Comics Why Peter decides to become a superhero in the first place?

[SpideyZERO]

Yes...I know the "With great power comes great responsibilities" stuffs, and I've always thought these words are what drive Peter Parker to become a superhero in the first place. That's what happens in the movie and Ultimate titles.

But that's not the case with 616 universe. I got into comic last year and read most of the newer stuffs. So recently I bought Essential Spider-Man Vol. 1 to know how it all started. After I read around half of the book, I find it weird that how Peter becomes a hero...

After Uncle Ben's death, Peter decided to use his power for good and became a superhero, right?

No

Peter still wanted to use his power to earn money. Although this time he failed because of JJJ destroying his image. And what did he do next? He tries to join Fantastic Four because he thought that could make a lot of money...and he was rejected.

Some may say Peter tried to do good by saving John Jameson from the shuttle but I think it's more like trying to impress and change JJJ's image on him. And then there's the Vulture and the Dr Octopus. What was Peter trying to do when they first appeared? He took photographs of them to earn money, but ended up beating them because for no reasons, these villains thought Spidey was some sort of threat to them (which really wasn't) and attacked him first. Weird

In fact, most of Peter's earliest fights occurred because the villains challenged him for no reasons or Peter wanted to earn money by taking photos of the villains which winded up into a fight. I can even remember Spidey took on Electro simply because there's money rewarded for his capture.

.....Is this what a superhero does?

And then I read the whole book. Spidey continued fighting Supervillains to earn money and then suddenly the next issue, Spidey is now a superhero and fights just to help other people, without asking for any rewards!

Huh?

Please understand that I'm not hating the old stuffs, but I just find this weird and wish to discuss. Any thoughts?

 

[Shin-Natsume]

Yes...I know the "With great power comes great responsibilities" stuffs, and I've always thought these words are what drive Peter Parker to become a superhero in the first place. That's what happens in the movie and Ultimate titles.

But that's not the case with 616 universe. I got into comic last year and read most of the newer stuffs. So recently I bought Essential Spider-Man Vol. 1 to know how it all started. After I read around half of the book, I find it weird that how Peter becomes a hero...

After Uncle Ben's death, Peter decided to use his power for good and became a superhero, right?

No

Peter still wanted to use his power to earn money. Although this time he failed because of JJJ destroying his image. And what did he do next? He tries to join Fantastic Four because he thought that could make a lot of money...and he was rejected.

Some may say Peter tried to do good by saving John Jameson from the shuttle but I think it's more like trying to impress and change JJJ's image on him. And then there's the Vulture and the Dr Octopus. What was Peter trying to do when they first appeared? He took photographs of them to earn money, but ended up beating them because for no reasons, these villains thought Spidey was some sort of threat to them (which really wasn't) and attacked him first. Weird

In fact, most of Peter's earliest fights occurred because the villains challenged him for no reasons or Peter wanted to earn money by taking photos of the villains which winded up into a fight. I can even remember Spidey took on Electro simply because there's money rewarded for his capture.

.....Is this what a superhero does?

And then I read the whole book. Spidey continued fighting Supervillains to earn money and then suddenly the next issue, Spidey is now a superhero and fights just to help other people, without asking for any rewards!

Huh?

Please understand that I'm not hating the old stuffs, but I just find this weird and wish to discuss. Any thoughts?

you know, i asked that myself a few times. i dont have an answer. maybe its the point of view you have on those things, as some may argue that he did it fopr helping people and the money was what he needed to survive...

it all depends on your point of view...

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Keep in mind; he was still a fifteen year old boy (according to the Parallel Lives graphic novel) trying to adjust to his new life and responsibilities to his Aunt.

 

[blake]

And that was interesting about the character, that he wasn't like Superman or Captain America who embodied the superhero archetype.
Half of every issue he was just Peter Parker who had to deal with his own problems.

His uncle Ben's death didn't make him a superhero, it just taught him about responsibility and power... what he needed in order to become a hero.

 

[The Joker]

Some may say Peter tried to do good by saving John Jameson from the shuttle but I think it's more like trying to impress and change JJJ's image on him. And then there's the Vulture and the Dr Octopus. What was Peter trying to do when they first appeared? He took photographs of them to earn money, but ended up beating them because for no reasons, these villains thought Spidey was some sort of threat to them (which really wasn't) and attacked him first. Weird

That's not what happened with Ock.

Yes, he originally went to the hospital where Ock was, because JJJ wanted pics of him. But, Peter thought he was going to take pics of an injured scientist. Not a super villain. He didn't have to confront Ock. But, he did, when he saw Ock had taken hostages, and Ock started to hurt one of the doctors he was holding hostage.

When Peter did eventually beat Ock, it wasn't because Ock saw Spidey as a threat. As far as Ock was concerned, Spidey was no threat, because Ock whupped him easily and tossed him out the window like a piece of trash. Spidey went and seeked Ock out, because he was the danger.

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

Yeah... well, what about Pete's failed attemt to be a Porn Star?
THAT'S not very heroic!

 

[SuperFerret]

He also went to the FF to earn money as a superhero. He still wanted to do superheroics, but he wanted to be able to support his aunt at the same time.

 

[Dangerous]

Yeah, his uncle's death was the turning point but that did not mean that he was not still a 16 yr old youth who wanted to try and make some money from his new superhero career. He soon discovered a way to do this by selling pics of himself to JJJ.
Quite simple really.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Peter wanted to make money, so he had to balance what he was doing. He wanted to save people but at the same time, he was trying to make money. He also was trying to take care of Aunt May. As other have said, he was 16 years old and at that age, he needed money. Peter will never forget his Uncle Ben dieing and that with great power comes great responsibility. If he saw somebody getting mugged or killed on the street, he would feel responsible because he didn't help that person. Sure he fought the villians and took pictures of himself to earn money, but he still cared about other peoples lives.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

The very fact that he was dressed as Spider-Man during these events prove that he was there to be a superhero,take the vulture story if he had gone to the roof not dressed as Spider-Man he could have got the picture without the Vulture even taking notice of him.

BTW in the mid-ninties there were new issues of Amazing Fantasy that bridge the gap between AF 15 and ASM 1

 

[DeaDheaD]

He decided to become a superhero b/c if he disco'd it up as a regular person he would have been arrested

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

BTW in the mid-ninties there were new issues of Amazing Fantasy that bridge the gap between AF 15 and ASM 1

THAT is where the whole porn star thing takes place...

 

[SpideyZERO]

Huh...porn star???

 

[3dman27]

THAT is where the whole porn star thing takes place...

was that some retcon? i never read that about spidey

 

[wolvie2020]

was that some retcon? i never read that about spidey

Lol, with great power, comes great sexual responsiblity!

Wear a condom kids