We live in a time were some of our favorite comic book heroes are more popular than they've ever been. To many, one of their favorite heroes is Spider-Man, who's arguably one of the most recognizable superheroes ever. Many people have reasons to love the heroes they love, this is why Spider-Man has always been a personal favorite.
One of the obvious things that made Spider-Man connect with me was that he was typically presented as my age (teens or twenties). When you usually stumble on a superheroes story they are already adults, but Peter Parker is introduced to us as a teenager. Peter goes through the same problems that a lot of us had during those years such as bullies, trying to fit in, trying to keep grades up, and dealing with the pressures of looming adulthood.
When Peter goes into adulthood things actually end up even worse. Peter struggles to make ends meet, he struggles to keep his love life together, and he struggles with being Spider-Man. Normally heroes are presented as a form of escapism and empowerment due to how powerful and cool they are. Being Spider-Man actually makes Peter's life worse.
Not only does it carry danger for himself and his loved ones, but the duty that comes with being Spider-Man also piles more problems on his already difficult life. When you look at Spider-Man you immediately think that it would be cool to swing around and fight villains, but then you see Peter's life and all of the things that come from being Spider-Man and it makes you think twice about that.
With everything I've just said, you might be wondering why I love Spider-Man the most. Compared to most heroes, Spider-Man is a bit of a weakling. He constantly struggles to fight foes who are bigger than him and he is often met with scorn and fear by the public (thanks to J. Jonah Jameson). Spider-Man is never really rewarded for his service and is often persecuted for his vigilante actions. Despite all of this, however, Peter still puts the mask on and does what must be done.
That's what's inspiring about Spider-Man, he's just a young man with a lot of life's issues on his plate. He chooses to be Spider-Man because he knows his powers can be used to help people. He fights larger villains who could snap him like a twig because it's the right thing to do, no matter the risk to his own safety. Other heroes help people too, but Superman is equal to a villain like Zod when it comes to strength. Peter has only a fraction of the strength Superman has, but he would still fight Zod anyway. Even in the face of impending doom Spider-Man doesn't give up, even when he's outmatched. It gives us something to both relate to and aspire toward.
