The bite mutated Peter, granting him superhuman strength, agility, durability, and spider-like abilities. After accidentally injuring Flash Thompson in a fight, Peter sought money to help cover medical bills by entering an amateur wrestling circuit, where he adopted the masked identity of Spider-Man. His moral failure—allowing a fleeing burglar to escape out of spite—soon led to tragedy when that same criminal murdered Uncle Ben. Consumed by guilt, Peter embraced the lesson that “with great power comes great responsibility,” dedicating himself to fighting crime.

Meanwhile, Norman Osborn injected himself with the Oz Compound, mutating into the Green Goblin. His rampage culminated in an attack on Peter’s school, where Spider-Man confronted him before Osborn was shot by police and presumed dead. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. subsequently took Harry Osborn into custody.

Early in his career, Spider-Man encountered threats including Shocker, Wolverine, and the Hulk. To support Aunt May, Peter began selling Spider-Man photographs to the Daily Bugle, eventually working on its website under J. Jonah Jameson.

Investigating Uncle Ben’s murder led Peter to Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime. After a failed infiltration of Fisk’s operations—during which he was defeated by Electro and briefly unmasked—Peter later returned, defeated Fisk and his lieutenants, and exposed incriminating evidence, forcing Fisk into hiding.

Peter eventually revealed his identity to Mary Jane, and the two began a relationship. His activities expanded, bringing him into contact with heroes and figures such as Iron Man, Daredevil, Punisher, and Doctor Strange, as well as adversaries including Kraven the Hunter and Doctor Octopus. Public opinion of Spider-Man shifted positively after he defeated both Octavius and Kraven in a televised confrontation.

Norman Osborn later resurfaced and coerced Peter into cooperation, threatening his loved ones. This culminated in a battle at the Queensboro Bridge, where Spider-Man saved Mary Jane from falling to her death. The conflict ended when Harry intervened against his father, allowing S.H.I.E.L.D. to recapture Osborn.

Peter’s personal life grew more complicated with the arrival of Gwen Stacy, whose father, NYPD Captain John Stacy, had investigated Uncle Ben’s murder. After a Spider-Man impostor killed Captain Stacy, Gwen moved in with the Parkers. Around this time, Mary Jane briefly broke up with Peter due to the dangers of his double life.

Peter later reconnected with Eddie Brock Jr. and discovered their fathers’ “Venom Project,” a living protoplasm designed to cure disease. When Peter bonded with the organism, it enhanced his powers but amplified aggression. Rejecting it, he destroyed the sample—unaware Eddie had retained another. Eddie bonded with the organism and became Venom, leading to a violent confrontation that ended with Eddie apparently killed, though his survival remained ambiguous.

Spider-Man’s conflicts escalated with the return of Kingpin, political corruption involving Sam Bullit, and encounters with figures such as Black Cat and Elektra. Norman Osborn later assembled the “Sinister Six” and escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, coercing Peter into joining them before attacking the White House. Peter ultimately turned against Osborn, aiding the Ultimates in stopping the assault.

A major personal tragedy followed when a genetic experiment by Curt Connors produced a monstrous creature that killed Gwen Stacy. Devastated, Peter briefly attempted to abandon being Spider-Man but ultimately accepted that he could not escape his responsibility.

Subsequent events included a mind-swap incident with Wolverine caused by Jean Grey, the formation of a friendship with Johnny Storm, and further supernatural encounters involving Doctor Strange. Harry Osborn later returned, mutated into a Hobgoblin-like form, and was subdued by S.H.I.E.L.D., further straining Peter’s personal relationships.

More recently, Spider-Man has been entangled in a gang war between Kingpin and Hammerhead, crossed paths with Moon Knight, and fought alongside heroes such as Shang-Chi and Iron Fist. During this period, he also began a relationship with Kitty Pryde of the X-Men.