10 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Spider-Man

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Spider-Man first hit the shelves back on August 15, 1962. From that moment onward, fans were captivated by his story and the adventures that followed. There are dozens of Spider-Man variants and origin stories out there, between the comics, several movie iterations, shows, and even video games. This makes it even harder to keep the lore straight, understandably resulting in some details getting messed up.

Despite these mix-ups, Spider-Man has consistently been a beloved and cherished character. That isn’t to say that it’s always been an easy road for Peter, far from it. In addition to surviving many traumatic events, Spider-Man has undergone many subtle changes. Likewise, some elements of his story are often overlooked or forgotten.

10

Spider-Man Fans Need to Respect the Hyphen

It’s Spider-Man, Not Spiderman

“Here, so you remember next time…

Hyphen-man! Hyphen-man! Does whatever a hyphen can!”

-Spider-Man #1 (2022)

It’s time to address the elephant in the room. There is one proper way to spell Peter Parker’s alias: Spider-Man. Not Spiderman. Not Spider Man. Spider-Man. While it may be confusing to some, this decision was very carefully made to help Spider-Man stand out. Remember that there are dozens of heroes with the term “man” in the end, including Superman, Batman, and Aquaman.

The hyphen may not seem to make much of a difference, but it changes the visual presentation of Spider-Man’s name. Unfortunately, many publications and fans often forget to include the hyphen when discussing this beloved character. Respect the hyphen; it’s what Stan Lee would want. If J. Jonah Jameson can get it right, then there’s no excuse.

9

Peter Parker’s Stance on Killing

Spider-Man Is No Batman

“You can’t kill what’s already dead. All you can do…is undo the mistake that did this.”

-Spider-Man

Most people believe Peter Parker is one of those heroes who has never and will never kill, but they’re wrong. While Spider-Man usually tries to avoid killing, his history proves that the “no-killing” rule doesn’t always apply. Peter has always tried to find another solution outside of killing those he’s up against, but sometimes it just isn’t possible.

Since his introduction, Spider-Man has killed more than a handful of enemies.Thanks to comic book magic, not every death sticks. For example, Spider-Man believed for quite some time that he had killed The Queen and Gog, only for their survival to be confirmed at a later time. This doesn’t change the fact that Spider-Man knowingly and intentionally tried to end their lives.

8

Spider-Man’s Web-Shooters Aren’t One of His Powers

Peter Parker Used Technology to Make His Web-Shooters

There’s no denying the Spider-Man movies’ impact on the character’s popularity – especially the Sam Raimi versions. These movies occasionally played fast and loose with classic Spider-Man lore, confusing newer fans. Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man boasts one very different change – organic web-shooters. Historically, Peter Parker didn’t have organic web-shooters, unlike other Spidersonas.

In the comics, Peter Parker had to use his intelligence to solve this problem. He created tech-based web-shooters, including the webbing fluid. It was a nice opportunity to remind readers of how clever the hero is. Other movie variations have portrayed this detail, but many fans still misunderstand the history. As if things weren’t already confusing enough for newer fans, a comic event gave Peter Parker organic web-shooters for a time.

7

Peter’s First Love Isn’t MJ or Gwen

Peter Parker’s First Major Relationship Was With Betty Brant

First appeared in June 1963

She worked for the Daily Bugle

The two dated for a while before a misunderstanding ruined it

Mary Jane Watson is the classic love interest of Spider-Man. Nearly every fan knows about the many ups and downs of their relationship. Likewise, most fans know all about Peter’s time with Gwen Stacy. However, it’s important to note that neither woman was Peter Parker’s first canonical love interest. That title goes to another woman, Betty Brant.

Betty Brant was a secretary for the Daily Bugle, putting her in the perfect position to meet young photographer Peter Parker. The flirting began pretty early on, but their relationship took several years to develop. The two dated for a time before a tragic misunderstanding caused their inevitable breakup, freeing Peter to pursue the relationships fans are more familiar with. Despite their breakup, Betty lingered in the comics for some time.

6

Spider-Man’s First Crossover Wasn’t With the Avengers

Spider-Man Has a Long History With The Fantastic Four

Thanks to the movies, most people think that Spider-Man’s first major crossover event happened with the Avengers. It’s a fair assumption, given Peter’s history in the comics and the MCU. However, it’s also an incorrect assumption, as Spider-Man first came across The Fantastic Four. More importantly, Peter wanted to join The Fantastic Four, similar to how the MCU version wished to become an Avenger.

