SPIDER-MAN: Does Great Power REALLY Mean Great Responsibility? || Comic Misconceptions || NerdSync

Spider-Man lives by a simple creed: With great power comes great responsibility. But are Uncle Ben's famous words of wisdom true? Does Peter Parker REALLY need to be Spider-Man all the time to the detriment of his personal life, or can he afford to take a day off? Today we're taking a look at the Superior Spider-Man to see how Peter Parker and Dr. Otto Octavius—aka Doctor Octopus—view moral duties!

Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores the incredible stories, fascinating ideas, and mind-blowing theories regarding comic books and the rich history and culture that surrounds them!

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SOURCES:
Superior Spider-Man
Spider-Man and Philosophy: The Web of Inquiry - Jonathan J. Sanford
Positive and Negative Duties
A kinder, gentler philosophy of success - Alain de Botton’s TED talk

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[flamingdragongirl]

With great power comes a great electricity bill

[ChristyAbbey]

Because it was such a minor, minor robbery that cascaded into his whole origin arc, he would be mentally incapable of letting the small things go. If he fails to stop the convenience store robber, he would likely have nightmares about that robber depriving someone else of a beloved family member.

Also, remember that his character was largely the result of how Ditko saw Objectivism. Because Peter had the power to be great, he had to be great, because every person is required to live up to their full potential. (I'm not saying that's my own view of the world, but it was pre-insane Ditko's.)

[Telsion]

'When you have the power to help someone but you dont, and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you.' That line in Civil War (not 100% accurate, cant remember it perfectly) just showed why Spidey is my favourite superhero. putting other's needs before his. I fully trust Marvel to do justice to Spiderman in Homecoming

[mrsundaymovies]

Great video! I think a big part of Peter Parker wanting to help is that it would crush him as a person not to. He's compelled to step up because he sweats the small stuff. Tony Stark on the other hand (depending on the version) doesn't give a shit about street level crime. Should someone help if they can? Absolutely. But I think it comes down to the level of apathy that person has as to whether or not they do.

[Shenruss]

"Evil succeeds when Good men do _nothing_". We just need to look at the world we're in, Bro, to see this makes sense. I mean, i'm sure we're all miostly good people here...but we do nothing, and Reality TV is *still* in existence. Uncle Ben would be shaking his head.

[GamesFromSpace]

Doc Ock was definitely a superior Peter Parker, but the whole arc was a demonstration of how he was a subpar Spider Man. He ruined lives (ranging from JJJ to Black Cat) and tried to do his job by removing privacy and some freedom from the people he claimed to be protecting. He behaved more like an anti-villain than a hero.

[Grizabeebles]

All we ever see in the movies is TEEN Peter and his origin story ad-nauseum. I really like some of the stories featuring ADULT Peter. What I think makes the ADULT Peter such an interesting character is that his level of do-gooding is to the point of Tony Stark's alcoholism. Peter is trying to help complete strangers so much he's bringing actual HARM to those closest to him. That particular variation on PTSD-as-altruism can be found in police, doctors, paramedics, and aid workers all over the place.

I'd like to see a movie really take Peter to that place where he's as obsessed with saving lives as the Punisher is with taking them. Think of what it does to a man to feel like every murder, mugging, and accident is YOUR fault if you don't find some way to prevent it.

That's pretty messed up.

[jordanglasper]

What most people don't get, is that ever since Peter learned his lesson after Uncle Ben's death. Is that Peter Parker is choosing to live his life saving people as Spider-Man. Just bcuz his personal life isn't the way he wants it to be doesn't mean he's wasting his life. He's putting it to use the best way he knows how. Most people like Spider-Man bcuz he's always putting other's first. But do most people who read about his adventure's, would they do the same? Most might say yes. But how you live your life now is a very big reflection on who you are. And if your not the kinda person who helps others whether they know it or not, then you wouldn't make a good superhero anyway. Most people in this day and age are quick to say what they're not gonna do, and who they're not gonna help, even if requires very little effort at all.

[steampunk_willy]

I feel like Pete's understanding of his responsibility has evolved a lot throughout the comics. Gwen Stacy's death isn't simply another tragedy on Pete's conscience; it represents the death of any possibility of Pete having a normal life. It used to be that Pete hid his identity because he did't want Spider-man in his normal life, but he learned that that was impossible. The only reason Pete's life is in shambles is he tries to keep having some kind of normal life instead of pulling a Steve Rogers and going all in on the hero. After Gwen Stacy, the point of having a normal life becomes a question. While his secret identity is meant to protect his loved ones, he doesn't have to be too invested. That is, not until he and MJ actually become serious. Over time Spidey realizes that he needs MJ in his life and can't be as good of a spider-man without her which points to the big reason Pete has to have a personal life. It reminds him that each person he saves is the world to someone else and it also gives him the strength he needs to push on. When Pete tries to merge his two worlds in the lead up to civil war, it seems to go well until he realizes what it costs him to protect his loved ones without maintaining a secret identity. While One More Day is maligned (wrongly so in my opinion. The arc is good, but the consequences are executed poorly in Brand New Day), it was inevitable that Pete was somehow going to find a way to restore his secret identity. I have always love how Pete seems to get as frustrated as I do when he can't have a better personal life, but that he gets more and more used to it over time as he realizes that its a necessary cost of being spider-man and there is no way around it.

