Aunt May
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May Parker, often known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962)
She is aunt-by-marriage and adoptive mother of Peter Parker, who leads a secret life as Spider-Man. She is nurturing and supportive of Peter although, throughout most of Spider-Man's history, she did not know of his secret life and considered Spider-Man frightening.
An important part of the Spider-Man series, she has appeared in most other media adaptations of the character.
Aunt May in the comics
May and Ben Parker took in their nephew Peter after the death of his parents and raised him. Ben immediately took to the role of the boy's father but May was at first reluctant. She still remembered her parents blaming her own birth for the destruction of their marriage, and she was afraid that Peter might signal the end of her own marriage. In time, however, she warmed up to Peter, who unexpectedly strengthened the couple's marriage. After Ben's death, life became a struggle with money problems and Peter did his best to help. Through these situations, a subtle undertone of inner strength was maintained until the departure from the title by co-creator Steve Ditko, after which her characterization leaned closer to stereotypical senility.Peter's secret life as Spider-Man endlessly complicates both his and his aunt's lives. Aunt May lives in constant fear for her "frail" (but now unaccountably secretive) nephew who insists on a job as a freelance photographer. Parker is determined to capture Spider-Man in action, frequently submitting pictures of him to the Daily Bugle; Spider-Man is a vigilante whom Aunt May fears because of her unquestioning acceptance of the Daily Bugle's smearing.
Meanwhile, Peter fears for his aunt's well-being and the fatal shock that could result if she ever learns about his career as Spider-Man. This problem served as an easy crutch for dramatic tension in the comics for years, with Peter being torn between dealing with major crises while his aunt needs nearly constant care. This conflict took on a bizarre turn when Aunt May had his enemy, Doctor Otto Octavius (also known as Doctor Octopus) as an apparent sweetheart; Peter struggled to deal with his enemy's game while not hurting his Aunt.
Aunt May has "died" several times. In her most recent "death", the "Aunt May" who died was, in a widely-derided plot twist, revealed to be a "genetically-altered actress" who impersonated her while May was held captive by villains. Later writers, like J. Michael Straczynski, of Babylon 5 fame, returned to portrayals of Aunt May's strength and character nuance. For instance, Straczynski controversially had May finally learn about her nephew's secret life once and for all (in Amazing Spider-Man (volume 2) #35, #38). That resulted in a heartfelt discussion in which Aunt and Nephew confess their darkest secrets and each learned that the other was far stronger than they imagined.
After their house was destroyed, Peter, Aunt May, and Mary Jane Watson moved into Stark Towers (as Spider-Man has recently joined the Avengers). Aunt May seems to be developing a romantic relationship with the Avengers' butler, Jarvis. May is quite the strong-willed woman and even the hard-nosed Wolverine found it impossible to argue with her. During the Civil War storyline, she and Mary Jane had convinced Peter to reveal himself in front of a press conference, and May had even made Peter a hand-stiched copy of his original costume.
Alternate versions
Ultimate Aunt May
In the Ultimate version of Spider-Man, Aunt May is a strong and independent woman in her late forties or early fifties, significantly younger and "cooler" than her original Marvel Universe counterpart. She refused to be destroyed by the death of her husband Ben and is a pillar of strength for Peter. She is slightly overprotective of her nephew, and not supportive of Peter's secretive behavior. Aunt May is quite good with computers and likes to search for things on the Internet. At one time she had romantic feelings for George Stacy, the policeman who investigated Ben's murder and father of Gwen Stacy. May has been seen working in an office cubicle and attending a PTA meeting.Having got over the traumatic event of her husband's death, Aunt May recently went on a date while Spider-Man was caught up with Deadpool and the X-Men. He later revealed to her who he was. She left a note on her phone saying that she was staying the night with her date; Professor Miles Warren, Harry Osborn's Hypnotist/Therapist and the 616 version of The Jackal.
MC2
In the alternate timeline known as MC2, May Parker is dead, although the exact nature of her death is never discussed. Her name, however, lives on... Peter's daughter, May "Mayday" Parker, is named for her. Mayday becomes the super-heroine Spider-Girl and meets the original May when she finds herself displaced in time, although Mayday makes no attempt to explain who she really is.
Aunt May in the films
In the Spider-Man films, Aunt May is played by Rosemary Harris.
In the 2002 film Spider-Man , Aunt May and Uncle Ben take care of their nephew, Peter Parker. Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson) is shot and killed by a carjacker. Peter and May share their grief for Uncle Ben. Later, when Peter has moved into an apartment with his friend Harry Osborn, Aunt May visits them on Thanksgiving. She is not shy about reprimanding Harry's father Norman for his rude and boorish behavior. Shortly thereafter, when Norman (who has become the villainous Green Goblin), learns Spider-Man's identity, he attacks May at home while she is saying her prayers. May is terrified by the Goblin's demonic appearance, and is hospitalized after the Goblin injures her. (The Green Goblin then makes a failed attempt to kill Mary Jane Watson, whom he believes is Spider-Man's girlfriend, before he is killed.)
In the sequel, Spider-Man 2 (2004), Aunt May continues to look after Peter, and has had financial difficulties since the death of her husband. She believes Spider-Man to be a bad person, claiming "the less we see of him, the better." However, when May's visit to the bank with Peter is interrupted by a robbery perpetrated by Otto Octavius, Octavius takes her hostage and climbs the side of a skyscraper with her. She is in turn, rescued by Spider-Man, and from that point believes that he is good. Later in the film, Peter's powers begin to wane because of a subconcious desire to live a normal life, and he decides to give up his costumed persona; Aunt May makes a speech which encourages him to resume his heroic activities. Whether she has deduced his secret identity or not is not made explicit; however, the bank robbery scene, in which she takes notice of Peter fleeing and where May reacts suspiciously after Spider-Man tells her, "We sure showed him [Doctor Octopus]," and May's later speech to Peter about the need for Spider-Man to return, suggest that she may in fact know of her nephew's alter-ego. Also in the film, she expresses that she feels she caused Uncle Ben's death ("You wanted to take the subway, and he wanted to drive you. And if I had stopped him, we'd all be having tea together"), prompting Peter to admit that he caused the death by not stopping the killer. May is understandably off-put, but later thanks Peter and tells him that admitting the truth to her was a brave thing to do.
Aunt May returns in the third film, but her role in this film still remains a mystery.
See also
References
- [Comic Book Awards Almanac]
- [The Women of Marvel Comic's Aunt May Page]
- [Aunt May's Profile at Spiderfan.org]
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