Spider-Man, the friendly neighborhood web-slinger, has been a beloved superhero for decades. One of the reasons for his enduring popularity is his relatable nature, particularly among teenagers. This is because Spider-Man is a teenager himself, dealing with many of the same issues and struggles that real-life teenagers face. From navigating the complexities of high school to figuring out his place in the world, Spider-Man’s character resonates with many young people. Additionally, his powers and responsibilities as Spider-Man serve as a metaphor for the challenges and growing pains of adolescence, which many teenagers can relate to. Here are top 7 reasons what makes spiderman relatable character amongst teenagers.
What Makes Spiderman Relatable Character Amongst Teenagers
Relatable teenager and looks
Spider-Man’s costume and physical appearance also contribute to his relatability as a teenager. The costume, with its spandex and web-like design, is often seen as a symbol of youthful energy and athleticism. The mask, which hides his face and identity, is also symbolic of the idea of a secret identity, which is something that many teenagers can relate to as they navigate their own sense of self and struggle to fit in.
The way Spider-Man is depicted as Peter Parker in terms of physical appearance makes him relatable to teenagers. He is commonly portrayed as a typical teenager, with an average appearance and a lean build, which makes him easy to relate to for readers. This approach helps to make him relatable as he is not portrayed as an unrealistic, overly muscular superhero, but as someone who has a similar physical appearance to that of a typical teenager.
College life
Spider-Man is relatable to teenagers in terms of going to college because he faces many of the same challenges and struggles that real-life college students do. For example, Peter Parker as Spider-Man, has to balance his responsibilities as a student and as a superhero, which is something that many college students can relate to as they try to balance their studies, extracurricular activities, and social lives. Spider-Man also struggles with the pressure to succeed academically and make a better life for himself and his loved ones, which is a common concern for many college students.
In some comics and movies, Spider-Man is also depicted as a college student, specifically at Empire State University, and has to juggle his classes and assignments while also fighting crime and saving the city. This representation of Spider-Man as a college student highlights the added pressures and responsibilities that come with college life and makes him relatable to those who are currently in college or about to start college.
College students who are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives and what their future holds. Spider-Man’s journey of self-discovery, his willingness to learn, and his determination to make a difference are values that can resonate with many college students as they navigate their own paths in life.
Peter Parker’s relation with MJ
Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, always felt awkward around his friend MJ, even before he realized he had romantic feelings for her. MJ would often tease him in a playful manner, knowing it would make him uncomfortable. Although Peter had a relationship with Liz, it was clear that he would end up with MJ. This was further highlighted in the movie “Spider-Man: Far From Home” as his feelings towards MJ became more prominent, making his interactions with her even more uncomfortable.
Many of us can relate to having a crush on someone in high school and feeling nervous or unsure of what to say or do around them. This is similar to Peter’s situation with MJ, as he struggles to navigate his feelings while keeping his secret identity as Spider-Man. Even though his experiences as Spider-Man may be more extreme, the emotions and challenges he faces are relatable to those of many high school students. Additionally, when MJ discovers that Peter is Spider-Man, it can be equated to someone finding out that we have feelings for them. This moment is both exciting and nerve-wracking, making it a relatable experience for many teenagers.
Hiding secrets from his Aunt
Many children, including Peter Parker, have kept secrets from their parents or guardians at some point in their lives. These secrets can range from small things like sneaking a snack before dinner, to bigger issues like getting into trouble in or outside school. Similarly, Peter had to keep his secret identity as a superhero hidden from his aunt, adding an extra layer of complexity to the secrets he was keeping. This concept of keeping secrets from parents is something that most children and teenagers can relate to, making Peter’s character relatable in this aspect.
Peter Parker would have preferred to keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret forever, especially from his aunt May. It must have been challenging for him to hide his secret from her, especially when she is younger and more aware of his social life. It’s one thing to keep a secret from someone who is older and less observant, but it’s another thing when it’s a younger and more attentive person who is trying to be involved in all aspects of your life. This internal conflict that Peter feels and the effort he has to put in to keep his secret is relatable for many people who have had to keep a secret in their life.
It’s a common belief that keeping secrets often makes them worse. However, as we saw in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, when Peter finally reveals his secret identity as Spider-Man to Aunt May, she accepts him and even helps him in his superhero duties. This raises the question of how things could have turned out differently if he had told her earlier, as we can see that honesty and trust can help to build a stronger relationship.
Gaining insight and knowledge from past errors
As a crucial aspect of growing and maturing, it is important to learn from past mistakes. This is especially true for high school students, like Peter Parker, who also have the added responsibility of being the superhero Spider-Man. In each solo Spider-Man movie, we see Peter make mistakes that are common for someone his age, which often puts the lives of others in danger. However, Peter learns from these mistakes and continues to grow and improve as both a person and a hero.
It is understandable that Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, makes mistakes along the way despite his best efforts. He is being forced to grow up at a faster pace than most people, while balancing the responsibility of protecting his neighborhood and eventually the whole universe (as seen in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame). However, despite these blunders, we see that Peter is learning from his mistakes, which makes him a better person and hero. This is relatable for many people who are also trying to learn and grow from their mistakes, as it is a natural part of maturing.
Be a part of something
For Peter, becoming an Avenger represents the ultimate level of coolness. The team has saved the world numerous times, and it is composed of a living legend, a genius, a god, some of the best spies in the world, and the Hulk. Being part of such a team is a dream come true for him. Similarly, many of us can relate to the desire of wanting to be part of a group, whether it’s a sports team, a club, or even a group of friends.
Being part of a group doesn’t necessarily mean wanting to be associated with the popular or stereotypical groups, it just means the desire to be accepted by one’s peers. There’s a sense of belonging when you find a group that accepts you for who you truly are. It brings a special joy. Peter found this acceptance both in the hero community and in high school, and this sense of finding his place and people is something that many people can relate to.
Peter Parker’s desire for validation from Tony Stark
Having a role model or someone to look up to is important for personal growth and career development. When choosing a profession, a dream job, or a goal, it’s helpful to have a person to emulate. It’s even better when that person is a successful genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and superhero like Tony Stark, who Peter Parker admires and wants to impress.
Tony Stark reached out to Peter for assistance in fighting Captain America and his team, and Peter played a significant role in that battle. From that point on, Peter has been determined to make Tony proud through his actions as Spider-Man. However, things didn’t always go as planned, such as in the incident in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” when Peter’s actions almost resulted in the deaths of people on a boat, leading to Tony being furious with him. But this tough love from Tony helped Peter to realize that he needed to learn from his mistakes and do better in the future. After that incident, Tony Stark began to see Peter as a trustworthy ally, providing him with an upgraded suit and access to his advanced technology.
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