5 Things Marvel Fans Will Never Admit About Spider-Man

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Spider-Man played a key role in making Marvel the leading comic book publisher for young adults in the 1960s, and he remains their most beloved character. Over the decades, fans have seen Spider-Man evolve from a teenage hero into one of the world’s greatest superheroes, overcoming every challenge he’s faced. He’s become far more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, repeatedly saving the world and even the entire universe. Spider-Man is truly remarkable, and his incredible stories have consistently brought success to Peter Parker.

Spider-Man’s fanbase is famously passionate and often divided, and understandably so. Marvel hasn’t always made the best choices for the character, leading to strong reactions – both criticism and enthusiastic support – from fans. They can be stubborn, which makes it difficult to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths. Here are five things many Spider-Man fans don’t want to admit about the character.

5) Kraven’s Suicide Was a Mistake

Many fans consider “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” created by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck, to be Spider-Man’s greatest story. It features a battle against Kraven the Hunter, who was determined to defeat Spider-Man and prove his own superiority. Kraven actually wins, seemingly killing Spider-Man, and then impersonates him while wearing his costume. Ultimately, Kraven takes his own life.

Okay, so this movie is seriously intense and pretty bleak. My biggest issue? They took a character who was finally on top and just…undid it all. Seriously, imagine Kraven realizing he won and choosing to walk away, having that victory over Spider-Man to savor? That would have been amazing! It felt like they had a chance to really elevate this villain, and set up some incredible storylines for the future, but they just didn’t go for it. It’s a shame, because the potential was huge.

4) Dan Slott Is a Great Spider-Man Writer

For years, many Spider-Man fans disliked Dan Slott. He wrote The Amazing Spider-Man for a remarkably long time – eight years – and the comic consistently sold well. While he became the main writer associated with the character, his tenure coincided with a difficult period for fans. He took over after the controversial storyline “One More Day” and, as a loyal employee of Marvel, rarely challenged editorial decisions.

He often clashed with fans online and became a frequent target of their criticism. But it’s worth remembering his incredible stories. While not every one was a masterpiece, he created some truly iconic works, including “Big Time,” “Spider-Island,” “Spider-Verse,” and The Superior Spider-Man. He was a talented writer, and hopefully, in time, fans will recognize that they weren’t always fair to him.

3) Harry Osborn Is the Best Green Goblin

Norman Osborn is a popular Spider-Man character, and his alter ego, the Green Goblin, is one of Marvel’s most famous villains. But honestly, the idea of a brilliant but mentally unstable man becoming a supervillain isn’t the strongest origin story. It really only worked back in the early days of comics, and Norman has since become iconic in the role. A more compelling Green Goblin actually existed – Harry Osborn, who had a much stronger motivation for becoming a villain.

After learning the truth about his father’s death and discovering Peter Parker’s involvement, Harry Osborn sought revenge. His run as a villain in the early 1990s issues of Spectacular Spider-Man, crafted by the talented team of J.M. DeMatteis and Sam Buscema, was particularly compelling and reached a satisfying conclusion in issue #200. Many fans agree that Harry was a more effective and interesting villain than his father, Norman, and his eventual death eliminated a truly great antagonist.

2) Ultimate Spider-Man (Vol. 3) Isn’t as Great as Everyone Thought

The third volume of Ultimate Spider-Man started strong, contributing to the success of the new Ultimate Universe. Created by Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, and David Messina, it’s a fan-favorite, largely because it reunited Peter Parker and Mary Jane. While the series excelled at developing characters and raising the tension, it ultimately didn’t feel like a traditional Spider-Man story and left many readers wanting more.

While there are some really good parts, this story feels incomplete. It mostly focuses on the Green Goblin and Mysterio, and although it’s enjoyable, it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. The pacing, with each issue taking place so close to the last, hurts the story and makes it drag in places. With only a few issues remaining, it’s been a worthwhile experience overall, but it’s not a truly exceptional one.

1) Mary Jane and Peter Parker Should Never Get Back Together

For nearly two decades, Spider-Man fans have been upset about the breakup of Mary Jane and Peter Parker. While many of us would love to see them reunite, Marvel’s storylines have created too much conflict between them. Despite loving them as a couple, a reconciliation no longer makes sense. Years of writing have portrayed Mary Jane negatively, making it unrealistic and unfair for Peter to want to rebuild their relationship.

Considering everything that’s happened, it would be a mistake for him to act differently now. Her recent actions felt very out of character, and the consequences are already set. While it’s technically possible to rewrite the story and pretend these events didn’t happen, it would be just as problematic as erasing their marriage altogether. Ultimately, it’s best to just accept it as part of the past.

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2025-12-04 21:13