Call him amazing, spectacular, astonishing or whatever one would like, but nothing can describe, at the end of the day, how popular and beloved the character ofSpider-Mantruly is. He’s the most profitable superhero on the planet and the star of one ofthe highest-grossing film franchises. But why is he so loved among the masses? What is different about Spider-Man?
There are many character traits that make up and define the character, butsome are truly the cornerstone traits that make him such an incredible hero. Whether it be his inability to give up, sense of responsibility, or witty humor, there is so much about Spider-Man that makes him the man he is.These are the character traits that best represent Spider-Manas a hero who countless people look up to for hope and entertainment.
10He Speaks His Mind
Stick It to the Man!
One thing that is very admirable about Spidey is thathe always speaks his mind.If he thinks something isn’t right or needs fixing, nothing stops him from making it known. There are dozens upon dozens of times in the comics where the Wall-Crawler tells off another hero (or eventhat time he punched Nick Fury) because he didn’t agree with their methodology or whatever else may have ticked him off.
It all comes down toSpidey always being willing to do what’s right. He follows his heart and wears it on his sleeve, always being true to himself. Many people wish they could have a trait like that, as it’s not easy to so blatantly speak one’s mind. It’s so inspiring to see Spider-Man consistently doing so, giving audiences another reason to look up to him.
9He’s Not a Perfect Guy
We Can’t All Be Financially Stable
Spider-Man is not perfect — not in the slightest.He often makes many mistakes and causes a lot of the problems that plague him. For example:screwing up Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) spellby constantly changing it inSpider-Man: No Way Home. But what makes up for his chaos is the fact that when he causes a problem, he always gets to solving it.
The entire reason that Uncle Ben was killed was because Peter let his ego and selfishness win, letting the crook that would kill his uncle run free. No one is exempt from messing up sometimes, and that’s one of the biggest aspects of Spider-Man that adds to his relatability.It’s far more compelling to watch a character who’s not perfectthan one who has no problems.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
8Prioritizes the Little Guy
He’s Called the FriendlyNeighborhoodSpider-Man for a Reason
Most of the people reading his comic books, seeing his movies, and watching his animated shows aren’t billionaires or CEOs. The average, everyday person, just doing their best to get by, is usually the type of person who idolizes the web-slinger. Spidey is so appealing to the average Joe becausehe cares so much about the common manand prioritizes the little guy. That’s typically why he’s not an active member of the Avengers (or a member at all) in most iterations of the character.
While the Avengers are up in space fighting the likes of Kang the Conqueror and Thanos, Spider-Man is typicallysaving those on the streets of New York City. While he typically does get involved in major events, Spider-Man cares more about the people on the ground than the average Marvel superhero. He cares about his neighborhood and is dedicated to protecting it. As stated byTom HollandinSpider-Man: Homecoming, “Someone’s gotta look out for the little guy.”
Spider-Man: Homecoming
7His Sense of Humor
A Good Spider-Man Has Good Quips!
There really isn’t a version of Spider-Man that isn’t funny in some way. Much like most people, when he’s nervous,Peter often resorts to funny quipsand poking fun at his enemies. His humorous approach is both to ease himself and those he’s saving and sometimes to throw off his foe. Spidey’s a corny, funny guy who knows how and when to make a good joke.
If Spider-Man stops joking and gets really silent, a villain should run for their life.
The hero’s humor also helps the moments when he gets serious have more impact. If Spider-Man stops joking and gets really silent, a villain should run for their life. It makes for a vast contrast between the two personalities and brings the serious moments to a whole new level. So, not only does Spidey’s humor bring levity to scenes, but it also supports the plot and story most of the time.
6He’s Relatable
Anyone Can Wear the Mask
Spider-Man is one of, if not the most relatable superheroes of all time. He’s often considered the “every man” because he’s broke, has relationship problems, tries his best to make do, and often has something inconvenient or terrible happening to him. Everyone struggles in all of these ways in one way or another, which makes seeing a superhero as beloved as Spidey go through the same struggles very comforting.
