Spider-Man constantly taunts and teases many of his supervillain opponents but does this hyper-verbal strategy make him a bully himself?
Spider-Man may be known as New York City’s friendly neighborhood superhero, but he has a tendency to mercilessly ridicule any supervillain that he’s fighting against. Spidey’s tactics routinely involve this constant belittling of virtually any and all opposition, so there is the perception that Spider-Man is something of a bully towards those he fights against. However, Peter Parker’s background, approach to his superhero career, and his own demonstrated values don’t really make him much of a bully even if he could possibly stand to make fun of his familiar foes a bit less than his usual hyper-verbal self.
Amazing Spider-Man #88 ( vol. 5 by Zeb Wells, Michael Dowling, Bryan Valenza, and VC’s Joe Caramagna) had a scientist praising Spider-Man for sticking it to the bad guys, seeing that he has bullied himself growing up. Though he is complimenting Peter’s clone Ben Reilly, the sentiment still stands as Spider-Man being a symbol for the oppressed everyman, with Peter the victim of bullying all through his public schooling. Peter is well aware of the biting effect that taunting words can have on one’s psyche as well as his high school trauma enduring targeted harassment but engages in this similar tactic as a reflection of his personality and to unnerve his opponent.
In a way, Spider-Man’s taunting is him getting his nervous energy out — he can’t help but talk about his opponents as an extension of his constant taunts. Peter also deflates grandstanding supervillains with his acerbic observations, with one of the more notable instances taking place early in Ultimate Spider-Man #12 (by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley, and Art Thibert). Spidey needled Kingpin about his weight, goading the supervillain into losing his cool and attacking recklessly. Conversely, when Spider-Man doesn’t spend his time wisecracking, this often is an indicator that he’s taking the fight seriously, with Amazing Spider-Man #542 (by J. Michael Straczynski, Ron Garney, and Bill Reinhold) showcasing a silent, determined Spider-Man beating up Kingpin in a prison brawl.
Peter is aware of when bullying and teasing go too far, which was a recurring theme throughout Straczynski’s run on Amazing Spider-Man. Taking a job as a high school science teacher at his old alma mater, Peter would contend with bullied individuals, both among the current students and his own high school past, receiving superpowers and using them to attack those who mercilessly tormented them. In these situations, Peter would attempt to appeal to the hurt individual underneath the vengeful powers rather than taunt them as he would with his usual rogue’s gallery; employing empathy and sympathy to save the day.
Peter Parker grew up on the receiving end of constant bullying, even after he received the radioactive spider bite that gave him his prodigious superpowers. As Spider-Man, he knows exactly how much of a mind game he’s playing on his supervillains and how exactly to taunt them to drive them to the edge of losing control. This tactic certainly isn’t without its controversy though. Spider-Man relying on fat jokes to unnerve the Kingpin does seem particularly mean-spirited even given Wilson Fisk’s penchant for villainy but certainly has proved effective. Spider-Man was a victim of bullying who has turned that into a weapon he wields against his enemies, aware firsthand of the harm it can cause while avoiding becoming an outright bully himself but instead a hero to those that were bullied like him.
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