Warning: Spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #12Aunt May is a truly indispensable part of the Parker family in Spider-Man lore, but that idea is being put to the test with a controversial change in the new Ultimate Universe. No matter what trouble Peter goes through, he can almost always rely on his aunt for emotional support. Aunt May is partly responsible for Peter's strong moral core, but everything is different in the Ultimate Universe.
Fans got to see the surprising new family dynamic in Ultimate Spider-Man#12 by Johnathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto. This story takes place in December, and the Parker family has gathered around for Christmas, including Ben Parker, Peter, Mary Jane, Jonah Jameson, Madeline Watson, and Peter's children, May and Richard Parker.
One of the most notable absences is obviously Aunt May, who unfortunately lost her life in a supposed terrorist attack in New York City.
In the Ultimate Universe, the Parker Family Is Bigger Than Ever - Except Aunt May
Ultimate Spider-Man #12 by Johnathan Hickman, Marc Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and Cory Petit
The Maker has created his own Ultimate Universe and edited various parts of it to his liking. One of the biggest changes was preventing Peter from gaining his powers at a young age, as well as making it so Uncle Ben never died. Instead, Aunt May died out of sheer happenstance. This small change lets readers see the Parker family in a unit unlike anything they've seen before, with a significantly larger focus on Mary Jane's side of the family.
One of the things that made the original Peter Parker so compelling was that he comes from a small family. Many people have huge families: a mother and father, multiple siblings, and extended family. But not everyone has that kind of family life. His small circle is what made Peter Parker different from most heroes. He only had Aunt May. He didn't have any other family. Hickman and Checchetto are now going in the opposite direction, exploring what the man of responsibility does when he has a massive family to take care of. It's a completely new dynamic and one that Spider-Man hasn't really experienced before.
Aunt May has been the center of the Parker family for almost as long as Spider-Man has been in comics.
Usually, the only person that Spider-Man had to depend on was Aunt May (and sometimes Mary Jane). But this new family is larger than ever. Not only does Peter have a wife and two kids, but he's also got his Uncle Ben, Jonah, and Mary Jane's entire side of the family. It's a major change to traditional Spider-Man storytelling, and it's still unclear how fans will respond to it. Aunt May has been the center of the Parker family for almost as long as Spider-Man has been in comics, and taking her out of the family is certainly a bold choice that hasn't really been explored before.
Aunt May Has Always Been There for Peter Parker
Panel from The Amazing Spider-Man #38 by J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita Jr.
Aunt May and Peter's relationship was so important that entire comics were written around how Aunt May deals with the realization that Peter is Spider-Man, including in The Amazing Spider-Man #38 by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Dan Kemp, Wes Abbott, and Richard Starkings. In this issue, there are no action set pieces and no swinging through the city at high speeds - just a boy and his aunt talking about what it means that he is a superhero. It's a fascinating issue and a prime example of why Aunt May is such an important character in the Spider-Man mythos.
Marvel Comics is setting up a long-awaited rematch between magically amped-up Spider-Man and the unstoppable powerhouse that is The Juggernaut.
Without Aunt May in the Ultimate Universe Parker family, her position is filled by Madeline Watson, the mother of Mary Jane. This series might very well feature one of the biggest explorations of the Watson family, as her mother and father haven't shown up in traditional Marvel continuity recently. Madeline Watson was last seen in 1984, and her character's history can be summed up in just a few paragraphs. She was sickly, gave up on her dreams to raise her children, and eventually passed away in a hospital. There wasn't much to her character, but the Ultimate version of Madeline could be explored more in-depth.
Likewise, Mary Jane's father was a complicated man. A college professor with dreams of being a writer, Philip Watson never had the skill to fulfill his dreams. Feeling inadequate, he often lashed out at his family, even smacking Mary Jane's sister due to the cost of her dancing lessons, resulting in the collapse of his family. Madeline left him and took the kids with her. Decades later, Philip got his daughter, Gayle, arrested when he insisted that she try to steal a manuscript for him. Bizarrely, this event eventually led to Mary Jane trying to reconcile with him.
How Does Spider-Man's Character Differ Without Aunt May?
A Core Player Is Already Absent from the Ultimate Universe
Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann
Despite Mary Jane being one of the most important characters in Spider-Man history, her family life hasn't been explored anywhere near as much as Peter Parker's. It seems like the Ultimate Universe will finally be changing that status quo. Without Aunt May, Madeline Watson will be taking up her spot in the family, and it's unclear if Philip Watson will be making an appearance. Ultimate Spider-Man is shaping up to include one of the biggest looks at the Watson family that readers have ever gotten.
One of the most interesting changes made by removing Aunt May is Peter's sense of responsibility. Originally, Spider-Man's sense of responsibility came from how he was partly responsible for the death of Uncle Ben. Peter had the chance to capture the criminal who eventually took Ben's life, but he decided not to. But in this Ultimate Universe, Aunt May died due to something completely out of Peter's control. Even if Peter did have his powers at the time, which he didn't, saving one old woman during a skyscraper collapse is far more than Peter is capable of.
For more Ultimate Universe stories, check out titles like Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Black Panther, The Ultimates, and more, all available now from Marvel Comics.
There was a similar story that also explored the loss of Aunt May in 1984: "What If Spider-Man's Uncle Ben Had Lived?" by Peter Gillis and Ron Frenz. In this story, Aunt May was killed by the burglar instead of Uncle Ben. Despite the horrific situation,Uncle Ben gives Peter some advice, telling Peter that he had no possible way to know this would happen, and he wasn't responsible for it. Peter becomes a significantly more confident and stable hero, driven by the desire to do the right thing as opposed to overwhelming guilt.
Sometimes, Spider-Man Is Better Without Aunt May
The Ultimate Universe Opens New Story Possibilities
It's hard to imagine a Peter Parker without his Aunt May, but readers have seen it a few times, and sometimes Peter is even better off for it. It's yet to be seen if Madeline Watson will be a loving and helpful influence on the Parker family or if she will be the exact opposite of Aunt May. All fans know right now is that Peter Parker has a bigger family than he's ever had before, and Aunt May isn't part of it. What that means for Spider-Man is something readers will just have to stayed tuned to find out.
Ultimate Spider-Man #12 is available now from Marvel Comics!
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
First Appearance
Amazing Fantasy
Alias
Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
Alliance
Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann
English (US) ·