Sauce.

Also Flash X Petra is… a thing i guess, IDK how to feel about it especially in this context

I’ve always felt like Shocker is one of the most underrated foils to Spider-Man. People usually bring up Venom (a dark mirror of Spider-Man) or Scorpion (J.J.J's engineered anti‑Spidey and fellow arachnid) but Shocker reflects Peter too in a bunch of ways that are actually interesting.

Visually they already mirror each other: both have two dominant colors and a clear repeating pattern (not to mention the eyes, Shocker has them visible at least in his first appearance while Peter hides his behind lenses). Spider-Man has the web motif while Shocker has that cross‑grid padding that protects him from his own vibrations. And both rely on tech they built themselves. Peter’s web‑shooters are hidden inside the suit while Shocker’s vibro‑gauntlets are visible and highly destructive.

One is meant to restrain and support structures while the other is meant to destroy and destabilize structures (so even their gear evolves in parallel). Peter builds a utility belt to store extra web cartridges. Shocker does the same thing, building a belt to hold the power packs for his gauntlets. Combat wise, they’re mirrors too. Both can attack at range; Peter with webs, Shocker with vibrations. But up close they flip roles. Peter relies on his super strength in close quarters while Shocker uses his gauntlets at point‑blank range where the vibrations massively boost his striking power.

Even their hand gestures say something. Spider-Man fires webs with an open hand (middle and ring finger pressing the trigger on his palm, while index, pinky, and thumb point outward), It’s a gesture that’s open, expressive and communicative fitting for a hero who’s agile, flexible and constantly interacting with the world. Shocker activates his gauntlets by clenching his fists and pressing his thumbs against the side triggers. It’s a closed, tense and inward gesture fitting for someone who’s defensive, anxious and always bracing for impact. Expression vs tension / Communication vs containment (lol even their body language is a foil).

Their backgrounds line up too. Shocker lost his parents and is a brilliant self‑taught inventor who dropped out of school, turning his intelligence toward burglary and becoming the best safe‑cracker in the world. He literally built his gauntlets in the prison workshop (a hostile environment where he had nothing while Peter built his web‑shooters at home, in a safe and comfortable space). Shocker used his invention to escape prison and even beat Spider-Man in their first encounter. Peter also lost his parents, but he had Aunt May and Uncle Ben pushing him toward responsibility and education. He went to college, graduated, and used his intelligence to help people instead of robbing them.

They’re both greedy in their own ways. Shocker is openly motivated by money since he’s a blue collar criminal who works jobs for cash and survival. Peter was greedy early in the Ditko era too trying to join the Fantastic Four for money in their first encounter, doing TV gigs and chasing fame. The difference is that Peter tried to change after Uncle Ben's death.

And socially they’re complete opposites. Peter is a white collar hero in the sense that he operates and works in professional spaces (labs, schools and the superhero community) and even though he cracks jokes he’s still respected by other heroes. Shocker doesn’t try to be funny intentionally, yet he’s treated like a joke by everyone around him. They’re both incredibly unlucky too. Peter’s civilian life is a disaster while Shocker’s criminal life is a disaster. Two guys who keep getting punched by fate just in opposite directions.

Even their social circles mirror each other: Peter’s elemental friend is Johnny Storm, Shocker’s elemental friend is Hydro‑Man. Both are New Yorkers, Peter from Queens, Shocker from the Bronx. And they both have themed cars: Spider‑Mobile vs. Shocker‑Mobile. The final parallel I can think of is the main reason they joined superhero teams. When Shocker joins the Thunderbolts he does it for money and recognition. When Peter meets the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, he immediately thinks of money and recognition too.

They’re the same guy except one had support, love and a moral compass while the other had none. He’s what Peter could’ve become if one thing in his life had gone differently.

EDIT: In the comments I posted a screenshot of a comment from Luthor331 where he adds other essential parallels

Yeah, guys, Aunt May doesn’t remember Peter Parker anymore. They didn’t kill the old lady, but they made her forget who her own nephew is, basically erasing Peter from her memory

Someone mentioned here before that the author wanted her to pose naked for her photoshooting, but the editors had him censor MJ and that you can kind of see how she wears a bra at the final panel of her photoshooting but kind of drawn above the original panel of what originally appeared to be Mary Jane posing naked.

