How much of a loner and/or outgoing is Modern Peter Parker?

[Kaitou D. Kid]

Just a few ground rules...

• I'm referring to Modern Age Peter Parker and not pre-spider bite Peter or Lee/Ditko Peter.
• I'm referring to the 616 version, but we can use examples from any version heavily inspired by 616 like The Spectacular Spider-Man or the Insomniac games. Versions of Peter that deviate too far from 616 (i.e. Noir) don't count.

The reason I ask is because I noticed differences in how Peter's loner status and outgoing nature is perceived among the fanbase.

Just some examples...

• The second issue of Life Story. Some of us thought thought Peter not liking the disco atmosphere made sense because he is supposed to be a square, others often say that Peter outgrew his squareness in the Lee/Romita era where he is shown frequently dancing with Gwen and MJ (when he is Spider-Man, of course).
• The debate over how much of Spider-Man's solo status has to do with Peter's personality. Some attribute Spider-Man's refusal to work in a team to Peter's loner status since high school, others say this is is a false dichotomy because Peter has his own supporting cast while most of the Avengers are each other's supporting cast.
• The discussion as to who Peter's close friends are, and how many he has. Some see Harry as Peter's best friend and only close friend, others argued that his closest friends are within the superhero community (Human Torch and The Defenders), and a few people have stated that Peter doesn't have close friends period due to the nature of the secret identity.

I realize that Peter is a fictional character and an everyman, and that therefore everyone will project part of their personality and life experiences onto him. But I'm curious if we can arrive at a more objective answer.

In my opinion, Peter is what I would jokingly refer to as 'an extroverted introvert'. That is to say he is someone who leans more on the introverted side and prefers a close handful of people to bigger groups, but has enough of an extroverted side to make the Spider-Man persona function and to seem "normal" whenever he does happen to go out - as in to not seem socially awkward or be completely quiet, even if not as talkative while under the mask. However, as someone who generally fits that description, I admit I could be biased.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

In my opinion, Peter is what I would jokingly refer to as 'an extroverted introvert'. That is to say he is someone who leans more on the introverted side and prefers a close handful of people to bigger groups, but has enough of an extroverted side to make the Spider-Man persona function and to seem "normal" whenever he does happen to go out - as in to not seem socially awkward or be completely quiet, even if not as talkative while under the mask. However, as someone who generally fits that description, I admit I could be biased.

That's my take as well, more or less.

I think it varies per writer. Since BND, writers have made Peter more social and outgoing but they also do issues where Peter is guilt-tripped for being a bad friend because melodrama.

The classical era of Spider-Man is a story of an introvert who grows up, becomes more social, gains friends and gets married. There's a forward arc of progression. But once OMD removed that, you have editorial-mandated and writer-mandated melodrama.

[Alan2099]

An interesting thing I've always noticed about Spider-man is that how well he fits into a team depends on the age and experience of the other members.

With younger more inexperienced heroes, he tends to take a leadership role, or at least a mentor role.

With older more experienced teams, he's more likely to cut loose and goof off.

Either way, he's always struck me a guy that can make friends easily (even if he under estimates how much others value or appreciate him). Given the choice though, he's the type more likely to take time off by himself.

[PCN24454]

An interesting thing I've always noticed about Spider-man is that how well he fits into a team depends on the age and experience of the other members.

With younger more inexperienced heroes, he tends to take a leadership role, or at least a mentor role.

With older more experienced teams, he's more likely to cut loose and goof off.

Either way, he's always struck me a guy that can make friends easily (even if he under estimates how much others value or appreciate him). Given the choice though, he's the type more likely to take time off by himself.

So, basically like a Shonen protagonist?

[Kaitou D. Kid]

So, basically like a Shonen protagonist?

There are surprisingly a lot of overlaps between Spider-Man and Shonen protagonists, even down to the colors they wear (red and blue). It's probably why he is so popular in Japan.

A lot of Shonen protagonists are also clearly inspired by Spider-Man, such as Deku / Izuku Midoriya.

An interesting thing I've always noticed about Spider-man is that how well he fits into a team depends on the age and experience of the other members.

With younger more inexperienced heroes, he tends to take a leadership role, or at least a mentor role.

