Some Spider-Man Characters Really Got a Raw Deal
Spider-Man stories have never been shy about putting their characters through the wringer. Peter Parker may be famous for his bad luck, but plenty of friends, enemies, and fellow heroes have endured tragedies that make his problems look surprisingly manageable. Some were killed off just as they became interesting, while others were manipulated, forgotten, or repeatedly denied a favorable outcome they deserved. These 20 Spider-Man characters all deserved a little more kindness from the writers.
1. Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly spent years believing he was nothing more than Peter Parker's clone, then briefly learned that he might actually be the original Spider-Man. Just when he'd built a life of his own and taken over as Spider-Man, that revelation was reversed, and he was killed by the Green Goblin. Marvel eventually brought him back, but subsequent stories have repeatedly pushed him toward villainy.
2. Gwen Stacy
Gwen Stacy's place in Spider-Man history is largely defined by the fact that she died, which is a pretty rough legacy for a character who was once Peter's most important relationship. The Green Goblin threw her from the George Washington Bridge, and Spider-Man's attempt to save her failed. Decades later, writers have continued revisiting and complicating her story, while the original Gwen never got the chance to develop much beyond the tragedy that made her famous.
3. Flash Thompson
Flash Thompson started as Peter Parker’s high school bully, but he eventually grew into one of Spider-Man’s most admirable allies, Agent Venom. He later became Agent Anti-Venom, only to be killed while helping Spider-Man fight the Red Goblin. Flash eventually returned to life, but after so much character growth, he deserved more time as a hero without constantly being put through another tragedy.
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4. Harry Osborn
Being Norman Osborn's son was enough to ruin Harry's chances of having anything resembling a peaceful life. His father's abuse, Peter's secrecy, addiction, and the pressure of inheriting the Green Goblin legacy repeatedly pushed him toward breakdowns and violence. Even when Harry tried to become a better husband, father, and friend, Spider-Man stories had a habit of dragging him straight back into the Osborn family's misery.
5. Kaine Parker
Unlike Ben Reilly, Kaine began life as a visibly flawed clone who believed he was dying and blamed Peter and Ben for his suffering. Eventually, he overcame much of his bitterness and became the Scarlet Spider, protecting Houston despite insisting that he wasn't much of a hero. That redemption was genuinely satisfying, but Kaine keeps disappearing from prominence whenever it seems like he's finally found his place.
6. Betty Brant
Betty was Peter Parker's first serious romantic interest, but her life quickly became packed with considerably bigger problems than teenage dating drama. Her brother Bennett was killed, her marriage to Ned Leeds became troubled, and she was repeatedly caught in the fallout of Spider-Man's enemies. Betty has remained part of Peter's world for decades, but she's rarely given the attention her history should have earned her.
7. Ned Leeds
Ned Leeds may have received one of the messiest fates in Spider-Man history. He was brainwashed by Roderick Kingsley into acting as the Hobgoblin, became increasingly unstable, and was eventually murdered by the Foreigner's assassins after everyone believed he was the real villain. Later stories brought him back, but that doesn't erase the fact that years of his life were destroyed because somebody else decided he'd make a convenient pawn.
8. Jean DeWolff
Police captain Jean DeWolff was one of Spider-Man's most reliable allies and one of the relatively few officers who genuinely trusted him. Then The Death of Jean DeWolff opened with the revelation that she'd been murdered by the Sin-Eater before the story even began. Her death produced an excellent Spider-Man storyline, but Jean herself deserved more than becoming the victim who motivated everyone else.
9. Martha Connors
Imagine being married to Curt Connors and having to wonder whether your husband will suddenly turn into a giant reptile again. Martha spent years dealing with Curt's transformations into the Lizard while also trying to protect their son Billy from the consequences. She was eventually killed and later resurrected in a transformed state as an anthropomorphic lizard.