[catlawyerwilldefendfortrea]

super late on this.
when Thor was
the king of Asgard because odin was dead, he took Asgard and placed it over Manhattan, wanting to look over the world like an actual God. Spidey sent there to give Thor a talk and thor asks him "if great power means great responsibility shouldn't greatest power mean greatest responsibility"
Peter in his thought says that he was really glad that he would never have find out.
This definitely says something about Peter. He is definitely scared of what he's asked of as spiderman.

#hopescottreadsthis

[ralphyap]

Actually it wasn't Peter's uncle who said with Great Power comes Great Responsibility in Amazing Fantasy #15 it was a yellow box at the ending that had it written Ben Parker never actually said it only in the movies or adaptions or tv.

[PaperbackWizard]

I subscribe to Martha Kent's philosophy:  "Be their hero, Clark.  Be their monument, be their angel, be anything they need you to be...or be none of it.  You don't owe this world a thing; you never did."  It's not about responsibility, because as you said, not everyone agrees that we *have* a responsibility to help others.  It's about *choice*.  Peter is a hero because he doesn't feel like he has a choice; he has powers, therefore he's either a hero or a villain, no middle ground.  Clark, on the other hand, is taught that he has a choice.  That makes his decision to help others more heroic, in my opinion.  He's not helping because it's his "responsibility"; he's helping because it's the right thing to do.

[barrettcorbin]

Stan Lee already explained this in many interviews since The Amazing Fantasy #15. Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman wrote the Superior Spiderman series 51 years later after Stan Lee already explained the confliction that Peter Parker has with his personal life and hero life. Plus there were more movie references even Stan Lee had to admit when he saw the movies that the parts he disagreed with he still enjoyed for what it was than actual comics. Appreciate the opinion though

[matiascarvalho]

(Im from Uruguay so sorry for my english)

He is my favourite superhero, and I love his filosofy. But in my opinion, he should dedicate more time to people he love (friends, family, womans...). I think the problem that he have is the understanding of the word "power". He dont understand that he have a lot of "powers" besides his super-powers. I think that relationships and the posibility of loving someone and be loved is a great power too. Maybe it dont seems like such a big deal as saving the world from galactus... But as humans, we need people saving the world as much as people loving us and being worried for us. In my opinion his responsability as spiderman is as strong as his responsability as a husband, friend and family.

You can think that his responsability of being spiderman is stronger because his habilities are what makes him different and special, but in my opinion, being who you are, how you are, loving the people you love and being love for them too makes you special and unique too.

Also I think that as a cientist with a great mind he have responsabilities too, because he have the hability to change the world for good with his job (like in All New All Different Spiderman with the Parker Industries).

He cant do everything... He dont have the hability ("power") to do everything, so he dont have the RESPONSABILITY of doing everything. I think he should do what he can! But without leaving an entire part of his life empty! If that means being spiderman for less time, in my opinion, he should.

(Again, sorry for my english! I LOVE your channel Scot!)

[shamenking]

As Anna Marie said, great responsibility doesn't mean ALL. Yes, he can help other people, but he neglects the responsibilities he has not to himself, but to others. He prioritizes strangers over his own family and friends. if he has knowledge that someone can 100% handle it (like the police for non super crime), then he has the responsibility to help out his friend or spend more time with Aunt May

[Jackyoliu]

This is the best episode so far, but all the other videos are also amazing. So glad that somebody would make videos out of these topics, they are all really inspiring. Truly appreciate that, Scott and your crew, great job!

[capkovodna]

There is something I would like to ask. In Oc´s run, were the police succesful in stopping the small stuff or not? Because I would argue that you have an obligation to yourself as a person as well. In the end, no hero can really save everyone, as much as they would like to. For example, Spidey saves one guy in NYC...only for some other person to get mugged and killed somewhere else, be it in the same country or elsewhere.
I admire Spidey´s morals, but honestly? I would not wish them on anyone. Either way, this was a great video, well worth a like.

[rpmgreen]

This was REALLY insightful. I really want to see more of these philosophical videos. Keep up the good work Scott

[DKlarations]

The Marconi quote really made me want to be spider-man... or doc ock... or... man... comics are weird.

[Riveraart]

I think the quote "With great power comes great responsibility" is a true statement and I think Peter acts irresponsibly but he doesn't realize it. I think Peter disregards his friends and family because he sees them as an extension of himself. Yes they're inconvenienced, angry, and hurt emotionally but the physical or financial state of a complete stranger comes before their feelings because as a part of Peter, they must share in his sacrifice and responsibility. The only problem is that they aren't actually an extension of him. Most of them don't even know that they are sharing this responsibility and they don't have great power. They don't have the power to get mild mannered Peter Parker to keep a promise, let alone take responsibility for the troubles of the city. This is an injustice against them and it never occurs to Peter that just because he has the responsibility to use his power as a force for the greater good, doesn't absolve him of his personal responsibilities. He's basically a workaholic.