With older more experienced teams, he's more likely to cut loose and goof off.

Either way, he's always struck me a guy that can make friends easily (even if he under estimates how much others value or appreciate him). Given the choice though, he's the type more likely to take time off by himself.

Which is why I think there is a smidge of truth in the idea that Spider-Man is about youth, but not in the way Quesada thinks. Spider-Man at times can be a kid in an adult body in a good way. It is arguably part of why he is able to connect with younger characters so well even once he is past the teen years himself.

The goofing off may be a factor in his own underestimation of how much others value or appreciate him, as in a team with more experienced and established fellow heroes, he seems to think he doesn't have much to contribute besides his sense of humor and willingness to do what's needed . . . even if some of them have occasionally attempted to convince him he can do or contribute more.

This might be a good time to bring this up, but Peter to me (depending on the writer and portrayal) doesn't always come off neurotypical. I would argue at least Stan Lee's Spider-Man, Bendis', and JMS' all show signs of anxiety and ADHD. That would explain some of the goofing off and talkative attitude, as well as some other stuff like the childhood alienation and the fact he had a harder time maintaning a work-life balance than Miles Morales did at the same age.

[Frontier]

This might be a good time to bring this up, but Peter to me (depending on the writer and portrayal) doesn't always come off neurotypical. I would argue at least Stan Lee's Spider-Man, Bendis', and JMS' all show signs of anxiety and ADHD. That would explain some of the goofing off and talkative attitude, as well as some other stuff like the childhood alienation and the fact he had a harder time maintaning a work-life balance than Miles Morales did at the same age.

A part of it is also a different upbringing/lifestyle, where Peter ended up being the breadwinner of his family when his uncle passed away and had to maintain a job, school, and being Spider-Man all at the same time (and Aunt May's health) while Miles usually just has to worry about his school life and being Spider-Man.

I kind of wonder if the Morales' are more well off than the Parkers.

[NC_Yankee]

There are surprisingly a lot of overlaps between Spider-Man and Shonen protagonists, even down to the colors they wear (red and blue). It's probably why he is so popular in Japan.

A lot of Shonen protagonists are also clearly inspired by Spider-Man, such as Deku / Izuku Midoriya.



Which is why I think there is a smidge of truth in the idea that Spider-Man is about youth, but not in the way Quesada thinks. Spider-Man at times can be a kid in an adult body in a good way. It is arguably part of why he is able to connect with younger characters so well even once he is past the teen years himself.



This might be a good time to bring this up, but Peter to me (depending on the writer and portrayal) doesn't always come off neurotypical. I would argue at least Stan Lee's Spider-Man, Bendis', and JMS' all show signs of anxiety and ADHD. That would explain some of the goofing off and talkative attitude, as well as some other stuff like the childhood alienation and the fact he had a harder time maintaning a work-life balance than Miles Morales did at the same age.

I really disagree with this. Why? Look at Peter’s job. He has to deal with the Cletus’s, Norman’s and Otto’s of the world. Basically if he messes up at all people die ( see Original Gwen). Not to mention having to maintain a job and going to School ( I worked two jobs and went to college and trust me Finance is not as difficult as Organic Chemistry), this does not even include maintaining a social life ; MJ Felicia etc). I can also tell you that the stress level in certain professions ( like mortgage banking that I did) leads to lots of people becoming drug addicts and or alcoholics. Basically Peter is quite normal and well adjusted considering everything he goes through on a daily basis.

[Huntsman Spider]

An interesting thing I've always noticed about Spider-man is that how well he fits into a team depends on the age and experience of the other members.

With younger more inexperienced heroes, he tends to take a leadership role, or at least a mentor role.

With older more experienced teams, he's more likely to cut loose and goof off.

Either way, he's always struck me a guy that can make friends easily (even if he under estimates how much others value or appreciate him). Given the choice though, he's the type more likely to take time off by himself.

The goofing off may be a factor in his own underestimation of how much others value or appreciate him, as in a team with more experienced and established fellow heroes, he seems to think he doesn't have much to contribute besides his sense of humor and willingness to do what's needed . . . even if some of them have occasionally attempted to convince him he can do or contribute more.