Top 10 Spider-Man Moments

In the comic event that pitted hero against hero, when it came to the superhero registration act, Spider-Man initially took Iron Man’s side. In fact, he believed in the cause so much, he was willing to make the ultimate show of faith on Tony’s behalf by revealing his secret identity. In front of a large crowd and television cameras, Spider-Man removed his mask, revealing himself to be none other than Peter Parker, a revelation that shocked the world…and caused J. Jonah Jameson to faint. While this act would ultimately cause him countless headaches, no one can deny just how monumental of a moment this was.

Talk about a triumphant return to the big screen. After watching his rebooted film franchise get the axe early courtesy of Sony, fans were overjoyed to finally see Spidey make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Tom Holland’s take on the web-head was well-received to put it mildly, and it was an absolute treat to see this young Spider-Man tangle with the likes of Captain America and the other Avengers. Not only do we get some stellar banter, but we also got to see him hold his own against some of the MCU’s heavy hitters. Now that’s how you reintroduce a beloved character!

What many consider to be the best solo Spidey outing ever put to film certainly had its fair share of highlights, but by far the most iconic was the battle atop a speeding train. In a bid to derail the web-slinger, Doctor Octopus sends the train on a one way trip with no means of slowing down. To save the civilians trapped on board, Spidey pushes himself beyond his physical limit, only just managing to bring the train to stop. This is followed by a solemn display of unity from the passengers, who promise to keep his identity a secret.

By this point in the canon, it was pretty clear that Spidey’s new black suit not only had a mind of its own, but was also doing more harm than good as it negatively influenced Peter’s behavior. As such, the two eventually entered a mental slugfest as they battled for control of the wall-crawler’s body and mind. Atop a church, Peter discovered that the alien being was actually weak to sound waves, allowing himself to break free. Of course this highly toxic relationship wasn’t quite over yet, since this separation would eventually lead to something even more sinister - the birth of Venom.

Granted, the overall execution of this reboot left a lot to be desired, reflected in it being viewed more as “The Satisfactory Spider-Man” to many fans, but we can’t deny just how much we enjoyed this high-flying visual and emotional display. With the city in mortal danger, Spidey has to reach the Oscorp building before it’s too late. The only obstacles in his path are his wounds and his inability to swing far enough. What’s a hero to do? Swing from crane to crane, that’s what! With a little help from some grateful New Yorkers, Spidey is able to propel his way to a final clash with The Lizard.

Being a full-time superhero is not an easy job, but it wasn’t until this moment that comic book writers really explored how heavy of a burden it was on Peter, or the sacrifices he had to make day in and day out. His grades are slipping, he has failed to be there for Aunt May when she needed him, and Jameson has essentially turned the whole city against him with anti-Spider-Man ads. Pushed to a breaking point, it all proves to be too much, and leads to Peter discarding his costume. While it’s easy to understand his decision, it ultimately led to a rise in crime as well as the introduction of the villainous Kingpin.

With great power comes great responsibility; the immortal creed imparted by Ben Parker has informed Spider-Man’s superhero identity ever since. Of course, such words only became truly profound following his tragic death. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, nerdy high-school student Peter Parker decides that he’s done letting people push him around, using his newfound powers for fame, even allowing a thief to slip by him. This of course proves to be a fatal mistake as the thief goes on to murder Uncle Ben, providing Peter with the most painful of lessons on what kind of man he wants to be.

As impractical of a kiss as this probably was, seeing Spidey finally get to lock lips with the girl of his dreams is just too sweet of a moment to overlook. After saving MJ from some rather unsavory goons, she decides that her frequent savior deserves a more personal thank you. And by that, of course, we mean the now iconic upside down kiss, when our two lovers share a brief moment of affection amidst a downpour. Even if rain was probably filling his nostrils, we wager that Peter wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world. Even superheroes need to get lucky once in awhile.

Before MJ, there was only one woman that had Peter Parker’s heart, and that was Gwen Stacy. While the passing of her father, George Stacy, was also a formative moment in Peter’s life, it pales in comparison to the loss of Gwen herself. In a bid to break his nemesis, the Green Goblin kidnaps Gwen and leads Spidey to a confrontation on the Brooklyn Bridge. While it seems like Gwen is saved at the last moment by a single web strand that catches her leg, but the sudden halt of her momentum causes her neck to snap. Peter has experienced tremendous loss in his life, but this is the most heartbreaking of them all.

Before we reveal our number one pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man
“The Amazing Spider-Man #248” (1984)

Spider-Man vs. Bone Saw
“Spider-Man” (2002)

Rising From The Grave
“Web of Spider-Man #32” (1987)

If you’re looking to see Spider-Man’s determination in its purest form, then you won’t find a better example in all of his adventures than this. Trapped under a mountain of iron by the dastardly Master Planner who is revealed to be none other than Doc Ock, and with no way out, all hope seems lost for our wall-crawling hero. However, with Aunt May’s life hanging in the balance and fuelled by the memory of Uncle Ben, Spidey manages to summon his very last ounce of strength to lift up the machinery and break free. Elevated by the brilliant and influential artwork of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko, this moment is just like Spider-Man himself: amazing.