Out of everything in theSpider-Manmythos, there’s one thing that’s more important than anything else, and that’s Peter Parker’s relationship with Uncle Ben. Sure, in the grand scheme of things,Uncle Ben’s role isvery limited, only playing a big role in Peter’s earliest days as a hero.
But despite not being a character in the traditional sense of the word, Uncle Ben has evolved over time. Thanks to the sliding timeline of the Marvel Universe, what fans have come to know about and expect from Ben has changed, often reflecting the timein which Spider-Man’s storyis being told. And therein lies the reason whyUncle Ben remains important to Spider-Man.
The Death of Uncle Ben is Almost a Constant in Spider-Man’s Life
It’s How Peter Learned the Greatest Lesson of His Life
Everything all comes back to the tragic twist of fate first seen inAmazing Fantasy #15’sstory “Spider-Man!” Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Stan Goldberg, and Artie Simek. The tale as old as time begins with a young Peter, ostracized by his peers, as he goes to check out a new exhibit at the science hall, where he’s bit by the spider that will change his life forever. Within hours, Peter discovers he’s capable of amazing things, such as sticking to walls as well as possessing incredible strength,while his Aunt May and Uncle Ben are none the wiser.
Peter decides to cash in on his newfound powers in the entertainment field. He makes a costume and develops web-shooters and readies his Spider-Man persona for his first big debut. Spider-Man is a hit with the audience, but he lets his powers go to his head and refuses to stop a thief that runs past Peter. But things are going well for Peter, who’s happy as long as he’s got his family. Unfortunately,it’s not long after until Uncle Ben is shot in a random mugging.
…the narration reminds everyone that with great power, there must also come great responsibility.
The mugger is pinned down in a warehouse and Spider-Man is ready to confront the assailant who took Peter’s uncle’s life. However, in a dramatic reveal for the ages,Spider-Man realizes that Uncle Ben’s killer was the same thief that he didn’t stop when he had the chance. Spider-Man webs up the thief and leaves him to the cops to deal with. Peter sobs as he reflects that this was all his fault, while the narration reminds everyone that with great power, there must also come great responsibility.
Though later attributed to him, the infamous quote wasn’t actually said by Uncle Ben, at least inAmazing Fantasy #15!
What Uncle Ben Represents to Spider-Man Has Evolved Over Time
The Message is the Same, But Uncle Ben Isn’t
In the sixty years he’s been around, Uncle Ben has served one major purpose in Spider-Man lore: He has to die in order to teach Peter to use his powers responsibly. Uncle Ben generally never exists past Spider-Man’s origin story, so he exists largely as an ideal for Peter to look up to and model himself after. While the role that Peter’s kin plays never really changes,the way that Uncle Ben is presented has varied over the years in the numerous retellings of Spider-Man’s story.
…the original Ultimate Uncle Ben from the early 2000s, was portrayed as an ex-hippy who held anti-authoritarian views…
The original Uncle Ben was a traditional American patriarch and veteran, the kind of figure an all-American lad like Peter would have held in high-regard in the ‘60s. But years later, the original Ultimate Uncle Ben from the early 2000s, was portrayed as an ex-hippy who held anti-authoritarian views (not exactly uncommon in the Bush years). Now fans havea new Ultimate take on Uncle Ben, who, surprisingly, isn’t dead, but is working as a journalistfighting for the truth in an incredibly corrupt system.
These kinds of alterations to Uncle Ben aren’t limited to the comics, of course. In the 2002, Sam Raimi-directedSpider-Manfilm, Uncle Ben is an out-of-work electrician hit hard by tough economic times (following a real-life American recession in the early 2000s). Years later,The Amazing Spider-Manhad Martin Sheen portray Uncle Ben, an inspired choice during the politically optimistic Obama yearsgiven Sheen’s experience portraying a progressive president himself onThe West Wing. The MCU, however, eschewed Uncle Ben altogether and chose to focus on Aunt May, reflecting the late 2010s push for stronger female roles.
Uncle Ben is the Evolving Ideal That Spider-Man (And Readers) Should Aspire To
He Changes with the Times, But His Message is Always Clear
Sure, in the grand scheme of things, Uncle Ben isn’t the most focal part of Spider-Man stories, but nine times out of ten, he’s there in some capacity. He’s someone that Peter knows and views as a good and moral man. And yes,Uncle Ben’s characterization has shifted somewhat over the years, both in the comics and live-action adaptations. But Benjamin Parker always serves the same function in a story, as an embodiment of what many view as a positive, upstanding figure.
And yes, it’s true that Ben’s image evolves over time. A more hippy take on Uncle Ben wouldn’t exactly be the kind of person that Spider-Man would have looked up to in the ‘60s. But in the Bush years, a more millennial Peter would absolutely understand where his ex-hippy uncle was coming from. It’s the same thing that’s happening with the current Ultimate Universe’s Ben.What sells the idea of Uncle Ben being a solidly moral person more than being a journalistwilling to speak truth to power?
…Ben gives his nephew, and by extension, the readers, a role model that really reflects the modern day.
Uncle Ben’s role is a small, but important one in Spider-Man lore. Not only does he usually impart the greatest wisdom that guides Peter Parker in his heroic crusade, Ben gives his nephew, and by extension, the readers, a role model that really reflects the modern day. While what that means has changed over time, Uncle Ben is just as important to Spider-Man as he was back in the ‘60s. No matter what era he’s in, Uncle Ben is always going to be there as a timely embodiment of everything good forSpider-Manand his fans.
