1 Spider-Man Power Was So Hard to Control He Almost Didn't Become a Hero (2024)

FAQs

Why is Spider-Man an unwilling hero? ›

Spider-Man also fits the criteria of the reluctant hero as throughout his career, Peter Parker constantly questions his decision to become a superhero. One of the most famous examples would be The Amazing Spider-Man issue 50, titled Spider-Man No More!.

A bite from a spider somehow granted teenager Peter Parker its arachnid abilities and instead of using them for personal gain, he decided to help others with them. An orphan living with his aunt, May Parker, the boy chose to wear a mask while fighting crime so as not to burden her with his actions.

Like his namesake, Spider-Man's strength and agility stand far above those of the average human, allowing him to lift nearly 10 tons and to leap and move at incredible speeds with high accuracy. He also heals faster than normal when injured, though he is not completely immune to viruses and other human ailments.

1 SUPER WILLPOWER

It's arguable that Spider-Man's greatest power isn't his strength or his speed. It's not his reflexes or agility. It's not even his spider sense, his durability or his healing factor. No, Spidey's greatest power is his sheer indomitable will.

Spider-Man is known today as one of the most light-hearted heroes in Marvel Comics, but Stan Lee's original inspiration for the character was a dark, violent hero of yesteryear.

Almost all superheroes have a tragic backstory, and Spider-Man is no different, albeit a little more…harsh. Peter Parker is an orphan who tragically lost his uncle, who fulfilled a father figure role for him, and in some variations, a two-time orphan, as he lost both his aunt and uncle.

Spider-Man's idealism and love for others can be seen as a weakness, as it often leads to trouble and a lack of strategic planning. Ethyl Chloride and water are unexpected weaknesses for Spider-Man, hindering his abilities and rendering him vulnerable.

Spider-Man's super strength is based on the idea that a spider can lift many times its own weight. Therefore, if a human possessed the abilities of a spider, they too could lift many times their own weight.

Spiderman is a perfect example of a hero with motives. He wants to make up for the wrong he did by not stopping the thief who was responsible for his uncle's death. He wants to make Uncle Ben proud. He wants to put his powers to good use.

What is the most power Spider-Man? ›

There are dozens of powerful Spider-Men littered throughout the multiverse, but one of the most powerful exists in the classic 616 universe. Peter Parker, the original Spider-Man, is deceptively strong due to the radioactive spider bite that transformed him into Marvel's popular masked hero.

American teenager Peter Parker, a poor sickly orphan, is bitten by a radioactive spider. As a result of the bite, he gains superhuman strength, speed, and agility, along with the ability to cling to walls, turning him into Spider-Man.

When it comes to powerful superheroes, Spider-Man may be one of the most overlooked. Although he's not on the same level as, say, Thor and the Incredible Hulk, the web-slinger is, nevertheless, a powerhouse in his own right in terms of physical strength.

In conclusion, early versions of Spider-man portray him as being able to run at the speed of sound if not twice as fast, whilst more modern versions limit him to around 250mph.

But in a fight with the Hulk, Spider-Man can let loose, and perhaps even prevail. Aside from Spider-Man's own impressive strength, he certainly has the speed and agility advantage over Bruce Banner's greener half.

Conversely, a reluctant hero may be someone who has some special ability(ies) that already make them extraordinary. In the ordinary world, though, they choose not to use them. John McClane in Die Hard is a great example of this type of reluctant hero. He's a cop, but nobody knows he's a cop.

Spiderman is a perfect example of a hero with motives. He wants to make up for the wrong he did by not stopping the thief who was responsible for his uncle's death. He wants to make Uncle Ben proud. He wants to put his powers to good use.

It's to the point where many Marvel heroes outright dislike Spider-Man or avoid working with him. This is due to his boisterous nature and how much he's used to only bouncing off walls instead of other people. Add in how much the media has been against him, and it's no wonder he's not popular for others to work with.

Though Spider-Man has been considered one of Marvel's unluckiest superheroes for decades, as Mary Jane Watson famously points out, Peter Parker has hit the jackpot in a number of key ways.