[With the film’s debut, we can now report that this rumor is, in fact, true. The original article follows below.]
In what may understandably be the tipping point for many fans regarding the Sony-Marvel film’s treatment of its source material, the latest whisper on the streets suggests that in addition to changing various character origins, motivations, and powers, the upcoming Madame Web film will also present a new take on Spider-Man’s – or more specifically his Uncle Ben’s – iconic line, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
An element as synonymous to the wall-crawler’s legend as his unique super-powers, wise-cracking attitude, and affinity for red-heads, this line first was first introduced to the hero’s mythos during his very first appearance in 1962’s Amazing Fantasy Vol. 1 #15.
However, rather than coming from Uncle Ben, the line makes its debut courtesy of the story’s narrator Stan Lee, who in the story’s second-to-last narrative box notes that, following Peter’s realization that the criminal who killed his father figure was the same one he declined to stop earlier in the night notes in, his “lean, silent figure slowly fades into the gathering darkness, aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!”
Thereafter, the phrase would eventually come be specifically credited to Uncle Ben courtesy of The Archies real-world lead singer Ron Dante’s 1972 concept album Spider-Man: A Rockcomic!
During the album’s fourth track ‘A Strange Ally’, Peter awakens from a stress-induced nightmare prompted by his desire to give up the webs and recalls “I can still hear that voice calling to me / Who was it? What did he want? / It was Uncle’s Ben voice / He must have been trying to tell me something / But what was it Uncle Ben used to tell me? I remember, he used to say / ‘Petey, never forget, the stronger the man, the heavier the load, with great power comes great responsibility’.”
[Time Stamp: 20:10]
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From there, the phrase’s origin from Uncle Ben would be solidified within Marvel Comics canon in 1987’s Spider-Man vs. Wolverine Vol. 1 #1, when after being warned by the mutant berserker to flee from Berlin following the discovery of Ned Leeds’ dead body, Peter refuses to turn tail and instead steels himself with the reminder, “It’s none of my business. It’s not my problem. But, I can’t help remembering my Uncle Ben’s words — With great power, comes great responsibility.”
Eventually, both the phrase and its association with Uncle Ben would be solidified when, in 2002, audiences across the globe heard actor Cliff Robertson utter the phrase to Tobey Maguire’s take on Peter Parker in the first Spider-Man film.
Yet, despite its now-iconic nature and importance to the friendly neighborhood hero’s entire existence, it seems Madame Web will be giving the line a new twist.
According to scooper Cryptic HD Quality – who per an analysis of his past scoops performed by /r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers holds a roughly 87% accuracy rating regarding their Marvel information – the Spider-Man spin-off will change the line from “With great power comes great responsibility” to “When you take on the responsibility, great power will come”.
Sadly, in light of the ever-growing narcissistic nature of human society, the fact that Sony sought to change one of the most poignant pieces of selfless advice ever put to paper truly into a self-validating warcry comes as no surprise.
At current, Madame Web is on track to fumble into theaters on February 14th.