Unfounded Concerns Over Changes to Spider-Man's Origin?(Editorial)

Unfounded Concerns Over Changes to Spider-Man's Origin?(Editorial)

Comic book fans everywhere are crying foul over rumored alterations to Spider-Man's origin in the upcoming movie, 'The Amazing Spider-Man'. However, could the changes actually give the story more depth?

Editorial Opinion
By Elysium - May 31, 2012 10:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Spider-Man



Let me preface this article by saying I was extraordinarily against what I have been hearing, but I gave it a lot of thought and my opinion has changed. It has become evident that Peter Parker's origin as Spider-Man will be Ang Lee'd in the sense that Richard, Peter's father, will put something in Peter's DNA that enables him to become Spider-Man.

When I first heard about this, I was bummed and borderline angry. The appealing part of Peter Parker was that he was average guy and just happened to gain these powers by accident. It also made me worry about how Uncle Ben would be treated if it was Peter's cinematic destiny to become Spider-Man. However, hear me out...

For one, this actually gave me a sense of relief that we wouldn't just be seeing another Spider-Man origin that would, at the center of it all, strongly resemble Sam Raimi's origin from Spider-Man 1. While it does stray from the source material, at least it will be a new and fresh take on the character. While a new interpretation of what Raimi did might be interesting for comparing and contrasting, it'd get a little stale and there would definitely be a sense of, "I've already seen this". While this will be a nice change of pace, it means little in the grand scheme of things. Let's move on to the more important details...

Does this change Peter Parker or Spider-Man as a character at all? I mean, honestly, not really. When I think of Peter Parker, I actually rarely consider the circumstances surrounding his origin as a superhuman as part of what makes him great. His humanity, awkwardness, and his ability to discern responsible vs. irresponsible are. If this power lies dormant within him, and it's awakened with this spider bite? The idea, in and of itself, is actually one that could prove to be extremely fruitful in the progression and development of the character in this universe.

It seems as though Peter's father will be working on this revolutionary project, that he desperately wants to use for good. However, he's worried it will get in the hands of the wrong people (cough Norman Osborn cough). I think his father, knowing he's in a dead-end of a predicament, will instill what he's developed into Peter to keep the project hidden, but alive. Peter's eventual transformation into Spider-Man and doing good and upholding the wellbeing of people was what his father dreamed of. It's actually brilliant storytelling.

Naturally, this brings up caution of the treatment of Uncle Ben. But will his importance in the origin story really be abused or ignored? I don't think so. Yes, Peter's father hides this power within him, but who is there to teach him how to harness it and use it for good? Richard isn't, but Ben is. Just because Peter's father gives him this power, does not mean Peter will know how to use it, and that's where Uncle Ben's cruciality has always lied. In essence, Richard gives Peter his powers, but Uncle Ben gives Peter his moral compass and his constant desire to do good.
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AlexRival
AlexRival - 5/31/2012, 10:50 PM
Good write up. I agree on all points. It's more 'amazing' while somehow also being more believable that he had the tools to turn into spider man pre-bite. And Ben is the father figure in his life, there's no changing that.
Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon - 5/31/2012, 10:54 PM
Where did these rumors come from again?
jumpingJellybeans
jumpingJellybeans - 5/31/2012, 11:58 PM
"It has become evident" No it hasn't. It hasn't at all, people are just assuming that. Peter's father has obviously worked on the spiders, it doesn't mean that he altered Pete's DNA. This is all just foolish speculation. Marc Webb said himself he wouldn't change something so drastically.
antonio
antonio - 6/1/2012, 2:03 AM
@Curmdgeon I believe it came from Latino Review?
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 6/1/2012, 4:23 AM
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DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 6/1/2012, 4:26 AM
"Ang Lee'd". Like it.
The whole injection of Super Soldier Serum, from Ang Lee's Hulk was carried throughto Millar/Hitch's The Ultimates and it does connect the dots of the Marvel U a lot tighter. So I've no problem with this either. I mean, that's one of the things I loved about the Ultimate Universe was that "It's all connected". In that opening sequence of Hulk, we see David Banner working with Lizard DNA, anyway, so all this research kind of ties into the research that Richard Parker and Curt Conners would have been doing on their serum (which will probably never be referred to as a Super Soldier Serum, as this is Sony and not Disney).
AC1
AC1 - 6/1/2012, 6:24 AM
I actually think people are looking at this the wrong way. I think that actually this may be taking ques from the Ultimate incarnation of the symbiote - Richard Parker creates this formula using his own DNA. The formula is used on spiders, and one bites Peter, granting him spider powers. The formula is then edited by Dr Conners using lizard DNA - he doesn't know the formula is specific to Parker's DNA, and so instead of simply regrowing his lost arm, he is mutated into a monster, because it was never compatible with him.