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10. Billy Connors
Billy Connors inherited practically every problem his parents were already dealing with. His father repeatedly became the Lizard, Billy himself was transformed into a reptilian creature, and at one point the Lizard actually killed him while operating under the belief that Curt Connors's human emotions needed to be eliminated. Billy eventually came back, but childhood in the Connors household wasn't exactly blissful.
11. Debra Whitman
Debra Whitman's relationship with Peter Parker became increasingly painful as she struggled with serious emotional problems and Peter's constant disappearing acts. She eventually began suspecting that Peter was Spider-Man, only for Peter to continuously lie to her. Debra left New York afterward, and it's difficult to blame her for deciding that Peter Parker wasn't bringing much stability into her life.
12. Ezekiel Sims
Ezekiel entered Peter's life as a mysterious businessman who possessed spider powers of his own and understood the mystical side of Spider-Man's abilities. His motives initially seemed questionable, but he eventually sacrificed himself to save Peter from Morlun. He introduced an entirely new dimension to Spider-Man mythology; however, his death meant he never really got to explore that role for very long.
13. Silver Sable
Silver Sable was never exactly Peter's closest friend, but the mercenary occasionally proved to be one of his most dependable allies. During the Ends of the Earth storyline, she sacrificed herself while helping Spider-Man defeat Doctor Octopus's plans. Her eventual survival softened the blow, although a character with her personality, history, and international connections has been left sitting on the sidelines far too often.
14. Julia Carpenter
Julia Carpenter has been Spider-Woman, Arachne, and Madame Web, yet she's rarely treated as one of the major figures in Spider-Man's corner of Marvel. After being blinded, she inherited Madame Web's psychic abilities and suddenly found herself carrying enormous supernatural responsibilities. Julia has all the ingredients for much bigger stories, but she often appears mainly to deliver ominous warnings before disappearing again.
15. Prowler
Hobie Brown started out committing crimes as the Prowler but quickly reconsidered what he was doing after encountering Spider-Man. He went on to become a genuine ally, helping Peter on numerous occasions and building a heroic reputation separate from his troubled introduction. Despite that growth, Hobie frequently gets pushed out of Spider-Man stories for years at a time when he could easily be one of Peter's most interesting recurring partners.
16. Liz Allan
Liz Allan's life became considerably more complicated after she stopped being Peter and Flash's high school classmate. She married Harry Osborn, endured his instability and Green Goblin connections, raised their son Normie, and eventually became deeply involved with the Osborn business empire. Liz has survived an incredible amount of superhero chaos, but her resilience rarely gets as much attention as the disasters she's forced to manage.
17. Cardiac
Dr. Elias Wirtham became Cardiac after losing his brother to an illness that could've been treated if corporate greed hadn't interfered. He turned himself into a technologically enhanced vigilante and targeted businesses and individuals he believed were responsible for preventable suffering. Spider-Man often went against him, even though Cardiac's underlying goals were sound, making it unfortunate that he's remained such an underused character.
18. Rocket Racer
Robert Farrell became Rocket Racer because his family needed money, using a weaponized skateboard to commit crimes before eventually changing direction. Spider-Man helped push him toward redemption, and Robert later attended college and attempted to build a legitimate future. Considering how unusual and memorable his whole setup is, it's surprising that Marvel hasn't found more ways to turn him into a recurring hero rather than an occasional curiosity.
19. Randy Robertson
Randy Robertson grew up surrounded by major personalities, including his respected father Robbie and his friend Peter Parker, but he developed into an interesting character in his own right. He's dealt with political activism, complicated relationships, and the dangers that come with knowing far too many superheroes. Randy has been part of Spider-Man's supporting cast since the 1960s, but has rarely gotten the spotlight.
20. Black Cat
Felicia Hardy has spent years bouncing between thief, hero, antihero, romantic interest, and occasional enemy depending on what a particular Spider-Man story needs from her. She genuinely developed beyond her criminal beginnings and established an identity that didn't depend entirely on Peter, only for later stories to repeatedly undo parts of that growth. Black Cat works best when she's allowed to be complicated without being pushed backward simply to create another conflict with Spider-Man.