The main theme of theSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versefilms is that “anyone can wear the mask.” This powerful message wouldn’t be possible if the character weren’t as relatable as he is. One can’t say the same message about characters like Tony Stark, but the Wall Crawler is different because he doesn’t needan Iron Man suit of armoror money to be a hero — he has his heart, which is what makes him who he is.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
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5His Double Life
A Work-Life Balance Isn’t Easy
Some of the web-slinger’s best stories and villains come from the core of his double life.His best villains have some sort of relation to both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, making them cross over in some way.Badass villains like Venom, who knew Peter from his job at the Daily Bugle and birthed from abandoning the Symbiote suit, are the perfect example.
One of the reasons people loveSpider-Man 2so much is because of the personal connection Peter builds with Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina) before he becomes Doctor Octopus, making the battle even more compelling. The young hero didn’t just have to stop Octavius but save him, too. Having plots that intersect his two lives alsoadds conflict in the fact that his identity is always at stake, withfear of someone from his personal life potentially discovering his secret or, worse, getting hurt.
Spider-Man 2
4His Integrity
“I don’t look the other way.”
As down on his luck as he may be,Spider-Man always keeps his integrity. No matter how much money he’s offered or how tempted he is by a better life, if it means looking the other way while someone is in danger, he’ll never give in. Spidey’s integrity is astoundingly admirable and inspires people to be better and not give in because he always does the right thing, no matter what.
A great example comes fromthe animated seriesThe Spectacular Spider-Manwhen the crime lord Tombstone (Keith David) offers him a plethora of money to look the other way to his organization’s crimes. When they face off again, Spider-Man (Josh Keaton) makes sure to remind him, “… I told you then, I don’t look the other way.” A perfect example of the kind of integrity the character holds.
The Spectacular Spider-Man
3Never-ending Determination
This Guy Just Doesn’t Know When To Give Up!
So long as people are in danger, that he can breathe and has power,Spider-Man will never give up the fight.Many think that Peter Parker simply doesn’t have it in him to give up, and that’s truly what makes him so inspiring and interesting to watch. He knows that with the responsibility and power he has, if he were to stop fighting, people would be in danger and potentially die.
One of the greatest examples can be found inAmazing Spider-Man #34 (2001), when he hashis big fight around New York Cityagainst the seemingly immortal new villain, Morlun. Throughout the issue, Spidey knows he’s outmatched and will most likely die (so much so that he even calls Aunt May to hear her voice one last time). Regardless,Spider-Man continues to fight and even monologues that he wishes he could give up. However, people would die… and the hero can’t allow that to happen so long as he’s breathing.
2His Selflessness
He’s Given Up Everything to Protect New York
The list of things, opportunities, and people that Peter Parker has lost or given up on to be Spider-Man and protect others is seemingly endless. Whether it be giving up his marriage to save his Aunt May, losing Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin, or losing friendships due to being unreliable, the young hero has given up almost everything to help others.
As perfectly said by Aunt May inSpider-Man 2, “..sometimes we have to be steady and give up the things we want the most, even our dreams.”
One could claim that everyone wishes they could give more to help others, but life can get in the way of that. Many people give up on the chance to help others and instead prioritize themselves, which is a very valid thing to do. But because of the responsibility he took on after the death of Uncle Ben,Peter will pretty much always pick saving people over being happy in his civilian life. It’s heartbreaking at times but also inspiring and one of the primary things that makes Spidey a hero. As perfectly said by Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) inSpider-Man 2, “…sometimes we have to be steady and give up the things we want the most, even our dreams.”
1His Responsibility
You Know the Quote.
“With great power, there must also come great responsibility,” isthe defining Spider-Man quote. Responsibility isn’t easy to uphold. Given powers like the Web-Slinger, many would most likely use them for more selfish purposes, much like how he did at the beginning of his career. Peter Parker is different, though — the young manholds the weight of the world on his shouldersand, since the death of his Uncle Ben, only uses his power to help others.
The message that he gives is that if one has the power to help others in any way, they have an obligation to do so. Almost everyone on Earth has power in one way or another, and with Spider-Man’s message, if everyone used it to help others, the world would be a much better place. However, he isn’t preachy about it; he leads by example,letting his actions speak for themselves.
