Tom DeFalco is one of the best comic book writers of all time, and his time as editor in chief was one of the best periods for Marvel comics. One of my favourite moments in Tom DeFalco's Spider-Man run is when Mary Jane reminds Peter of his responsibilities when Peter is about to turn his back on someone:
Narrator: Elsewhere...
Mary Jane Watson: I think you're making a big mistake!
Peter Parker: You kidding?! You've always hated the idea of me being Spider-Man! Why the change of heart?
Mary Jane Watson: I... Don't know. It's just that I don't think you're being fair... To yourself... Or anyone else! You've done a lot of good as the web-swinger. Saved a lot of lives! Surely, you can see that!
Peter Parker: Nobody else cares! Why should I?
Mary Jane Watson: Because you can make a difference! You have some pretty amazing powers, Peter. You owe it to yourself to use them. You owe it to the world to use them properly!
Peter Parker: Save the speeches, lady! I've already done my share! From here on in, I'm going to live my life through the boob tube like everyone else!
TV News Report: ... After tearing up the port authority bus terminal... The mysterious criminal known as the Hobgoblin appears to have taken an unidentified woman as hostage! A news update will follow this important message from our sponsors...
Peter Parker: WHAT THE--?!
Mary Jane Watson: Peter, you've got to do something!
Peter Parker: Why me?! This city is full of costumed jerks--like the Avengers and Fantastic Four!
Mary Jane Watson: I... Can't believe you're going to turn your back on that poor woman! What's happened to you, Peter!? WHERE'S YOUR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY NOW?!
Source ― The Amazing Spider-Man Issue (1963) #275.
This moment doesn't get talked about enough. What I love about this moment is that Peter goes on a path of regression in that he nearly makes a mistake that he has made before, largely because his convictions to continue being Spider-Man crumbles. He's sick and tired of risking his life for others, only to get constant grief and problems in return. Peter feels like no one else cares about the good he does as Spider-Man, which although isn't completely true, it isn't completely wrong because J Jonah Jameson has been desecrating Spider-Man's public image for years by branding him as a menace. Not to mention, the police don't completely trust Spider-Man because he's a masked vigilante, so you can understand why he feels that way.
MJ has an argument with Peter over his decision to give up being Spider-Man, trying to convince him to not give up being Spider-Man because MJ believes that Peter owes it to himself to use his spider powers to help others and fight crime. Peter stubbornly refuses because he feels like he's already done his fair share of putting his life on the line to help others, and declares that he's going to live a normal civilian life like everyone else. Whilst this is happening, Peter and MJ hear their TV broadcast a news report, saying that the Hobgoblin is taking an unidentified woman (who is later identified as Sha Shan). MJ urges Peter to do something about this because his powers give him the chance to save Sha Shan, but Peter selfishly refuses and tries to justify himself by saying New York is full other superheroes that can do something about it (e.g. the Avengers and Fantastic Four), and turns his back on Sha Shan. MJ, in response, is shocked and outraged by Peter's behaviour, saying that she can't believe that Peter is turning his back on Sha Shan. MJ asks Peter what's happened to him, and lectures him, demanding to know where Peter's sense of responsibility is now. Compelled by MJ's reminder about his responsibilities, Peter subsequently suits up and does his thing:
Source ― The Amazing Spider-Man Issue (1963) #275.
There's a lot of awesome stuff about this specific moment that I can talk about, but one thing in particular that I specifically want to talk about is Peter's regressive behaviour. As I said before, Peter goes on a path of regression, in the sense that he is slipping back into old habits and nearly makes a mistake that he has made before. The mistake I am referring to are Peter's selfish inactions that inadvertently led to Uncle Ben's death. Peter nearly does this again over here. Peter turns his back on Sha Shan, refusing to use his powers and Spider-Man persona to stop the Hobgoblin and save Sha Shan. He literally hears the TV broadcast this, and refuses to do anything about it. Granted, he does change his mind, but that's only because MJ was there to remind Peter about the heroic sense of responsibility that he once had. MJ convinced Peter to change his mind because she lectures Peter about the sense of responsibility he once had. If Mary Jane wasn't there to remind Peter about his responsibilities, he would've turned his back on Sha Shan, and Sha Shan would have likely died, just like how Uncle Ben died as a result of Peter's selfish inactions in Amazing Fantasy #15.
