Every Version of Spider-Man Who ISN’T Peter Parker

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Spider-Man first appeared in Marvel Comics’ Amazing Fantasy #15 back in 1962. He was introduced as Peter Parker, a shy and friendless high school student with a lot of potential. Everything changed when he was bitten by a radioactive spider, giving him incredible powers. The tragic death of his Uncle Ben then motivated him to use those powers responsibly. For many years, Peter Parker was the one and only Spider-Man, but that’s no longer the case. Over time, we’ve seen different versions of Spider-Man from alternate universes, as well as other people who have taken on the Spider-Man persona – some heroic, some villainous, and even clones. While Peter Parker remains the original, these alternate Spider-Men are also compelling characters.

Here is a look at everyone who has been Spider-Man other than Peter Parker, ranked.

11) Kraven the Hunter

Kraven the Hunter was a villain motivated by his obsession with hunting the most challenging game. After successfully hunting every animal on Earth, he decided Spider-Man would be his ultimate prey. Though he sometimes worked with other criminals, including the Sinister Six, Kraven’s main goal was always to kill Spider-Man. This culminated in the story Kraven’s Last Hunt (in Web of Spider-Man #31), where he seemingly killed Spider-Man. Kraven then buried him, took on the Spider-Man identity, and even managed to capture the villain Vermin. However, Spider-Man survived and escaped his grave. Defeated and with nothing left to prove, Kraven gave up the role and took his own life.

10) Ai Apaec the Decapitator

Ai Apaec, also known as the Decapitator, is a relatively obscure character who briefly took on the role of Spider-Man in Marvel Comics. He first appeared in 2010 and was officially designated as Spider-Man by Norman Osborn in 2011, replacing Mac Gargan. Gargan had previously been both Venom and an imposter Spider-Man for the Dark Avengers. Ai Apaec wasn’t just a person, though – he was based on an ancient deity and had been worshipped for centuries. Osborn began using him after the government captured him. Despite being a god, Ai Apaec’s time as Spider-Man was short-lived; he was defeated and accidentally stepped on by Toxie Doxie after being shrunk in size, ending his run in less than two years.

9) Mac Gargan

Following the events of Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn created a team called the Dark Avengers, composed of villains pretending to be the real heroes. One member, Mac Gargan (formerly Venom), needed a disguise. Osborn provided a treatment that gave Gargan greater control over the Venom symbiote, allowing him to shrink down and appear as a black-suited Spider-Man. However, Gargan’s violent tendencies remained a problem, ultimately leading to Carol Danvers forcibly removing the symbiote and his subsequent arrest.

8) Norman Osborn

After Spider-Man disappeared from Earth, two people stepped in to maintain appearances. Ben Reilly pretended to be Peter Parker to protect his job and reassure everyone. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn surprisingly took on the role of Spider-Man, despite objections from others like Miles Morales and Ben Reilly, who tried to intervene. Osborn ultimately found he couldn’t live up to the standards of the original Spider-Man and realized he wasn’t suited for the hero’s role, even though he desperately wanted to fulfill his ambitions.

7) Gerry Drew

Gerry Drew is the son of Jessica Drew from an alternate universe (Earth-982). In this reality, Jessica retired from being a superhero, started a family, and had Gerry. Unfortunately, Gerry was born with a serious illness caused by residual radiation from Jessica’s past. When conventional medicine couldn’t help, Jessica recreated the experiment that had once saved her, which unexpectedly gave Gerry spider-like abilities. Growing up, Jessica shared stories of her adventures and Spider-Man with Gerry, inspiring him to become his world’s new Spider-Man. But using his powers came at a terrible cost – each use brought him closer to death. Thankfully, Peter Parker arrived and convinced Gerry to seek a potential cure from Reed Richards.

6) Ezekiel Sims

Ezekiel Sims first appeared in Marvel Comics in 2001, alongside the introduction of the villain Morlun. Years earlier, he’d performed a ritual granting him powers linked to the Spider-Totem, which he used to amass a great fortune. As a member of the Spider Society, he dedicated himself to finding a way to stop Morlun. Interestingly, in an alternate reality (Earth-4), Ezekiel was Spider-Man. However, in the main Marvel universe (Earth-616), he’s known as a man who gained wealth through his abilities, ultimately sacrificing himself to save Peter Parker.

5) Max Borne

Max Borne is a version of Spider-Man from the distant future, specifically the year 2211. Originating from Earth-9500, he appears 112 years after Spider-Man 2099. While his suit resembles the classic Spider-Man design, it’s enhanced with four additional mechanical arms. He first appeared in 1995, joining forces with Peter Parker and Spider-Man 2099, and later fought alongside Spider-UK’s Spider-Army during the Totem War. Borne’s suit is also equipped with advanced features like bulletproof armor, self-guided webbing, and rocket boots.

4) Ben Reilly

Ben Reilly is a Spider-Man connected to the controversial ‘Clone Saga,’ making him a divisive character among fans. The core issue was that for a significant period, Ben believed he was Peter Parker and acted as Spider-Man, while the actual Peter Parker thought he was the clone. This led to a lot of fan backlash when it was revealed the stories they were reading weren’t about the true Spider-Man. Despite the rocky start, Ben has proven himself a capable and often heroic Spider-Man, even if he and Peter Parker haven’t become friends.

3) Miguel O’Hara

The Spider-Man of the year 2099 isn’t related to Peter Parker; it’s Miguel O’Hara. He first appeared in 1992 as part of Marvel’s 2099 series, which featured futuristic heroes. In his story, Miguel was an engineer working for Alchemax who was secretly drugged by his employer, Tyler Stone. Instead of waiting for an antidote, Miguel tried to create his own cure, which unexpectedly gave him spider-like powers. While he shares many abilities with the original Spider-Man, he also has the power to heal quickly and possesses paralyzing claws and fangs. Miguel O’Hara is considered the most popular alternate Spider-Man, second only to Miles Morales.

2) Doctor Octopus

Otto Octavius, also known as Doctor Octopus, is arguably the most effective Spider-Man besides Peter Parker. After swapping bodies with Peter and his original body failing, Otto vowed to be a better hero. He did achieve this, though he was initially more aggressive in his methods. He leveraged his scientific expertise to enhance the Spider-Man persona in ways Peter hadn’t, and successfully defeated villains that consistently challenged Peter. During his time as the Superior Spider-Man, he was arguably the best version of the character in Marvel Comics.

1) Miles Morales

Many fans consider Miles Morales the best Spider-Man after Peter Parker. He originally stepped into the role in an alternate Marvel universe following Peter’s death and eventually became just as skilled and heroic. Miles embodies the true spirit of Spider-Man, showing unwavering integrity and honor. Beyond being a fantastic superhero, he’s constantly improving – even a villain acknowledged his growing power. His Spider-Sense is particularly impressive, not only alerting him to danger but also functioning like radar, allowing him to see through walls and detect movement. Combined with his unique Venom Blasts, Miles isn’t just another Spider-Man; he’s a distinct and powerful hero in his own right.

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2026-03-17 21:16