Deconstructing the Character of Peter Parker Part 1

This is the first in what is going to be a series of rants about the character of Peter Parker. My intent here is to go from the beginning to the point of where the character should be now and to show the change of awareness with the readers. By awareness, it is meant in regards the level of information accessed, level of experience, and general development in the human condition.

Amazing Fantasy published in 1962 introduce Peter Parker as a loner and science nerd. In a freak accident, he gets powers from a radioactive spider and becomes Spider-man. He let his ego get the better of him; as a result of that, his uncle Ben is killed. This teaches him that with great power comes great responsibility. Written by Stan Lee and art by Steve Ditko.

That is beginning of the serial life of Peter Parker where are introduce to the reason for his choice of becoming a hero and the motto he lives by that is the central theme in a majority of book. During Stan’s first run on Amazing Spider-man, the foundation of the character of Peter Parker was laid in way that he could relate to everyman. Hence is why Peter Parker is called the everyman character. Stan introduced a supporting cast that would highlight certain aspects of Peter’s nature.

Aunt May represented Peter’s past and his guilt. His sense of responsibility toward her can be seen as two fold. She is the mother figured for Peter. She believes in him when no one else would and supported him during his younger years in his science endeavors. She believed that he meant to do something great and be something great. She is also a reminder of his guilt of inaction and ego. She suffered the loss of her husband. Peter sees that every time he looks at Aunt May or thinks of her. It could be said that Aunt May represents the best and worst of Peter’s action. The best being in his scientific ability that she helps cultivate, and the worst result of not using his powers responsibly.

J. Jonah Jameson represented the authority figure that Peter’s clashed with in his youth. During the sixties authority was often questioned or seen as the enemy. Peter either thinking or getting into fight with JJ touch a cord with America’s youth at the time. It also shows a streak of strength in the character that wasn’t shown while he was at high school. He was also a source of unintended support to Peter’s life giving a strong male figure he could sort of look up to and get used to focus his rebellious streak towards.

Flash Thomason could be seen as Peter’s id in psychological terms. Flash tormented Peter during High School which Peter allowed because of hiding his secret identity. It also could be said part of Peter felt he desired to be tormented by Flash due to his constant degrading himself. Flash was Peter’s punishment for Uncle Ben’s death.

During this time the introduction of what has been called the “Ditko villains” happen in the books. The majority of these villains have one thing in common, science. These represented what could have happened if Peter chose a different path. They, for the most part, are the other side of coin of the character of Peter Parker.

Readers during this time we part of country that some say where divided amongst on themselves. Children were rebelling against their parents. They were challenging authority figures and questioning their government. Peter Parker could be seen as iconic figure at that time. Peter was rebelling against the ideas and views of people that pigeon hole him as a “nerd” by becoming Spider-man. Spider-man was everything Peter wasn’t by being strong and funny. Readers at that time could relate to that because they wanted to be different than everyone else especially what their parents what them to be. Reader also could relate to Peter sense of guilty and responsibility. Readers at that time took to the streets to show how they felt and took responsibility for those actions. They felt guilty for their countries actions and showed it in protest.

That is it for part one which basically takes place from 1962-69.

The Man Behind the Blog

My last entry was a look back at where I was and how I got here. I am sure some are wondering why I am talking about myself so much because I always figure it helps reading something on the ‘Net that you know something about the person. Sure, I am just guy that have experience a lot and the surface of that has been barely shown here on this blog or on Skype. One thing is constant, I am asshole. I make no qualms about it. I can be unforgiving. I could explain why, but I am not getting that personal over the ‘Net. That requires a level of trust which I don’t have with anyone anymore. It isn’t what most you think either; it isn’t my divorce. It is part of it, but it isn’t the whole story.

To put this simply this blog here is a very small part of who I am. I am a pretty lay back kind of guy until something bothers to me to point where I feel the need to say something. Does that get me into trouble? Yeah, it gets me into trouble a lot and not just on ‘Net.

