Who doesn’t love the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man? Over the years, there have been many incarnations of our favorite superhero and he never fails to entertain us with his relatable nature and dorky charm.
As funny as his witty one-liners are, however, the heartfelt and profound messages at the core of the Spider-Man universe is what resonates most with audiences of every generation. Despite his incredible arachnid power and intuitive spidey sense, he is most defined by his failures and his resilience to overcome challenges.
This is a quality that most people can resonate with, and that’s why Spider-Man has been such a beloved icon for decades.
Great Power
“Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.” – Uncle Ben, ‘Spider-Man’ dir. Sam Raimi, 2002.
Probably the most iconic phrase in the Spider-Man universe – and rightfully so. This quote has been popularized by Peter Parker’s uncle Ben as the last thing he says before tragically dying in a robbery gone awry. Peter is understandably traumatized by his uncle’s passing, but it is this horrific event that makes Peter realize the weight of those words.
Sometimes we are unaware of the power we possess and could inadvertently hurt the people we love as a result. Adopting a sense of humility will keep our priorities in check.
Love Should Never Be a Secret
“Love should never be a secret. If you keep something as complicated as love stored up inside, it could make you sick.” – Dr. Otto Octavius, ‘Spider-Man 2’ dir. Sam Raimi, 2004.
A romantic at heart (when he’s not destroying cities), Dr. Otto gives Peter a bit of advice on his love life. His relationship with long-time crush MJ has been rocky from the beginning, and he struggles to find a balance between his dangerous lifestyle as a superhero and his personal life as a plucky journalist.
Dr. Otto’s words speak to those who are afraid of being vulnerable and expressing their feelings. The weight of the emotion will gnaw at your heart, so it is usually best to let them out instead of allowing them to fester.
No Matter What I do
“No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, the ones I love will always be the ones who pay.” – Peter Parker, ‘Spider-Man’, 2002.
It is a heavy burden to be a faceless hero. There is no one to share the weight of the world with when your mistakes seem unbearable. The qualities that make Spider-Man such a relatable character are the way he handles failure in such a human way. He has amazing powers, but at his core, he is still just a young man struggling to do the best he can.
After his battle with the Green Goblin ends in tragedy, Peter reflects on the effects of his actions and how every mistake takes him back to the night his negligence killed his uncle. With the best intentions as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, he can’t save everyone.
Secrets Have a Cost
“Secrets have a cost. They’re not free. Not now, not ever.” – Aunt May, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ dir. Marc Webb, 2012.
A different rendition of Aunt May, but just as loving, is concerned for the safety of her nephew Peter Parker. Unaware of his double life, she panics when she sees his face covered in bruises after yet another unexplained night out. She knows he is in trouble but doesn’t know how to help because he won’t confide in her.
Sometimes we feel strong enough to handle our burdens on our own, but after a while, they weigh us down. Cutting out the people we love will only exacerbate the effects of our struggles. It is okay to ask for help – at the very least, to have someone to listen.
My Wish for You
“My wish for you is to become hope; people need that. And even if we fail, what better way is there to live?” – Gwen Stacy, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’ dir. Marc Webb, 2014.
After Gwen Stacy is caught in the middle of Spider-Man’s risky way of life and loses her own, Peter loses himself. He gives up on his career as a superhero and struggles with moving forward. It isn’t until he finds a video of Gwen’s graduation speech that he is given a sense of purpose.
She reminds him that despite our failures, there is always hope for a better future. Embracing hope ignites his motivation and tears him out of his despair. Adopting the same outlook can do the same for us in our lives as we navigate the obstacles of everyday life.
Everywhere I Go, I See His Face
Peter Parker: “Everywhere I go, I see his face. I just really miss him.”
Happy Hogan: “Yeah, I miss him too. I don’t think Tony would’ve done what he did, if he didn’t know you were gonna be here after he was gone.” – ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ dir. Jon Watts, 2019.
Every fan of the Marvel cinematic universe was heartbroken while watching Tony Stark’s last moments as Iron Man, but no one felt that pain as much as Spider-Man. Tony was Peter’s father figure and mentor, and after he died, his protege was lost.
Knowing he couldn’t rely on his guardian anymore, Peter had to grow up fast and understand what it meant to be a hero.
One Person
“You can’t think about saving the world. You have to think about saving one person.”
– Peter Parker, ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ dir. Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, 2018
Ordinary people save the world every day, but they don’t think about what they’re doing on such a grand scale. They do it for the people they love – and that alone makes a hero.
A Real Superhero
“That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”
– Stan, ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’
Many claim to do good deeds for selfless reasons but often do it for praise and glory. What makes Spider-Man so pure is his hidden identity. He doesn’t need accolades to do the right thing – he just does it.
We Choose to Do Good
“Playing superhero isn’t a game. It’s fate. We choose to do good. Choose to do bad. We had a choice.” – Spider-Man, ‘Spider-Man’, Vol 1 #7, 1991.
There is always a choice. Sometimes situations are out of our control, but the way we respond to them is what defines us.
Anyone Can Win a Fight
“Anyone can win a fight – when the odds–are easy! It’s when the going’s tough – when there seems to be no chance – that’s when – it counts!” – Peter Parker, ‘Amazing Spider-Man’, Vol. 1 #33, 1966.
Nothing worth having is easy to get. The true demonstration of strength is shown when we overcome the toughest of obstacles. Through all his mistakes and failures, Spider-Man has shown this time and time again making him even stronger than Superman.
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