Peter Parker/History

* Overview
* Personality and Relationships
* **History**
* Gallery

### Affiliation

As Spider-Man: N/AAs Peter Parker: Daily Bugle, Empire State University, Midtown High School (formerly)

### Occupation

Current: Adventurer, photographer, scientist, university student, vigilanteFormer: high school student

## History

### 1980 - 1995

#### Childhood & Adolescence

Peter Benjamin Parker was on August 02, 1980, the son of Richard Laurence Parker and Mary Theresa Parker (formerly Fitzpatrick) in Queens, New York. His middle name came from his uncle, Benjamin Parker, who was Richard’s older brother by a decade. With Benjamin having been a strong and stable support for Richard during their time growing up, even during Ben’s enlistment, it was no surprise that Richard trusted Ben and May with Peter. Namely this was due to the nature of Richard and Mary’s jobs as government agents. As such, they had to spend plenty of time abroad away from their son performing clandestine missions for the government, namely counter-terrorist operations. They had announced their intention to retire from the life, fully intent on civilian life and raise their son Peter, who was now 4 of the time. Unfortunately, their last mission took on an entirely different turn as it was their most difficult, sacrificing their lives to stop a terrorist attack from infamous terrorist leader Albert Malik (real name: Albrecht Koenig).

   With their untimely demise, Benjamin Franklin Parker and Maybelle Parker (formerly Riley) became the primary caretakers of Peter Parker. Unfortunately, given the clandestine nature of Richard and Mary’s missions, much of the money was unavailable to assist in Peter’s upbringing, instead being reserved in a trust fund. Growing up in the “blue collar” working class (with Benjamin Parker being a mechanic), Peter Parker would be subjected to the teasing of his peers starting in middle school, coinciding with his focus in his studies alongside his “nerdy” interests such as computers, comic books and science fiction. Despite this lack of social life, Peter Parker lived a fairly happy life, possessing a great deal of love and admiration for his Uncle Ben and Aunt May, both of whom were strong supportive moral figures in his life. Entering Midtown High School marked a transitional period for Peter as he began developing feelings of resentment toward his peers who looked down on for his working class background and interests in academia, especially toward Eugene “Flash” Thompson, star quarterback of Midtown High School’s football team. He proclaimed that he would surpass his peers and “show them all” what he could do in regards to his intellectual pursuits. Despite his general position of being a “wallflower”, he did possess some friendly acquaintances in class, such as high school senior Jessica Campbell, who would mysteriously vanish after her graduation.

However, everything would change for Peter at the end of his sophomore year of high school. During an end-of-year high school trip to a laboratory of Advanced Idea Mechanics (prior to their exposure as a scientific terrorist organization). Interested in bio-chemistry, he and a few other classmates (such as Cindy Moon and Carl King) were drawn to the so-called “super spiders”, genetically-modified and radiation-treated spiders that possessed amazing properties. One such in particular escaped unnoticed and would give him the bite that would change his life forever.

#### Along Came A Spider

The transformation of Peter Benjamin Parker into who many in the distant future would consider the greatest hero, Spider-Man began at the end of his sophomore year in high school. After the fateful bite with one of the "super-spiders", Peter began experiencing fevers and muscle pains, confining him to bedrest. After recovery, he awoke to discover a very surprising transformation. Gaining considerable muscle mass, an additional two inches in height and no longer needing glasses, he was not the same Peter Parker that many knew him as. With this came a growth in confidence, especially after conducting tests on himself and observing that his strength, agility and other capabilities have been enhanced to superhuman levels. Additionally, he gained other capabilities, such as being able to climb up and cling onto walls. Deciding to maintain this a secret, he began practicing control over his newfound strength alongside with practicing to maintain appearances.

His search for purpose was answered one day when visiting his Uncle Ben at his workplace and noting that an amateur wrestling tournament was accepting applicants and with the grand winner receiving a large cash prize. For the next couple weeks, Peter worked for the neighbors doing various chores for the entrance fee while also buying materials to create a costume of sorts to hide his identity. However, unable to finish his mask, he was forced to improvise by taking the discarded paperbag of another wrestler's sack lunch and creating it as a makeshift mask. When the head of the tournament asked for his identity, he proclaimed himself as "The Bombastic Bagman".  Unsurprisingly, the Bombastic Bagman dominated the wrestling competition, going through the brackets to end up winning the entire tournament. However, he would be surprised that he would end up being short-changed as the Bombastic Bagman's near dominance in the fights meant a decease in bets against him being made. Despite Peter's protests (along with some surprising support from a couple of the wrestlers), the fine print detailed that the proceedings would come from the bettings. To add insult to injury, the frustrated manager relied on exact wording to take a portion larger than expected and shot down Peter's pleas. Despite there remaining a prominent amount of money, Peter stormed out, frustrated and feeling cheated.

His life changed in a fateful decision where said manager was trying to chase someone from the building, an apparent former employee based on the shouting that occurred mintues prior. The ex-employee stole a large amount of cash from the manager. While the two were nearby to where Peter could've done something, he remembered the man's lack of sympathy and brushed it off, not deeming it his business. After changing out of his outfit, he began walking home before noticing a police car stopping next to him, identifying him as Peter Parker. The police officer exited the car and informed him of the tragedy...

