Uncle Ben’s death is a staple ofSpider-Man’s lore and a “canon event” within Marvel history as a whole. However, recent developments have suggested that it could be reversed at any time. Some characters should never be brought back to the land of the living, especially Ben Parker, though that hasn’t stopped Marvel from trying. Sorry, Spider-Man fans, but Uncle Ben could be facing an imminent return.
There aren’t many characters in comics who have died and remained dead, with Uncle Ben being one of them. Up until now, Gwen Stacy had also been recognized as another among that select few, but it’s now been confirmed that she will make her return to the Marvel Universe in 2025 as anew Gwenpool.
Gwen Stacy’s controversial revivalhas sparked a debate about whether death can ever be permanent in comics, since one of the only perceived “permadeaths” left in Marvel lore has seemingly been undone.The floodgates are officially open, and even a character like Uncle Ben may not be safe from resurrection.
If Gwen Stacy Can Come Back to Life, Then So Can Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben
The Most Iconic Deaths In Comics Have Been Reversed, So What About Ben?
Back in the day, readers often echoed the following phrase: “No one stays dead in comics except Uncle Ben, Bucky Barnes, and Jason Todd.“That sentiment has become more laughable with time, asboth Bucky and Jason have been resurrected by Marvel and DC respectively, leaving only Ben. Bucky, in particular, had been dead for an impressive 41 years prior to his comeback. He was killed off in 1965 before making his return in 2005’s “Winter Soldier” arc from Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting’sCaptain Americarun. Now, Gwen Stacy has hopped on the trend, so there truly aren’t any guarantees anymore when it comes to comic deaths.
Aunt May Is Dead, And Spider-Man Would Have Saved Her If He’d Listened to Uncle Ben
Spider-Man has forgotten Uncle Ben’s famous maxim about power and responsibility, and now Aunt May has paid the ultimate price in a new story.
Believe it or not, Marvel Comics has already toyed with the idea of resurrecting Uncle Ben, albeit temporarily.InTheAmazing Spider-Man#500 by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., and John Romita Sr.,Doctor Strange surprises Peteron his birthday with a gift that revives Ben for five minutes. The two share a touching moment, except it’s just that: a moment.Variants of Uncle Benfrom alternate universes have also appeared, and stories likeDead No More: The Clone Conspiracyhave teased bringing him back without following through. Still, for now, Spider-Man’s uncle is as dead as he’s ever been - but he might not stay that way.
For Spider-Man’s Sake, Uncle Ben Shouldn’t Make A Permanent Comeback
Resurrecting Uncle Ben Would Ruin the Integrity of Spider-Man’s Origin
Bringing a character back from the deadcan be tricky to pull off, as it’s often done for shock value and can potentially compromise the story.Uncle Ben’s deathis a cornerstone of Spider-Man’s story because of what it represents for Peter, and reversing it would have massive drawbacks. He lost his uncle because he failed to understand the weight of his responsibility, hence Ben’s famous advice to him. If that death were to be undone, then the tragic consequence that taught Peter that lesson wouldn’t have the same narrative weight. Marvel can bringSpider-Man’s Uncle Ben back, yes, but that doesn’t mean it should.
