Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse showed cinema-goers what comic fans already knew: not only could there be multiple versions of a superhero, they could be cool as well. Fortunately, Spider-Man is one of those characters who’s had the fortune of being reimagined multiple times and in multiple ways, producing some of the best and most creative versions of the wall-crawler to date.
Unfortunately, some of those reinterpretations have also been misfires, producing out-of-character and forgettable versions of the friendly neighborhood web-slinger. Here are a few of the best and worst versions of the wall-crawler.
Updated on February 26, 2022 by Scott Allan: While Peter Parker is best known as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, he isn’t the only character to wear the webs over the years. While some versions of the hero have become as popular as the original, there are a few who didn’t live up to the standards set by the original. With the return of a fan-favorite character to the webs in the “Spider-Man Beyond” storyline, it’s a good time to gather a few more Spider-Man variants to see which versions worked and which didn’t.
15 Best: Ultimate Spider-Man Modernized The Character In A Continuity-Free Universe
One of the best ways Marvel reinvigorated the then thirty-eight-year-old Spider-Man was to reboot the entire series in its Ultimate line. Unencumbered by nearly forty years of convoluted continuity (Clone Saga anyone?), Ultimate Spider-Man brought Spidey back to his roots.
He was once again an awkward teenager trying to navigate his personal problems while dealing with his new role as a superhero. The series was also updated for the times, having Peter Parker work for the digital arm of the Daily Bugle and presenting a younger, cooler, and less desiccated version of Aunt May.
14 Worst: Brian Kornfield Was Transformed Into A Monster Known As Spider-X By The Darkhold
The supernatural team of heroes known as the Midnight Sons (which included characters like Johhny Blaze, Ghost Rider, Blade, and his Nightstalkers) encountered a monster wearing a spider costume that took the name of Spider-X.
While they initially assumed that Spider-Man had been transformed by the magical Darkhold book, it was eventually revealed that it was the Elder God Chthon who had transformed a young boy named Brian Kornfield into Spider-X. This was so he could take vengeance on the robber who attacked his mother. He also tried to take out other villains before he was ultimately defeated in battle with Zzzax.
13 Best: An Elderly Peter Parker And An Alternate Reality Ezekiel Sims Became Last Stand Spider-Man
Peter Parker saw a vision of a possible dark future where he took his last stand against police. This followed his decision to give up on his moral code after suffering too many losses in his life. This version became known as the “Last Stand Spider-Man.” He wore a dynamic costume that featured a plain red mask and gloves, as well as a reversible jacket that he could switch into quickly.
Another version of this character was revealed to be an alternate reality version of Ezekiel Sims, who also had spider-powers due to his role as a protector of spider-totems across the multiverse. He was killed in the battle against the multiversal Inheritors, although fans were left wanting more from Last Stand Spider-Man/Old Man-Spider.
12 Worst: Spider-Man Unlimited Gave The Hero A New Suit And A New Mission On Counter-Earth
Hot off the heels of its uber-successful mid-nineties Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Marvel followed up with Spider-Man: Unlimited, a series that transported Spidey to an alternate dimension. Controlled by the High Evolutionary in a severely oppressive regime, Spidey joins the freedom fighters of that world in trying to liberate it.
Removing Spider-Man from his familiar haunts and status quo takes away essential elements from the character, which is part of his appeal, and this series did just that with its sci-fi dystopian setting. Understandably, the series didn’t last beyond its first season.
11 Best: Doctor Octopus Took Over The Body Of Peter Parker To Become The Superior Spider-Man
During the “Dying Wish” storyline, a dying Doctor Octopus launched his final plan to take over the body of his enemy Spider-Man by switching their minds. Peter Parker ended up dying in Doctor Octopus’ body while Otto Octavius took over Spider-Man’s body.
He dedicated himself to proving that he was the Superior Spider-Man after the memories of Peter Parker turned Otto Octavius towards heroism. While Superior Spider-Man was a darker hero who had evil ulterior goals, he ultimately proved himself to be the hero he wanted to be when he sacrificed his new life and gave Parker his body back so he could save the people he couldn’t help himself.
10 Worst: Mattie Franklin Posed As Spider-Man After She Gained Powers In The Gathering Of Five
“The Gathering of Five” was a Spider-Man storyline about a mystic ritual held with five participants who each brought an enchanted item with the hope they’d receive one of five gifts – Power, Immortality, Knowledge, Madness, or Death. Norman Osborn and Madame Web each participated and received Madness and Immortality, respectively.
A young girl named Mattie Franklin received Power, which she used to impersonate Spider-Man before she took on her role as a new Spider-Woman. Mattie’s time as Spider-Man featured an awkward costume and was incredibly forgettable, as was her career as Spider-Woman, which ultimately led to her death.
9 Best: Miguel O’Hara Forcibly Had His DNA Spliced With A Spider To Become Spider-Man 2099
However, not all reimaginings of Spider-Man in a dystopian setting were horrible miscalculations, as Spider-Man 2099 proved to be popular with both fans and critics. Its success is perhaps due to the fact that this Spider-Man is not Peter Parker but Miguel O’Hara – a geneticist who received his powers from a laboratory accident.
Incorporating enough familiar aspects of the character and style of storytelling, while blending in elements of mystery and horror, allowed the series to appeal to longtime fans and new readers. Spider-Man 2099 has continued to appear in the comics long after the end of his series, further showcasing the popularity of the character.