Benjamin Franklin Parker had been shot a few blocks over.

Riding in the police car, Peter Parker could not hold back his tears at witnessing the last moments of his uncle's life... the man who raised him. Grief turned to rage and as the scene attracted more attention, he quietly bowed out to let the police do their work, as he put it. However, he heard everything. Enough about the man who shot his uncle. That he was still close by and could be recognized by a mark on his face along with a certain accent in voice and wearing a stained jacket. Fueld by anger, Peter scoped all of the blocks, running on the rooftops. Having disguised himself back in his uniform along with wrapping his face, it did not take long for him to corner the man in an alley. Lifting him by his collar, he angrily interrogated the man over his murder. However, when the man spoke, the world froze. It was the ex-custodian. The one he could've stop and chose not to. He explained that after robbing his former boss and trying to run, he ran into Ben Parker accidentally, the latter having left work late. Initially helping the man up, Ben became surprised at the duffel bag and the sounds of police made him realize the man in front of him was a robber. Desperate to not lose the money, the man pulled out a gun, trying to intimidate Ben into leaving him alone. However, rather than leave, Ben attempted to talk the man down and nearly succeeded, but the man's panic caused him to accidentally press the trigger and shoot Ben.

After his confession, the man's energy left him, leaving himself at Peter's mercy. He responded by throwing a superhuman punch... at the wall . He could not do it. Not take revenge. It was not what Uncle Ben would do. It's not what he should do. His hatred and grief turned inward and a deep sense of shame grew in him. Breaking into further tears, he instead shoved tossed the man out of the alley when the cops showed up and he turned himself in. Peter changed back and was escorted home. As he laid in bed, he felt only shame that his inaction led to this. A tragedy of impulse and negligance. Yet he recalled what Uncle Ben told him: *"With great power must come great responsability."*

Using part of the money to pay for funeral costs, he used the remaining amounts to create a new suit. Taking inspiration from his uncle's favorite red jacket, he made into the red and blue. Additionally, he made himself something to restrain people. Earlier, he began working on artificial webbing, to act the same as spider silk. Utilizing his biochemistry knowledge and skill in mechanics, he made himself webshooters. He could use it to make emergancy ropes and restraints, webbing up criminals and other tricks. With all of these talents and with the stories of the Liberty Legion he had from Uncle Ben, he would become a superhero.

He would be the first Spider-Man.

### 1995 - 2000

#### Rise of the Spider-Man

By the end of the summer of 1995, criminals and gang members found themselves stuck in some sort of artificial webbing when the cops showed up. Children were safely escorted home, happily discussing some sort of superhero watching out for them. Thugs and other violent criminals would be taken care of before they could harm someone and their would-be victims would be able to go home without being worried of assault and some even getting to talk to their would-be savior. The criminal underground grew concerned and then afraid, at the rise of this new threat to their criminal activity. Of Peter Parker as the Spider-Man.

Meanwhile, Peter began looking for work to supply the lost income after the death of his Uncle Ben and assist in the care of his aunt. One of the first positions that caught his eye was the position of a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. While photography was initially not much of an interest for him, one of the details of the job offer was they were offering top dollar for quality photographs of Spider-Man. Despite the concerns over profitting indirectly from his works, he needed the money and while the initial meeting with the owner J. Jonah Jameson was a bit rocky, if mainly because he figured it would be someone older, he gave Peter a trial run.

Using his scientific smarts, Peter was able to modify his camera to be able to take pictures needed for the best shots. Applying his knowledge of geometry and physics, he also was able to grasp the best angles needed to catch the most accurate shots while still looking as if normal means was used. Turning in the photos as evidence, he got a good bit of money from them and thus 15-year-old Peter Parker became a photographer for the Daily Bugle. While his main assignments were in Spider-Man, he would cover other events using similar techniques. All of this while balancing his studies and his career as Spider-Man.

His initial reputation in his superhero persona was mixed though one of the largest early influences was that by the *Daily Bugle* itself. While they reprorted on him every so often, he was not really discussed all that much by the paper outside of the pictures that were taken by Peter. However, everything would change once Peter successfully began taking down criminals with a higher profile such as certain mob enforcers and especially that he managed to capture the Chameleon, a feared individual in the criminal underground. His conflict with the Chameleon began when the former KGB agent attempted to masquerade as him as part of a ploy to lure him out. It went awry the Chameleon underestimated Spider-Man's abilities and found himself caught and then imprisoned. This turned the caution and concerned of New York criminals into one of terror.

