Peter Parker as the yardstick for Kamala Khan in the 21st Century

[Ravin' Ray]

Marvel is making the press rounds as of late, and in Axel Alonso's interview with Entertainment Weekly and picked up by CBR, he made this statement about Kamala Khan vis-à-vis Peter Parker:

“She [Kamala Khan] is Peter Parker for the 21st century,” Alonso explained to EW. “Peter Parker can be a 16-year-old Pakistani girl from Jersey City. If her story is universal, then people are going to come and read it. If it feels true, if it resonates, people are going to come.”

There we have it. Peter Parker is now the standard to which new, young relatable superheroes, in the form of Kamala Khan, are measured against. But that also opens up a question, in that what does the present-day Peter Parker represent now, since he has long since moved away from his beginnings.

[Highland Chicken]

He still represents youth to an extent, and an everyman until he became CEO of his own company.

[Mister Mets]

Peter Parker is unambiguously the most successful young superhero ever, so it makes sense that he'd be the standard by which Marvel measures the new guys.

Marvel has a fine line going forward. There's a divide between those who see Spider-Man defined by his youth and those who think the most important thing about the character is that he has grown.

I think the ideal take on Peter Parker is a guy who has been active as a superhero for some time, but whose options are limitless.

[Vegeta]

Similar statements have been made about Richard Rider (Nova, in the 70's) and Speedball (the 80's) in the past. Kamala IS big right now (and I personally like her) but time will tell.

[Dr. Jay]

Who made these comments about Speedball? Did they ever look at his original series?

What about Darkhawk in the 90's?

[oldschool]

Similar statements have been made about Richard Rider (Nova, in the 70's) and Speedball (the 80's) in the past. Kamala IS big right now (and I personally like her) but time will tell.

Good point but I have to say that I don't recall either Nova or Speedball having the kind of success that Kamala has had already. I mean her book has sold more (comparatively by today's metrics) and had more influence than either of theirs did in their respective eras----heck, probably than the two of them combined.

[Darthfury78]

And Rick Jones could have fitted into this category as well.

[Vegeta]

Good point but I have to say that I don't recall either Nova or Speedball having the kind of success that Kamala has had already. I mean her book has sold more (comparatively by today's metrics) and had more influence than either of theirs did in their respective eras----heck, probably than the two of them combined.

True, I'm just noting that editors in the past have made the same comparison whenever the introduce a new young superhero.(And yes, Dr. Jay, Darkhawk was another young up and comer said to be the "Spidey of his generation.")

Kamala is probably the only one to legitimately earn that title though, (depending on how long her series lasts).

[Mister Mets]

Similar statements have been made about Richard Rider (Nova, in the 70's) and Speedball (the 80's) in the past. Kamala IS big right now (and I personally like her) but time will tell.

Yeah, everyone gets compared to Peter Parker.

Some of the other guys have stuck around on and off.

I will say that Ms Marvel's adventures seem better than those of the first Nova, or Speedball, or Darkhawk for that matter. Which isn't to suggest that these are bad comics.

Although, the best teen hero of the 21st Century was probably Ultimate Peter Parker, and it's not quite on that level.

[jimishim12]

I really don't want Peter to be acknowledged as a indication of being successed like he's done all he's could as a superhero and ready to leave his action packed days behind for a half pakistan expy because fans. Peter looks like he still has more to offer the world and is still treated as a young guy ready to graduate with the big leagues.