Times Spider-Man Failed New York

Key Takeaways

Spider-Man has faced failures that have impacted New York like Doc Ock becoming Superior Spider-Man.
During Civil War, Spidey’s indecision worsened the conflict, endangering New Yorkers.
In Maximum Carnage, Spider-Man struggled to keep up with Carnage’s chaos, risking lives in New York.

As a lifelong fan of Spider-Man comics, I have witnessed the highs and lows, the triumphs and tragedies that this iconic character has experienced throughout his illustrious history. Amongst the numerous stories that have left an indelible mark on me, the Clone Saga stands out as one of the most complex and divisive arcs in Spidey’s saga.

As a die-hard gamer of the friendly neighborhood Spidey, I can’t help but notice how Marvel’s writers seem to take pleasure in tossing my favorite hero into one trouble after another. It’s become a running joke among us fans that Spider-Man’s life is nothing short of a writer’s nightmare, and more often than not, even with my best attempts, I find myself unable to save the day for him.

In the world of comic books, New York City, being Spidey’s hometown, often suffers from collateral damage due to Spider-Man’s heroic actions. While he is known as “the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man,” there are moments when the city might be better off if he hadn’t intervened, given the potential harm he can cause. This discussion focuses on instances where Spider-Man’s mistakes have impacted the city as a whole, excluding events that have wider repercussions, such as altering reality, or more personal failures like the death of Gwen Stacy.

7 Letting Doc Octopus Become The Superior Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man #698-700 and Superior Spider-Man #1-31

Back in 1963, I first encountered Doctor Octopus in The Amazing Spider-Man #3. Since then, we’ve clashed numerous times, with me coming out on top more often than not. However, there have been instances where he’s managed to get the upper hand, and that was especially true during the Superior Spider-Man arc. In a desperate bid to survive, Otto’s mind took over my body, trapping me within his dying flesh. With an air of arrogance typical of him, he decided to prove himself superior to yours truly by leveraging his intelligence to become a more advanced version of Spider-Man. The original me, meanwhile, seemed to have perished in Otto’s old body.

It’s clear that this Spider-Man tale ranks among Marvel’s grimmest: At first, Octavius seems to be on top, but soon enough, he understands he’s taken on more than he can handle. All along, Peter Parker held back, and the relentless Superior Spider-Man inflicts severe harm on some of Peter’s iconic adversaries. This, coupled with Otto’s stern law enforcement methods, puts him at odds with other superheroes like the Avengers. The climax comes in Goblin Nation, where Green Goblin resurfaces and outmatches Otto, seizing control of New York with his goblin horde. In the end, the Superior Spider-Man fails to safeguard New York, and Otto acknowledges there’s no other choice but to surrender control back to the genuine Spider-Man, who had been serving as his moral compass throughout the series. After a challenging few months, Peter finally reappears, leaving the people of New York battered but resilient.

6 Got Involved In Super Hero Politics During Civil War

First Civil War Event, 2006

Few characters from Marvel’s 2006 “Civil War” storyline emerged unscathed. Among them, Spider-Man experienced a particularly difficult time. Initially, Peter supported Iron Man and the Superhuman Registration Act. However, his decision to reveal his identity to not only New York but also the world provided his adversaries with the means to attack those close to him. This ultimately resulted in Aunt May being wounded by gunfire.

Initially, Spider-Man hesitates and vacillates, ultimately deciding to ally with Captain America. This decision triggers an escalating fury in Iron Man, who comes dangerously close to eliminating Spider-Man. The main issue arising from this situation is that the friends of Spider-Man became preoccupied with their conflicts and political maneuvering, neglecting what truly mattered. Unfortunately, Spider-Man only served to exacerbate the divide between pro-registration and anti-registration factions. He also played a role in turning New York into a battlefield, as various hero and villain groups clashed with each other. While it’s entertaining to witness our beloved heroes engage in combat, they ultimately need to demonstrate heroic behavior. Sadly, Spider-Man failed to do so, and the residents of New York suffered the consequences.

5 Couldn’t Keep Up Cletus Kasady During Maximum Carnage

Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage

Spider-Man enthusiasts understand that when Carnage appears on the scene, chaos is inevitable. This ruthless and malicious character stands out among Spidey’s rogues gallery as one of his most sinister foes. Unlike many other villains who fight for personal profit or recognition, Carnage takes pleasure in inflicting pain indiscriminately. In the 1993 Maximum Carnage comic event, this villainous figure embarked on a violent rampage throughout New York City.

On a favorable occasion, Carnage typically holds his ground against Spider-Man, but this time around, he was spearheading a gang of supervillains, consisting of Shriek and Demogoblin among others. As these villains reveled in slaughtering innocent New Yorkers, Spider-Man found himself compelled to collaborate with Venom and various other heroes. Unfortunately, their alliance failed to yield the desired results as they were overpowered by the chaos Carnage had instigated within the city. While Spider-Man and his allies debated the permissible level of retaliatory violence, Shriek exploited her abilities to sow discord among New Yorkers. In the end, the heroes emerged victorious only when Carnage turned against his own group, providing a brief window for Spider-Man and company. However, by then it was already too late for numerous unfortunate residents of the city.

