Uncle Ben

Benjamin Franklin Parker, known as Uncle Ben, is a important character in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the uncle and father figure of the famous superhero, Spider-Man (Peter Parker). Uncle Ben first appeared in Strange Tales #97 and had his first full appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15 in 1962. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko and was named after the American founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Uncle Ben plays a big role in Peter Parker’s life and story. One important moment happens when Uncle Ben is taken from them by a petty criminal. This event teaches Peter an important lesson about responsibility. Uncle Ben is best remembered for his famous words, "With great power there must also come great responsibility", which guide Peter as Spider-Man.

Uncle Ben has appeared in many different types of media beyond the comics, including movies, animated shows, and video games. Actors like Cliff Robertson, Martin Sheen, and Adam Scott have all played Uncle Ben in films.

Publication history

Uncle Ben first appeared in the comic book Strange Tales #97 in January 1962. He was caring for his niece, a mermaid named Linda Brown, with his wife May. He returned in Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962, where he was caring for his nephew, Peter Parker, who later became Spider-Man. Sadly, he was killed in that same issue.

Even though he didn’t appear in many stories, Uncle Ben became very important in Spider-Man’s life. He often shows up in memories that help guide Peter. His death is one of the most famous in comic book history and has never been changed or undone in the main story. Many people remember him because of the famous saying about characters who stay dead in comics.

Fictional character biography

Ben Parker was born in Brooklyn, New York. He became a military police officer and also sang in a band. He grew up knowing May Reilly, his future wife, since their school days. When May was interested in a boy involved in crime, Ben helped expose the boy as a murderer. They fell in love and married, living happily together.

After Ben's younger brother Richard Parker and his wife Mary died in a plane crash, Ben and May took in their son, Peter, and raised him as their own. Ben was very protective of Peter, even standing up to bullies who bothered him. When Peter gained special powers from a spider bite, he became Spider-Man. Once, Spider-Man saw a burglar running from a guard but chose not to stop him. Later, that same burglar took Uncle Ben’s life. This made Peter realize that with great power comes great responsibility, and he vowed to always help others in need.

Other versions

Bullet Points

In one version of the story, Ben Parker is a military policeman who works to protect a scientist named Abraham Erskine. During an attempt to hurt Erskine, Ben is killed. Later, May tries to raise Peter by herself. Without Ben's guidance, Peter grows up angry and mean, and in this version, he becomes a powerful and angry hero.

Derailed Alt-Ben Parker

In another version, May dies in an accident, and Peter starts a career in show business with Ben as his agent. Peter becomes busy with his career and eventually leaves home, only staying in touch with Ben out of respect. Ben gets pulled into another reality by a villain and witnesses his destroyed house and May, who is still alive. He ends up in a fight and meets a mysterious figure who gives him a hard choice. After a big change in history, another version of Ben arrives and takes his place in this reality.

House of M

In a different reality called House of M, Ben is alive and knows that Peter is Spider-Man. Ben finds Peter's journal, which shows that the world is not right. He learns that he will be killed soon after Peter gets his powers. He helps Peter fake his own death to protect him.

Marvel Noir

In the Marvel Noir world, Ben is a social activist who was killed by a dangerous criminal. Before that, he was a pilot in World War I but did not feel proud of his service. His nephew Peter wears his old pilot uniform and uses his old gun when he fights as Spider-Man.

Spider-Verse

During the Spider-Verse story, many different versions of Uncle Ben appear:

• On one Earth, a man named Patton Parnell lives with an abusive uncle named Ted. After being bitten by a spider, he turns into a monster and infects Ted, saying he learned from him that "With great power comes a great appetite."
• On another Earth, Ben and May are scientists who tell their niece Peni that she must continue their important project after her father dies. Peni accepts and is bitten by a spider to help. Ben later tells her it isn't her fault when something goes wrong.
• In another reality, Ben and May are at the hospital with Peter, who is sick from a spider bite. While they are away, a thief breaks into their house and kills Ben. Peter turns into a powerful spider-form and attacks Ben and May, but is stopped. A cure is made, and Peter can live normally with them.
• On Earth-3145, Ben gains spider powers when a spider bites him instead of Peter. After his wife May and nephew Peter are killed, Ben hides. He later joins other heroes to fight a big threat, deciding to help after being inspired by Peter's memory.