I love this moment because it's such a great illustration of how even someone with strong, heroic convictions as Peter Parker can devolve and slip back into old habits. Even Peter Parker is not immune going back to old habits and devolving into a younger, inferior version of himself i.e. the person he was before finding out that he is responsible for Uncle Ben's death. Despite the fact that Peter is superhuman and is driven by a strong moral compass to be a superhero, he can't do everything in his own strength. Peter needs help from the people around him to remind him of what's the right thing to do, just like we need help from other people to remind ourselves on what's the right thing to do for ourselves and others e.g. friends, family, therapists, doctors etc.
If you want a real life example of this, then take drug addicts. Drug addicts struggle with addiction because drugs rewire the brain by hijacking the brain's pleasure center by prompting it to release dopamine, the same type of chemical that is triggered by sex and laughter. Breaking addictions is extremely difficult and takes more than just mere willpower, it also requires professional help from going into rehab, an environment for addicts to seek psychotherapy, medications and self care. Going into rehab and recovering from addiction in of itself is a form of self improvement, but at the same time, recovering addicts are often at risk of slipping back into old habits i.e. relapses. Relapses are a form of regression because drug addicts who experience relapses are slipping back into old habits that were unhealthy for them. This isn't anything to be ashamed of, you're human after all, but let's face it, everyone has a breaking point. Everyone is vulnerable giving up. Willpower is a very powerful asset to have, but willpower alone isn't always going to make things work and you should seek help to carry heavy burdens. In this moment, Peter was on the verge of giving up on his responsibilities for selfish reasons, but they were understandable reasons. But MJ reminds Peter about his responsibilities, stopping him from making the same mistake that led to Uncle Ben's death, showing that everybody needs help sometimes, including Spider-Man.
This moment is also a great illustration of the importance of the people around Peter Parker, because Peter needs them to keep himself in check and not lose his way. Peter needs people like Uncle Ben, Aunt May, Mary Jane and many others because they're there to remind him of what's the right thing to do, so that he doesn't lose his way and sanity. It shows how human and vulnerable he is in that it showcases that he can't always do things in his own strength and needs help from others.
For more context on why Peter is like this and why MJ goes out of her way to stop Peter from neglecting his responsibilities, the previous issues establish that Peter recently decided to give up being Spider-Man, which is a decision that he's actually made before (i.e. Spider-Man: No More), but this time, he was intending on going into permanent retirement:
Mary Jane Watson: Brighten up, tiger! A few more storm clouds like the one hanging over you, and the city wouldn't have a water shortage!
Peter Parker: Sorry, Mary Jane. Guess I haven't been much fun lately.
Mary Jane Watson: What's troubling you?
Peter Parker: It's all my fault Nathan ended up in the hospital. I failed him, just like I failed so many others... I've been screwing up a lot lately. Too much! Maybe it's time for me to hang it all up.
Mary Jane Watson: What are you talking about?
Peter Parker: I've decided to give up being Spider-Man! It's a decision I've made before. But, this time, I'm finally convinced that I've outgrown this whole schtick!
Source ― The Amazing Spider-Man Issue (1963) #275.
Peter explains his decision by revealing that he was gradually coming to his decision silently due to his encounters with the Beyonder and a few other recent events that got him thinking his place in the grand scheme of things, and MJ prompts Peter into revealing his origin story:
Narrator: Elsewhere...
Mary Jane Watson: You came to your decision awfully fast, didn't you?
Peter Parker: Nah, it's been brewing for a while. I guess my run-ins with the Beyonder and a few other recent weird events got me thinking about my place in the grand scheme of things, and sort of brought things to a head!
