Spider-Man might just be the unluckiest superhero in all of Marvel Comics. Peter Parker is infamous for his bad luck, and many fans are convinced that Marvel’s editors don’t want to see the Wall-Crawler happy. Even though he’s known as a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter Parker has seen countless tragedies and experienced many dark events that have changed him forever.
Some of the darkest Spider-Man comics can be hard to go back to, but these stories redefined the character and made Peter Parker who he is today. At times, it seems like Spider-Man can’t catch a break, and these comics show just how much the web-slinger has gone through over the years.
Spider-Man Wore His Dark Suit For The First Time In Secret Wars
Image via Marvel Comics
While Marvel has explored several versions of Secret Wars over the years and is even adapting the tale for the big screen in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, the most important version of the story is the original. It’s here that Spider-Man bonded with the Symbiote and wore the black suit for the first time, which was a major turning point in his story.
The widespread conflict in this narrative was dark enough, but that moment became a catalyst for the battle Peter would face years later. Venom, who secretly hidden within the black suit, would become one of Spidey’s greatest adversaries: a Symbiote that corrupted his mind. Peter will never forget the feeling of donning that suit for the first time, along with the power and darkness that came with it.
The Amazing Spider-Man Revealed Green Goblin’s Identity
Harry Osborn and Peter Parker have been best friends, but many things have gotten in the way of their relationship over the years. A catalyst for that conflict is Harry’s father, Norman, who was equally important to Peter. Norman has been portrayed as a mentor and, at times, a surrogate father figure, but ironically, he would go on to become Peter’s greatest adversary.
The Amazing Spider-Man run featured several ongoing mysteries, but none was more significant than the true identity of the Green Goblin. When that secret was finally revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #39, everything changed for Peter. The revelation that someone so close could also be a deadly enemy was genuinely shocking and added a lasting complexity to every battle between them.
Ultimate End Brought Miles To Earth-616
Ultimate End was a major story that brought about the finale of the Ultimate universe. This parallel world had been home to some truly sensational stories, but it was time for Marvel to bring the era to a close. The new Secret Wars played a role in that, but there were a few loose threads still needed tying up. Most importantly, Marvel couldn’t let the Ultimate universe be destroyed without ensuring Miles Morales survived this game-changing event.
Related
Most Iconic Spider-Man Quotes, Ranked
Showcasing his unique sense of humor and relatable personality, Spider-Man’s memorable quotes perfectly describe who he is as a hero.
And so, Ultimate End ensured that Miles was brought to Earth-616 to fight alongside Peter Parker and become a hero in a new reality. It was a heartbreaking moment, as everything Miles had fought for faded away, but he’s doing his best in this new world. It’s a shift that has defined not only Miles’ life but also Peter’s. He carries a great guilt over what happened to Miles’ universe and continues to mentor him as best he can.
Superior Spider-Man Replaced Peter Parker
Superior Spider-Man is a phenomenal run, in large part because of its handling of Doctor Octopus, who transformed in a way that fans had never seen before. The series is incredibly dark and even flirts with the idea of killing off Peter Parker for good. What many assumed would be a short-term arc became a far more involved story, as Doc Ock fully replaced Peter as Spider-Man.
The run is full of tension, with Doctor Octopus reimagining what it means to be Spider-Man on his own terms. There’s also a real sense of grief, as Peter’s friends and family move forward believing he’s gone. By the end of the series, Peter returns to his role as Spider-Man, but he’s forever changed by what he witnessed Doc Ock achieve. Their dynamic shifts again after Doc’s sacrifice, especially when a new version of the villain enters the picture.
Ultimate Spider-Man Killed Off An Icon
Miles Morales coming to Earth-616 was a tragic moment for the character, but the most pressing event in the Ultimate universe was the death of its original Spider-Man. For years, Peter Parker served as that universe’s web-slinger until the Death of Spider-Man storyline changed the status quo for good. In a twist the main universe would never fully commit to, Peter is killed in action.
