Marvel Finally Made Me Like the Worst Part of Spider-Man Lore

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Warning: Spoilers for The Amazing Spider-Man #70!There are some elements within Spider-Man’s lore that are outright hated by fans. Some of the most hated aspects of Spider-Man lore are flaws that fans try to ignore, but some aspects are too ingrained into the lore to pretend they don’t exist. Among those aspects is the concept of “Parker Luck”, one of the most prevalent and controversial storytelling devices in the history of Spider-Man.

However, The Amazing Spider-Man #70 – written by Joe Kelly, with art by Ed McGuiness – puts a positive spin on Parker Luck. In Spider-Man’s final showdown with Cyttorak (the all-powerful god that gave Juggernaut, and Spider-Naut. magical powers), just as it seems like the Blight will destroy the Marvel Universe, Cyttorak questions why Peter still wants to fight a losing battle, Spider-Man proceeds to deliver a monologue reiterating why he chooses to fight every day despite how hard his life gets.

Spider-Man’s speech basically encompasses Parker Luck, but in a way that Peter is able to make it worth it.

Parker Luck In Spider-Man Lore, Explained

The Amazing Spider-Man #70 – Written By Joe Kelly; Art By Ed McGuinness; Color By Alex Sinclair & Marcio Menyz; Lettering By VC’s Joe Caramagna

Parker Luck is the in-universe explanation as to why Spider-Man is miserable; whether it stems from unfortunate run-ins with villains, struggles to make rent, or being unlucky in love, Parker Luck is the running term as to why so many bad things happen to Peter Parker so frequently. The earliest reference to Parker Luck – albeit loosely – appears in 1963’s The Amazing Spider-Man #5. All in one day, he’s impersonated by Flash Thompson, forced to face Doctor Doom for the first time, gets chewed out by J. Jonah Jameson, and watches his bully steal all the glory.

Peter groans that he’s “got nothing but luck … and it’s all bad!” to end the issue. That would eventually morph in the coming years into the term, Parker Luck. At first, Parker Luck was always mentioned as a running gag or an inside joke to laugh off Peter’s turmoil, but future writers would eventually treat the term as gospel, which even puts an ironic spin on Mary-Jane Watson’s declaration that Peter “hit the jackpot.” Parker Luck is used as a legitimate reason as to why nothing can go Spider-Man’s way. Parker Luck is so canonical, it’s given Spider-Man psychic immunity.

Spider-Man Fans Hate Parker Luck, But Why?

Marvel’s Excuse For Keeping Peter Parker Miserable

Spider-Man having bad luck is practically a mandate that Marvel uses to take advantage in hopes of keeping Peter Parker relatable, as if misery and relatability go hand-in-hand. Sure, a lot of people have bad luck naturally in real-life, and some readers even relate to the bad luck Peter constantly suffers as an adult. However, adults actually learn from the unfortunate things that happen to them and, in some cases, take accountability when necessary. When Parker Luck happens to him, Spider-Man just shrugs it off without further reflection or acknowledgment of his role in certain events.

As the saying goes, the game is the game and, sometimes, Parker Luck is just Parker Luck. In another classic saying, it is what it is, and when it is what it is, it’s easy to assume that nothing could’ve been done to prevent it. That’s how Spider-Man treats Parker Luck, more often than not. Fans hate the concept because they think it stunts Peter’s character growth whilst giving Marvel a reason to make sure he never catches a break. Some are convinced that Parker Luck is a flaw that’s ruining Spider-Man, his life, and his storylines.

Can Spider-Man’s Current Creative Team Rehabilitate Parker Luck?

Giving Spider-Man Something To Overcome

Never has Parker Luck tested Spider-Man so thoroughly than in this latest “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” arc. Once again having the worst luck, Spider-Man is recruited by Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Doom to be his champion for Earth-616 to protect it from the Scions of Cyttorak. This leads to him dying several times over, which, admittedly, Peter has died and come back from the dead on more than one occasion. This, though, is different, as he’s forced to endure death multiple times back-to-back in quick succession, which can drive any man depressed.

More than at any point in his life, death has taken a toll on Spider-Man, both in experiencing it and watching others suffer from its consequences. He finally reaches a breaking point to the point that, for a brief time, he quits being Spider-Man. As if being a superhero isn’t weighing on him heavily enough, his personal life continues to fall apart as a result of what he’s doing, and it nearly costs him his new relationship with Shay Marken, someone who Spider-Man seems to love more than crime-fighting. Yet, when the end looks nigh, Spider-Man still pushes forward.

Parker Luck has reared its ugly head on Spider-Man’s world more than it ever has before, but when everything looks incredibly hopeless, he still has it in him to put a foot forward. In the context of his monologue, it’s almost inspiring to hear how he endures and is willing to endure despite how hard his life is. He still finds meaning in life when everything is dreary. In Spider-Man’s mind, today and every day is worth fighting for in spite of Parker Luck. Using this arc as an allegory for overcoming depression, The Amazing Spider-Man makes Parker Luck inspirational.

The Amazing Spider-Man #70 is available now from Marvel Comics.

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