Peter Parker is Barry, not Hal.

[starwolf_oakley]

Information from the San Diego Comic Con and some thoughts about the Green Lantern movie gave me an epiphany about Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man.

We want Peter Parker to be Barry Allen, not Hal Jordan.



It started with J. Michael Straczynski and AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Vol 2) #30, and the idea that the radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker *chose* him to be a Spider-Totem. The radiation killed the spider and affected Peter's blood, but that was an unwanted side-effect.



The problem with the Spider-Totem idea? Getting chosen as a Spider-Totem turns Peter Parker into Hal Jordan (chosen because he's special) instead of Barry Allen (victim of random chance who becomes a good guy).

We don't want Peter Parker to be Hal Jordan. A lot of the complaints about Peter in the post-OMD era is that he has characteristics in common with Hal.

Peter Parker should be Barry Allen. A science-minded guy who gets super powers totally by accident. Stan Lee added dead relatives and a massive guilt complex into Peter's background, but the similarity is there and should stay there. Alternate future stories (Spider-Girl, Earth X) even have Peter becoming a police scientist, which is Barry's profession.

There's something familiar about this picture of Barry Allen and his mom...

Comments

[biod]

As I remember it, the spider was simply dying and felt the need to pass on it's powers (this is assuming it WAS magical). Peter was simply the closest one there. That Peter turned into freaking Spider-Man was of his own volition.
It may have been fate or what have you, but if the Totem did choose him (and that's as big an IF as the magical part) in that sense, than Barry Allen is just as much a chosen one of the Speed Force.