Aunt May needs to know Peter’s identity again

[Lukmendes]

Too many people know and not enough is done with the supporting cast are two completely separate problems and letting Aunt May know might do something for May, but it won't do anything for the other two problems. It's probabaly just make them worse. They need to focus on fixing things rather than just charging on ahead and adding to what's wrong.

At best aunt May could get some more focus because she knows, but I doubt it, even characters who know don't get used too much.

And yeah, you're right they should focus on fixing how characters are used first, it wouldn't mean anything if aunt May learns his identity again and she's still useless, if aunt May doesn't learn of it anymore but gets to actually do something, then it'd be better than her knowing and not existing.

[Lee]

I honestly didn't care much for how they treated her character once she learned he was Spider-man. Rather than it feeling like any kind of organic growth, it felt like she became an entirely new character altogether.

Personally, I prefer the idea of her not knowing, at it leaves a segment of Peter's life unconnected to his life as Spider-man as well as further enforcing the idea that you don't have to share your entire life with somebody for them to still care about you and you for them. I realize that's an unpopular opinion in today's word of Twitter and facebook where people feel the need to share there every stray thought but there was just something comforting about Peter having a parental figure that is able to go "You don't have to tell me what the problem is, but just know that I'm here for you."

I agree.

It's also just not very compelling if all the people Peter is closest to know his secret identity and support him. Most young people in the real world probably don't share all the messy details of their private lives with their mother or grandmother. You show different people different sides of yourself. The super-hero secret identity, particularly with Spider-Man, is that part of life writ large.

[Mercwmouth12]

Too many people know and not enough is done with the supporting cast are two completely separate problems and letting Aunt May know might do something for May, but it won't do anything for the other two problems. It's probabaly just make them worse. They need to focus on fixing things rather than just charging on ahead and adding to what's wrong.

She has no value as a character at this moment

[Lunala]

I want Aunt May to know Peter Parker is Spider-man but if Marvel wants to avoid it, the least they can do is have Peter warn May she's in danger because he took photos of Spider-Man, among other things.

Peter: Hey Aunt May, Osborn is kinda brainwashed rn but back when he was the Iron Patriot, he said was gonna put me on a list or something. Norman was angry I helped Spidey steal and spread confidential information. After the Red Goblin mess, I realized "list" is point one percenter for "I'm gonna kill you and everyone you hold dear". So, I thought you should know to avoid him and anyone who might be associated with him. Sorry I didn't say anything sooner.

[Mister Mets]

You have to question Marvel's thought process here. Peter had no issue revealing his ID to Black Cat after her heel turn. Why? He felt bad. Okay fine. But Aunt May is supposedly the person he cares for the most and yet he still keeps her in the dark? Jonah knows and that's okay? How many heroes know? Norman Osborn knows again and that puts May in ten times the danger. Yet Aunt May doesn't know? There is no real excuse as to why she shouldn't know. It's just lazy and stupid writing.

The main argument is that it makes Peter's life too easy.

I don't actually agree. It probably makes his life harder when the woman who raised him knows that he's going to be in dangerous situations.

I hope they reveal in the Wells/ Romita run that she found out again.

[Crazyspideyfan]

That said, to slightly correct the first poster here, it was Tom Taylor who wrote the second volume of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, not Tom King. Given King's prior work at DC with Batman (and more disgracefully, Heroes in Crisis), though, I'm not sure I would give him Spider-Man.

You are correct, I’ve been reading King’s run on Batman and have had his name in my head recently, accidentally put it instead of Taylor’s lol.

[Crazyspideyfan]

The main argument is that it makes Peter's life too easy.

I don't actually agree. It probably makes his life harder when the woman who raised him knows that he's going to be in dangerous situations.

I hope they reveal in the Wells/ Romita run that she found out again.

I think it would be cool if May remembers while Romita is still on the book, because he could mirror the original scene of her finding out and it could create a unique parallel.

[Agent Z]

I agree.

It's also just not very compelling if all the people Peter is closest to know his secret identity and support him. Most young people in the real world probably don't share all the messy details of their private lives with their mother or grandmother. You show different people different sides of yourself. The super-hero secret identity, particularly with Spider-Man, is that part of life writ large.

Most young people don't have spider powers either.

[PCN24454]

She has no value as a character at this moment

Neither does Jonah, but I’ll still keep him.

[Speed Force League Unlimited]

Nah. I prefer her not knowing.
Only characters who should know are MJ and Peter himself, the rest can stay in the dark about it.

You know something? Some responses here remind me of Tombstone focused episode from the 94 cartoon, the one where Spidey rushes home to aid his aunt and Tombstone breaks in a funny way looking for pictures of Silvermane's daughter. It also remind me of the last episode of season 3 where Peter rushed to the home of his aunt and Green Goblin has a funny reaction acting all tender looking at the old lady resting, and then Peter comforts her after she wakes up soon as Norman gets out again.

I would like more of that, sparsely, mostly keep her out of harm's way.

[Agent Z]

I honestly didn't care much for how they treated her character once she learned he was Spider-man. Rather than it feeling like any kind of organic growth, it felt like she became an entirely new character altogether.

Personally, I prefer the idea of her not knowing, at it leaves a segment of Peter's life unconnected to his life as Spider-man as well as further enforcing the idea that you don't have to share your entire life with somebody for them to still care about you and you for them. I realize that's an unpopular opinion in today's word of Twitter and facebook where people feel the need to share there every stray thought but there was just something comforting about Peter having a parental figure that is able to go "You don't have to tell me what the problem is, but just know that I'm here for you."

Telling the closest thing you have to a mother that you're a superhero is a lot different than talking about what you had for brunch for likes.

[Lee]

Most young people don't have spider powers either.

Yes they do.

[Mercwmouth12]

Yes they do.

Miles mom knows right?

[Matt Rat]

Neither does Jonah, but I’ll still keep him.

Jameson's been utterly wasted as a character for a while now. They took all of his own supporting casts away, wife, son, even father (though I didn't like Jay) and learning the identity didn't suddenly give him a new coat of paint, nor did pairing him with Cindy (I mean, really, who does care about whatever Cindy's doing? She honestly has no purpose either and often has generic stories any Spider-heroine could have), he's been forgotten in the core book since Spencer.

[Mercwmouth12]

Jameson's been utterly wasted as a character since he and Peter had that punch-up during Civil War. They took all of his own supporting casts away, wife, son, even father (though I didn't like Jay) and learning the identity didn't suddenly give him a new coat of paint, nor did pairing him with Cindy (I mean, really, who does care about whatever Cindy's doing? He doesn't know who she is but he's an ally), he's been forgotten in the core book since Spencer.

But that's also knowing what to do with a supporting character that's no longer needed in the main book and having them used in a book where to can be featured in and a actually have a purpose. Granted silk only gets mini's and short runs but it's a good use of her supporting cast. Unfortunately for Aunt May you can't do that and there's no reason besides acting as a disappointment or whatever she was doing in Beyond. After that she's been a waste of ink