Last week, I discussed that Superman and Christmas or rather Santa Claus go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Spaghetti and meatballs.
Milk and cookies.
But I don’t think anyone embodies everything Christmas is better than Spiderman himself.
Let me explain!
Clark Kent slash Superman, embodies all the hopes and ideals and dreams, all the goodness of Christmas. Someone fortunate enough to have a good life, who uses his life to help others in the best way possible.
He brings hope, like Santa or Christmas to the world.
That things will be better.
But Peter Parker slash Spiderman represents those who don’t have everything together.
After all, nothing ever truly goes Spider-Man’s way. It’s literally how he’s written after all these years. Someone who gets shit on at every turn.
But he still chooses to be good.
He chooses to be excited for Christmas and make the most of it.
He may not have all the money in the world. New York may not love Spider-Man all the time. And Jameson may call him a menace. He might be late with his gifts to Aunt May or MJ. He might have a black eye.
It won’t be a perfect holiday for Peter.
It might not be quiet.
Could be interrupted by a villain. Probably will be.
He might not make it to the store on time. Or maybe someone will invade his dreams and offer him everything if he gives up Spider-Man.
But he won’t.
Because New York, the world needs him.
And that’s important.
To show up. To keep showing up. To keep trying.
And maybe things won’t go smoothly. Maybe things won’t be a perfect Clark Kent style Christmas on his family farm with presents and a warm hearth and a quiet holiday for him to recharge.
Maybe he’ll stumble in late and barely keeping it together.
It’ll arrive faster than he wants.
Peter will be caught unprepared because he doesn’t have superspeed to make the endless to do list go faster. Or even a team like the Justice League who takes turns to ensure everyone has time off.
It’s not as light and perfect as DC or Clark Kent makes it seem.
Peter’s Christmas is real.
Things are late. Nothing is perfect and it sneaks up on you no matter how hard you try to be prepared.
And maybe, just maybe, some years will be harder than others.
Because he misses his Uncle Ben.
And grief is not linear.
It sneaks up on you in the quiet moments. And Peter Parker knows that better than everyone.
Maybe it won’t be perfect. But Peter Parker reminds us that it doesn’t matter.
Christmas is coming and he embraces it and all the chaos with it. Come what may, good or bad. He’ll see it through and remind us that he’s hoping for a better Christmas the next year too.
And that’s okay.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just needs to be filled with love and good cheer.
A warmth in your heart, that no villain can take from you.
And that’s why, I think Peter Parker and Clark Kent can stand the test of time so well. Why no one is ever tired of their stories being told time and time again.
They are hope, in very different ways.
Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!
Leave a Reply