While I do make mistakes and apologize for them. I will only apologize once afterwards because to keep saying you are sorry is begging. I don’t beg. You want begging? Get a dog because they are happy to do it. I don’t beg anyone’s forgiveness. I say I am sorry and move on. I don’t make false apologies either. When I say I am sorry, I mean it. It isn’t just lip service for anyone. In fact, it doesn’t matter to me if you accept my apologies or not because I said I was sorry for myself more than the person that has the problem with me. It is telling me there is something for me to learn and grow from this experience. While I agree that always apologizing is a bad thing, never apologizing is worst because you are only hurting yourself. I don’t expect anyone to apologize to me because that means I am waiting for someone to grow up and that’s a waste of my time.

I also will stop dealing with people who I feel are completely negative, except Dan Slott. I do surround myself with positive things to keep me focus on what is really important. I know I can be hard to deal with sometimes because I am chosen outlook on life, but I can’t go back to being wishy washy milksop that I was in 2000. That guy was a fucking dumbass and didn’t give a fly fuck about himself as a person. I will never be that person again. I am not saying I am selfish prick, in some ways I am, but I am saying that I will not let myself to be quiet when I think something is wrong. I do get burned for that, but I don’t ever regret doing that because I feel that is the right thing to do no matter what happens. If I made a mistake, I admit it and move on.

Well, there you go. You have a basic idea of the person writing this or happen to talk to on Skype sometime. I am asshole….By the way did I mention that I am an Eagle Scout also? I follow the Scouting Laws and apply them to life. That should help even more when dealing with someone like me. Well, that is going to be it about me for a very long time because the next posting will be about comics again because I want to do a rant of who Peter Parker is in my opinion. I hope you had a great Holiday Season. Until next time……….

P.S. I know my posts are extremely long about things, but I try to give you a complete thesis on the subject I am doing. In other words, reading is good and too much video is bad. ;-)

A Decade in Review of TSChamp

In 2000, we started the 21st Century with my family intact. By the end, I was fighting with every fiber of my being to keep it together from a person that wanted to destroy it, my ex-wife.

In 2001, things got worse, we moved in with her mother.

In 2002, things continued to go downhill and things began to take a toll on me mentally. I was very angry.

In 2003, I moved out in February. I was robbed in June, which led me to almost homeless if my boss didn’t help me out. Moved into a motel.

In 2004, I moved into small one bedroom place. The proudest moment for me in this new Century because I did all on my own for once. Change career path from plumber to cable guy. By the end of this year, my ex decided to lie about Thanksgiving and with hold my children from me.

In 2005, the year started off with a very depressed person. One that was extremely angry, violent, and hated himself to point of suicide was a real option. In March, woke up on the 21, looked in the mirror, and decided that it was time for a change. I looked into the mirror for months and told myself I love myself. By October, I was stronger and clearer than I had been years. My son came to live with me due to the school calling me about his appearance and a note they found in his backpack. With a clear thought no matter what that I will be there for him, everyone else can go fuck themselves.

In 2006, still working cable growing more confident in whom I am and being a father. Family stuff came up and felt powerless to do anything about it. The internet war of the ex started by hacking my MySpace account and my blog at the time. Which I laughed at for the first time, I grow beyond her ability to hurt me anymore with these attempts to hurt me. Besides, turnabout is fair game. Adopted the saying, I am an asshole and damn proud of it. Developed a code of honor which is to do what I felt is right and damn the consequences. My son grows to know who he is and where he is going. Made honor roll for the first time.

In 2007, worked with predator hunt for 6 months at the beginning of the year, Change jobs to satellite and went back to cable as a contractor. Son made the honor roll for the second time. Disappeared from the Internet because of needing a break from the fantasy world and dealt with reality. Grow stronger and tougher. Son started High School.

In 2008, with the help of a good friend move into a two bedroom place to be closer to my other kids. Started watching from the shadows and disappearing before being noticed. Son stated his desire to become and animator in Japan.

In 2009, mother needed help. Moved in with me to get straight on her health and monies. Return to Internet as better person and more in control of who I am. Got hurt on the job and was let go. The year ended with a new job offer and promise of better years ahead.

That is it in a nutshell. In the past 10 years, there were a lot of changes on mental level. The sad thing is that I waited until I was 35 to start figuring out who I was and what I can be. A journey that I still make every day. I have become stronger mentally with the idea of who I want to be and where I am going. It is going to be one hell of a journey still because there is a lot more that needs to be done before I stop. In fact, I am just getting warmed up and everyone better braced themselves because things will get more interesting from here. Happy New Year!