“With great power comes great responsibility” has come to defineSpider-Man’sentire hero’s journey and superhero career. Originally conceived as Stan Lee’s narration in the character’s debut issue, the line has since been recontextualized as a quote from Uncle Ben (even though he never said it on-panel) that is meant to inspire his nephew, Peter Parker, to use his gifts as Spider-Man to help people.
However, X user@milkydraws888makes a fascinating point about the famous Spider-Man quote. They call the “With great power…” quote nothing more than a “paranoid and destructive trauma response” that isn’t as admirable as characters or readers treat it to be.
This X user isn’t necessarily wrong, and modern Spidey stories have even addressed the quote as such. Recontextualizing a quote that, itself, has been recontextualized presents an opportunity to reevaluate the character of Peter Parker, asthe flaws of the quote say more about the person who received the message than the actual messenger.
Spider-Man’s Definitive Quote Is a Trauma Response
The Root of Uncle Ben’s Words
First, it’s important to focus on the quote itself and how Uncle Ben delivered it to Peter Parker before he became Spider-Man, all in the context of current Marvel canon. Uncle Ben’s line was always meant to be received as a call to action for anyone with the gifts to produce change in their community, at least on a small scale.Uncle Ben’s words were never meant to be literal, as he never knew about Peter’s superpowers. He couldn’t have meant it literally, only metaphorically, suggesting that anyone with the skill to help someone should, in fact,help that someone.
Spider-Man made his on-panel debut in 1962’sAmazing Fantasy#15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, where “With great power comes great responsibility” is a line featured in the text bubble narration of the final panel. It’s later retconned in 1986’sSpider-Man versus Wolverineby Jim Owsley and Mark Bright once Peter recalls hearing it from Ben Parker himself.
Those words echo in Peter’s mind after his uncle is gunned down by a man whom he could have stopped with his particular abilities. When a thief backstage at a television show display runs past him as a guard is chasing him, Peter just stands, determined to look out for himself and only himself. He immediately regrets it when he learns that the same thief went on to mug his uncle that night. In his mind, thenhe takes responsibility for his uncle’s murder,placing the blame solely on himself, and in turn puts the responsibility of the world on his shoulders as Spider-Man.
Has Spider-Man Misunderstood Uncle Ben’s Words?
Taking Things Too Literally
It’s easy to seehow Spider-Man may have misinterpretedUncle Ben’s words, especially when fans themselves have misunderstood them. It’s a motto that apparently flew over Peter’s head throughout his childhood, until he was forced to confront it in the wake of his uncle’s murder that he felt was indirectly his fault. On the surface, Ben’s words areinspiring and a good philosophy to live by.The average person shouldwant to help fellow humansif they have the means to do so. The problem is that Spider-Man conceptualizes Ben’s words in the most extreme way possible.
Because Peter feels responsible for his uncle’s death, he feels that he needs to be responsible for the entire world.
Because Peter feels responsible for his uncle’s death, he feels that he needs to be responsible for the entire world. In reality,it wasn’t responsibility that Peter needed;he needed to take accountability, simply by acknowledging where he did wrong and by actively learning from his mistake whilst altering his selfish attitude. Instead, he opts to overwork himself to the point of self-destruction, paranoid that if he slows down for just a moment, someone will get hurt. Even if it isn’t his fault, he sees blood on his hands because he still carries Ben’s blood on his hands.
It’s a Problem That Spider-Man Is Acknowledging in Modern Comics
This Is Marvel’s “Responsibility”
This level of guilt characterized by paranoia hasstressed Spider-Man out to no end. In trying to put out every fire on the planet,Spider-Man has hurt his relationshipswith others in his life and damaged other aspects of his life. Peter loves blaming his misfortunes on Parker Luck, but really, it starts with himself.If his overworking habits work in his favor, he thanks Uncle Ben and his motto, but when they backfire, it’s just bad luck. He still lacks accountability, overthinking a responsibility to a dead man rather than a responsibility to those around him - or to himself.
Marvel addresses this head-on inThe Amazing Spider-Man#55 by Zeb Wells, Emilio Laiso, Bryan Valenza, and Joe Caramagna, in whichSpider-Man redefines Ben’s responsibility motto. Once again, he’s ready to bail on a date -this time with Shay Marken, someone Peter might care more about than crime-fighting - in favor of combating the unlikelyduo of Rhino and Screwball. At that moment, Peter opts instead to recognize thathe is as responsible for the people he cares about as he is for crime-fighting. Shirking one responsibility in favor of another isn’t fair to anyone.
Is It Time to Undo Spider-Man’s Most Famous Motto?
Not Necessarily, But It Is Time to Restructure It
In this issue, Spider-Man saves the day not as Spider-Man, but as Peter Parker. Most importantly, he upholds his responsibility to be Peter Parker, not just a friendly neighborhood hero. It’s an uplifting moment, suggesting that Marvel understands how Peter misunderstood Ben’s words as a teenager, andit’s time for him to restructure how he upholds Ben’s truth as an adult. Granted, it should not mean that the Spidey franchise should dispose of the quote entirely.
Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben Finally Gets His Own Superhero Codename, As Marvel Redefines the Scarlet Spider
Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben subtly gets his very own mask and codename in Marvel’s Ultimate universe, though not in the way you might expect.
Marvel needs to keep Lee’s original words not just because the quote is too famous to dispose of now, but again, because it’s a good way to live. It’s just that a teenager took it the wrong way and has been using it as an excuse to push himself past his limits. But that teenager is a grown man now, and it’s time for that man to reevaluate - and maybe unlearn - truths that he conditioned himself about Uncle Ben’s words. This is just one story Marvel has published to address howSpider-Manunderstands Uncle Ben’s words as a man.
Source:milkydraws888
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