Mary Jane Watson: Who's the Beyonder?
Peter Parker: Trust me, lady--you'd rather not know!Mary Jane Watson! I still can't believe you're going to hang up your webs. Talk about a change of life style! It's funny, I don't even know how you became Spider-Man in the first place.
Peter Parker: You never asked! You didn't want to know about that part of my life, remember? You were afraid it would bring you down! Well, you don't have to be afraid anymore...
Mary Jane Watson: I guess I deserved that. I'm sorry. Peter--? I'm asking now!
Source ― The Amazing Spider-Man Issue (1963) #275.
Yeah, Peter reveals his entire origin story to MJ in this moment because the next 11 pages of this comic is a literal reprint of Amazing Fantasy #15. When Peter explains his reasons for wanting to go into permanent retirement as a normal civilian, Peter says that his "run-ins with the Beyonder and a few other recent weird events got" him "thinking about" his "place in the grand scheme of things, and sort of brought things to a head!" in answer to MJ's query. Interestingly enough, one of those recent events was an encounter with Slyde, and Peter made a very interesting, but very bold statement in his internal thoughts during that encounter:
Spider-Man [internal thoughts]: Why that dirty, two timing--! He set us up! He planned this from the start!
Bystander: STOP HIM! HURRY!
Spider-Man [internal thoughts]: Blast it! I forgot that my webbing can't stick to his costume! I'm sure I could catch up to him--if I really put my heart into it--but, why bother? He'd only fast talk D.A. Tower into giving him the keys to the city, again! I already risked my life ocne today--and for what? So that the bad guy could get a pat on the back, and a briefcase full of cash! I'm tired of putting myself on the line for everyone else! From now on, number one comes first--and the rest of the world can go hang!
Source ― The Amazing Spider-Man Issue (1963) #272.
What I find so interesting in this specific moment is that Peter says "From now on, number one comes first--and the rest of the world can go hang!" in his internal thoughts. Doesn't that sound familiar? I wonder where I've heard that before...
Cop: What's with you, mister?? All you hadda do was trip him, or hold him just for a minute!
Spider-Man: Sorry, pal! That's your job! I'm through being pushed around -- by anyone! From now on I just look out for number one -- that means -- me!
Security Guard: I outta run you in--
Spider-Man: Save your breath, buddy! I've got things to do!
Narrator: And, a few hours later...
May Parker: Peter, you know that microscope you've always wanted? Your Uncle and I bought it for you this afternoon!
Peter Parker: Gosh, that's terrific! You're the greatest family any fella ever had! (They're the only ones who've ever been kind to me! I'll see to it that they're always happy, but the rest of the world can go hang for all I care!)
Source ― Amazing Fantasy #15.
This a sign of the gradual buildup to Peter's decision to give up being Spider-Man and live a normal civilian life because Peter goes as far as saying "From now on, number one comes first--and the rest of the world can go hang!" which is a very similar remark to when he said "From now on I just look out for number one -- that means -- me!" and "I'll see to it that they're always happy, but the rest of the world can go hang for all I care!" before Uncle Ben's death. Peter is gradually regressing into the same mindset and worldview he once had before he learned about the lesson about Power and Responsibility from Uncle Ben's death. This eventually leads to Peter nearly making the same mistake that resulted in Uncle Ben's death. But MJ stopped Peter from making that mistake again by reminding him about the responsibility that comes with his powers and Spider-Man persona. MJ stopped Peter from devolving to the person he once was before Uncle Ben's death ― a selfish, bitter young man who had a chip on his shoulder and also very reductive worldview and perception of life.
Closing Statements
That's all I have to say about this moment. Yes, I know that I wrote a lot about a lot of paragraphs about this brief moment in DeFalco's run, and it might seem like a very basic topic when judging it on a superficial level, but this moment (alongside many other moments) really resonated with me when I first read it because of my battles with mental illness. Have a good day.
