“You Are the Best of Us”: Marvel Explains the Reason Why Spider-Man Is Its Most Important Hero

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Spider-Man is widely considered the greatest hero in the Marvel Universe, but the reasons why can often differ – though perhaps the best answer came in an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, in which Marvel has definitively explained that Spider-Man is the literal moral fiber of the entire Marvel Universe, setting the standard for all other characters.

Amazing Spider-Man #637 – written by Joe Kelly, with art by Marco Checchetto and Michael Lark – features a moment in which Peter Parker is pulled back from the brink of killing a freshly-resurrected Krave the Hunter. Infuriated at the murder of Kaine to achieve this resurrection, Spider-Man very nearly kills Kraven in his fury.

Before he can accomplish it, he’s stopped by Julia Carpenter, who explains the pivotal role Spider-Man plays in the Marvel Universe, as he is situated at the center of the web of morality that binds the publisher’s roster of heroes together.

Spider-Man’s Near-Deadly Confrontation With Kraven Revealed Why He Is So Important To The Marvel Universe

Amazing Spider-Man #637 – Written By Joe Kelly; Art By Marco Checchetto & Michael Lark; Ink By Stefano Gaudiano & Brian Thies; Color By Matt Hollingsworth; Lettering By Joe Caramagna

As Julia Carpenter explains in Amazing Spider-Man #637, Spider-Man is the moral heart of the Marvel Universe. If he ever gives up and becomes a killer, it will have massive ramifications that he can’t fully comprehend. Julia explains that the only reason Marvel has heroes is that Spider-Man’s moral example lights the way for others to follow. Every hero, in some aspect, draws their sense of morality from Spider-Man. Of all the ways that Spidey’s importance to Marvel Comics could be encapsulated, this is perhaps the most impactful.

Marvel has, at times, explored different futures where Spider-Man gives up and uses lethal force, with the two biggest being Spider-Man: Last Stand and Spider-Man: Reign. According to Julia Carpenter, the second Spider-Man gives up on what he believes is right, that the rest of the universe will follow him soon after. Killing Kraven would result in Spider-Man eventually being kicked out of the Avengers, becoming estranged from Aunt May, finally, ending up being shot to death by the NYPD in a graveyard. And While it seems like the consequences of killing are only on Spider-Man, that’s not entirely true.

Marvel’s Greatest Heroes Need Spider-Man More Than Spidey Realizes

Marvel’s Leading Hero By Example

Julia Carpenter specifically says that sparing Kraven’s life means Spider-Man would be saving millions of people. As Julia explains, Spider-Man’s capacity as a hero is near limitless, but so is his capacity as a destroyer. Without Spider-Man’s example to follow, the rest of the world would slowly become darker as well. This is best shown by the Spider-Man: Reign universe, one of the darkest universes Marvel has ever depicted. This version of Spider-Man retired after accidentally killing Mary Jane, and the world fell into darkness soon after.

Spider-Man is almost always underappreciated in his own time, but he is regarded as one of Marvel’s greatest heroes in the far future. It’s hard to overstate just how important of a hero Peter Parker is, and the Marvel Universe knows it. While the Avengers and the other heroes might not be consciously aware of it, all of them depend on Spider-Man’s moral core. This one small interaction proves that, while the Marvel Universe is full of heroes, they wouldn’t be nearly as heroic as they are without Spider-Man.

Amazing Spider-Man #637 is available now from Marvel Comics!

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