8 Worst: Tony Stark Created The Iron Spider Armor For Peter Parker Prior To Civil War
During Marvel’s Civil War, Spider-Man initially sided with Iron Man’s pro-superhero-registration faction, revealing his identity to the world. As a way to better defend himself and thank him for his sacrifice, Tony Stark gave him a new Iron Man-like suit that effectively turned Peter Parker into the “Iron Spider.”
In theory, the idea seems cool. However, having Spider-Man run around in such a high-tech suit seems uncharacteristic. Its comic book design was also off-putting, having fans clamoring for a return to his classic costume, which he did when he defected to Captain America’s faction. The MCU’s version of the Iron Spider suit may have been more popular due to its similarity to the classic design.
7 Best: Miles Morales Took Over As The Ultimate Spider-Man Before Moving To The Mainstream Reality
In much the same way as Ultimate Spider-Man, the Miles Morales version redefined the Spider-Man mythos by eschewing continuity and introducing a whole new Spider-Man. Following the death of Ultimate Peter Parker, it was revealed that Miles Morales had also gained similar but different powers from a new genetically-modified Oscorp spider.
Miles infused Spidey with a whole new contemporary and youthful vibe that represented modern life at the dawn of a new millennium. Also, being of Hispanic and African-American descent, Miles brought some much-needed diversity to the ranks of superheroes.
6 Worst: Spider-Man Gained Cosmic Powers During The Acts Of Vengeance Event To Become Captain Universe
Augmenting a character’s powers is par for the course in comics, as the short-lived addition of Wolverine’s “heatable” claws proved. So, when Spider-Man received a significant upgrade to his powers after attaining the near godlike powers of Captain Universe, it was long overdue.
Now able to dispatch heavy hitters like Magneto, Graviton, and even The Hulk with ease, overpowered Spidey was interesting for a few issues but was decidedly out-of-character. Thankfully, he returned to his regular, loveable wall-crawling self with only the proportionate strength and speed of a spider to help him fight crime!
5 Best: Gwen Stacy Was Bitten By A Spider In An Alternate Reality To Become Spider-Woman And Then Ghost Spider
One aspect of the Spider-Man persona that’s been really played up in recent years is the idea that anyone can be behind the mask, not necessarily Peter Parker. As a matter of fact, Spider-Man doesn’t even have to be a man, and although there have been several Spider-Women in Marvel’s history, they seem like pale female imitations when compared to the Ghost Spider.
In a universe where Gwen Stacy gained spider-powers and became a superhero, the Ghost Spider embodies the responsibility, spirit, and sense of heroism inherent in the character, and she sports a fetching costume and cool hair-do while doing so!
4 Worst: Peter Parker Gained Four Extra Arms As Spider-Man When He Tried To Cure Himself Of His Powers
Marvel has always had an air of science-fiction in its storytelling, and Spider-Man has always fit into that sci-fi mold. Peter Parker, fed up with his life as Spider-Man, takes a serum to rid himself of his spider-powers for good.
Waking up the next morning, Peter discovers that the serum has given him four extra arms, mirroring the eight appendages of his arachnid avatar. Thankfully the extra arms don’t last long, as the sight of a six-armed sleeveless Spider-Man swinging through the streets of New York was thoroughly ridiculous.
3 Best: Spider-Man Gained A New Black Costume When He Found An Alien Symbiote On Battleworld During Secret Wars
Changes to classic characters’ costumes are generally not well-received, as Superman fans demonstrated in the ‘90s when the Man of Steel ditched his duds for two separate onesies: one red and the other blue. A notable exception was when Spider-Man came back from the original Secret Wars with his sleek new black costume.
Although traditionalists were opposed to the change, they came around, and most comic book fans welcomed the new look. Once the costume was revealed as an alien symbiote that became the villain Venom, it took on a whole new life and popularity and remains a look Spidey occasionally revisits.
2 Worst: Peter Parker Was Transformed Into A Heroic Spider-Monster In The Heroes Reborn Event
Marvel’s second Heroes Reborn event explored an altered world where the Squadron Supreme had become the premiere heroes instead of the Avengers, resulting in a number of changes that reimagined established heroes in new and exciting ways. Unfortunately, Spider-Man ceased to exist in Peter Parker: The Amazing Shutterbug as he was “saved” from his fate and never bitten.
However, he still became a photographer who worked closely with Hyperion. After one of Hyperion’s battles left a single miniature drone from the Annihilation Hive alive, Parker managed to destroy the deadly creature and save the Daily Bugle building. Unfortunately, he was infected and began transforming into a monster, until he threw himself out of a window to his death.
1 Best: Peter Parker’s Clone Ben Reilly Has Made A Name For Himself As Both Scarlet Spider And Spider-Man
While The Clone Saga went down in history as a convoluted and occasionally reviled storyline, it did introduce Peter Parker’s clone, Ben Reilly, who took on the new identity of Scarlet Spider. The arc teased that the web-slinger appearing in the comics for 20-odd years was actually the clone. Peter Parker retired to start his family while Reilly took over as the Sensational Spider-Man.
Reilly died at the end of the Clone War after the storyline dragged on and began to turn off fans, but the character returned as the villainous Jackal before he took back the role of Scarlet Spider. He later returned to become the best hero he could be with a newly updated costume as Spider-Man Beyond, which teased his dark new role as a character named Chasm.
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