4 Left New York At Kraven’s Mercy During Kraven’s Last Hunt

Web of Spider-Man #31-32, Amazing Spider-Man #293-294, Spectacular Spider-Man #131-132

In a simpler and more conversational style: Spider-Man isn’t merely a guy in a suit swinging around New York City, rescuing people. He’s a symbol, a guiding light that makes New Yorkers feel secure, even when the city is often filled with danger in comic books. However, if Spider-Man fails his city, it’s not just about letting ordinary folks fall into peril; sometimes, it’s about losing the faith of the people who look up to him. This is what occurred in the story “Kraven’s Last Hunt.

As a gamer, I can’t help but appreciate the masterful storytelling in “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” It all starts when an aging and disheartened Kraven catches me off guard, shooting me with a rifle, burying me alive, then donning a black Spidey suit to mimic my role. Just like Otto during the Superior Spider-Man saga, Kraven’s goal is to prove he can best me at my own game. He does this by becoming an even more ruthless version of the hero – not only beating up crooks but being ready to kill them too. It’s no surprise that New Yorkers and their police start losing faith in their supposed savior as they witness this brutal transformation.

3 Spider-Island Turned Normal New Yorkers into Super-Powered Spider-Monsters

Amazing Spider-Man #666-673

Ever since the demise of Gwen Stacy, The Jackal has become fixated on causing trouble for Spider-Man, almost turning it into a personal crusade. As one of Spidey’s most formidable foes, he’s played a pivotal role in some of the hero’s most memorable and contentious narratives. One particularly noteworthy Jackal storyline is “Spider-Island,” where he tests Peter Parker to his breaking point and forces him to lean on those around him to save New York City.

In the storyline known as “Spider-Island”, the Jackal unleashed a genetically modified virus, granting spider abilities to countless New York citizens, such as Mary Jane Watson and Spidey’s girlfriend at the time, Carlie Cooper. To make matters worse, the Jackal employed numerous villains themed around spiders who impersonated Spider-Man in an attempt to create havoc within the city. As the virus spread and those infected transformed into monstrous creatures, New York descended into utter chaos, prompting a call for the Avengers to intervene. After much struggle, our heroes discovered a cure for the Jackal’s virus; however, the city would never be the same. The most troubling aspect of it all was that Madam Web had foretold these events, but Peter, acting against his usual caution, ignored her predictions.

2 The Clone Saga Made New York Question Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) to The Spectacular Spider-Man #263 (1997)

The Clone Sagas are some of the most famous and controversial Spider-Man stories of all time. The first clone saga kicked off not long after Gwen Stacy’s death in the 1970s and saw the first time the Jackal made Spider-Man fight his own clone. The second clone saga took up a good chunk of the 1990s and gave us both Ben Reilly and Kaine. Then we got a third clone saga in 2021 focused around Miles Morales. It’s the second Clone Saga we’ll be talking about here.

The second Clone Saga became quite prolonged and complex, with numerous twists. In essence, it brought back Peter Parker’s original clone, Ben Reilly, along with antagonistic clones like Kaine. The Jackal set these clones loose in New York, causing more chaos. Confused by the villain’s schemes, Peter questioned his own identity as Spider-Man, which hindered his effectiveness in safeguarding his city. This internal struggle didn’t do much for Spider-Man’s reputation in the city, and it took a while for the public to regain faith in their friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. The abundance of different Spider-Men, some heroic, others villainous, was overwhelming for everyone involved.

1 Stand Tall Is A Touching Memorial To The Real Events of 9/11

Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 #36

Generally speaking, Marvel’s comic books tend to steer clear from discussing real-life incidents as they aim to provide an escape for readers. However, when events are so monumental that they can’t be ignored, writers often incorporate them. This was the case with “The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2, Chapter 36“, also known as “Stand Tall”. Written in response to the devastating events of September 11th, this issue depicted Spider-Man and other heroes arriving at the scene shortly after the collapse of the Twin Towers.

This comic book storyline highlights Spider-Man’s strong bond with his city as he supports first responders during a tragic event, acknowledging their heroism throughout. Stricken by regret for not preventing the disaster, Spidey is deeply affected, yet finds solace in helping his fellow citizens. Remarkably, even adversaries like Magneto, Kingpin, and Dr. Doom join forces to offer assistance and pay tribute. Unlike his usual humorous self, this storyline presents a somber and moving portrayal of the actual events surrounding 9/11. Essentially, it’s a poignant narrative that starts with Spider-Man feeling helpless but ends on a hopeful note, ensuring that evil doesn’t have the final say in his city’s recovery.

2024-09-24 15:34