60 Years Later, Spider-Man Is Redefining His Most Important Quote

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The saying that has always been central to Spider-Man’s story is that with great power comes great responsibility. These words, first said by the narrator at the end of Spider-Man’s first comic book appearance, perfectly capture what the character stands for. Because he has incredible abilities, he feels obligated to do as much good as possible and help anyone in need. Even now, more than sixty years after Amazing Fantasy #15, these words continue to shape the journeys of both Peter Parker and Norman Osborn as they strive to become better Spider-Men.

Peter is venturing through space to become more powerful, and Norman is rebuilding his life, trying to become the kind of hero he once despised. Both are striving to live by a core principle, but are also adapting it to match their individual personalities and journeys.

Increasing Power to Match Responsibility

From the moment Peter understood he could have saved Uncle Ben, he’s strived to live by the idea of learning from loss. However, over time, Spider-Man grew to be much more than just a neighborhood hero. He became a symbol of heroism within the Marvel Universe – someone everyone admired. As his fame increased, so did his duties, facing ever-greater dangers not only in New York City, but across the entire multiverse. His enemies have become incredibly powerful, and the weight on his shoulders has grown, but he hasn’t quite reached the power level needed to meet those challenges. That is, until now.

Joe Kelly’s work on The Amazing Spider-Man centers around Peter Parker’s journey to become more powerful following a tough loss to Hellgate. Issue The Amazing Spider-Man #13 reveals how Peter is gaining this strength. After being saved by the eccentric alien scientist Xento, Peter repurposed Xento’s ship-which was full of prisoners-into a team reminiscent of the Guardians of the Galaxy, returning each member to their home planet. He’s also using a unique suit made from the remains of a technarch. Peter continues to train with the incarcerated Xento, driven to improve his abilities.

Meanwhile, Norman Osborn is attempting to step into the role of Spider-Man. Determined not to let Peter Parker’s heroic work be forgotten-unlike what he feels happened before-Norman donned the suit to carry on Peter’s mission of helping others. However, Norman is battling his own personal struggles while doing so, constantly striving to become the person he believes he *should* be, despite his inner turmoil. He clashes with the other Spider-People in New York, but ultimately manages to regain control and offer an apology. He is genuinely trying to improve himself and become a better man.

Peter is dealing with increased responsibilities, so he’s striving for more influence to handle them. Norman, on the other hand, has always been powerful, but he’s now learning from Peter to use his power responsibly. Together, they perfectly embody the meaning of a classic quote, each from a different but equally crucial perspective. This approach is turning a great quote into a brilliant example of character development, and I’m really excited to see where this goes. It’s fascinating! Truly compelling.

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The Amazing Spider-Man #13 is on sale now!

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2025-10-04 20:11