Thread by @Exalted_Speed

So all this talk about Prom in media made me THINK of something, at first I thought maybe a look at Proms in something but of course people know me and I often come back to Spider-man, and with that I said is there an actual Spider-man prom story?

Spider-man is often thought of the first TRUE teenage superehreo and with that thought, I had to think about stories that you see in teen media that Spider-man has told but here's the truth of it, Spider-man in the original comics was of course only in high school for 28 issues.

Now there have been stories about DANCES most notable is Spectacular Spider-man but prom has a weird place in America with how much emphases media puts on it, and it's NOT ANYWHERE IN THE ORIGINAL COMICS.

One issue with Teen Peter stories is that despite how the creators go on about them Peter doesn't do a lot of traditional teen things, Peter Parker is kind of a weird character because modern teen heroes AVOID jobs like the plague. Peter since it's built in tend to have something

While we like to think about Peter as a teen superhero, for MOST of his existence in comics he's been more of a young adult hero at best. Like 18-24, the reason for this is kind of obvious, it's easier to have someone do more things when there isn't as strict a schedule.

Still this brings me to my point is there a Spider-man prom story at all? Since Peter avoids the trappings of many high school stories does it even exist? Well it does and I had to find it one of the most obscure Spider-man titles ever.

The reason I thought that it might not exist is because modern teen Spider-man stories do nothing to age the character up, and keep him the same age, and it's very rare to see Spider-man graduate in media. The only time I think is the Raimi movie.

Anyway Webspinners is a anthology comic, meant to tell stories about Peter at specific points in his life. Some would be in college, other would tackle the Black Suit and one story was the Chameleon being suicidal and in love with Spider-man.

the series lasted 18 issues and had a rotating creative team, so many of the stories are one arc and done. It's notable for the only 616 appearance of the Unlimited Costume so this title did get some spotlight before if you want to see that see my old thread on it.

The arc is written by legendary creator Joe Kelly, famous for being one of the creators of Ben 10 and also the guy who put Deadpool on the map as a major character he did a three issue arc about Peter, basically having a mental breakdown.

The comic is kind of a joke book more of a parody of Peter Parker teen stories, the comic is a teen comedy first and while it has some drama, look I'm going to talk about this comic and you might as well ad in some sitcom laugh tracks.

One of the things about Peter Parker teen stories is that there is very little nostalgia about being a teen in them. The comic points out that this era is kind of hell for him, his Uncle is dead, he has a job, and NEEDS TO GET A GRANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.

If you want a good piss take on Prom stories this is not a bad one for it. It points out how ridiculous it is people get over it, and while I don't think this was intended it gives the message that somethings ARE more important.

The comic of course has a supervillain, and in this case Sandman who wants to be taken more seriously, and him trying to sound like a le epic communism man is everything I wanted in life.

The first issue in the arc has Spider-man use an experimental chemical to take down sandman and Liz asking Peter out mirroring her arc at the time moving on Flash Thompson, after this like any good Peter Parker story THINGS GO HORRIBLY WRONG.

The comic has a focus on about 6 major character, Peter, Liz Betty, Flash and Sandman, the comic has Betty realize something about herself she never went to prom. So....

So in hilarious sitcom fashion Betty ask Peter to go and he doesn't say no. OH NO HOW COULD THIS GET WORSE?

It's not like Aunt May would say set him up for a Prom date with her best friends niece? Don't be ridiculous...

Flash being the high school jock that he is in this period can't stand the idea that Liz WOULD WANT PETER! SO FLASH CHALLENGES HIM TO STUPID TEEN DARE BULLSHIT THAT I WILL GO OVER IN LATER POST HERE. HOW COULD THIS GET WORSE?

OH NO THE SANDMAN IS ALSO BEING DESTROYED BY THE CHEMICAL USED BY SPIDER-MAN IN THERE LAST FIGHT AND HE NEEDS SPIDER-MAN TO SAVE HIS LIFE BUT FLASH ALSO THREW OUT HIS NOTES AND PROM IS TOMORROW!

So Peter not only has to do something stupid with Flash, worry about 3 dates at the same time, but he also has to cure the Sandman, this is like the most pure form of a Peter Parker bullshit story and I'm all here for this.

Of course it would not be a prom story without HORRIBLE bad decisions from other people. I really feel sorry for Betty with her backstory she really did MISS out on things and had to give up her life, and we get a glimpse of Flash's abusive father.

of course we get to see Pete's tux which of course was his Uncle's, oh Ben you were the height of fashion, this clearly needs to be an alt in the Next Spider-man game.

my favorite part of the arc is Aunt May finding out about the 3 dates, and FORCING PETER TO GO WITH ALL OF THEM AND OWN UP TO THEM. Aunt May does not take this bullshit from her perfect nephew. But Mary Jane does drop out, I wonder if we will ever see her...

We get to See Betty and Liz's prom dresses both do look stunning in that everyone is a super model 90's style. I'm okay with it honestly and dig how Betty looks.

back to the Bridgewalk stuff the Bridgewalk stuff is kind of a take on the whole chicken games you would see in old movies. Kids would drive there cars into each other etc etc, honestly this is kind of a real thing in some communities I know we had something like this in mine.

Peter of course after everything decides to do the right thing, he saves Flash's life, he breaks it off with Liz, Liz slaps him and Peter goes onto to save the Sandman.

and Peter Parker misses Prom, he does the right thing and honestly the story doesn't make it that big a deal that Peter missed it. Betty too, while Flash and Liz get that moment, they are crowed the Prom king and queen.

and so there is the Spider-man prom story, the story of how Peter Parker missed his prom, oh well maybe sometimes it's better to do the right thing then worry about a stupid tradition.

Anyway my Dad told me this, it's often a joke that people who take prom seriously have there lives peak in high school and at the time Flash had not become Venom when this story was made, life is not always about the traditional events it's about what you find important.

A part of growing up is moving past this, so honestly any show that make me say Prom is important MAKE ME GROAN. Be like Good Peter, don't be the same person you were back then.

Still this does show one issue I have with Teen Parker stories, they don't have Peter do a lot of teen stuff anyway or go through the changes associated with that time so they end up like fluff, not too dissimilar to Archie, while I don't need Prom stories about Peter.

If were going to have High School Peter stories we should explore as many avenues as possible, otherwise writers just have him in college so he can have a job and not have to explain why he misses school so often.