- "I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most."
- ―May Parker to Peter Parker[src]
May Parker is the widow of the late Ben Parker and Peter Parker's aunt.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Meeting Ben Parker[]
- "I love you. And Peter loves you. You're the most responsible man I've ever known. We've been down-and-out before. But somehow, we survive."
- ―May Parker to Ben Parker[src]
May Reilly met Ben Parker at some point in her life and fell in love with him. Ben would propose to May, but she declined as it would be too quick, so Ben decided to take their time slowly and continued their relationship. One day, May and Ben went to a beach on a beautiful day and they swam over to a nearby island, found a spot and looked up in the sky. Ben asked May to close her eyes and she did, then he said open them as he held a ring in front of her, which May thought it was the sun, and accepted his proposal this time.[2]
Ben and May had been married for 50 years and lived a happy life together. May loved Ben so fiercely as she found him to be the most responsible man she ever known.[1]
Raising Peter Parker[]
May and Ben Parker with a young Peter Parker
- "You know, you were about 6 years old when MJ's family moved in next door. When she got out of the car, and you saw her for the first time you grabbed me and said, "Aunt May, aunt May, is that an angel?""
- ―May Parker to Peter Parker[src]
In 1984, May's nephew Peter Parker was born to Ben's brother, Richard Parker and sister-in law, Mary Parker. Four years later, Peter was sent to live with May and Ben after his parents were killed in a plane crash overseas. May consoled Peter and gave him a book so he could write to his parents spirits, which enabled him to cope with the loss of them. When time passed, both May and Ben raised Peter like a son, as they didn't have children, and Peter would look up to them as if they were his parents.[3]
In 1990, May was with Peter outside their residence when the Watson family moved next door to them. When Peter saw a beautiful redheaded girl exited her family's car, he fell in love with her and asked May if that was an "angel". The redheaded girl introduced herself as Mary Jane Watson and became friends with Peter. However, Mary Jane's family was different compared to the Parkers as her father was an alcoholic and frequently tormented both Mary Jane and her mother, Madeline, which were overheard by May and her family. During her time, May would meet and befriend Harry Osborn, the son of Oscorp CEO, Norman Osborn.[1]
Peter's High School[]
- "What's going on in there??
"I'm exercising. I'm not dressed, Aunt May."
"Well, you're acting so strangely, Peter." - ―May Parker and Peter Parker[src]
Years later in 2002, Peter went on a school field trip to Columbia University where he was bitten by a genetically engineered super spider that would change his life forever. While May was preparing their dinner, she comforted Ben after the loss of his previous job and became worried for Peter when he returned home, feeling ill. The next day, Peter recovered and found he was late for school. May knocked on his door and asked if he was alright, Peter replied he was fine as he saw his body was metamorphosised into a muscular shape. May told him he was going to be late for his school bus and told him to hurry.
May would later become suspicious over Peter's behavior when he was practicing his spider powers. She heard something break in Peter's room and wondered what was going on, but Peter covered it up as he was exercising and not dressed, not wanting her to see a ton of spider webs he made in his room.[1]
Ben Parker's Death[]
- "It wasn't fair to have gone like that. He was a peaceful man. And it was all my doing."
"Aunt May. You don't have to punish yourself." - ―May Parker and Peter Parker[src]
One day, May was knitting when Peter was heading to the library, where he was actually going to a wrestling arena to earn some money so he could buy a car to impress Mary Jane. Ben offered to drive Peter there and May watched them leave. Later that evening, Peter returned without Ben as he was shot by a carjacker and a grieving May embraced with Peter over the loss of her husband.[1]
Peter's Graduation[]
- "I can't help thinking about the last thing I said to him. He tried to tell me something important, and I threw it in his face."
