Captain America is known to be one of the most inspirational heroes in the Marvel Universe. If that’s true, then why does Spider-Man take the top spot?
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #88.BEY, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Marvel Comics is widely known for its heroes who have the power to inspire others to fight, even when there is a strong possibility of failure. A good example of this is Captain America. From his costume to his ideals, the message Cap carries everywhere he goes is that anyone has the power to make a difference. This iconography even extends to other heroes, to the point that disappointing him hurts. That said, while Cap is the pinnacle of motivation, Spider-Man can be an even bigger inspiration than the Star Man with a Plan.
It may seem like there’s no competition between these heroes to see who is the most inspiring. But their backgrounds for those they inspired show how Spider-Man is so different from Cap and how he has a bigger impact. In the past, Cap has inspired countless heroes to keep fighting even when all hope seems lost. A good example of this can be seen in the latest issue of secret empire by Nick Spencer and Steve McNiven, which saw the return of the classic Cap after an evil version of himself took over the land in the name of Hydra. This return didn’t elicit enthusiastic applause, but the heroes who restored it represent the culmination of his impact on those heroes. There’s also his speech to Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #537 by J. Michael Straczynski and Ron Garney when he inspired Peter to keep fighting after betraying Tony during Civil war.
Cap also inspired others to take his name across America. Many know that Bucky and Sam Wilson were the two main Cap’s to operate in his place, but Captain America’s United States by Christopher Cantwell and Josh Trujillo revealed even more caps from across the country. The actions of the three main heroes inspired countless people to care for those who couldn’t fight back. Although they don’t face any supervillains, the flag continues to motivate the others to keep fighting. But with Cap able to inspire an entire country, how is Spider-Man still a better inspiration than Steve?
Cap may have inspired people across the country and often other heroes, but Spider-Man is best known for encouraging his enemies as well as his allies to fight alongside him. For example, across the Multiverse, Peter Parker has served as the reason for many Spider-People, including Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales, to keep fighting because he’s often the last one standing. He also reformed several villains, including Boomerang, Overdrive, and even Black Cat. She will always commit crimes for fun, but Peter has instilled enough moral code that when faced with a moral crossroads, she will likely choose the heroic side.
More recently, in amazing spider man #88.BEY by Geoffrey Thorne, Jan Bazaldua, Jim Towe, Jim Campbell, and VC’s Joe Caramagna, Hobie Brown has seemingly given up his job as a Prowler and has devoted himself entirely to protecting others in any way possible. The Prowler was once a villain who was constantly at odds with Spider-Man in the past. Eventually Peter would have to show him that his methods weren’t working and there was so much more he could do as a hero. Since being reformed, he’s only served to clean up the damage previously done and help Spider-Man whenever he could. In essence, he is perhaps Spider-Man’s greatest achievement.
Spider-Man may not have touched as many hearts as Captain America, but he instead chooses to stick with those with bad intentions and try to help them rather than defeat them. Like Cap, Spidey represents hope. But rather than using that hope haphazardly, he focuses it on his enemies to try to show them a better path. It even worked with Doc Ock, who stole Peter’s body and eventually became a hero in his own right. Peter isn’t afraid to get to the heart of the matter to save his enemies. Even if his methods don’t always work, his perseverance makes up for it because if he can change the worst, that means anyone can be a hero.
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