Spider-Man is Marvel's most popular character and has held that title almost since his beginning. Spider-Man is unlike any superhero who came before him. The teenage hero feels real in a way few characters do, and he immediately strikes a chord with readers. Since then, the Web-Slinger's only gotten more popular, becoming one of the biggest — if not the biggest — multimedia star in the superhero world.
The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has been on top for six decades and shows no sign of stopping. The key to Spider-Man's continued success is the fact Marvel and their writers have let the character grow in a number of remarkable ways., making him all the more relatable to his fans.
10 He's Been A Member Of The Three Major Marvel Teams
There are three Marvel superteams that stand above the rest: the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men. Each one has a different mission, and while there have been members who've floated between the three groups, it's very rare for a hero to have been on all three teams.
Spider-Man is part of that elite group, along with Wolverine and Storm. His popularity means he's been included in most Marvel teams. The fact he manages to join the X-Men — a team which has rarely allows non-mutants to join — is a very impressive accomplishment.
9 The Superior Spider-Man Gave Fans A Different Kind Of Spider-Man
Writer Dan Slott's run on Spider-Man has a mixed reputation among fans, but there's one thing everyone can agree on: The Superior Spider-Man is great. Joined by artists Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Guiseppe Camuncoli, his story follows Otto Octavius, having taken over Peter Parker's body, as he tries to prove he's the superior Spider-Man.
The Superior Spider-Man was a new take on Spider-Man. It came out of left field, surprising readers with its bold and compelling story. Slott and company created a legendary narrative with this title, one that did wonders for the Spider-franchise.
8 He Has The Best Costume In Comics
If clothes make the man, then Spider-Man has always been the greatest. While Marvel often likes to throw new costumes at him, there's really no reason to. His original suit is basically perfect from the get-go, with only a few cosmetic tweaks needed to make it truly sing.
Everything about Spider-Man's costume just works. The color scheme, the webs, the mask, and everything else all blends together to create a costume that's visually striking. The fact he goes decades without changing it when many other characters had been through numerous costume changes speaks volumes.
7 The Ultimate Spider-Man Gave Modern Fans A Teenage Spider-Man And Introduced Miles Morales
The Ultimate Spider-Man was a gamble that paid off. Launched by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley, the book not only started the Ultimate line, but it also gave modern audiences the chance to meet a teenage Spider-Man — without having to break the bank and chase down the Web-Head's earliest comics.
Eventually, Peter Parker died and was replaced by Miles Morales, who would go on to become one of the most beloved Spider-Men ever. TUSM did wonders for the Spider-Man fandom and its introduction of Miles gave a whole new generation of fans their own Spider-Man.
6 He's Worked In Every Single Type Of Story
Going back and reading Spider-Man comics from the beginning reveals something interesting about the character. Sometimes, a character only works in certain circumstances and doesn't fit outside their wheelhouse. With his sixty-year publication history and multiple solo books — as well as umpteen guest appearances and team books — Spider-Man appears n every story style one can think of.
Whether a comic book's tone is comical, somber, inspirational, or leans toward classic horror, Spider-Man fits right in. He's a universal character through and through, allowing writers to experiment with his stories. Few characters are as versatile, making Spidey stand out even further.
5 The Feet Of Clay Approach Made Spider-Man Different From The Crowd
Marvel was able to pull ahead of DC in the Silver Age because their heroes were more realistic. Spider-Man was the apotheosis of this approach. Peter Parker was the ultimate hard luck hero, and this made the audience love him all the more. Spider-Man could let people down, but that was part of why fans loved him.
Sometimes Marvel would take the notion of his "Parker luck" a bit too far, using it as a rule rather than a story device, but Spider-Man's failures and mishaps continued to make him relatable. Spider-Man wasn't a perfect, but he was a hero.
4 He Has The Greatest Villain Corps Of Any Solo Marvel Character
Villains are an important part of the superhero equation. Spider-Man battles some of the most terrifying foes in comics and that's a part of the character's draw. Spider-Man is a great character, but would he be just as compelling without having arch enemies like Norman Osborn and Doctor Octopus? What would Spider-Man be like without "Kraven's Last Hunt?"
Creators have pulled out all the stops to give Spider-Man the best villains on the block. No other solo character in the Marvel Universe has a rogues gallery that's as stacked with villainous talent, a factor which has added great depth and intrigue to his amazing stories.
3 He's Grown So Much Over The Years
While the last decade and a half saw some regressions for Spider-Man's character, the previous forty-five years were quite different. Spider-Man started as a teenager and fans watched him age, albeit slowly, witnessing how he dealt with growing up. This approach to building a character changed comics.
Before Spider-Man, comic characters were mostly static creations. Spider-Man was vital and grew, becoming something special as the years went by. He set new trends regarding character growth, and the comic industry was better for it.
2 The Death Of Gwen Stacy Was A Game Changing Moment
Spider-Man was known for his foibles, even failing at times, but he always bounced back and saved the day. However, the death of Gwen Stacy proved he couldn't always win. It was a seminal moment in Spider-Man's life and in comics. Up until that point, love interests like Stacy didn't die; the worst that would happen was they'd break up and be replaced.
Gwen's death was an event that changed the tenor of Spider-Man and his adventures forever. Losing his love changed Spider-Man as a character. It also opened the door for one of the best developments in Spider-Man history.
1 Peter Parker's Marriage To Mary Jane Was The Perfect Evolution Of The Character
While modern Marvel seems to be obsessed with making Spider-Man into the 1970s version of the character, fans all agree the era when Peter Parker was married to Mary Jane Watson was his best. Mary Jane and Peter went well together; she was a multidimensional character — unlike Gwen Stacy — and she was the Wall-Crawler's true partner.
Peter's marriage to MJ was a major moment in the character's evolution. It set down a stark dividing line in Spider-Man's history. Being married was the perfect character arc for Peter and watching him navigate that life and his life as Spider-Man was always entertaining.