"You loved him and he loved you. He never doubted the man you'd grow into. How you were meant for great things. You won't disappoint him." - ―Peter Parker and May Parker[src]
When Peter reached his high school graduation with a science award and diploma, May expressed how proud she was of him. Later, May found Peter in his bedroom as he missed Ben so much, which May said she missed him too, but he was there to see him graduate. Peter expressed how much he regretted lashing out on him when his uncle tried to tell him something important, May replied Ben would be so proud of him and he would never be disappointed in him and the man he would grow into.[1]
Green Goblin's Rampage[]
Thanksgiving Dinner[]
- "Sorry I'm late. It's a jungle out there. I had to beat an old lady with a stick to get these cranberries."
"Thank you. Now then, everybody sit down and we can say grace." - ―Peter Parker and May Parker[src]
During Thanksgiving, when Peter moved into an apartment with his friend Harry Osborn, Aunt May visited them for Thanksgiving dinner. She was not shy about reprimanding Harry's father Norman for his rude and boorish behavior that day. She would wonder where Peter would be as he better had that cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving. Peter, as Spider-Man, returned to his apartment by web-swinging and unintentionally made a noise, which May wondered if he was there. Just as May, followed by Norman and Harry, were about to enter Peter's room, Peter still in his Spider-Man suit, couldn't risk exposing his identity, hid on the ceiling, causing May to think there was no one in the room.
When Peter arrived, May greeted and thanked him for providing the cranberry sauce. May placed the turkey on the table and slapped Norman's hand when he attempted to eat some of the food and asked him if he would do the honors. May noticed a scratch mark on Peter's arm, which he covered as a clip from a bike messenger, and May provided him the first aid kit. After Norman fled, everyone, including May heard what Norman said about MJ, which Harry argued and May called him out on it.[1]
May while praying, and is disturbed by a Pumpkin Bomb
Ambush on May Parker[]
- "Finish it! Finish it!"
"Of evil!" - ―Green Goblin and May Parker[src]
Shortly thereafter, when Norman learned of Spider-Man's true identity, his alter-ego, the Green Goblin, attacked May at her home while she was saying her prayers. Upon seeing the Green Goblin appearing on his glider, May was terrified by the Green Goblin's demonic appearance and was hospitalized after the Green Goblin injured her during the attack. May spent some time in the hospital recovering from the blast, with Peter keeping her some company, along with Mary Jane and Harry.[1]
Hospitalized[]
Peter accompanies May
Soon, May found Peter snoozing over his college work as he was keeping her company. May told him to go home as he needed rest and he added she was beautiful, which she thanked him for. May told him she overheard his conversation with Mary Jane earlier when she came to visit them and reminded him the time years ago when the Watsons moved in and he asked her if MJ was an angel. May's talk about Mary Jane made Peter wonder if she was alright and went to call her. After the Green Goblin/Norman Osborn's defeat, May recovered from the hospital and attended Norman's funeral alongside Peter, Mary Jane, and Harry. Soon after that, she and Peter visited Ben's grave located elsewhere in the very same cemetery.[1]
Two Years Later[]
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In 2004, Aunt May continued to keep her eye on Peter while having her own financial difficulties since the death of her husband, Ben. Eventually, the bank forced her to sell her house and live in a smaller apartment.[4]
Held Hostage by Doc Ock at the Bank[]
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Her opinion of Spider-Man was not high at the time, claiming "the less we see of him, the better." However, when May's visit to the bank with Peter was interrupted by a robbery perpetrated named Doctor Octopus, Octavius took her hostage and climbed up the side of a skyscraper with her. She was rescued by Spider-Man and in return, she helped Spider-Man during the battle by batting Doctor Octopus' head with her umbrella. From that point onward, she believed that Spider-Man was good. It is implied, but never stated that she may have deduced his secret identity as her nephew. Later, Peter's powers began to wane, because of a subconscious desire to live a normal life and decided to give up his costumed persona.[4]
Learning the Truth of Uncle Ben's Death[]
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When Peter visits his aunt, May speaks fondly of Spider-Man which encourages him to resume his heroic activities. Later, she expresses that she feels that she caused Uncle Ben's death, prompting Peter to admit that he caused the death by not stopping the killer. May is understandably stunned and sad, but later thanks Peter and tells him that admitting the truth to her was a brave thing to do.[4]
Six Months Later[]