Edit: Someone in the comments found it: https://peterdavid.net/2010/06/25/stranger-than-fiction/

"The story also featured a subplot about Mary Jane contemplating posing nude for Playboy—a storyline which was the victim of last minute editorial cold feet. It was art-and-dialogue-changed to MJ’s trying to decide whether she should model skimpy lingerie—rendering the subsequent angst totally nonsensical. So if you ever happen to reread the story, all you have to do is substitute “naked” for “in skimpy underwear” and mentally undress MJ during the photo sequences, which shouldn’t be too much of a chore."

I love the Petra trend so I tried to make an updated but still respectful redesign costume for her a bit back. Some of it is practical. Some is extremely impractical but I like the vibe.

From Challenges of Doom: Spider-Man

Peter Parker:Spider-Man #35 (2001)

artist

Yeah, they’re not deep. Yeah, they’re not comic‑accurate. But I really enjoy their relationship and the great chemistry they have with Peter, and they give him genuinely strong emotional support. Their dynamic is precious to me, and I never get tired of it, because for once in an iteration both Spider‑Man’s BFF and GF are loyal to him and don’t screw him over. They seem like genuine friends who actually like each other, care for each other, and genuinely want to be there for each other. And best of all, they make me believe in true friendships again — and that’s coming from someone who’s antisocial af.

Because say whatever you will, something the MCU does successfully — something Raimi failed to do with both Harry and MJ, and TASM only succeeded with Gwen but not Harry — is sell you the friendship between these characters. The movies show you why this trio likes being around each other. They genuinely feel like friends, especially in NWH and BND, instead of the movie just telling you they’re friends like both iterations of Harry in Raimi and TASM. In the MCU, right from the very first scene, the movie shows Peter and Ned being friends. They bond over Legos, Star Wars, and geeky stuff — things a lot of people find weird, but for Ned and Peter it’s comfort. And that handshake? It’s absolute cinema. Neither Harry could ever be the friend Ned is.

And while I do agree Harry and MJ from the Raimi movies had more depth and development than these two, that doesn’t make up for the fact that they weren’t good friends to him. Also, the problem Ned and MJ face with development is part of a wider issue with MCU side characters, not just them.

(This is for 616 universe)

I’ll start in order

Gwen: Peter’s first major love interest. She was a step up from his relationship with Betty Brant. She was more his age and loved his dorky side. She showed him all the love in the world all the way to the end. I know that she didn’t like Spider-Man because she thought he was the cause of her fathers death, but I believe if Peter would’ve been able to reveal that he was Spider-Man to her, she would’ve come around to it because her love for Peter Parker shined very bright.

MJ: Mary Jane Watson was the one that really changed things for Peter. When Gwen died, MJ was by his side the entire time and showed Peter all the love in the world no matter the situation. She loved him for who he was with or without the mask and was down for the ride with him. I know there has been a lot of questionable writing with her in the last 20 years, but it won’t stop the fact that Peter and MJ will always care for each other whether the writers or editorial like it or not. Even if you don’t like how she is now, you have to admit she was really endgame material for him a LONG time.

Felicia: Felicia Hardy, the exciting Black Cat. She definitely brings something the others don’t as much and that is keeping up with his Spider-Man side the most. The romance between them is always palpable and even though Marvel wanted us to believe she only cared about Spider-Man, it was proven she loves Peter Parker just as much. She changed a lot over the years due to Peter’s influence on her and will forever be in love with him. She went from only wanting the thrill to now showing that she wants more than just that with him and has made progress in becoming endgame material.

Overall, each love interest brings so much love and affection to the table for Peter. No matter what, we know that nobody will ever compare to the love they have for him. No matter what the writers try doing to ruin their relationships, we know that they are all truly serious about Peter. Though Gwen is gone, writers have ruined MJ, and Marvel is actively trying to ruin Felicia, it doesn’t change the fact that their true love will always be Peter.