attempting a handful of junior daredevil moves.

After peering over the edge, everyone gets a chance, one at a time, to crouch, facing the tower, and then lean back over, well, Toronto. It’s baby steps, as our guide convinces me to slowly let go of the tether and then to casually look down at the ground and my imminently soiled jumpsuit.

The final trick is my “king of the world moment,” as I lean forward off the grate, the main tether draped over my shoulder, reassuringly tugging at my suit.

I spread my arms and, for the first time, all I see is city, and it’s simultaneously beautiful and terrifying, like a wedding or, depending on your experiences, a divorce.

It’s over before I know it. We end it where we began, on the south side of the tower overlooking the lake, after posing for some shots by our guide, who also has a helmet camera recording all of our ludicrous activity.

The terror that overwhelmed me at the beginning is mostly gone now and it’s replaced by a desire to circle the tower one more time.

But I’ll have to settle for my parting gifts, which come with the $175 price tag: the photos of myself and my group and a DVD with all of the camera footage. It’s only later when I look at the video shot by our guide that I realize I’m far less a daring Spider-Man than I am a dumpy, jumpsuited Doctor Octopus, with tethers and gliding metal railings for arms, barely being daring.

Close enough, I guess.

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