Claim: Spider-Man's secret identity is Peter Parker.

May Parker , commonly known as Aunt May is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics , commonly in association with the superhero Spider-man . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko , the character made her first appearance in Amazing Fantasy # 15 -LRB- August 1962 -RRB- .   The character is the 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 has not known of his secret life and considers Spider-Man frightening . After years as a widow , Aunt May married John Jonah Jameson , Sr. , the father of long-time Spider-Man critic J. Jonah Jameson .   The character has appeared in most other media adaptations of the comics , often playing a prominent role . She has been adapted into live action four times : Jeff Donnell in 1977 , Rosemary Harris in 2002 , Sally Field in 2012 and Marisa Tomei in 2016 .