7 Times Spider-Man Was Absolutely The Worst

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For decades, Spider-Man has been a fan favorite, but he’s also made some questionable choices. Peter Parker started out as an immature teenager, which tragically led to his Uncle Ben’s death and initially put him at odds with heroes like the Fantastic Four. Even after becoming one of Marvel’s greatest heroes, Spider-Man hasn’t always acted perfectly, and his actions sometimes make him appear unlikeable to both the public and readers.

Here are seven instances where Spider-Man was the absolute worst in Marvel Comics.

7) Constantly Feeling Sorry For Himself

A major weakness of Spider-Man stories is how often he dwells on his own problems. It’s become such a noticeable trait that even other versions of the character, like in the LEGO Marvel movies, poke fun at his constant self-pity. It can quickly become annoying for readers.

Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, carries a heavy burden of guilt, stemming from the deaths of Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy, and even feeling responsible for the shooting of Aunt May – an event he later tried to fix with a dangerous deal. Despite these tragedies, what truly defines Spider-Man is his ability to learn from his failures and grow as a hero. However, his tendency to dwell on his misfortunes can be frustrating.

6) Superior Spider-Man

Okay, so as a huge Spider-Man fan, the Superior Spider-Man run is seriously wild. It’s a storyline that manages to make Spider-Man at his absolute worst, but somehow also ranks as one of the best things Marvel’s done in ages. Basically, Doc Ock was dying of cancer and, during a fight with Spider-Man, they swapped bodies! Then, Peter Parker died inside Doc Ock’s body. It sounds crazy, right? But Doc Ock, now in Peter’s body, decided he was going to be Spider-Man… and he was determined to be a better Spider-Man than Peter ever was.

This Spider-Man was unique because he was incredibly intelligent and decisive, refusing to let Peter Parker’s insecurities hold him back. However, he was also dangerous, willing to harm or even kill villains if necessary. This storyline is considered one of the greatest Spider-Man tales ever told, largely due to the dramatic transformation of Doc Ock from a terrible Spider-Man into a surprisingly effective one.

5) When He Naively Unmasked During Civil War

For decades, Spider-Man successfully hid his true identity to protect his family and friends from harm. But during the Civil War comic book event, many heroes made poor choices. Iron Man, in particular, acted badly enough to seem like a villain at times. One of his worst actions was persuading Spider-Man to reveal his identity on live television.

It was awful. Everyone found out Peter Parker was Spider-Man, and it felt like Iron Man did it on purpose to make his side look good, not caring about what would happen to Peter. Peter should have seen it coming, I guess. Suddenly, he was getting sued by J. Jonah Jameson, but that wasn’t even the worst of it. Kingpin sent someone to kill him, and Aunt May got caught in the crossfire and was shot! It all felt like a huge mistake, a shared fault between Spider-Man and Iron Man, and it led Peter to make what I think was the worst decision of his life.

4) Spider-Man’s Never-Ending Grudge Against The Clones/Symbiotes

Spider-Man is a hero dedicated to saving everyone, even those who have wronged him. While this makes him exceptionally noble, he struggles with strong biases against two groups: his clones and the symbiotes. He often views them solely as enemies, seemingly unable to see beyond his intense dislike.

Ben Reilly has consistently tried to earn Spider-Man’s respect, but Spider-Man always looks down on him. While Spider-Man’s distrust of clones is understandable, they’ve repeatedly shown they can be heroic, and Peter Parker needs to accept that. His feelings towards Venom are even more problematic – Spider-Man’s hatred for Venom and Eddie Brock hasn’t lessened at all, despite their actions. It will be fascinating to see how Spider-Man reacts when he returns to Earth and discovers Mary Jane is now Venom.

3) Spider-Man Goes On A Rampage After Aunt May Was Shot

When Kingpin sent a hitman after Spider-Man, and Aunt May was seriously injured, Spider-Man became overwhelmed with rage and nearly crossed the line into becoming a villain. While understandably furious, he abandoned his usual red and blue costume, reverting to his black suit and seeking revenge on anyone he thought was responsible for the attack on his aunt.

While many fans understood Spider-Man’s anger, his actions went against his core principles. As he aggressively fought villains—while being pursued by Iron Man and those supporting hero registration—he frequently crossed the line. Spider-Man is traditionally a symbol of hope and morality, and portraying him as a bitter, violent character felt out of character and didn’t align with the established image Marvel had created.

2) Peter Parker Hit A Pregnant Mary Jane

The presence of clones really pushed Peter Parker to his limit. He reacted badly to Ben Reilly, constantly fighting him even when Ben attempted to reconcile. This conflict escalated to the point where Peter, refusing to listen to reason, did something shocking in Spectacular Spider-Man #226.

Mary Jane tried to intervene as Peter and someone else were fighting, but Peter snapped, angrily told her to leave, and then struck her, sending her flying across the room. This was especially shocking because she was pregnant with their child. This act could have turned readers against Spider-Man, but Peter’s immediate regret and self-condemnation – calling himself not a man after the attack – may have allowed fans to forgive him more quickly.

1) Made a Deal With Mephisto

Many fans consider Spider-Man’s deal with Mephisto to be his biggest mistake, and a major reason why the “One More Day” storyline is so poorly received. While Peter Parker had his reasons, some argue Mary Jane actually initiated the deal by speaking to Mephisto beforehand.

After Aunt May was critically wounded, Spider-Man found himself in a desperate situation. He’d already taken revenge on Kingpin and was being pursued by Iron Man. Mephisto offered a way out: Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson would have to sacrifice their marriage to save Aunt May’s life and have Spider-Man’s secret identity forgotten by the world. Dealing with Mephisto is always a terrible idea, and for Spider-Man, it went against his heroic principles.

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2026-02-07 21:16