5 Times Spider-Man Overcame Great Odds (And 5 Times He Quit)

by Mark Ginocchio

1. Handing The Responsibility Over To His Clone

Spectacular Spider-Man The Greatest Responsibility
Marvel Comics

In the mid-1990s, Marvel decided to mix-up the Spider-Man status quo in dramatic fashion by reintroducing Spidey's clone, who first appeared in the Bronze Age era Amazing Spider-Man #149. Over the course of many stories, it is revealed that the clone, Ben Reilly, is actually the REAL Spider-Man. Concurrently, Peter learns that he and Mary Jane are expecting a child.

During a battle that visually and thematically echoes the famous 'If This Be My Destiny' story, Peter and his clone defeat the female Doctor Octopus, grabbing the serum needed to save MJ and the Parkers' unborn child. After this moment, Peter decides in Spectacular Spider-Man #229 that his family is his top priority. He hands over his Spider-Man costume to Ben and walks off into the sunset with MJ.

This moment takes the top list in this countdown because it marks the longest time Peter was away from Spider-Man after quitting. For the next year, Ben is the main character in the Spider-verse. Reportedly, Marvel wanted Peter and MJ to live happily ever after and for Ben to continue on as Spider-Man, but fans lost interest in a Spider-verse with a perceived pretender as the lead.

Peter is eventually brought back, his child kidnapped/killed by a returning Green Goblin/Norman Osborn. Ben is killed during the battle with the Green Goblin, and Peter finds out that the whole Clone Saga was just some big master plan orchestrated by Osborn. Serves him right for being a quitter.

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Mark is a professional writer living in Brooklyn and is the founder of the Chasing Amazing Blog, which documents his quest to collect every issue of Amazing Spider-Man, and the Superior Spider-Talk podcast. He also pens the "Gimmick or Good?" column at Comics Should Be Good blog.