Maybe Next Year

[cyberghostface]

This story comes from Peter Parker Spider-Man v2 #33. It was written by Paul Jenkins and illustrated by Mark Buckingham.

The issue opens it with another year passing on the day that Uncle Ben died, and Peter remembers how it was his fault for not stopping the burglar in time. Each year, Aunt May visit's Ben's grave to remember him, and Peter lets her go by herself so she can be alone with him. He has another way of remembering his uncle--by going to a Mets game.

Looking up into the sky, Peter asks "What d'you say, Uncle Ben? Maybe this year?"










As an adult, Peter thinks to himself how "Maybe Next Year" became their mantra. Every time they go, however, something goes wrong. At one point, Peter gets beaned trying to catch a baseball that flies into the stands. A mascot (a giant baseball head) is there when Peter wakes up, causing Peter to scream and pass out again.

Eventually, Peter gets tired of going to the games.












char: ben parker, char: may parker, char: spider-man/peter parker, creator: mark buckingham, creator: paul jenkins, publisher: marvel comics, title: peter parker spider-man

Comments

[nezchan]

Man, Ben Parker had as busy a last week as Tom and Martha Wayne.

I resolve to be as lazy as possible and never do anything. I'll live forever!

[polarisnorth]

Ow, I have something in my heart.

(Also, as a lifelong Mariners fan, I know exactly how this feels.)

[punishermax]

I'm just glad Ben wasn't a Yankees fan.

[xammax]

I appear to be near tears.

[palabradot]

Oh, jeez. This is kind of how I celebrate Father's Day.

Not in June, but on Derby Day. Dad and I would sit and watch the Kentucky Derby together.

I still do, now that he's gone.

[2cards_short]

He was married to one.

[2cards_short]

I mean Peter.

[punishermax]

Another reason I dislike MJ right there.

[wolfy]

Pardon me, I'm gonna watch the Nationals game with my dad.

[cleome45]

Eerie.

My Dad was a Red Sox fan his whole life. He died about two months after they finally won the World Series, in 2004.

[bradhanon]

I have maintained for years that being a Mets fan is absolutely key to Spider-Man's characterization. This is part of why.

[deleonjh]

Has Uncle Ben ever been shown to have any faults at all or has he always been morally superior to Jesus? Maybe he takes really stinky dumps where the smell hangs around for half an hour? Or maybe he always had an irrational hatred of the Mongolian people? Come on, people, surely there are examples out there of Ben being a dick.

[sailorlibra]

That just gives me another reason to like her. The Yankees need more love.

[punishermax]

Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for the bad guys in every single eighties sports movie.

[cleome45]

There was that "What If?" story where he finds out Peter's secret and thinks of a semi-humorous way to let Peter know that he knows. If that counts...

[cyberghostface]

Well, it's not uncommon for someone to only think back on the positive memories of a dead loved one.

[espanolbot]

There's the story that implied that MiniPeter was molested when he was younger, and I think that the guy was called Ben or something. May probably be miss remembering though.

[cyberghostface]

It was Skip, some older teen in a Marvel PSA. No way in Hell Marvel would allow a story abput Uncle Ben molesting Peter. Not even Joe Quesada would stoop that low.

[jlroberson]

Judging from this artwork, he must have had a weakness for cake.

I don't think I've ever seen Uncle Ben portrayed as fat before.

[deleonjh]

I know, I'm just remembering the part in Harry Potter when Harry finds out his dead father was a giant asshole. I loved Rowling for that.

Hey, an example just occurred to me. Remember the Spider-cartoon in the 90's and how Spidey once met a parallel universe version of himself, only this one was a self-absorbed jerk? Then it was revealed that Uncle Ben was still alive in his world and it was strongly implied that was the reason alternate Spidey was such a dick. Ben's presence actually had a negative impact on Peter's character. See? The world was literally a better place without him.

[deleonjh]

Are you sure? I'm hazily remembering the Peter angle too, I think the comic might have been posted here.

[deleonjh]

Well, that's something I guess. Maybe this is more an Aunt May thing - May can only orgasm when she's with pot-bellied men. Remember she almost married Doc Ock? He's sure never been described as svelte.

[jlroberson]

Oh, Ben's never been svelte, but here he's positively tubby.

[punishermax]

Man, I never thought it would have been possible by JK made me fuckind despise Harry's dad. Seriously what a fucking prick.

[darkblade]

There was that really creepy psa comic where Peter tells some kids that as a child he was molested and the guy in the flash back looks a lot like Uncle Ben.