- “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
- ―Ben's most famous line.
Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Parker (known as Uncle Ben) is the late uncle of Peter Parker and the husband of May Parker. He is a kind, older man who was Peter's father figure as Peter's parents died when he was younger. He is tragically killed by a criminal that Peter didn't stop despite having the chance to do so. His death would teach Peter that with great power comes great responsibility, a philosophy that he took to heart when he chose to become the superhero known as Spider-Man.
Ben Parker was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
Appearances
Marvel Animation
Ultimate Spider-Man
Spider-Man has referenced Uncle Ben's death a couple of times when talking about his morals. Ben appeared in the episode "Strange Days" where Nightmare tries to use the failure of Peter being unable to save his uncle's life against him, but it doesn't work. Peter's even grateful that he gets to see Ben again as his uncle encourages him to take the villain down. He was voiced by Greg Grunberg.
Spider-Man
Uncle Ben appears posthumously in this series, voiced by Patton Oswalt. Here, he is depicted as a budding scientist and a clock designer. In a flashback, it is revealed that he reimagined his "With great power comes great responsibility" quote as a scientific formula, which Peter regards as goofy.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Uncle Ben has not appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he has been alluded to.
Spider-Man: Homecoming & Spider-Man: Far From Home
Uncle Ben's death is indirectly referenced by Peter in the first film, who mentions "everything that's happened with her (May)". Then in the sequel, Peter's suitcase has the initials "B.F.P." on it, implying that it was once Uncle Ben's.
What If...?
In the animated series' episode "What If... Zombies!?", Peter mentions Ben by his name for the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He mentions how he lost his uncle as well as his aunt and how they both would want Peter and his allies to continue thinking positively throughout life.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
- “Spider-Man: She told me that with great power-
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: Comes great responsibility.
Spider-Man: Wait, what? How do you know that?
The Amazing Spider-Man: Uncle Ben said it.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: The day he died.” - ―The Spider-Men[src]
May tells Peter that "with great power, comes great responsibility" as she dies, to which Peter replies with "Yeah I know". Peter later re-quotes this phase to his older counterparts when he tells them this is what May said to him as she was dying. The other Spider-Men are both shocked to hear this quote being repeated, and the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man finishes the famous quote before the youngest Peter can even finish it. Mainstream Peter asks his oldest self how he knows that saying, to which the other Spider-Men both mention that their respective Uncle Ben's told both of them the exact same quote on the day their uncle's died. The oldest Peter then believes and tries to reassure his youngest counterpart that May didn't die for nothing. The Spider-Men decide to cure the villains once and for all, with the infamous quote in mind.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
- “My uncle used to say no one's tougher than New Yorkers.”
- ―Peter Parker to Norman Osborn[src]
In a different universe to the mainstream MCU (earth-616), according to the comic book tie-in to the series, Uncle Ben's death occurs before Peter got bitten and gained his spider powers. Additionally, Ben's death in the universe of this series is due to illness, instead of being shot by a burglar. Peter mentions uncle Ben to May on his first day of freshman year, in the first episode. Peter praises his aunt for sticking by him and being so optimistic about life, even after Ben's death. Peter then mentions Ben again in the fifth episode when he quotes his uncle, to which Norman Osborn praises Ben's words of wisdom.
Uncle Ben's quote, "with great power, comes great responsibility" is referenced by Norman Osborn in the episode "Tangled Web", who quotes "with great power, comes great respect", when he advises Peter. A photo of Ben is also visible for the first time in the MCU. Peter later mentions to Pearl that Ben used to take him to Coney Island, and went six times during one summer.
Trivia
- Ben has been portrayed by Cliff Robertson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy, Martin Sheen in Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider-Man films, and Adam Scott in Madame Web, all of which were made by Sony.
- Uncle Ben was Cliff Robertson's final role before his death.
- Coincidentally, Robertson's middle name was Parker.
- Cliff Robinson's "with great power" quote from the 2002 film was reused in Into the Spider-Verse film, as archive audio for Peter B. Parker's story.
- Uncle Ben was Cliff Robertson's final role before his death.
- His name is a play on Benjamin Franklin.
- According to Tom Holland, if Uncle Ben did appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he wanted Ben to be played by Tobey Maguire, who also played Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.[citation needed]
- Ironically Tobey Maguire went on to reprise his role as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man from the Rami trilogy in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- In an early script for Spider-Man: Homecoming, Aunt May mentions that Peter's wardrobe for the homecoming dance was Ben's clothes. However, it was cut out because it distracted from Peter's arc in the film, and the screenwriters didn't want Ben's death to be only mentioned in a throwaway line.[1]
- While Uncle Ben was confirmed to exist in the MCU, it was revealed that he did not meet the same fate as May and is still alive somewhere in the world.[2] However, this does not match what Peter said in Spider-Man: Homecoming, as he indirectly confirmed that Ben had already died not long before 2016.
- Uncle Ben's phrase "with great power comes responsibility" was mentioned in the film Return to Halloweentown. Marnie Piper's mother tells her that the power of a witch comes with responsibility, to which Marnie tells her mother that she stole that phrase from Spider-Man.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Uncle Ben Confirmed For The Marvel Cinematic Universe
- ↑ Couch, Aaron (December 29, 2021). "How Spider-Man: No Way Home Was "Shaped" by Its Secret Stars". The Hollywood Reporter.
External links
Ben Parker on Wikipedia
Ben Parker on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki- Ben Parker (Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
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