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Six months later Peter informed Aunt May that he intended to ask Mary Jane to marry him after the two embraced. May then told him that he needed to come up with a good way to instigate his proposal and that he needs to put his wife before himself, no matter what. She then elaborated to Peter how Uncle Ben proposed to her and that they would have been married for fifty years that August if Ben had not been killed. She then takes off her own engagement ring and told Peter to use it to propose to Mary Jane. May later went alongside Peter to the police station when Captain Stacy informed them that Flint Marko, was still on the run. Later, when Peter informed May about The Sandman's apparent demise at the hands of Spider-Man (under the influence of an alien symbiote), she delivered another speech which was more of a warning to Peter of the danger to oneself in seeking revenge.[2]
Learning of Sandman's Apparent Death[]
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Peter was at first shocked at his aunt's reaction for he expected Aunt May to be glad since The Sandman was Partnered with Bens Killer. Peter soon realized that this is not the case and Aunt May says that Uncle Ben would never have wanted such revenge. Much later, May talked to Peter in his apartment where he stated that he'd done terrible things (after separating from the symbiote suit that had caused him to hurt both Mary Jane and Harry). He tried to return her ring to her, but Aunt May says that she knows that he will find a way to put it right and gives it back. Later, May was last seen by attended Harry Osborn's funeral.[2]
Personality[]
- ""You start doing the hardest thing: you forgive yourself. I believe in you, Peter. You're a good person, and I will know you will find a way to put it right,,,,,,in time.""
- ―May Parker to Peter Parker[src]
May Parker is a very kind-hearted, caring and loving person who is devoted to both her late husband and nephew, putting them before anything else. She is also supportive and encouraging when she persuades Peter to build his confidence when he wanted to talk to Mary Jane and to be there for her. May is also a very wise, like her husband, as she knew that vengeance is not what a loved one would have wanted, as she described it to be like a "poison that can take someone over and turn them into something ugly." May is also very calm and is never seen losing her temper in front of anyone, though she can scream pretty good at times, as described by Peter.
Additionally, May also has words of wisdom when she depicted how everyone loved a hero and believes that there is a hero in all of them, that kept them honest, strength and make them noble. She also added that people should be steady and give up the things they wanted the most, even their dreams, and these words inspired her nephew, Peter, to reclaim the mantle of Spider-Man after he quitted being a hero for a short peroid of time, and to help him reform Doctor Octopus, which motivated him to destroy the Fusion Reactor.
May also believes in the value of forgiveness and friendships, as she knew that despite many relevations anyone had encountered, people will need to make up and forgive each other for the misdeeds they done. This advice she gave to Peter was what convinced him to make amends with both Mary Jane and Harry after they had several experiences when dealing with hardships, bonding with an alien substance and driven by vengeance, which succeeding in him renewing his relationships with both of them.
Facilities[]
- Parker Residence - May lived in the Parker residence in Forest Hills, Queens, New York with her husband, Ben and nephew, Peter. Following Ben's death, May was facing foreclosure on the house from the bank, which made her decide to move into a small apartment in the city.
- May Parker's Apartment - After moving out of her residence, May found a small apartment in the city and lived there ever since she moved. Her nephew came to visit her after he told her he was making plans to propose to Mary Jane and told him the story about how she and Ben got proposed.
Relationships[]
Family[]
- Ben Parker † - Husband
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man - Nephew
- Richard Parker † - Brother-in-Law
- Mary Parker † - Sister-in-Law
Allies[]
- Mary Jane Watson - Friend
- Harry Osborn † - Friend
- Captain George Stacy
Enemies[]
- Norman Osborn/Green Goblin † - Guest and Attempted Killer
- Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus † - Attempted Killer
Trivia[]
- It was implied that in Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, May would found out and knew that her nephew was Spider-Man after he saved her from Doctor Octopus and during the fight with Sandman.
Behind the Scenes[]
- Before Rosemary Harris was cast as May Parker, Marion Ross were considered for the role.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Spider-Man
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Spider-Man 3
- ↑ Spider-Man (novel), Chapter 1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Spider-Man 2
