The 10 Spider-Men Who Best Live Up to Uncle Ben’s Lesson

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Throughout his career as Spider-Man, there’s one key principle he follows, instilled in him by his Uncle Ben. Before his unfortunate death during a robbery, Uncle Ben famously told Peter Parker that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Essentially, this means that possessing power requires using it responsibly. Peter didn’t initially understand this, and tragically, his Uncle Ben died because of it. Ever since, Spider-Man has dedicated himself to honoring his uncle’s words. However, when considering the many different Spider-Man versions across the multiverse, and even Peter’s clones, it’s clear that not all of them embrace this important lesson.

Whether it’s Spider-Man from Earth-616, his alternate selves, or different iterations within his own universe, here’s a look at 10 Spider-Men who either truly embody Uncle Ben’s teachings, or fall short.

10) Superior Spider-Man

The Superior Spider-Man is actually Doctor Octopus. The villain took control of Peter Parker’s body right before his own died from cancer following a huge fight with his rival. After taking over, he continued acting as Spider-Man, but with some key differences. The biggest change is that this version of Spider-Man is much more aggressive and isn’t afraid to use force, unlike Peter Parker would be.

Doc Ock transitioned into a heroic role, but his aggressive methods led other heroes to doubt his intentions. Among all the Spider-Men of Earth-616, the Superior Spider-Man is arguably the least mindful of Uncle Ben’s teaching about using powers responsibly.

9) Spider-Man Noir

Spider-Man Noir comes from Earth-90214, a reality where Marvel heroes emerged during the 1920s and 1930s. This world largely lacks superpowers, with only a few characters – like Spider-Man – gaining abilities through a mystical Spider God. He’s another version of Peter Parker, and similar to the main Peter Parker, he also experienced the loss of his Uncle Ben, but this time it was in response to him organizing a strike, at the hands of a New York City businessman.

Compared to the mainstream Earth-616 Spider-Man, the Noir version utilizes firearms, such as pistols, revolvers, a submachine gun, and even incendiary grenades. He operates by a different code: if someone has too much power, he feels obligated to take it from them. Because Noir doesn’t hesitate to kill, he doesn’t share many of the beliefs instilled by Uncle Ben.

8) Spider-Man 2099

Spider-Man 2099 is actually Miguel O’Hara, originating from Earth-928. He exists in a futuristic version of the world, specifically the year 2099, demonstrating that some present-day heroes continue to exist in the future, though often with new individuals stepping into well-known roles. He gained his powers after being betrayed by his boss at Alchemax, who gave him a hallucinogenic drug. Miguel then experimented on himself, and the combination of the drug and the experiment granted him Spider-Man-like abilities. Similar to Spider-Man Noir, Miguel is considerably more aggressive than Peter Parker, and therefore doesn’t always follow the same moral guidelines instilled by Uncle Ben in the original Spider-Man story. He is quite different from the classic hero.

7) Spider-Punk

Spider-Punk, also known as Hobie Brown, comes from Earth-138. He was a rebellious teenager living under a strict, fascist government led by President Norman Osborn. He gained his abilities after being bitten by a spider that was exposed to radioactive waste from illegal dumping. This event sparked his journey to fight against the oppressive regime and rise up in resistance. It was a turning point in his life.

However, Spider-Punk differed greatly from Peter Parker because he understood drastic measures were needed to protect his world from a villainous president. Spider-Punk defeated Osborn by decapitating him with his guitar, effectively eliminating the threat. Hubie also occasionally employs barbed wire in place of webbing, and he doesn’t follow the teachings of Uncle Ben from Earth-616-though, in his reality, those lessons wouldn’t have been effective anyway.

6) Kaine

Kaine originated as a clone of Peter Parker during the Clone Saga storyline. Although Ben Reilly was considered the primary clone, Kaine was the initial attempt. A mistake in the cloning process resulted in mental instability. Despite this, the Jackal kept him alive to observe his survival. This treatment bred anger and envy towards both Ben and Peter. Coupled with his unstable mental state, Kaine was prone to violence and didn’t hesitate to retaliate against anyone who threatened him. He was a dangerous individual.

