Marvel Just Made Spider-Man Their Answer to Superman In The Perfect Way

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Spider-Man and Superman have always been the most popular superheroes from Marvel and DC Comics. They seem very different at first – Spider-Man started as an ordinary teenager who gained powers from a spider and focuses on helping people in his city, while Superman is a powerful alien who saves the entire world, and even the universe. But the comic Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 shows us why Spider-Man is Marvel’s best comparison to Superman.

When people think of Marvel’s version of Superman, they often picture heroes like Hyperion or Sentry. While these characters do have similar powers – super strength, speed, flight, and heat vision – they’re typically portrayed as darker, twisted versions of Superman, not true heroes. Spider-Man, on the other hand, might not have god-like abilities, but he shares something essential with Superman: they both represent hope and goodness, inspiring others to be their best. Each hero serves as the moral compass of their universe.

Spider-Man is the Perfect Teacher for the Next Generation of Heroes

While Spider-Man is famous for working alone, a recent comic showed he excels at guiding new heroes. A new crime-fighter named Roger, who goes by the name Rapid, recently appeared in New York City. Roger gained his powers – the ability to create time-slowing bubbles – when an experiment his scientist father was working on went wrong during an attack by Electro. Becoming a hero is tough for Rapid, and thankfully, Spider-Man is there to offer support and advice.

Spider-Man is an ideal mentor for new heroes like Rapid because he understands the challenges Rapid is facing. Both struggle to balance their heroic duties with everyday life – Rapid with money and family, and Spider-Man with simply making ends meet while saving people. Beyond that, Spider-Man knows what it’s like to suddenly gain superpowers and try to figure out how to be a hero without losing a sense of normalcy. This makes him a natural teacher for Rapid, and his ability to connect with and understand the new hero is key to his success in this mentoring role.

When the villain Screwball begins wreaking havoc with runaway trucks, freeze rays, and sinkholes, Spider-Man mentors Rapid, teaching him how to fight crime. Spider-Man quickly develops plans and guides Rapid on where to go and how best to use his powers. He also identifies Rapid’s weaknesses and tries to help him overcome them. Rapid explains that using his powers too much causes severe headaches, so Spider-Man motivates him to persevere and believe in himself. Even after the battle, Spider-Man makes sure Rapid is okay and encourages him to prioritize his well-being.

Spider-Man has been a great mentor to Rapid, encouraging him to overcome challenges both physically and mentally. When Rapid struggles, Spider-Man steps in to help. Although they didn’t manage to stop Screwball, they were able to save everyone who was in danger, which was Spider-Man’s main concern. In a short time, Rapid has shown he’s a skilled and caring hero. Just like Superman, Spider-Man inspires new heroes by setting a positive example with his kindness and understanding.

Spider-Man Inspires People to be Their Own Heroes

It’s really impressive to see Spider-Man guiding Rapid during their fight with Screwball, highlighting how well he collaborates with others. But it’s when Rapid races to save people from falling into a massive sinkhole that truly shows why Spider-Man is considered Marvel’s equivalent of Superman – a hero who always steps up in a crisis.

What I’ve always loved about Superman is how he doesn’t just do heroic things, but inspires regular people to be heroes too. And you know what? Spider-Man does something similar in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. There’s this scene where Spidey’s frozen solid, and this other hero, Rapid, is running out of steam trying to save everyone. Instead of trying to break free himself, Spider-Man has this brilliant idea: he uses his phone to tap into Screwball’s live stream and basically makes a heartfelt speech to all the viewers. He points out that Rapid is just a normal guy, but he’s risking everything for strangers. Then, Spider-Man asks the viewers – the everyday people watching online – to put down their phones and actually help Rapid pull people to safety from this giant sinkhole. It’s a really cool moment where he turns the audience into heroes, and it really resonated with me.

A truly heartwarming scene unfolds as Spider-Man’s words motivate the people of New York City to bravely rush into harm’s way and assist in rescuing Rapid. While Rapid struggles to maintain his power to slow time, citizens pull those in danger away from the collapsing ground. This moment perfectly captures Spider-Man’s essence: he’s a hero who empowers ordinary people to rise to the occasion. This ability to inspire extends to the many Spider-themed heroes he’s mentored, like Miles Morales and Bailey Briggs, who, like him, understand the weight of responsibility that comes with having superpowers. Peter Parker himself was once an average person, changed by a single spider bite, and it’s his actions, not the powers themselves, that define him as a hero.

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 is a standout issue because it beautifully shows how Spider-Man affects the lives of those around him. He’s not just a hero for fighting crime; his kindness and ability to connect with people inspire them to be their best selves. Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s most genuinely good characters, and like Superman, he represents hope and the possibility of a brighter future.

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2026-02-01 22:11