Aunt May made her first appearance alongside Peter Parker and Uncle Ben in the seminal comic Amazing Fantasy #15, published in August 1962. Created by writer stan_lee and artist steve_ditko, she was conceived as a cornerstone of Peter Parker's civilian life. In the Silver Age of comics, her initial portrayal was that of a stereotypical doting, somewhat frail, and elderly caregiver. Her perpetually white hair, gentle demeanor, and frequent health problems served a crucial narrative purpose: to ground Spider-Man's extraordinary adventures with a deeply personal, human-level source of anxiety and responsibility. Ditko's art established her iconic look, often depicting her as gentle but worried, a constant presence in the Parker household in Forest Hills, Queens. For decades, a core element of the Spider-Man drama was the “Aunt May soap opera”—Peter constantly worrying about her health, paying her medical bills, and, most importantly, keeping his superhero identity a secret for fear the shock would kill her. Over the decades, subsequent writers and artists have significantly evolved the character. While retaining her core compassionate nature, May has been modernized to be more capable, resilient, and independent. She has pursued her own relationships, taken on significant community roles, and even learned of Peter's secret identity, fundamentally changing their dynamic. This evolution reflects the changing societal view of older women and a narrative need for supporting characters to possess greater agency. From a fragile woman to be protected, she has become a pillar of strength in her own right.
Maybelle Reilly was born in Brooklyn, New York. In her youth, she was courted by two young men: the charming, smooth-talking Johnny Jerome and the kind, dependable Ben Parker. While initially drawn to Jerome, she ultimately saw his selfish nature and chose to build a life with Ben, a man of profound integrity. They married and settled into a modest home in the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens. Their lives changed forever when Ben's younger brother, Richard Parker, and his wife, Mary, revealed they were government agents working for the CIA. Tragically, Richard and Mary were killed in a plane crash, orphaning their young son, Peter. Without hesitation, May and Ben took Peter in and raised him as their own son. They provided him with a loving, stable home, instilling in him the strong moral values that would one day define him. May became Peter's mother in every way that mattered. The defining tragedy of her life, and the catalyst for Spider-Man's creation, was the murder of her beloved Ben by a burglar whom Peter had selfishly allowed to escape earlier. Devastated by the loss, May was left a widow, facing financial hardship and loneliness. She was supported by the meager income Peter earned through his freelance photography for the daily_bugle, never knowing that the photos were of his own heroic alter ego. For years, Peter's greatest fear was that the shock of learning his secret would be too much for her fragile heart to bear, a recurring plot point that dictated many of his early decisions as Spider-Man.
The origin of the MCU's May Parker, portrayed by Marisa Tomei, is presented with less specific detail but follows a similar emotional blueprint, adapted for a modern context. This version of May is significantly younger and more contemporary than her traditional comic counterpart. She lives in an apartment in Queens with Peter and, like in the comics, became his sole guardian after the unseen deaths of Richard and Mary Parker and, subsequently, her husband Ben. Ben's death is alluded to but not shown on screen. It is clear, however, that his loss deeply affected both May and Peter and that his ideals shaped their worldview. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, May articulates the core philosophy that Ben presumably lived by, cementing his spiritual presence in the MCU. A fundamental departure from the comics is how and when May learns Peter's secret. Rather than decades of ignorance, the MCU's May discovers Peter is Spider-Man at the very end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, when she walks in on him in his suit. After the initial shock, she does not faint or have a heart attack; instead, she adapts and becomes a crucial part of his support system. She worries about him constantly but also actively helps him, laundering his super-suits and offering practical and emotional advice. This adaptation streamlines decades of comic book angst into a more modern, collaborative dynamic between guardian and hero, making her an active participant in his journey rather than a passive element to be protected.
May Parker's defining trait is her boundless compassion, matched only by her resilience. She is the moral bedrock of Peter's life.
While not possessing superpowers, May has a distinct set of skills and has developed significant agency over her life.
The evolution of May's knowledge of Peter's double life is one of the most significant subplots in Spider-Man history.
The MCU's May is a complete modernization of the character, embodying the same core spirit in a very different package.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the MCU's May is that she inherits Uncle Ben's narrative role. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, after being fatally wounded by the Green Goblin, she uses her dying breaths to instill in Peter the defining ethos of his character. She tells him, “With great power, there must also come great responsibility.” This act cements her as the ultimate source of his heroism in the MCU, a powerful and tragic consolidation of the parental figures who defined him in the comics. Her death at the hands of a villain is the definitive tragedy that forges this version of Peter into the solitary, determined hero he is meant to be. This is a profound departure from the 616-canon where she has survived countless near-death experiences.
This is the central relationship of May's life. She is his mother, his confidante (in later years), and his greatest weakness. Her safety is the one line Peter is terrified to see crossed. For Peter, May represents his conscience and his connection to the normal life he can never fully have. Their bond is one of unconditional love and mutual sacrifice. In the MCU, this bond is just as strong, but defined by a partnership in his secret, making their dynamic one of teamwork against the world.
Though his presence in the comics and the MCU is primarily through flashbacks and memories, Ben Parker was the love of May's life. Their marriage was built on deep affection and shared values. After his death, May's dedication to honoring his memory by raising Peter “right” is a driving force in her life. Ben is the ghost that haunts the Parker household, a symbol of profound love, tragic loss, and the responsibility that comes with it.
