I Think This Is Spider-Man’s Darkest Comics Moment (& It Involves The Black Suit)

by

In a shift from his usual lighthearted persona, the character known as The Amazing Spider-Man, famously known for his wit and good humor, experienced some dark times, particularly in the 2007 “Back in Black” comic series. This storyline followed closely after Marvel’s “Civil War” saga, during which Peter Parker, who is Spider-Man, publicly disclosed his identity to the world as part of the Superhuman Registration Act. This revelation caused chaos in Peter’s life, with his identity now exposed to the public eye. In a chilling sequence of events, Spidey’s longtime foe, Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin, orders an assassination attempt on Peter’s beloved Aunt May from prison, pushing Spider-Man into a darker phase in his life.

In the midst of Peter’s desperate attempts to save his ailing Aunt May, he encounters Fisk in his prison cell, donning a duplicate of his iconic black suit. In an appalling display, Peter brutally attacks and nearly kills Fisk, with all the inmates watching. However, the events of the One More Day storyline eventually reverse Peter’s identity and Aunt May’s health. The violent confrontation between Spider-Man and the Kingpin in Back in Black, though, stands as the darkest individual issue and moment ever published in a Spider-Man comic book.

Spider-Man’s Brawl With the Kingpin Is One of His Most Purely Human Comic Book Moments

Following Aunt May’s grave state, Peter Parker becomes extremely vigilant, culminating in him bravely facing off against Wilson Fisk within his cell block, surrounded by many curious inmates. This confrontation between the two escalates, and Fisk erroneously assumes that mocking Aunt May’s condition will provoke Peter. In response, Spider-Man strips off part of his suit to declare “I’m not here to kill you”, revealing Peter beneath. With a stern voice, unmasked Peter retorts “I am,” and proceeds to mercilessly attack Fisk in front of the entire prison population, even taunting him about his lack of superpowers.

The confrontation reaches its peak when Peter considers choking Fisk with a large amount of webbing, effectively suffocating him. However, Peter eventually decides against it, explaining that he would only take Fisk’s life if Aunt May succumbs to her injuries. This decision seems to be a more tormenting punishment for Fisk, as he is forced to endure being brutally beaten by one of his sworn enemies, all while being watched by every inmate in the prison. As Peter leaves, he issues a stern warning to the inmates, stating that if they harm Aunt May or M.J., they will meet their demise.

The Black Suit Isn’t Just a Gimmick in Spider-Man’s Fight With the Kingpin

In 2007, the Spider-Man comic book stories “Back in Black” and “One More Day” were published, coinciding with the release of Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3.” The movie depicted Peter Parker encountering an alien symbiote that transformed his suit black (later jumping to Eddie Brock to become Venom). Given the popularity of “Spider-Man 3,” it seems logical that Peter returning to his black suit in the comics was a way to capitalize on this public interest. However, beyond boosting the mainstream appeal of Peter’s ongoing comic book story, Peter wearing his black suit during his fight with the Kingpin served a more immediate narrative purpose: it reflected his mental state heading into that battle.

In the brutal fight between Spider-Man and the Kingpin, the readers witness a stark contrast from the jovial, lighthearted character they initially adored in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962). The Peter Parker seen now is hardly distinguishable from the relentless Frank Castle, a man who’s lost almost everything following his identity reveal to comply with the Superhuman Registration Act. With nothing left to lose, he finds himself standing on the edge, similar to Frank Castle. The Kingpin’s order to attack Aunt May was the final straw, pushing Spider-Man beyond any villainous provocation before or since. Unlike other foes, the Kingpin triggered a response that unleashed the deepest, darkest potential in Peter Parker. This potential not only threatens to end lives but does so as ruthlessly as the Kingpin himself, once an unforgivable line had been crossed.

Even Spider-Man Can Be Pushed Too Far (As His Smackdown With the Kingpin Shows)

In essence, Spider-Man, traditionally, avoids taking lives, but like any superhero, the concept of a no-kill policy can be questioned and tested. The brutal confrontation between Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and Kingpin in the prison is a stark reminder that despite his spider-like abilities, Peter remains human. As a human, he experiences emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, and anger. It was Fisk’s mistake to underestimate these emotions in Peter, or perhaps assume they were dormant in him, and he paid the price for it.

As a passionate moviegoer, I can’t help but acknowledge that Spider-Man stands among the greatest superheroes, ever created. His unique blend of powers and infectious cheerfulness truly showcases the best within him – from the geeky science whiz, to the fearless photojournalist, the agile crime-fighter, and the Web-Slinger who always uses his great power with great responsibility.

In a chilling turn of events, Wilson Fisk discovered what it truly takes to unleash Spider-Man’s dark side, going further than even the original black suit ever could. This brutal confrontation, where Spider-Man donned a new iteration of his black suit and mercilessly pummeled Fisk, represents the darkest moment in Spider-Man’s extensive comic book legacy.

https://comicbook.com/comics/news/5-things-love-about-spider-man-clone-saga/embed/#

Read More

2025-07-09 00:40