Spider-Man is among the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the newest iteration of the hero from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man adeptly addresses one of the biggest superhero criticisms in recent years. From Batman to the Avengers, a critique has emerged concerning heroic actions in a functional society. With so much crime and devastation to fight against, both in Spider-Man’s MCU timeline and otherwise, there also tend to be important considerations that the heroes of each franchise must contend with, much of which was confronted in Captain America: Civil War. Spider-Man does this in a unique way in the new series.

Spider-Man was created to be among the most relatable superheroes, which makes his actions that much more important. Even when approached differently from the MCU, the character is grounded and human. Across various iterations of Peter Parker, including three different live-action performances, the humanity at the core of Spider-Man has been central to his stories. This was given a new twist in a recent Spider-Man series, providing additional characterization for Peter.

Batman’s Oldest Criticism Still Rings True

The Dark Knight Can Be Violent And Destructive

Batman in particular has been faced with criticism over the years for his tough-on-crime ethos. The brutality of the Robert Pattinson Batman in particular can be seen as emblematic of this. Batman often takes to the streets, loaded with weapons and gadgets, to hurt and devastate crime. In doing so, Batman works hard to keep his city safe from the violent acts of people who have been forced to take devastating measures. This approach has recently faced a great deal of criticism for how it deals with the symptom rather than the cause.

Crime in a city like Gotham can come from so many different places. Some of the foes Batman faces are irredeemable, certainly, but many more are victims of their circumstances. By resolving every issue by enacting violence, Batman’s actions do not treat the underlying conditions that plague Gotham. Many believe that Bruce Wayne and his money could do more good for the city than Batman could. This is arguable, but is certainly an important consideration.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Avoids The Oldest Batman Criticism

Spider-Man Cares For People In The New Series

Image via Disney+

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man features a notable scene where an entirely different outlook is shown. In telling an alternative MCU Spider-Man origin, the new series crafts a likeable version of the iconic hero. One scene in particular adds to this, with Spider-Man catching a woman who has stolen money from a pizza place. In bringing her to the owner of the shop, which boasts a sign that reads “Pizza Time” in what seems to be a reference to the meme from Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man appeals for mercy.

Spider-Man explains that the woman is down on her luck, and has made a poor choice. However, this does not mean that she deserves to have her life ruined by criminal proceedings. This Spider-Man recognizes that circumstances are often what shape our actions, and a person being forced to take unethical action could be a victim themselves. In providing mercy and forgiveness, this Spider-Man appeals to another sense of humanity, and a more generous outlook on crime and violence. This fits the Spider-Man character perfectly.

A hero cannot be perfect, and neither can the people that they work to save. Sometimes people will make poor decisions that hurt others, and it is important that those people be given the space and capacity to recognize their own wrongs. Spider-Man‘s approach to crime and punishment is an important contrast to heroes like Batman and the Avengers, whose own collateral damage has been especially destructive. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man showcases this compassionate side of Peter well, which is an essential aspect of his role as a hometown hero.