Original artwork, not a still
With great power comes great responsibility
— Spider-Man ‧ 2002
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Ben's advice goes unheard in the moment and then becomes Peter's whole reason for being, which is why the line works as an origin story in a sentence. In the original 1962 comic it was a closing caption, not something Ben says. It has since been quoted in court opinions, speeches and every discussion of superheroes or power more broadly, and writers have cited Stan Lee's phrasing as the modern form of far older ideas.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Spider-ManShow the scene
In Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002), Peter Parker has just been bitten by the spider and used his new strength to beat up school bully Flash Thompson. His Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) notices the change in him and talks it over, telling him that a man becomes who he will be in these years and to be careful who he turns into. Ben says that Flash probably deserved it, but being able to beat someone up does not give Peter the right to, and ends with the line. Peter, bristling, snaps that Ben is not his father; not long after, Ben is killed. Peter repeats the line in the film's closing narration.
Sources (3)
- Wikiquote: Spider-Man (film)Ben and Peter dialogue; closing narrationReference checked
- Wikipedia: With great power comes great responsibilityLead and HistoryReference checked
- Wikipedia: Spider-Man (2002 film)PlotReference checked
Context reviewed
