[[{“value”:”
There is currently a disconnect between Spider-Man and the way that his stories are perceived. Over the past 25 years, Spider-Man has proven to be the most popular and searchable superhero on the planet. In theory, the biggest comic book character on Earth should be starring in the best stories in the industry, but morale surrounding Spider-Man’s stories is reaching an all-time low.
The Spider-Man storylines of recent memory have been going viral for all the wrong reasons, particularly when it comes to the just-previous Amazing Spider-Man run. Even the current ongoing “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” story arc by Justina Ireland and Gleb Melkinov has drawn frustration from readers.
On paper, one would think that Marvel has completely lost sight of what Spider-Man is all about, but upon further analysis, it’s not the handling of the character that is an issue – it’s the handling of his stories.
The Problem with Spider-Man is How Marvel Handles His Stories, Not His Character
Analyzing The Amazing Spider-Man Run by writer Zeb Wells and artist John Romita Jr.
The previous run of The Amazing Spider-Man received much negative attention from critics and fans. But because it received so much viral attention, it’s the best means to pinpoint Marvel’s mishandling of Spider-Man’s stories. From 2022 to 2024, the series was overseen primarily by writer Zeb Wells and artist John Romita Jr. This run was quick to receive bad press early on as Marvel made it clear from its first issue that Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson were not getting back together.
Some of the most hated creative decisions for Spider-Man have come from Marvel as a company, not the creators.
Around the same time, Peter Parker accepted a job offer from ex-rival Norman Osborn, forming the basis of a potential friendship with the former Green Goblin. That hardly even scratches the surface as far as controversies from this era of Spider-Man. This observation isn’t a condemnation of the talents of Wells, as allegedly, one of the run’s most controversial calls – killing Ms. Marvel – was an executive request from the MCU’s Kevin Feige. As much as creators like Wells get the brunt of backlash, some of the most hated creative decisions for Spider-Man have come from Marvel as a company, not the creators.
Marvel Still Knows How to Write Spider-Man-the-Character
Even If Spider-Man’s Stories Leave a Lot to Be Desired
When Marvel isn’t breating down the necks of creators like Wells, it becomes all the more apparent how much Marvel and its creators understand what makes Spider-Man tick as a character. Case in point: one of the best moments from Wells’ run happens when Peter Parker pursues his new girlfriend, Shay Marken, and recognizes that he has just as much of a responsibility to his romantic partner as he does to supervillains, instead of using the classic Uncle Ben line about responsibility as an excuse to bail on someone he loves again.
This moment takes place in The Amazing Spider-Man #55 by Zeb Wells, Emilio Laiso, Bryan Valenza, and Joe Caramagna, which is available now from Marvel Comics.
The current “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” arc doesn’t do much to progress that relationship – honestly, immediately after this issue, Peter kind of goes right back to being as shifty and avoidant as he is usually whenever he dates someone who doesn’t know his secret identity – but as an isolated moment, this scene is, arguably, the most “Spider-Man” that Peter’s been during this entire run. When it comes to the core values and themes of the character, this comic issue simply “gets it” in ways that most Spidey comics don’t nowadays.
What Makes Spider-Man Work as a Character?
Why Spider-Man’s Core Values Are Essential for His Stories
At the center of the moment between Peter and Shay is a sense of progression and growth for Spider-Man, a theme that’s essential in Spider-Man’s most enduring stories. There’s a reason why fans have been clamoring so desperately for the idea of Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker getting back together. The relationship is a visual and emotional representation of Peter Parker’s growth as a character. Looking at his first appearance, Peter has grown from an often-selfish, petty, hotheaded, and most of all irresponsible teenager, to a matured, responsible married man.
Related
Spider-Man’s First Comic: Everything Fans Need To Know
Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most popular characters and he’s been around for a while. How has he changed since his first comic book appearance?
Being with MJ isn’t just about satisfying the audience’s desire to see Spider-Man be with his greatest love; it’s a reflection of Spider-Man’s maturity. It is no coincidence that the more recent vilified runs of The Amazing Spider-Man feature Peter at his most dead-broke, down on his luck, and still dating around. While these aren’t necessarily immature qualities, they showcase Peter at his most stagnant, since he is not progressing as a citizen, a hero, or a character overall through his everyday adventures.
Spider-Man’s Stories Need to Reflect the Character
Key Character Traits and Core Values are Missing from Spider-Man Stories
It’s understandable why Spider-Man remains so stagnant. The explanation is the same reason why Marvel has contributed to some of the most baffling creative decisions surrounding the character in the past decade. Marvel wants to keep Spider-Man youthful. The publisher wants him to remain the same plucky, energetic, curious teen that he was when Spidey first burst onto the scene in 1962. Though the comapny wants the character to stay ageless, the problem is that he simply isn’t. This character has 63 years’ worth of history. Spider-Man himself is depicted as being, at best, middle-aged.
Related
Marvel Has a Solution to Spider-Man’s Age Problem That It Will Never Use
Using Miles Morales would solve Marvel’s Spider-Man problem immediately – but here’s why they’ll never let it happen.
Despite the character and his stories getting older, age-wise, Marvel is not allowing Spider-Man’s stories to reflect the character development that naturally comes with age. Audiences who have followed Spider-Man’s journey for so long wantto see signs of age and growth for Spider-Man, as it’s simultaneously a reflection of the investment fans have put into reading these comics. Without it, fans feel like they’re wasting time, and naturally, they lose investment. Marvel may fear that Spider-Man stories will get old if the stories let him age, but, actually, his fans are getting tired of the same old, same old.
Ultimate Spider-Man Speaks to the Character’s Core
Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and More
Alternatively, the revamped Ultimate Spider-Man is giving jaded fans everything they want from a Spider-Man story. In this universe, he is married to MJ and the two have children together. Peter Parker is navigating both his superhero career and real-life career alongside a still-living Uncle Ben with the knowledge, patience, and foresight of a married man. Spider-Man is an adult and, through the decisions he makes, feelslike an adult. It sounds so simple, but when compared to Earth-616’s Spider-Man, the bare-minimum does wonders for fan engagement.
The reception for Ultimate Spider-Man has been overwhelmingly positive…
Because the Ultimate version of Spider-Man exists outside of Marvel’s official continuity, the publisher is more willing to take risks with the character. That same level of risk should be applied to Marvel’s main Spider-Man. The reception for Ultimate Spider-Man has been overwhelmingly positive and, as an alternative to The Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate provides the progression and character growth that fans are looking for. Clearly, Marvel still knows how to make a Spider-Man story but simply isn’t doing so for its official web-head.
Both The Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man are available now from Marvel Comics.
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.
“}]] Spider-Man stories have lost the plot. 
Read More