Benjamin Richard Parker
| Benjamin Parker | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance |
Spider-Girl #36 (MJ's pregnancy is first shown) Spider-Girl #59 (Born) |
| Created by |
Tom DeFalco Ron Frenz |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Benjamin Richard Parker |
| Supporting character of | Spider-Girl |
| Abilities |
(Known) Ability to stick to solid surfaces. Superhuman Strength. Making web-like strings. |
Benjamin Richard Parker (often called Benjy by his sister) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics alternate future MC2 universe. He is the younger brother of May Parker/Spider-Girl, and the son of Mary Jane and Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Fictional character biography
Benjamin is born after a complicated pregnancy. Because his father's genetic code was altered when he received his powers, Ben is at a high risk of being born with some kind of genetic abnormality: deformity, disability, or perhaps even mutant powers.[1] Due to the risk to Mary Jane's health, her obstetrician advised her to consider abortion. However, remembering that she had faced similar risks when pregnant with her daughter May, Mary Jane decides to proceed with the pregnancy.[2]
Ben is born while his sister is fighting Seth, and to his family's relief, is apparently a perfectly healthy, normal little boy. His first name Benjamin is in honor of his uncle and great uncle, while his second name Richard is in honor of his grandfather.[3]
Benjamin seems to display some superhuman abilities, namely balancing a toy block on one finger while spinning his arm at a fast speed.[4] He was also seen dangling the block from his finger on a web-like string. May discovers Ben crawling on the ceiling of their home.[5]
He was once possessed by a miniature version of the Carnage symbiote. After his sister freed him from the symbiote by using the ultrasonic weaponry of the villain Reverb, his father notices that the baby's ears were bleeding, and realized that Ben has lost his hearing, likely because Ben's ears were far too underdeveloped to withstand the sonic waves.[6] The doctors in the hospital were trying to determine whether Ben's hearing loss is temporary or permanent. May is deeply upset over this and blames herself. Nevertheless, Ben still seems to be his usual, happy self. Since discovering her baby brother crawling on the ceiling she fears that due to his exposure to the symbiote, his abilities have somehow been jump started far too early (as hers only came about in her teens).
Normie Osborn recently agreed to fund an operation to restore Benjamin's hearing. The operation was a success, restoring most, if not all of Ben's hearing. When Benjy was going through it, Normie closely examined his body and found out that he was already developing his powers, but the exposure to the symbiote accelerated the process. Peter begins to fear that Benjy may be more powerful than him and his sister. This is strongly implied to be true when Ben spins organic webs to save both himself and Mary Jane after being thrown off a bridge by the Green Goblin, something neither Peter nor May can do. Despite being a baby, he was also strong enough for Mary Jane to hold on to without hurting him.[7]
It is also known that Peter is the only one who can get him to burp "in the morning" (as Mary Jane says it) by feeding him chili.
Spider-Verse
In the 2014/2015 crossover event Spider-Verse, Benjy's family come under attack from Daemos, a relation of the 616 Spider-Man's former nemesis Morlun. During the attack, Mary Jane, Mayday's boyfriend Wes, and Peter are apparently all killed and their home destroyed. Mayday flees with Ben and is rescued by visiting Spider-Men from other dimensions who are trying to save as many Spiders as possible from similar attacks by Morlon and Daemos' family, who call themselves The Inheritors. Mayday and Ben are taken to a safe zone where the Spiders plan their next course of action. The safe zone is eventually compromised and Ben is captured by the Inheritors. It is revealed that the infant Ben is "The Scion", a vital part of a prophecy that also involves "The Other" (Kaine) and "The Bride" (Silk) who will help bring about the downfall of the Inheritors. However, he is saved by Ben Parker- his great-uncle and possible namesake- and Spider-Ham in the final fight, Uncle Ben taking Benjy to safety and Spider-Ham taking Benjy's place to catch the Inheritors off-guard.[8]
Universe X
In this alternate reality, Ben is the child of Peter and Gwen. He possess the same ability as his father and took on the mantle of Spider-Man in Peter's illusion, brought on by Spiders Man.
Possible future
In the one shot 'Iron Man - The End', an aged Tony Stark, on the verge of retirement, is shown looking at a list of potential candidates to succeed him as Iron Man. 'Spider-Man' appears on the list alongside American Dream, and younger versions of Beast and Colossus (presumably their sons, who inherited the powers and physical features of their respective fathers). Whether it is Peter Parker, Benjy, or another Spider-Man is unknown.
References
- ↑ The Beast of the X-Men, a noted geneticist, explained the probable risks to Spider-Man in Spider-Man #15, October 1991, by writer/artist Erik Larsen.
- ↑ Spider-Girl #40
- ↑ Spider-Girl #59
- ↑ The Amazing Spider-Girl #9
- ↑ The Amazing Spider-Girl #14
- ↑ The Amazing Spider-Girl #11-12
- ↑ The Amazing Spider-Girl #30
- ↑ Amazing Spider-Man vol.3 #14
