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Spiderman

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On Certain levels, Spiderman is better than Superman and in other ways it's the opposite. In this article, I'll focus on Spiderman's edge on his DC counterpart.

Before starting, I find it difficult to compare the super heroes without mentioning their "alter egos", in this case Peter Parker vs. Clark Kent.

For starters, the Peter Parker/Spiderman character, though he doesn't have the brawn strength and ability to fly that Superman has, Peter is all the more human while still being someone to look up to.

Example 1; While Superman was born on another planet with all his super-powers and strength, Peter Parker grew up as a normal boy with his aunt and uncle. Parker was already more or less a grown up college boy, by the time he was bitten by the spider that gave him his powers.

Example 2; Superman always stayed with his adoptive parents, while Peter was living on his own, though only in a very small apartment.

Example 3; Whereas Superman is constantly saving the "damsel in distress" without really knowing why; Spiderman was raised by a couple who taught him strong values and how to be responsible for his actions and powers, "with great power comes great responsibility". In Parker's experience we see that the murder of his uncle truly enforced that lesson in Peter's life.

Example 4; Nationality of the creator's in each respective comic. The original creator of the "strong man in tights" Superman was Canadian but the rights were later sold to DC Comics. This is probably why they used the name Metropolis, which is a fictional city as opposed to Spiderman's New York City.

One more thing I prefer about Spiderman is that, while both these characters are reporters, we get a lot more out of the Parker personality as a competitive young man that has more back-bone than Clark Kent. Parker/Spiderman are often fighting for acceptance; Parker to be accepted as a good reporter who deserves his job despite his youth and lack of experience, Spiderman because he constantly gets bad press even when he saves the day. For this reason, I admire Spiderman much more than Superman because Superman never saved people that basically hated his guts, whereas Spiderman RARELY gets thanked and often is hated due to "spins" by J. Jonah Jameson.

In a paragraph above, I mentioned "human while someone to look up to"; I can also add that that's evident also in the comparison between Parker & Clark Kent, both in their physical appearance and their clothes (I know, they both wear glasses). Clark Kent not only has a solidly square jaw and just as square shoulders, he's also always seen in that suit and tie; thus giving the impression of a boxer or hockey player at a press conference. Peter Parker, on the other hand is in running shoes, jeans, t-shirt under an unbuttoned shirt, running everywhere or riding his little scooter; also his physical appearance is that of the average 19 year old college student (especially the ones that are more into reading/studying rather than sports).

On a personal note, I relate a lot more to Peter Parker because, aside from the super-powers of course, I've been there. I was a 19 year old college student, living on my own, that size, and into photography/video.

Learn more about this author, Alexandre Muise.
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