Spider-Man deals with major challenges in the MCU movie Spider-Man: No Way Home, but some of the worst things to happen to Spider-Man have happened in the pages of Marvel Comics. From the very beginning, Spidey's career in the comics has been defined by tragedy. The murder of his Uncle Ben set him on a journey that has led to a lot of success, but also even more profound tragedies.
Terrible things have happened to Peter Parker both professionally and personally, and there is sometimes no distinction between the two. Few superheroes have suffered so much and kept on going, but Spider-Man is defined by his perseverance. Marvel Comics writers have really put the wall crawler through the ringer over the past 50 years.
When Spider-Man Bonded To The Alien Symbiote
One of the worst things to happen to Spider-Man occurred in the 1980s when he gained an unexpected new costume as part of the Secret Wars crossover. The black costume turned out to be an alien symbiote, which sought to bond with Peter Parker and nearly succeeded in permanently doing so.
The symbiote would go on to become Venom, one of the most powerful symbiotes in the comics, who would menace Peter Parker for years. Venom's immunity to Spider-Man's spider-sense and intimate knowledge of Peter Parker's life resulted in some of his worst moments in the comics.
When Kraven The Hunter Buried Spider-Man Alive
The '80s weren't a great time for Spider-Man in general. One of the worst things to ever happen to him occurred when he was buried alive by Kraven the Hunter in the classic Kraven's Last Stand storyline, which s for some of the best Spider-Man comic issues of the '80s.
Kraven succeeds in capturing Spider-Man and then leaving him dead underground. He then dons the black costume and attempts to live as Spider-Man. Peter Parker eventually digs his way out, but it was a harrowing experience from start to finish.
When Terraxia Killed Spider-Man
As bad as being buried alive was, being killed was even worse. It's not depicted in a , but the inference is that Terraxia, a lieutenant of Thanos in the 1991 Infinity Gauntlet storyline, beat Spider-Man to death after tackling him to the ground.
Spider-Man is one of the heroes to survive the Snap in the comics (unlike the MCU) but falls quickly against Terraxia. He is never seen again after she begins her assault, and she's next seen tossing around the empty helmet of Iron Man, whom she also killed.
When Doctor Octopus Trapped Spider-Man In His Body
Comic book fans know Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest villains. In the Dying Wish storyline from 2012, Doctor Octopus swaps minds with Peter Parker, stranding Peter in his dying body. Peter then dies as Otto Octavius becomes the Superior Spider-Man.
Doctor Octopus ultimately restores Peter's mind and puts him back in his body, but the psychic shock of being stranded in a dying body and then actually dying is one of the worst things to ever happen to Spider-Man in the comics.
When Peter And Mary Jane Lost Their Baby
One of the worst things to ever happen to Spider-Man is losing a child. Mary Jane miscarried in The Amazing Spider-Man #418 after being poisoned, and Peter Parker wasn't there as he had left the city thinking he was a clone and not the real Spider-Man.
The tragic event cast a long shadow over Spider-Man and Mary Jane's relationship but has seemingly been mostly forgotten with their entire marriage thanks to the mystical machinations of Mephisto. Even so, it remains a terrible moment for Spider-Man and Mary Jane.
When Spider-Man Thought He Was A Clone
Spider-Man discovered a clone of himself in the "Clone Saga," a sprawling storyline from the '90s that introduced multiple clones, including Ben Reilly. One of the worst developments from the storyline was Peter Parker's belief that he himself was the clone.
This threw his entire world into disarray and led to him walking away from his life and role as Spider-Man. Though it would eventually be resolved and Peter discovered he was the real Spider-Man, it's one of the few times he ever willingly walked away.
When Spider-Man's Uncle Ben Was Murdered
One of the worst things to ever happen to Spider-Man in the comics is also the most fundamental to his character. An immature act on Spider-Man's part inadvertently leads to the death of his uncle Ben at the hands of a burglar Spider-Man could have stopped.
Uncle Ben's famous words — "With great power must also come great responsibility" — has become one of the most iconic quotes in all of comic books and arguably pop culture. Ben's death defined Spider-Man as a person, but it remains a tragic and unnecessary event.
When Spider-Man Died
Spider-Man has died and almost died a number of times in the comics, but one of the worst deaths happened in the Ultimate Comics universe of Earth-1610. One of the most powerful versions of Spider-Man, the Ultimate Comics version, lost his life in a brutal battle with the Sinister Six.
This Spider-Man died in an all-out war against Norman Osborn and other of the Sinister Six. His death paved the way for Miles Morales to take up the mantle of Ultimate Spider-Man. Peter Parker did eventually come back to life in mysterious circumstances in early issues of Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man.
When Green Goblin Killed Gwen Stacy
Gwen Stacy is one of the most important figures in Spider-Man's life, and her death at the hands of the Green Goblin remains one of the worst things that has ever happened to him. Her fate in The Amazing Spider-Man #121 is also one of the most shocking deaths in Marvel Comics.
Gwen's death has haunted Spider-Man for years, and he arguably has never gotten over it. Though Gwen has returned from the multiverse in the comics and other media as Spider-Gwen, her ing in Earth-616 remains one of the greatest tragedies in Spider-Man's life.
When Mephisto Erased Spider-Man's Marriage From Existence
The worst thing to ever happen to Spider-Man remains the erasure of his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. Though he arguably did it for a heavy reason, trading the existence of the marriage to save Aunt May's life, Mephisto's alteration of reality has never been put right.
Spider-Man and Mary Jane have remained unmarried since the end of One More Day, a storyline that seems to have served as some inspiration for No Way Home. Though they have become a couple again, the consequences of this event continue into the present day.