Spider-Man Just Got His Most Savage Beating Ever (And He Totally Deserves It)

Summary Spider-Man reckons with Uncle Ben's murder and faces a nightmare vision of Aunt May blaming him for the tragedy.

Aunt May's beating symbolizes Spider-Man's inner turmoil and self-blame for not saving Uncle Ben.

Despite the trauma, Spider-Man continues to embody the aphorism "With great power comes great responsibility."

Warning: Contains spoilers for Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin #4!Spider-Man has gotten his spider-butt handed to him more than a few times in his career. Enough so that it's become a staple part of the character for writers to push the webslinger past where he should go, just to see if he will get up and keep fighting. But one failed fight still defines him today, and as he reckons with the reality of his Uncle Ben's murder, he finds himself in a fight that wrecks him completely.

Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin #4 by J.M. DeMatteis, Michael Sta. Maria, Chris Sotomayor, and VC's Joe Caramagna gives Spider-fans a glimpse of Spider-Man's first month on the friendly neighborhood job. The issue also reveals the fate of Proto-Goblin, as his body degenerates into a psychoactive substance. Exposed to this substance, Spider-Man finds himself in a nightmare vision that tells him the truth he isn't ready to hear.

A nightmare version of Aunt May blames Peter for Uncle Ben's death because Spider-Man didn't stop the murder from happening. She then begins to beat Spider-Man, adding physical trauma to his already compounding emotional trauma.

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Spider-Man's Great Responsibility for Uncle Ben's Death

Aunt May Blames Peter Parker

If Spider-Man had the power to save Uncle Ben, then he must hold the responsibility of letting him die.

Spider-Man has never faced a more dangerous enemy than his own past. With this nightmarish Aunt May beating him to the punchline, he has no choice but to surrender to the fight. Not only will he not hurt his own beloved Aunt May, but Spider-Man realizes she's right. "With great power comes great responsibility" goes the aphorism, and so if Spider-Man had the power to save Uncle Ben, then he must hold the responsibility of letting him die.

It's not just a nightmare sequence that Peter is hallucinating as the Proto-Goblin, wearing the face of Aunt May, beats him down, blow after blow. In his own way, Spider-Man is punishing himself for not being good enough. His Spider-Sense would absolutely help him to dodge these punches, even in a hallucination, but he allows himself to receive the beating, framing his Spider-Sense as a sort of weakness. This is one villain he won't argue with: his past trauma. Because he knows it's right - Spider-Man could have saved Uncle Ben.

Uncle Ben's Death Still Haunts Spider-Man to this Day

Peter Parker Has Always Blamed Himself for Uncle Ben's Death

This isn't even the darkest side of Spider-Man's psyche, as in the modern timeline he is embracing corruption as Venom once again. However, it does show the inner turmoil that must always remain with him. Hearing his natural quips and his lighthearted side shows that he's only ever trying to laugh to keep from crying and to save the next person like he couldn't save his Uncle Ben. Spider-Man is more than aware of the great responsibility that is upon him, and every time he is savagely beaten down, he has the great power to get back up and keep trying again.

Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!

Spider-Man: Shadow of the Green Goblin #4 (2024) Writer: J.M. DeMatteis

Artist: Michael Sta. Maria

Colorist: Chris Sotomayor

Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Paulo Siqueria & Rachelle Rosenberg