Spider-Geddon

In the Spider-Geddon story, a version of Uncle Ben is married to a Hispanic version of Aunt May. After being shot by a mugger, Ben gains spider powers from a blood transfusion and becomes a Spider-Man, though he is very harsh in his actions.

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel version, Ben Parker is younger and was once a hippie. He teaches Peter to avoid violence. After Peter leaves home one night, he later learns that Ben was killed.

Ultimate Universe

In the Ultimate Universe on Earth-6160, May is killed in a planned attack. Ben becomes the managing editor of the Daily Bugle, working closely with a friend. After their newspaper is taken over, Ben and his friend plan to start their own news company. While watching over Peter's children, Ben discusses family matters with them.

What If?

Uncle Ben appears in many What If stories:

• In one story, Aunt May goes downstairs instead of Ben and is shot by a burglar. Ben later learns that Peter is Spider-Man and supports him, helping him stay strong and continue fighting for others. Ben also confronts a newspaper editor to protect May's memory and Peter's secret identity.

"With great power, there must also come great responsibility"

Main article: With great power, there must also come great responsibility

The phrase "with great power, there must also come great responsibility" is very famous. It didn’t start with any character, but it became well-known because of Spider-Man comics. Many people think of it as Spider-Man’s main rule to live by.

In other media

Television

Uncle Ben has appeared in several TV shows. In the Spider-Man (1967) episode "The Origin of Spider-Man," he was part of the story. In Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, he appeared in the episode "Along Came Spidey," voiced by Frank Welker. He was also in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Brian Keith. In the series finale "Farewell, Spider-Man," an alternate version of Uncle Ben appears when Spider-Man visits a different reality.

He also appears in the intro for Spider-Man Unlimited. In The Spectacular Spider-Man, he is in the episode "Intervention," voiced by Ed Asner. In Ultimate Spider-Man, he appears, voiced by Greg Grunberg, and an alternate version from a Wild West-themed reality appears in "Return to the Spider-Verse" Pt. 2, voiced by Clancy Brown. Uncle Ben also appears in flashbacks in the 2017 Spider-Man series, voiced by Patton Oswalt.

Film

Uncle Ben has been in several Spider-Man movies. In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy, he was played by Cliff Robertson. In The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), he was played by Martin Sheen. He made a cameo in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) using old audio from Cliff Robertson. The 2002 Spider-Man and The Spectacular Spider-Man versions of Uncle Ben appear in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse through old footage. A younger Uncle Ben appears in Madame Web, played by Adam Scott.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Though Uncle Ben does not appear directly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is mentioned in some stories. In _Captain America: Civil War, there is a reference to him. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, writers confirmed Uncle Ben exists in the MCU but he is never shown. In the What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?!", an alternate version of Uncle Ben is mentioned. In the development of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the writers decided Aunt May would take on Uncle Ben's role as Peter's guide. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, an alternate Uncle Ben appears in a photo and died naturally.

Video games

Uncle Ben appears in several video games. He is in Spider-Man (2002), voiced by Peter Lurie. He is also in the prologue of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, voiced by Mark Bramhall. He appears in photographs in Spider-Man (2018) and is in Marvel Snap.

Franklin Richards's Uncle Ben

Franklin Richards of the Fantastic Four often calls Benjamin Grimm, the Thing, "Uncle Ben." Grimm is the best friend of Franklin's father Reed Richards. Both Franklin Richards and Peter Parker share the middle name Benjamin, just like the Thing and Ben Parker, who they are named after. In one conversation, Spider-Man told Franklin, "Uncle Bens are always right."

Son of Spider-Man

In The Amazing Spider-Man #498–500, Spider-Man travels through time and meets his enemies from the past. He also sees a possible future where he talks to Mary Jane Watson and their son. In this future, their son's name is Ben, but this is just one possible future and not certain to happen. This future becomes even less likely after the events of "One More Day".

The Other Uncle Ben

Main article: Spider-Girl (Mayday Parker)

Like her father, Spider-Girl also has an Uncle Ben. But May never knew her uncle, Ben Reilly, who was a clone of Spider-Man. If Spider-Girl ever has children, they would also have an Uncle Ben – May’s baby brother. After the events of Spider-Verse, the Ben Parker from Earth-3145 stayed on May’s world, giving him a chance to become a grandfather, something the other Ben Parkers could not do because they passed away.