I think Peter won't actually be the one who's been tampered with, it's just that the formula (and by extension the spiders) are tailored to his father's DNA, and therefore compatible with his own DNA.
AC1
AC1 - 6/1/2012, 6:28 AM
@DukeAcreds agreed, kinda, although I strongly dislike the Ultimate universe I do like the fact that a lot of it was connected by the super soldier serum, so I'm glad that that element made it to the MCU. Didn't like how they made Tony Stark a super intelligent mutant though, nor how the mutants were created by a serum too, so I'm glad that stuff has been left out so far.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 6/1/2012, 6:51 AM
This is actually a pretty minor detail. Isn't it more important how he is as Spider-man as apposed to how he becomes Spider-man? In terms of a character, trailers make him seem closer to the comics than the previous trilogy.
webheaded
webheaded - 6/1/2012, 9:33 AM
Whoa. I never ever would have thought of it like that. You are one analytical guy! If this is how the movie will pan out (which it probably will) then i'll be one pleased fan! Here's hoping. I'm glad they intricated that misunderstood mystery element to the Spider-Man story. Can't wait for July 3rd!
checkmate3010
checkmate3010 - 6/1/2012, 10:30 AM
At least let the [frick]ing movie come out before downright assuming this stuff. It has hardly "become evident" for [frick]s sake. Theres only ONE line in the trailer and it is a RUMOR. Seriously, let the movie come out first -_____________________-
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 6/1/2012, 10:58 AM
ACira@ Yeah, those were the elements I disliked, too. They done [frick]ed up, there.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 6/1/2012, 10:59 AM
I mean intelligence and mutation doesn'y need a streamlined explanation
Shadow101
Shadow101 - 6/1/2012, 5:15 PM
Nice. Besides we all know the orgin of spidey.
So this one is just another interpretation of the wall-crawler.

P.s best origin is from Amazing Fantasy #15

Just sayin
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 6/1/2012, 6:49 PM
The problem is it takes away from the everyman aspect of PP. The fun of him is it could have been anyone that got his powers, and an average kid became extraodinary. With this you lose that.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 6/1/2012, 6:52 PM
And it does seem pretty obvious that the are doing this. "Do you have any idea what you really are" showing the spider in the case. Th fact that his father helped create whatever turns conners into the lizard meaning he experimented with hybrids. I thought they were amost flat out stating that was the case yet sme of you deny this is true...
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 6/1/2012, 6:53 PM
@ACira now if THAT was the case that makes perfect sense
MagneticEye
MagneticEye - 6/1/2012, 7:08 PM

This is why I don't support Phony Sony or Fox Abattoirs adaptations of MARVEL characters at the box office. Their alternate re-imaginings suck big time.

C'mon MARVEL/DISNEY; buy back the film rights to the characters you own and give us some faithful, genuine adaptations with a MATURE age Peter Parker actually based on the "Amazing Spiderman" comic book.

jumpingJellybeans
jumpingJellybeans - 6/2/2012, 12:24 PM
Richard Parker didn't want to do human testing... The viral proved that. It's supposedly one of the reasons he and Mary fled. He sure as hell wouldn't use it on his son.
Oxion
Oxion - 6/2/2012, 4:15 PM
will wait for the film to see how well this "works"
MaxP
MaxP - 6/3/2012, 5:44 PM
I think the real thing you should be worried about is Marvel changing Spidermans origin in the comics to match this. You know it's going to happen, no doubt about it!
AC1
AC1 - 6/4/2012, 3:52 AM
The theory I came up with is basically based around the assumption that Richard Parker didn't perform any genetic engineering on Peter. You'd have to be pretty [frick]ed up to do that to your own son (it kind of made sense in Hulk because Bruce Banner's dad was [frick]ed up enough to do that, but Richard Parker seems like a loving father in what we've seen so far).

Either way, it doesn't make too much of a difference to me, I'd prefer they try something new instead of rehashing stuff that was done before. I'm just glad it wasn't too different, like Peter being cursed by a magic spider or something.
jumpingJellybeans
jumpingJellybeans - 6/7/2012, 5:09 PM
Peter's father was against human testing... That just blew a huge hole in this LOL
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