Despite his decades-long history, the question of "Does Spider-Man have a son?" remains one of the most confusing and constantly debated topics in Marvel Comics lore. As of December 2025, the mainstream Earth-616 Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson do not have any children, a situation largely due to editorial mandates and the controversial One More Day storyline that erased Peter and MJ's marriage and their potential daughter, May Parker. However, the Multiverse is vast, and Peter Parker is a father many times over, with several sons who have taken up the mantle—or something far darker—in alternate realities, including a brand-new, terrifying development in the Ultimate Universe.
The most current and shocking development involves Richard Parker, the eldest son of the new Ultimate Spider-Man (Earth-6160), who recently transformed into a monstrous version of the iconic villain, Venom. The existence of these alternate-reality children gives fans a glimpse into the family life Peter Parker was denied, featuring young heroes and anti-heroes who carry on the legacy of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, whether through spider-powers, tech, or a terrifying alien symbiote.
Richard Parker (Earth-6160): The New Venom
The current focus of the "Spider-Man's son" discussion revolves entirely around Richard Parker, a character introduced in the highly acclaimed 2024 relaunch of Ultimate Spider-Man (Earth-6160). This reality features an older Peter Parker who is already married to Mary Jane Watson and a father of two—Richard and his younger sister, May—before he even gains his powers, making this version of the Parker family the most stable and prominent in modern comics.
- Full Name: Richard Parker (Named after Peter's father, Richard Parker)
- Universe: Earth-6160 (The new Ultimate Universe)
- Parents: Peter Parker (Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson-Parker
- Sibling: May Parker
- Initial Role: Richard initially took up the mantle of a tech-based Spider-Man, using a high-tech suit to fight alongside his father. He was the heroic "second" Spider-Man of his universe, a role he took on while his father was captive.
- Shocking Transformation: In a dramatic and recent twist, Richard's powers manifested in a horrifying way. The black suit, which in this continuity is a bio-organic entity, bonded with him. Richard Parker did not just gain spider-powers; he transformed into a terrifying, monstrous version of Venom, becoming a major threat to the new Ultimate Universe. This development redefines the meaning of the black costume and Peter's legacy in this new reality.
This version of Richard is the most compelling because his story is unfolding right now, showing a dark, unexpected path for the son of Peter Parker. He represents the ultimate fear for any parent: watching your child turn into the very thing you fight against.
The Other Sons of Spider-Man: A Multiversal Lineage
While Richard Parker is the current headline, he is not the only son Peter Parker has across the Multiverse. Two other notable young men have carried the Parker name and the weight of the spider-legacy, each from a distinct alternate reality.
1. Ben Parker (Earth-22045: J.J. Abrams' Run)
The son named Ben Parker comes from the 2019 miniseries simply titled Spider-Man, written by J.J. Abrams and his son, Henry Abrams. This story presented a dark, emotionally charged future for Peter Parker, where his son was thrust into the hero spotlight.
- Universe: Earth-22045
- Origin: Ben was born to Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson. His life was marked by tragedy when his mother, Mary Jane, was seemingly killed by the villain Cadaverous. Peter, devastated and having lost an arm, retired from being Spider-Man.
- Inheritance: Ben grew up with Aunt May, unaware of his father's past. As a high school student, he developed his own spider-powers and eventually took up the mantle of Spider-Man to confront his father's old enemy and his own family trauma.
- Key Entity: This Ben Parker is notable for his relationship with a new Black Cat character, highlighting a new dynamic duo in this reality.
This Ben Parker's story is a classic hero's journey, where the son must step out of his father's imposing shadow to find his own heroic identity, all while dealing with the grief of a family shattered by the superhero life.
2. Benjamin Richard "Benjy" Parker (Earth-982: MC2 Universe)
The MC2 (Marvel Comics 2) Universe is one of the most beloved alternate timelines, famous for introducing Peter Parker's daughter, Mayday Parker, also known as Spider-Girl. Benjy is Mayday’s younger brother and the youngest heir to the Spider-Man legacy.
- Universe: Earth-982 (MC2)
- Parents: Peter Parker (retired Spider-Man) and Mary Jane Watson-Parker
- Sibling: May "Mayday" Parker (Spider-Girl)
- Status: Benjy is an infant/toddler in most of his appearances.
- Powers: Despite his young age, Benjy displayed nascent spider-powers, including the ability to stick to walls and a heightened Spider-Sense. His powers often manifested to protect himself or his sister, hinting at a future where he could become a hero, potentially taking the name Spider-Boy or a similar mantle.
Benjy Parker's existence is a symbol of Peter and Mary Jane’s enduring love and the hope for a complete, happy family, something the main continuity (Earth-616) has consistently denied them. He is often called "Benjy" by his sister and fans, a nod to Peter's beloved Uncle Ben.
The Canonical Void: Why Peter Parker Has No Son in Earth-616
The reason all of Peter Parker’s children—including his sons Richard, Ben, and Benjy, and his daughters Mayday and Annie-May Parker—exist in alternate realities is rooted in a controversial editorial decision that continues to shape the main continuity, Earth-616. This decision, known as "One More Day" (OMD), fundamentally altered Peter Parker’s life.
The core issue is that Marvel Comics editors felt that a married Peter Parker and a Peter Parker with children made the character too "old" and unrelatable to modern audiences.
- The Retcon: In 2007, the events of One More Day saw Peter Parker make a literal deal with the demon Mephisto to save Aunt May's life. The price of this deal was his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. This retcon also erased the existence of their daughter, May Parker, who was born and then tragically lost in a previous storyline, and ensured that Peter and MJ were never married.
- The Legacy Problem: By constantly resetting Peter Parker's timeline to keep him a "young" hero, Marvel effectively pushed all potential family legacies—the children who would carry on his name—into the Multiverse. This is why the most compelling family stories, like the one in Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows (Earth-18119) with his daughter Annie-May Parker (Spider-Woman), must exist outside of the main Earth-616 canon.
The sons of Spider-Man, therefore, are not just interesting characters; they are a direct commentary on the decades-long debate about Peter Parker’s maturity and the nature of his sacrifice. They represent the "what if" scenarios that fans desperately want to see, where Peter gets to be both a hero and a father, even if the newest son, Richard Parker, has taken a terrifying turn toward villainy as the new Venom in the *Ultimate Universe*.
The constant creation of characters like Richard Parker (Ultimate Universe), Ben Parker (J.J. Abrams' run), and Benjy Parker (MC2) shows that the concept of a "Spider-Son" is too powerful for Marvel to ignore, even if they must be relegated to the infinite possibilities of the Multiverse.
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