One of the strangest and most enduring relationships in Earth-616 is May's connection to Doctor Octopus. Otto, a boarder at her house for a time, developed a genuine, albeit twisted, affection for her. He saw her as a kind and gentle woman, a stark contrast to his own abusive mother. This nearly culminated in a wedding, which was dramatically interrupted by Spider-Man. Even as a villain, Otto has often gone to great lengths to protect May from harm, adding a bizarre layer of complexity to his battles with his greatest foe. This dynamic was subtly referenced in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man: No Way Home where Octavius has a brief, polite interaction with May.
In a surprising turn of events in the comics, May began a serious relationship with J. Jonah Jameson Sr. (Jay Jameson), the estranged father of j_jonah_jameson. They eventually married, making the cantankerous newspaper publisher Peter's step-cousin. This development created a hilarious and awkward family dynamic, forcing Peter and Jonah into close proximity at family gatherings. The marriage was a happy one, though it ended tragically with Jay's death from a terminal illness.
For decades, Anna Watson was May's best friend, neighbor, and confidante. She is the aunt of mary_jane_watson, and the two women spent years trying to set up their respective niece and nephew on a blind date. Their friendship represents the strong community and social ties of the Parker household in Queens.
This storyline is famous for the “Death of Gwen Stacy,” but the B-plot is equally critical to understanding Peter's world. While Peter is battling the Green Goblin, Aunt May has collapsed at home from a serious illness. The story masterfully cuts between Spider-Man's epic, tragic battle and his desperate, human-level fear for his aunt's life. His inability to be in two places at once highlights the core conflict of his character, and the fear of losing May is just as palpable as the actual loss of Gwen.
Written by J. Michael Straczynski, this issue is a quiet masterpiece. After years of close calls, May finally sits down with Peter and tells him she knows he is Spider-Man. There is no drama, no fainting—only a heartfelt, emotional conversation. She talks about her suspicions over the years and expresses her immense pride in the man he has become. It's a cathartic moment that redefines their relationship, elevating May from a person to be protected to a source of strength and acceptance for a weary hero.
This is arguably the most impactful and controversial storyline centered on May. Following the events of Civil War, where Peter publicly unmasked, a sniper from the Kingpin targets his family. The bullet hits Aunt May, leaving her in a coma and near death. Desperate and out of options, Peter makes a Faustian bargain with the demon Mephisto: May's life in exchange for his marriage to Mary Jane being erased from history. The deal is struck, May is saved, and reality is rewritten. The event demonstrates that Peter is willing to sacrifice his own happiness—and the greatest love of his life—to save his aunt, cementing her position as the immovable center of his world.
A defining moment for the cinematic incarnation of Spider-Man. In his attempt to cure the multiversal villains that have entered his world, Peter's plan goes awry. The Green Goblin turns on him, and in the ensuing battle in their apartment complex, May is fatally wounded by the Goblin's glider. As she is dying in Peter's arms, she comforts him, reassuring him that he did the right thing. It is here she delivers the sacred “responsibility” line, completing her role as the MCU's primary moral architect for Spider-Man. Her death is the direct result of Peter's heroism and is the ultimate tragic lesson that galvanizes his commitment to his path.
The May Parker of the Ultimate Universe is a significant departure. Portrayed as a woman in her late forties or early fifties, she is tough, independent, computer-savvy, and has a fiery temper. She works as a secretary and struggles to raise Peter alone. She discovers Peter's secret relatively early and, after her initial anger and fear, becomes his greatest confidante. After the death of her Peter Parker, she becomes a mentor figure to miles_morales, offering him support and guidance, thereby continuing her role as the heart of the Spider-Man legacy.
This version, voiced by Linda Gary and later Julie Bennett, is very faithful to the classic Silver Age portrayal. She is a kind, gentle, and somewhat frail elderly woman who remains blissfully unaware of Peter's secret. She often offers sage advice and worries about Peter's “flakiness.” Her relationship with Anna Watson and their attempts to set Peter up with Mary Jane is a recurring, charming subplot throughout the series.
Voiced by Lily Tomlin, this version of Aunt May is a composite of the classic and Ultimate versions. While elderly, she is anything but frail. Following her Peter's death, it's revealed she was fully aware of his life as Spider-Man and was his “woman in the chair,” assisting him from a high-tech hideout built beneath her garden shed. She is sharp, witty, and completely unfazed by the arrival of multiple Spider-People, immediately taking on a command role and providing them with the tools they need to save the multiverse.
In the Insomniac Games universe, May Parker (voiced by Nancy Linari) is a compassionate and vital part of the community. She does not know Peter is Spider-Man but works closely with him in his civilian life at the F.E.A.S.T. shelter, which she helps manage. Her role culminates in one of the most emotionally devastating moments in any Spider-Man adaptation. At the end of the first game, she is dying from the “Devil's Breath” bio-weapon unleashed on New York. In her final moments, she reveals to a distraught Peter that she has known his secret for a while and expresses her pride in him before passing away. Her death is a core motivator for Peter throughout the subsequent games.