Kaine was responsible for a death, and Peter Parker (as Ben Reilly) faced legal consequences as a result. Despite this, Kaine showed he’d learned some of the values Uncle Ben taught, admitting to the crime and ultimately giving his life to save Peter from the Jackal. Ultimately, he fully embraced the lessons Uncle Ben had imparted.

5) Norman Osborn

Norman Osborn is a Spider-Man character who has changed a lot recently. This began when Sin Eater removed his sins, allowing him to find forgiveness. He then briefly worked as Peter Parker’s support, designing new Spider-Man costumes and even becoming a hero himself. In 2025, Spider-Man’s behavior shifted dramatically, and it wasn’t until Ben Reilly appeared that people realized this new Spider-Man wasn’t actually Peter.

It’s crazy to think about, but Peter is currently off-world and can’t come back. And now we’ve found out that Norman Osborn is the new Spider-Man! He actually wants to honor Peter’s legacy and keep his dream going. It’s hard to wrap my head around, but Norman really seems to embody everything Uncle Ben stood for – it’s amazing how much he’s changed from being a villain. Though, let’s be real, he’s definitely more aggressive than Peter was. Remember what he did to Shocker? He actually *broke* his hands! It’s a lot to process.

4) Ben Reilly

Ben Reilly was created as a clone of Peter Parker and sparked the famously disliked Clone Saga storyline. The Jackal made this clone after his initial attempt with Kaine didn’t succeed, and he introduced Ben to disrupt Peter’s life. Ben believed he was the real Peter, complete with all of his memories – even those of Uncle Ben. But when Ben and Peter discovered one of them was a clone, it led to a complicated series of events that many fans found difficult to follow.

Despite losing his memories, Ben has consistently strived to remember the valuable lesson about responsibility taught to him by both Peter’s memories and the love of Uncle Ben. After the Beyond Corporation wiped his memory, he became Scarlet Spider and later the villain Chasm. Ultimately, he regained his heroic path and is once more living up to Uncle Ben’s teachings.

3) Peni Parker

Peni Parker is a version of Spider-Man from Earth-14512. Instead of a traditional suit, she fights crime using a robot called SP//dr, which she controls with technology created by her father. Sadly, her father passed away while piloting the SP//dr suit. Her Uncle Ben and Aunt May then encouraged her to continue his work, emphasizing the weight of responsibility. Similar to Peter Parker, Peni started her journey as a superhero during her teenage years, experiencing her first battle at just 14 years old. Fortunately, having her own Uncle Ben meant she also had a guiding mentor who helped her understand the importance of always doing what’s right. Learn more about Peni Parker.

2) Peter Parker

Peter Parker from Earth-616 was the first character in Marvel Comics to receive a vital lesson from Uncle Ben. Unfortunately, he didn’t fully grasp its meaning until a tragic event: Spider-Man inadvertently allowed a burglar to escape, resulting in his uncle’s death. However, Ben’s death became the driving force behind Peter’s commitment to applying his uncle’s wisdom to all aspects of his life.

He’s occasionally missed the mark, but those times are few and far between, and he’s consistently strived to honor Uncle Ben’s teachings every day since. However, due to instances where Peter hasn’t acted as heroically as he could (like his bargain with Mephisto), there’s someone who embodies Ben’s lessons even more closely.

1) Miles Morales

Unlike many heroes, Miles Morales didn’t have an Uncle Ben figure. Instead, he learned about responsibility primarily from his parents – his father, who is a police officer, and his mother, a resilient Latina woman. He also received guidance from Peter Parker, in both the Ultimate Universe and the mainstream Earth-616. Being a teenager and a new hero, Miles is known as one of the most upright and genuine superheroes around.

Similar to Peter Parker, he consistently prioritizes the well-being of others and strives to save everyone he can. Miles Morales embodies the ideals Peter Parker should represent, and because he’s still young, he’s able to uphold those strong moral principles. Plus, he has a solid network of support to consistently guide him in doing the right thing. It’s a great combination.

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2025-09-29 23:46