On the web: the funniest Spider-Man memes
Why is Spider-Man so popular with meme makers? How do you make your own GIF Spider-Man memes? Can a custom Spider-Man meme from Memix help you save the world and get the girl? Yes, yes it can.
Spider-Man was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in 1962, and he’s been a staple of comics, the big screen and plastic toys ever since. Such is his astonishing cultural penetration – apparently he’s Barack Obama’s favourite superhero – the webbed avenger, now on his 10th movie (not counting cameos) that literally everybody knows who he is.
Which is why he’s so beloved by meme makers. No point making a meme about a hero nobody has ever heard of, right?
Anyway, today we’ll be looking into why Spidey is such a rich fount of glorious creamy memery. And sharing some fun memes along the way. Because with great memes, comes great responsibility…
SPIDER-MAN SPELLING
You’ll note that it’s never ‘Spiderman’ or ‘Spider Man’. Creator Stan Lee apparently decided to render his gravity-defying creation ’Spider-Man’, with a hyphen, to differentiate him from other big superhero names of the era, like Superman.
This obscure detail has allowed nerds to feel superior to normies for over 60 years now, some achievement there Stan great job, you’re doing god’s work.
Even spiders care about punctuation.
RELATABLE SPIDER-MAN MEMES
One of the reasons Spidey is so popular with meme makers is sheer irrisistible relatability of this beloved character. Sure, that’s partly down to the penetration, and all those movies (three more are in the works, apparently).
But also it’s fair to say Spider-Man’s character traits – stuff like his youthful enthusiasm, wit, and occasional awkwardness – resonate with many internet users. Who are also, very often, but not always, awkward little outcast weirdos.
Memes in general often thrive on exaggerating or distorting these traits to create comedic or relatable situations, which makes them funny, which makes them even more popular.
VERSATILE SPIDER MAN MEMES
Some Spider-Man meme templates are so famous they’re basically ubiquitous at this point. That’s partly for all those reasons listed above.
But there’s probably something deeper going on here too. Something about the mask – just eyes, really, to give away how he’s feeling – that makes Spider-Man such such a compelling emotional blank canvas.
You basically can’t tell what he’s thinking. So whatever caption you put on can work, in a way it can’t really for lesser heroes. How about that.
SPIDER MAN MEME COMMUNITY
Reddit alone has several dedicated Spider-Man meme resources. Tons of top memers churn out fresh Spidey-content literally on the daily. And now there’s an extended Spideyverse with, web-slinging, quip-loving heroes from across the multiverse, and the kid’s version that my daughter really loves.
If you’re going to belong to a group of people obsessed with anything, it may as well be a diffident, shy superhero who doesn’t always get it right, but has his weird radioactive-spider-infested heart in the right place.
SPIDER-MAN BAD GUY MEMES
Of course, no analysis of the reach and potency of Spider-Man memes would be complete without a thorough appreciation of the visual glory of the comic, and countless later adaptations.
Apparently red and blue were chosen as Spidey’s livery, because ink technology at the time favoured those hues. Plus they’d make the hero stand out against the grey, drab concrete jungle of his native New York City.
The bad guys were also luridly coloured for the same reason – Green Goblin most notably, and Doctor Octopus, easily one of the most badass villains in the entire superhero canon.
SPIDER-MAN MEME MAKER
Fundamentally, Spider-Man works because everybody loves to root for the underdog, who through no fault of his own was handed the mantle of saving everybody else’s ass.
Plus Mary Jane is hot. Is Mary Jane’s name a reference to marijuana, also popularly nicknamed Mary Jane back in the early sixties?
Stan Lee says no, but then he would wouldn’t he.
Make your own dank Spider-Man memes and reaction GIF with a little help from your trusty sidekicks over at Memix.com.
Or try out the handy-dandy Chrome extension. Available anywhere on the web.
Hey, IS STEALING MEMES ILLEGAL?
While we’re here, does anybody know IS IT PRONOUNCED GIF OR JIF?