Spiderman Merchandise

Peter initially did not use his abilities to help others but instead used them for his own financial gain by appearing on television as a costumed wrestler and calling himself Spider-Man. But Peter’s selfish ways would change on the day he allowed a fleeing thief to escape from the police. Indifferent to the situation, Peter allowed the burglar to run past when he could have easily restrained him.

When Peter Parker arrived home that night he found his Uncle Ben, Peter’s father figure, murdered. Enraged over the death of his uncle, Peter don the Spider-Man costume, and his home made “web-shooters”, to go confront his Uncle Ben’s murderer. Using his abilities Peter was able to easily track down and overpower the killer. But much to his horror, the murderer of Uncle Ben was the same thief that Peter had let escape earlier that night!

Filled with unimaginable guilt and remorse Peter Parker learned the hard way that “with great power there must also come - - great responsibility!” And so began the crime fighting career of Spider-Man.

But the path of the superhero would not make life easier for Peter Parker. He still remained a high school student and had to contend with bullies, such as Flash Thompson, and love interests, like Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy, much like any other high school student, but without letting anyone know his secret identity. In addition, Peter had to help support his widowed Aunt May who was always on the brink of financial ruin.

In an effort to help out with finances Peter take on a freelance job at the Daily Bugle Newspaper, taking pictures of himself as Spider-Man and selling them to the recalcitrant publisher J. Jonah Jameson!

As Peter Parker continued his career as Spider-Man he would be plagued by an assortment of super-powered villains including psychopaths and mobsters. His deadly arch-nemesis the Green Goblin, along with Doctor Octopus and Electro, are a but a few of an entire rogues gallery that Peter deals with on a perpetual basis, all while holding down a job and helping his Aunt May.

Spider-Man eventually formed close relationships with the Fantastic Four and thief-turned-heroine Black Cat. Spider-Man would even be offered a position with the Avengers, fighting side by side with Captain America.

Empowered with superhuman abilities derived from a radioactive spider-bite, Spider-Man is the most recognizable character of the Marvel Universe. He remains one of the most revered superheroes, not because of his powers but because of his innate flaws allowing readers who at one time were not so different from young Peter Parker, to relate to his plight in life.