Meanwhile, Peter found himself in various relationships within the Daily Bugle. Beyond dealing with Jameson, there was also some of the other staff members. He got along well with Robbie Robertson, with Robbie noting he had a son about a year older than Peter. He also got along well with Ben Urich and even a friendly ribbing relationship with Ned "Leeds" Lee, who was the new kid before Peter and who was now finding himself more busy with college. However, the one that would get Peter's attention the most would be none other than Betty Brant. Despite the age gap, Peter would find himself drawn pretty close to her. She and her circumstances reminded him of himself and Aunt May and he wanted to help her out how he could. Betty meanwhile admired Peter's sense of responsability regarding taking care of his aunt as well as his studies. Despite this growing mutual attraction between them, neither were willing to acknowledge or explore it.

At least until Betty would be harassed by an ex-boyfriend of hers, a man named Gordon Savinski. Savinski was secretly none other than the "Terrier", the right-hand man of one of New York's crime bosses, the Crime Master. While his intentions for trying to get with Betty was personal, it was also to leverage her Daily Bugle position for his boss. However, she refused and in the argument, would come face to face with Peter Parker who came in to see what happened, who managed to get him to back off. This did not deter Savinski and when he tried attacking Peter in revenge later, would instead come face-to-face with Spider-Man who easily manhandled him. Savinski would manage to escape and after reporting his findings to his boss, would use his criminal connections and contact Power Brokers Incorporated's true office and Savinski would be augmented to try and take care of the Spider-Man. This would be Peter's first battle with someone of the same sort of superhuman strength and despite the initial disadvantage, would manage to defeat him through his smarts.

This incident would lead to the Crime Master going to meet the web-slinger face to face and after refusing to join, Peter would fight off the Crime Master's goons before facing off the Crime Master, who tried to gas him off while trying to escape, running and gunning. It ends with Peter webbing the gas gun and the Crime Master himself. However, matters were complicated by Bennett Brant, Betty's brother. Due to his connection with Betty and the discovery of Peter being a photographer of Spider-Man, Lewis would convince Bennett to pretend to be in trouble, acting as a form of bait, and try to talk to Peter as part of a plan against Spider-Man. Unfortunately for them, everything would go south when Betty would be dragged over into the mess. Peter would save Betty as Spider-Man, but her heart broke at seeing her brother arrested and outside the suit, Peter was there for her, wanting to help her. He would take her out to eat to cheer her up, serving as their unofficial first date. Meanwhile, the breaking news of Spider-Man taking down not just the Terrier, but also the Crime Master and thus bringing down an entire crime family would elevate Spider-Man's reputation above.

#### Threat or Menace?

Spider-Man taking down Crime-Master and leading to his arrest would become a turning point over in Peter's life, both in his civilian life and life as a superhero. Ever since he saved Betty as Spider-Man and being there for her after her brother's arrest as Peter Parker, the two would become even closer. Before long, Peter was discovering that his feelings for her were growing beyond the professional and the platonic. This would be compounded when she would admit to having to having "unprofessional" feelings for him herself and before long, Betty Brant became Peter Parker's first girlfriend. Despite this newfound closeness, the two maintained matters casually, out of a combination of the age-gap, being co-workers, and also Peter's own inexperience with dating and relationships. This became especially more complicated in balancing his life with the *Daily Bugle*, his remaining months in high school and his time as Spider-Man. However, he did learn alot on the basics of dating and maintaining a romantic relationship, with their dates being casual affairs such as eating out in restaurants or going to a ball game.

As Spider-Man, matters escalated in terms of complication. By now, it would have been an entire year since he became Spider-Man back near the beginning of the Summer of 1995. From taking down various petty criminals and mobsters to taking down the former KGB agent Chameleon and even by assisting with the arrest of the Crime-Master, thus ended two whole crime families. With the rise of the Spider-Man had gotten him plenty of attention of him. And not all of it was unwanted or pleasant. The massive power vacuum that Peter created in the criminal underworld would be filled by other present cirminals, though most were stll not ready for the rise of superhuman crime-fighters stepping in to deal with them. However for Spider-Man, his troubles would be coming over in the forms of superhuman criminals; individuals that through circumstance or purpose, would grant themselves superhuman capabilities. While the Terrier was a taste of this, his first real taste arrived in the form of an old man in a mechanical suit known as the Vulture. This would not be the first of various superpowered criminals that he would be facing. From the illusions of Mysterio to the monstrous Rhino, Spider-Man would have to go and fight all of these mysterious superpowered crooks, all while balancing his academic work and personal life.

Things would go a bit pear-shaped when Peter would be asked by Jameson to try and convince Spider-Man to have an interview with the Daily Bugle. Peter mulled it over slightly, but would ultimately decide to decline doing so, even telling Jameson that Spider-Man had declined. However, Jameson insisted and would instead try to ask Spider-Man himself directly, after the time that he would take care of Dr. Octopus. Unsurprisingly, Jameson would be snubbed by it. Annoyed by this, Jameson instead would retaliate by painting Spider-Man as a troublemaker. Peter himself did not know why he did it at the time though would become irritated by this. Though rather than actually settle the matter, he would instead procede to snipe words over at Jameson, unable to help being mouthy. Though this was mainly for personal reasons as well as the concern Jameson may figure out it's him. All while he would be dealing with further enemies such as the rise of those like Shocker or the Tinkerer.