This paves the way for Miles Morales to take up the Spider-Man mantle, and a new legend is born. But throughout Miles’ run, the weight of that loss is always present. Stepping into such a big role is no easy task, but the strength of the story lies in how Peter’s death opens the door for someone new to carry on that responsibility. Earth-616 is also shaped by this loss, as Miles Morales would never have entered the scene if this dark event hadn’t taken place.
One More Day Resulted In A Terrible Deal
One More Day followed the fallout of Peter Parker revealing his identity to the world. It’s a story filled with darkness and misery, as Spider-Man is pushed to his absolute lowest. After witnessing Aunt May get shot, he’s left in the most dangerous and uncertain period of his life. Desperate to fix everything, he turns to Mephisto for answers, but that decision has a terrible cost.
Related
10 Times Green Goblin Was the Strongest Spider-Man Villain
Green Goblin is one of Spider-Man’s most iconic enemies, but these moments proved once and for all that he’s also one of Marvel’s strongest villains.
Mephisto promised to reverse the events of the past, saving Aunt May and restoring Peter’s secret identity, but the price was steep. Peter had to erase his marriage to Mary Jane from existence. The two agreed to the deal, and that part of Spider-Man’s love story was written out of his narrative. To this day, many fans call One More Day the worst Spider-Man story of all time.
Spider-Man No More Was A Low Moment For Peter Parker
Peter Parker has always struggled with the responsibility that comes with being Spider-Man. He’s come close to quitting more than once, but he always returns, knowing he has a duty to save as many people as he can. That resolve is often fueled by the memory of the one time he did walk away, during the landmark Spider-Man No More moment.
In that story, Peter reflects on those he’s lost, those he’s saved, and how futile it all seems. Dejected and worn down, he decides his efforts might be better spent helping others in a different way. Peter hangs up the mask for good, or so he thinks. The iconic image of Peter walking away from the costume, left in a trash can, isn’t one of Spider-Man’s greatest moments, but it is one of the most unforgettable panels in Spider-Man history.
Peter’s Identity Reveal Ruined Everything In Civil War
During the superhero Civil War, Peter Parker faced one of the biggest decisions of his life. He initially believed in Iron Man’s vision and chose to support the Superhuman Registration Act. Standing alongside Tony Stark, Peter unmasked himself to the world. It was a moment that felt irreversible, a decision he would never fully be able to take back.
Related
Peter Parker’s Night Out Takes an Unexpected Turn in Spider-Man vs the Sinister Sixteen #1
Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Sixteen is everything that longtime Marvel readers have been asking for, and everything new fans didn’t know they needed.
Sadly, Spider-Man came to regret his decision that day. He eventually turned against Iron Man, realizing it was in everyone’s best interest to side with Captain America instead. That choice nearly cost him his life, as he was hunted and almost killed by the Thunderbolts. Peter is left carrying the shame and guilt of having put his loved ones in danger for a cause he no longer supports, something he takes drastic measures to remedy.
Amazing Fantasy Killed Off Uncle Ben
Few comics have had a greater impact on Spider-Man than Amazing Fantasy #15. In this story, Uncle Ben is killed in front of Aunt May after Peter had the chance to prevent it. It’s a tragic moment that Peter will always carry, defined by the guilt of not stepping up when he had the power to do so.
Uncle Ben’s death has been mythologized, rewritten, and revisited countless times, often serving as a source of inspiration when Peter needs it most. It was the hardest day of his life, but also the moment he was forced to grow up and protect Aunt May. Had Uncle Ben survived, the hero left behind would look very different, which is something that’s been explored in many alternate universe stories.
The Death Of Gwen Stacy Will Never Be Forgotten
Arguably the only death more tragic than Uncle Ben’s is that of Gwen Stacy. Peter had finally found love and happiness, only for it to be cruelly taken from him. The Green Goblin drops Gwen from a great height, and Peter is just too late to save her. The Night Gwen Stacy Died is a comic forever seared into the memory of every Spider-Man fan.
What makes it even more haunting is that her death is, in part, Peter’s fault. On that dark day, he mourned not just the woman he loved, but the loss of his own innocence as a superhero. From that moment on, he would never fight crime the same way. Now, Peter is always afraid that someone else he loves could be next.