Admittedly, Spider-Man’s reasons for wanting to join The Fantastic Four weren’t entirely altruistic. As a struggling superhero, Peter desperately needed money and hoped that by joining a team, he could become a hero who also made money. He left his dreams of joining The Fantastic Four behind when he learned the truth. Later, Peter would be relieved to learn that the Avengers had money.

5

Spider-Man’s First Supervillain Is Largely Forgotten

The Chameleon Was the First Supervillain to Target Spider-Man

His real name is Dmitri Smerdyakov

AKA Professor Newton, Dr. Turner

While he originally had no superpowers, he gained them with time

When fans think of Spider-Man’s first big fight, they’re probably picturing the battle with Uncle Ben’s killer. While this isn’t wrong, Uncle Ben’s killer was not a supervillain, but a stereotypical burglar. Spider-Man’s first major supervillain was Dmitri Smerdyakov, aka The Chameleon. As his name implies, The Chameleon is a master of disguise who is dangerously good at getting what he wants.

Originally, The Chameleon relied on tech and tricks to impersonate his targets. Later, Dmitri would reveal he had surgically enhanced pigmentation that enabled him to steal the appearance of whomever he chose. Regardless of the reason, he proved to be a dangerous foe for the hero, especially when he later joined forces with more Spider-Man enemies.

Peter Parker’s First Gig in a Costume Wasn’t as a Superhero

It’s no small secret that Peter Parker historically had money problems. However, readers may not realize all the steps he took to resolve this problem. When he first got his powers, Peter didn’t immediately jump at the idea of becoming a hero – he tried to monetize it. Peter tried several ways to make money from his abilities, including trying to join The Fantastic Four.

Before Peter ever dreamed of joining a superhero team, he wrestled for money and even had a stint on television. Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, spent a small amount of time on TV, and this is where his web-winged costume came from. He also wrestled for money, which fans are likely more familiar with, as this event eventually ties into Uncle Ben’s death.

3

The Boundless Strength of Spider-Man

Spider-Man Can Lift Nearly 10 Tons

What fan doesn’t love to debate about the strengths and weaknesses of a hero? Over the years, Spider-Man has showcased various forms of strength, from holding a split ship together to hanging on to a falling bus. These moments left a mark in the minds of readers, as they not only showed off Peter’s strength and his commitment to the surrounding community.

While most fans know and understand that Spider-Man is incredibly strong, they likely don’t know how strong he is. At a minimum, Spider-Man can lift around 10 tons. Meanwhile, variations across comics, games, and movies have portrayed the hero lifting upwards of 40 tons. That’s a significant difference, but it shows the potential he carries, in this case, literally.

2

Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson Occasionally Get Along

Despite What J. Jonah Jameson May Have Readers Believe

“He was a…thief! A criminal! He’s a menace to the entire city! I want that crawling arachnid prosecuted!”

-J. Jonah Jameson

J. Jonah Jameson, aka JJJ, is famous for his hatred of Spider-Man. Occasionally, this hatred is portrayed to almost comical levels. Despite this, there are times when the two can get along. For example, Jonah completely adores Captain America, so when his hero asks him to say something nice about Spider-Man…he’ll cave even if this means printing good news about Spider-Man.

Occasionally, Spider-Man and Jonah Jameson make things work without outside interference. During Peter Park: The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1, Peter reveals his true identity to the reporter. This creates a truce of sorts, and Jonah even supports Spider-Man and speaks against dissenters. While something like this could never last, it proves that the two can see eye to eye.

1

Peter’s Symbiote History

The Ties Between Spider-Man and the Symbiote Go Further Back Than Most Fans Realize

In the world of comic books, everything is complicated. This is especially true for long-running characters such as Spider-Man. As such, his history with symbiotes, especially Venom, is far longer and more complicated than most fans would expect. In the movies, the relationship between Venom and Peter Parker is fraught, with the two never really coming to terms. The comics portray a different relationship that didn’t start negatively.

There was even a time when Venom adored Peter before things went south; there’s a reason why Peter Parker was chosen as the Symbiote’s host. These two characters have dozens of different first meetings, including an instance on Battleworld and plenty of scientific experiments. If there’s one thing that holds true across all iterations, their relationship has always been complex.

“}]] Since his introduction, Spider-Man has appeared in all forms of media – as such, the details about this beloved character tend to get blurred.  Read More