Spider-Man fans know how his spider sense works. Characterized by a sharp tingling at the base of Peter Parker’s skull, the precognitive sense warns Spidey of any type of danger – from a bullet to a laser blast – and instinctively tells him how to jump, duck, or spin to stay alive. It’s a life-saving power, but over the years, Peter has learned he can use his Spider-Sense for non-superhero tasks – including gambling.
That’s right, Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense makes the wall crawler an expert at poker, blackjack, and other games of chance, enabling Peter Parker to potentially make millions of dollars anytime he wants. Given this shocking revelation, one has to wonder: why isn’t the perpetually penniless Parker already a multi-millionaire?
Spider-Man’s superhuman poker playing abilities were showcased in the Spectacular Spider-Man #21 story “Read ‘Em An’ Weep,” which reveals that Spidey participates in an annual poker game with other superheroes to raise money for charity. The heroes include Mr. Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Thing, X-Men’s Angel, Black Cat, and Doctor Strange (who, unbelievably, turns out to be a terrible poker player). Yet despite the fact that Spider-Man is playing against heroes who are smarter, wealthier, and sneakier than he is... the webslinger finds he can read them all with ease.
Spidey attributes his poker playing prowess to two things. First, his full head Spider mask makes it difficult for other players to see his facial expressions and spot his tells. Second, his famous Spider Sense grants him a special insight into when the other players are bluffing -- possibly because his senses may interpret this as an 'attack' on his financial well-being. Using these advantages, Spider-Man manages to keep a healthy lead over the other heroes. While the stakes are initially low ($20 per player), things heat up when Daredevil and Spider-Man villain Kingpin crashes the party to beat the heroes at their own game. He offers each player $50,000 just so he can sit in and win back his money (and their money). Spidey detects Fisk is telling the truth, and convinces the other heroes to let the Kingpin play a few hands.
Obviously Fisk turns out to be a cutthroat poker player and makes short work of most of the heroes, even taking an extra $100,000 from Doctor Strange who tries to buy his way back in… twice. Despite this, Kingpin can’t fake out Spider-Man who makes it to the final round. Believing he can easily read Spidey’s body language, Kingpin plays strong... while Spider-Man, displaying an uncharacteristic nonchalance, beats the crime boss with four of a kind. He then generously donates over $400,000 to the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation. Pausing only to take back his original twenty dollars to buy some roses for Mary Jane.
Given the almost ridiculous ease with which Spider-Man outplays gambling geniuses like the Kingpin, Thing, and Mr. Fantastic, one wonders why the cash strapped superhero doesn’t just gamble to earn the money he needs. In a later comic book storyline, a dying Spidey acknowledges that he could use his spider sense to make a fortune in Las Vegas playing blackjack and poker, and wonders if he should make money that way to help take care of Aunt May and Mary Jane when he’s gone. As it turns out, however, Spider-Man’s inability to use his Spider Sense as a professional gambler isn’t related to his powers, but his sense of responsibility.
Peter originally tried using his powers to make money as a television celebrity, which infamously led to arrogance which kept him from stopping a burglar who later killed his Uncle Ben. Having decided that his great powers must only be used for responsible superheroics, Peter is now strongly opposed to profiting from his powers (minus selling photos of himself to The Daily Bugle). It’s even possible Peter’s guilt over Uncle Ben developed mental blocks keeping him from making large amounts of money. Time and time again, Spider-Man has had opportunities to earn big paychecks by using his powers as an entertainer or mercenary. Yet with rare exceptions, his morality and bad “Parker Luck” prevent these deals from working out. Even when Doctor Octopus took over Spider-Man’s body in the original Superior Spider-Man storyline and made Peter into one of the wealthiest businessmen in the world, Peter inevitably lost that business almost as soon as he got his body back.
While Spider-Man can definitely earn incredible amounts of money by gambling with his Spider Sense, his ability to keep those winnings is doubtful. Peter may even realize this at some level – which is why he donates all of his winnings to a good cause. This says a lot about Spidey’s sense of generosity – but not, sadly, his nonexistent business sense.
Next: Marvel Reveals The TRUTH About Spider-Man’s Spider Sense
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/37ac60i
0 Comments