Spider-Man is still one of the most popular characters that Marvel has in their deep roster of superheroes. Spider-Man has been able to make a heavy impact, not only in comics, but also films, animated series, and much more. The character usually plays an important role in the larger crossover events from Marvel Comics, but the events of House of M are particularly transformative for Spider-Man.
The epic event pits mutants against humans in a frightening way and puts Magneto at the head of this chaos. However, Spider-Man plays an unexpected role in this conflict, which is explored in the Spider-Man: House of M miniseries.
10 It Turns Spider-Man Into A Pariah
Spider-Man is meant to be an everyman figure and he’s one of the better examples of a superhero who has to balance their responsibilities with a normal life. This can often lead to Spider-Man being a crucial figure when there are heavy decisions regarding change or when lines are drawn in the sand.
This is the case with the events of Civil War and it happens again in House of M. The public assumes that Spider-Man is a mutant and when the truth gets revealed that he’s a human who gained powers later in life, it ruins his entire image.
9 It Turns Rhino Into Spider-Man's Partner
Spider-Man's abilities and origin remain the same in the House of M storyline, but it's the relationships around him that are the biggest change, with many of them being much more positive. For instance, Peter has a higher level of notoriety here for not just being a superhero whose public identity is known to the public, but also being a successful wrestler and actor.
To keep up appearances, Spider-Man has a bodyguard by his side, which in this case happens to be the Rhino. It's an interesting twist for the villain who puts him on the opposite side of conflict.
8 Peter Parker Is Married To Gwen Stacy And Has A Son
Spider-Man: House of M is set within the altered reality that’s set in motion where mutants rule the world, but this pocket dimension does feature some other major differences beyond the standard ones that concern mutants. Spider-Man’s life is populated with many more positive figures and family here. Peter Parker is happily married to Gwen Stacy and they even have a child, who’s been able to have a seemingly normal life so far. On top of the happy life that Peter has built here, he can revel in the fact that Uncle Ben is also alive.
7 The Real Villains Are Electro, Vulture, And Ox
It seems like in Spider-Man: House of M, it's the villains and supporting characters around Spider-Man that experience more change than Spider-Man himself. Spider-Man: House of M plays around with the expectations of where the real danger lies and while it may seem like the Green Goblin is the big threat, it's really a ruse. As a result, it's instead Vulture, Electro, and Ox (and to a lesser extent, Rhino) that are the actual villains in this story. Their crimes are much more street-level and low impact, but they still cause a big stir.
6 It Gives Spider-Man And His Family A Happy Ending
The events of Spider-Man: House of M really affect Peter's reputation and his family unfortunately also experiences a lot of the fallout. Peter and those that are close to him are no strangers to this level of abuse, but it feels different in this reality. After the tumultuous ride that Parker experiences, both physically and mentally, he and his family are able to escape and take up a peaceful life in the country, far away from oppressive mutant civilization. Spider-Man has to go so far as to fake his death to achieve this peace, but it's a strategy that works.
5 It Flips Peter Parker And J. Jonah Jameson's Relationship
House of M depicts a version of Peter Parker that's considerably more successful than his Earth-616 counterpart, whether it comes to being a superhero, philanthropist, or public celebrity. J. Jonah Jameson still initially publishes a number of anti-Spider-Man hate pieces, but by the time that House of M begins, Jameson is now Peter's publicist and it's Peter who consistently makes jokes at his expense and gives him a hard time. Jameson is ultimately involved with Spider-Man’s downfall here, but they still have a tender dynamic where they’ve built a deeper, more complicated bond.
4 Memories Of The Prime Timeline Drive Spider-Man Crazy
There are many situations in the Marvel universe where alternate realities bleed together or one threatens to overpower another and either wipe out or merge together worlds. When the events of House of M take place, there are many individuals who have no memory of their previous life or how things used to be. Spider-Man is one of the few who wrestles with details from the prime timeline seeping into his mind. He tries to dismiss them as nightmares, but they slowly eat away at Parker to the point that he’s pushed to some very drastic and unhealthy measures.
3 Spider-Man Helps Solve The Rift Between Humans And Mutants
The exposing that Spider-Man experiences in Spider-Man: House of M really tarnishes Spider-Man’s brand and as much as he tries, he only seems to make things more difficult between mutants and humans. Parker’s situation becomes so dire that he goes so far as to fake a very public suicide as a gesture to mend these broken relationships. His fake death contains a plea to Magneto to “ease up” on the humans and while the Scarlet Witch is ultimately responsible for ending the House of M saga, Parker’s gesture does seem to get through to Magneto for a brief time.
2 The World Is Briefly Returned To In The Superior Spider-Man
Spider-Man has had to overcome some incredibly difficult obstacles over the years, but one of the most devastating blows that he faces is when Doctor Octopus actually manages to steal his body in the Superior Spider-Man series. During Octopus' tenure in this body, he winds up displaced to the year 2099 and desperate to return to his proper dimension. This attempt results in him checking in on other realities, all where Spider-Man has met his end, with one of them looking like the Spider-Man from the House of M universe. It's a grim return, but one all the same.
1 It Makes Peter Parker The Green Goblin
Spider-Man: House of M puts both the normal and superhero sides of Peter Parker's life through a lot of stress. Spider-Man always has a lot to juggle in terms of responsibilities, but he experiences a greater level of mental turmoil here due to the events of his Earth-616 invading his mind and him having a difficult time trying to reconcile this. This stress culminates in Peter Parker donning the Green Goblin costume, all as a complex way for his subconscious to expose Spider-Man to the public and let the truth out. It's a very powerful unmasking moment.