Part of the reason that anime is a medium of entertainment that’s been able to achieve such success is that so many series thrive on popular archetypes, whether they’re classic legends or even established superheroes, like Spider-Man. Spider-Man and his alter ego, Peter Parker, are characters that fit perfectly into anime’s shonen genre since he’s a male protagonist who struggles with new powers and faces off against dangerous enemies.
Spider-Man’s character and ethos feel particularly represented in many of the heroes who grace different anime series and there are lots of options for those who are looking for the perfect Peter Parker anime substitute.
10 Izuku Midoriya Perfectly Represents Spider-Man’s Strength & Optimism
One of the most obvious anime protagonist comparisons to Spider-Man is My Hero Academia’s Izuku Midoriya. For one, the series exists in a world where superpower Quirks are rampant and it focuses specifically on young Midoriya’s acclimation to his new abilities. Midoriya doesn’t have to hide a secret identity, but he still views the role of a hero with the utmost responsibility and the character’s dedication and morals neatly align with those of Peter Parker. Midoriya is still new to the superhero game, which means that he’s far from perfect and makes mistakes that he learns from, like Spider-Man.
9 Gohan & His Great Saiyaman Outfit Become Dragon Ball’s Spider-Man Equivalent
The Dragon Ball franchise is one of anime’s most iconic anime properties, but one area in which it exhibits some originality is with how its characters actually age and mature. Gohan begins Dragon Ball Z as a young boy, but the Buu Saga depicts his transition into high school and life as an adult. Gohan also marks this chapter from his life with a crime-fighting alter ego, the Great Saiyaman. The absurd theatrics around Saiyaman definitely feel comparable to Spider-Man’s laid-back attitude. Gohan also balances school life with this pastime and must hide the truth from the public.
8 Devilman Crybaby’s Akira Fudo Learns That Great Powers Means Great Responsibility The Hard Way
Go Nagai’s Devilman series has been creeping out audiences for decades, but its latest iteration, Devilman Crybaby, is one of the most exciting and layered adaptations of the transformative story. Akira Fudo becomes blessed and cursed to carry the title of Devilman, a transformation that comes with exceptional power.
There’s the constant temptation for Akira to abuse this power rather than use it to fight off demonic forces. Akira is just a regular teenager and this new power slowly derails his regular life, just like with Spider-Man, even if Akira’s Devilman form feels a lot more like Venom.
7 Saiki Kusuo Has Immense Psychic Powers That He Must Hide From The World
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is an absurdist gag anime series that’s latched onto a devoted audience of fans and it even has a respectable live-action feature film adaptation. Saiki Kusuo has psychic abilities so advanced that they’d make Charles Xavier wince. Saiki’s dilemma stems from how he just wants to be left alone and coast by in peace. He actively uses his powers to avoid attention and deflect praise. Saiki tries to avoid the use of his powers, but the whole hidden secret and the conflicts it causes in his everyday life is right out of Spider-Man.
6 Parasyte’s Shinichi Accepts His New Powers & Rises To The Occasion
Parasyte -the maxim- is a disturbing anime series that experiments in body horror and gruesome violence and it initially doesn’t seem like there’d be much in common between this anime and Spider-Man. However, Shinichi Izumi becomes the unsuspecting host to an alien parasite known as Migi. Shinichi suddenly becomes a crucial figure in the prevention of Earth’s invasion from villainous extraterrestrials. Shinichi works to find a rhythm with this new alien side of himself and his growth into an unlikely hero is very much like Peter Parker. Migi is almost as if the Venom symbiote had altruistic intentions.
5 Saitama & The Hero Association Show That Anyone Can Be A Hero In One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man is another major success story that effectively pairs together shonen sensibilities with superhero tropes to create a series that both deconstructs these genres as well as faithfully pays tribute to them.
One-Punch Man is full of eccentric heroes, some of which are just courageous individuals that wield a baseball bat and have heavy confidence. Saitama has a very unassuming appearance, but his success as a hero is a testament to how “anyone can wear the mask.” There’s no doubt that Saitama would be Spider-Man in a fight, but he’d also definitely respect the hero.
4 God Of High School’s Jin Mori Is A Normal Teenager Who Learns That He’s Destined For Greatness
Many anime series capitalize on a tournament structure and The God of High School is built around such a concept. The anime’s competition assembles the best high school warriors from across South Korea, all of which possess unique fighting skills and latent energy abilities. Jin Mori learns that he’s an important figure, but he constantly embraces a laid-back attitude and focuses on the positive. Jin Mori’s connection to his ailing grandfather also bears a lot in common with Peter Parker’s integral bond with Uncle Ben. Jin Mori also must learn how to juggle his regular responsibilities with his growing abilities.
3 Barnaby Brooks Jr. Represents Spider-Man’s Flasher Impulses In Tiger & Bunny
Tiger & Bunny is another anime that explicitly deals with superheroes, but it applies a slightly more jaded approach to the subject where corporate sponsors and self-promotion is almost as important to heroics as the lives that are saved. Tiger & Bunny introduces many contrasting paradigms on how to be a hero and Barnaby Brooks Jr. embraces a more confident and shameless side to the position. Barnaby relishes the attention and doesn’t bother to conceal his secret identity. He almost feels like Spider-Man during the later stages of Parker’s run when the public accepts him in the role.
2 Ichiro Inuyashiki Is Determined To Do Good Even Though He’s At The End Of The Line
Inuyashiki is one of the most captivating anime to come out in the past decade. It tells a deeply challenging and moving story across 11 concise episodes. A freak event forever changes the lives of Ichiro Inuyashiki--a 58 year-old man--and Hiro Shishigami--a disaffected teenager. Hiro grows into a dangerous villain who abuses their new strength, which pushes Inuyashiki into the unlikely role of hero to prevent him from hurting more people. Inuyashiki might be more than twice the age of Spider-Man, but he grapples with the same themes and accepts the call to action when the time comes.
1 Sailor Moon’s Usagi Conquers Evil & Still Has To Finish Her Homework
Sailor Moon’s Usagi may look quite different from Peter Parker at first glance, but the situation that they’re in and how they handle their new responsibilities are nearly identical. Usagi learns that she’s not just a regular female teenager. She constantly vanquishes evil to keep the Earth safe, but Sailor Moon specifically narrows in on how these magical girl obligations impact Usagi’s life as a teenager. Much like Peter Parker, Usagi gradually grows into a confident hero with the right priorities, but her journey to become this strong figure is part of Sailor Moon’s message.