3. “There’s a hero in all of us” (Spider-Man 2)
One of the sweetest parental figures in comic books is Peter Parker’s Aunt May. She’s often the voice of reason when things get too much for him. 2004s Spider-Man 2 features one of the strongest examples of this.
After finally telling her the truth about Uncle Ben’s death, Peter goes to visit his Aunt as she prepares to move home. Stuck at a crossroad, he finally gets the push he needs to become a hero again. May’s speech acts as the necessary catalyst to will him back into the role he was born to be.
The question of whether or not Aunt May knows her nephew’s secret has crept up in the comics from time to time. A famous example was when she finally confronts him in Amazing Spider-Man #38 (Vol 2). This scene dances around the idea; strongly hinting that she does without ever admitting it.
It’s an emotionally stirring and thematically relevant interaction between the two kin, anchored by Rosemary Harris’ powerful performance. Try to watch it without getting even the slightest bit teary.
