I recently also wrote an article about Spider-Man's (Peter Parker) origin story, so it was very cool to read your take on it as well!
(Though mine was much more focused on what “With great power there must also come -- great responsibility!” means, rather than the origin story in general.)
I hadn't thought of it as a coming-of-age story before - but now that you've pointed out how Peter had to learn and figure out what kind of person he wants to be when he grows up, it really clicked with me!
And I love how you pointed out Peter's dwelling on the people who didn't like him instead of the people who love him plays an important part in the story.
Absolutely agree with you that the fundamental core of this story is timeless, which is why it irked me a little when the MCU Spider-Man movies (as much as I love them) chose to just implied that it happened (and inconsistently at that)!
Thanks! I just read yours, and I appreciate your attention to the specificity of the language. I agree -- that "must also come" is key. It emphasizes the agency.
Great write-up! Seeing you write for Spider-Man day also inspired me to write a post for tomorrow after being writer's-blocked all week (though I guess by now it will be a belated Spider-Man day).
I like how you mentioned that pre-responsibility Peter feels more like someone who would fight Spider-Man, and how his change towards responsibility also stems from love. I think sometimes adaptations like to generalize that his motives are caused by guilt, but it would be awfully difficult to continue on the way Spider-Man does as selflessly and for as long as Spider-Man does if it was still only caused by "I should have been there" without the second, stronger motivation of empathy and love's "I want to be there."
I recently also wrote an article about Spider-Man's (Peter Parker) origin story, so it was very cool to read your take on it as well!
(Though mine was much more focused on what “With great power there must also come -- great responsibility!” means, rather than the origin story in general.)
I hadn't thought of it as a coming-of-age story before - but now that you've pointed out how Peter had to learn and figure out what kind of person he wants to be when he grows up, it really clicked with me!
And I love how you pointed out Peter's dwelling on the people who didn't like him instead of the people who love him plays an important part in the story.
Absolutely agree with you that the fundamental core of this story is timeless, which is why it irked me a little when the MCU Spider-Man movies (as much as I love them) chose to just implied that it happened (and inconsistently at that)!
Thanks! I just read yours, and I appreciate your attention to the specificity of the language. I agree -- that "must also come" is key. It emphasizes the agency.
For anyone who wants to read it: https://ehlau.substack.com/p/spider-man-with-great-power-falcon?utm_source=activity_item
And yeah, that was a flaw of MCU Spidey. I get why they didn't want to redo the origin again so soon, but its absence shows just how important it is.
Thank you! 😄
Great write-up! Seeing you write for Spider-Man day also inspired me to write a post for tomorrow after being writer's-blocked all week (though I guess by now it will be a belated Spider-Man day).
I like how you mentioned that pre-responsibility Peter feels more like someone who would fight Spider-Man, and how his change towards responsibility also stems from love. I think sometimes adaptations like to generalize that his motives are caused by guilt, but it would be awfully difficult to continue on the way Spider-Man does as selflessly and for as long as Spider-Man does if it was still only caused by "I should have been there" without the second, stronger motivation of empathy and love's "I want to be there."
Thank you! And it's never too late for a Spider-Man post.