What If Aunt May Had Died Instead of Uncle Ben? #1
In this haunting alternate take on Spider-Man’s origin, Peter Parker’s life unravels when a burglar kills Aunt May instead of Uncle Ben after Peter fails to stop the theft. Written by Ed Brubaker and illustrated by Andrea Di Vito, with colors by Laura Villari and letters by Virtual Calligraphy and Randy Gentile, the story explores a world where Peter’s guilt and grief drive him toward a darker path. The cover by Andy Brase captures the emotional weight of this pivotal moment, making it a standout in Marvel’s What If? series.
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Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider and uses his newfound powers to become the costumed celebrity, Spider-Man. When he fails to stop a thief, the burglar later breaks into his house and kills his Aunt May. Bent on revenge, Peter reveals that he is Spider-Man to his Uncle Ben and takes off to capture the murderer. The burglar is killed in the ensuing scuffle but Uncle Ben arrives and takes the fall for his nephew. With Aunt May dead and Uncle Ben in jail, Spider-Man lives a rough life on the streets until Uncle Ben is released and helps him in his quest to become a true hero.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).