You truly are incorruptible.
A while back I wrote an article about the difference between DC heroes and Marvel heroes. I stated that we see more Marvel heroes kill than DC. While most people agreed, there were some mentions that there have been DC heroes that have killed. There was one section in that article which I only wrote a paragraph on. It was about the fact that Spider-Man doesn’t kill. I asked myself: why doesn’t he kill? From that one paragraph I wrote about it, I expanded it to a full editorial. I’m going to look at various reasons as to what could and does make Spider-Man not kill. Let’s begin.
The first reason that Spider-Man could be incorruptible is because the morals he was given by his “parents”. Even though Batman’s origin came from the death of his parents, you never really see him take the advice he was given. We also don’t see the advice Alfred really gave Bruce change Bruce’s life. For Spider-Man, while he wasn’t raised by his real parents, Aunt May and Uncle Ben gave Peter morals in his life. He until Uncle Ben’s death he was given advice when Ben told him “With great power comes great responsibility.” He molds his life around this saying and lives it daily. In every action Peter does, he takes that saying into account.
Peter’s age could be a reason. Peter started being Spider-Man at 15 years old. Most 15 year olds are sidekicks but Spider-Man was already a superhero. Bruce Wayne didn’t start being Batman into mid-to-late 20s. Superman was around that age to when he became Superman. Perhaps because of Spider-Man’s age is still had is innocence in him. Because he was just a kid, he was still growing up. Peter knew right from wrong. Peter knew that is was wrong to commit murder or kill.
Another reason could be because of the people Peter has lost. Peter lost Uncle Ben and he blames himself for that. Peter also lost and blames himself for the death of Captain Stacy.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD SAY “SPIDEY KILLED” would be Gwen Stacy. Because he grab her with his web, it could have broke his neck. We still wonder: why is the Goblin who killed Gwen or Peter? Peter has lost lots more people. One could say that Peter doesn’t kill because he doesn’t want to disappoint these people.
Kind of like how the people Spider-Man lost, the people around him living have had a great influence on him. Aunt May is always there for Peter and Peter never wants to disappoint him. Peter looks at Aunt May like a mother and he wants Aunt May to look at him choked up because she’s proud. Mary Jane has shown Peter love and always and been there for Peter through the good times and bad. Other heroes like Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America and many more have had an influence on Peter and have been there for him. Because of some of the people around Peter show him love and compassion; it in turns gives Peter love and compassion to not kill.
My last reason is it could be because of Spider-Man’s underdog statues. Peter Parker didn’t grow up rich, he wasn’t born with these powers, and he’s just a kid. Peter Parker grew up without his parents, living with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben in a low to middle class in Queens, New York. That’s the story of Spider-Man. He’s just a kid from Queens and because of that he tries to prove his doubters wrong. Spider-Man may not be the strongest, the smartest (talking compared to other heroes), but Spider-Man is the bravest and has the most heart compared to other superheroes. Spider-Man is sort of the “Rocky” of superheroes.
Combining all of these factors, one could see why Spider-Man not only kills but never will kill. It’s not wrong if a superhero does kill but I think it’s harder for a hero to not kill then to kill. If a hero does kill, what does that do? The person the hero killed would be cast as a martyr and people will hate the hero for killing. What are your thoughts? Comment below. Peace.