Suits vs Spider-Man: Comparing Netflix's Mike Ross to Marvel's Peter Parker

By Itumeleng Tau and Artificial intelligence (AI): 7 January 2024

Ever wonder what it would be like to live a double life? Believe it or not, the characters of Mike Ross and Peter Parker actually have more in common than you might think. On the surface, comparing a legal drama like Suits to a superhero blockbuster like Spider-Man seems outlandish. Dig a little deeper, and you will find two underdogs with secret identities, struggling to do the right thing in a world that constantly doubts them. What’s more, they share a knack for quick-witted humour and have complicated relationships with mentors who shape their destinies.

Mike Ross and Peter Parker are both starting their careers. They have close relationships with older relatives. Peter Parker is close to Aunt May. Mike Ross is close to grandmother, Edith. Mike and Peter have superpowers and are often late for work. Mike has a great memory and of course Peter has great powers as Spider-Man. Both Mike and Peter are orphans raised by elderly guardians. Peter was raised by aunt May and uncle Ben. Mike was raised by grandmother Edith. So next time you are binging Suits or re-watching Spider-Man for the hundredth time, keep an eye out for these uncanny parallels.?

Mike Ross from Suits

Mike Ross is the main character of the legal drama Suits. Despite not actually attending law school, Mike’s great memory and natural talent for absorbing knowledge allow him to excel as a lawyer. Much like Peter Parker, Mike struggles with the responsibility that comes with his unique gift. However, Mike uses his ability to help others in the pursuit of justice.

Though Mike did not have an easy upbringing, he maintains a good heart and wants to use his talent for good. Mike’s morality and desire to fight for the underdog make him extremely likeable and relatable character. Viewers find themselves rooting for Mike as he navigates the cutthroat world of corporate law in New York City.?

Peter Parker aka Spider-Man

Peter Parker also known as Spider-Man, is the flagship superhero of Marvel comics. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Peter gains superhuman abilities like shooting webs and “spider-sense”. However with great power comes great responsibility. Peter struggles to balance his secret life as a superhero with the challenges of being a regular teenager.

Much like Mike Ross, Peter wants to use his gifts to help people. He is portrayed as an underdog who just wants to do the right thing. This makes him an inspirational character. Although their settings and circumstances are different Mike and Peter share a lot of the same qualities that make them heroes in theirown right. Viewers find themselves cheering on these unlikely yet good-hearted protagonists.

Financial problems

At the beginning of their stories Peter Parker and Mike Ross are young people who need money to take care of their older guardians. Mike Ross needs to take care of grandmother Edith. Peter has to take care of Aunt May. Peter works as a freelance photographer for a newspaper to take care of aunt May. Mike Ross sells drugs at the beginning of the series to take care of his grandmother. Mike has to pay to keep his grandmother in a care facilities.

Legal Eagles and Web Slingers: Comparing careers and capabilities:

Legal Eagles

As a lawyer without a law degree, Mike Ross has to hide his lack of credentials to work at the prestigious law firm Pearson Hardman. His photographic memory and natural talent for thinking on his feet allow him to pull of the ruse and become a star attorney, though not without some close calls. Like any good lawyer Mike relies on research, logic and quick comebacks to win cases and argue his positions.

As we will later learn why Peter Parker was not a conventional superhero. Mike Ross was not a conventional lawyer not only because he did not have a law degree but also because he was not the typical pit bull lawyer who did not care about people’s feelings. He was sympathetic to others.

Web Slingers

By day Peter Parker is a shy High School student struggling with home work and his crush for Mary Jane Watson. But at night he dons the mask of Spider-Man using the “spidey-sense” and super strength to fight villains and protect New York City. Peter has to hide his secret identity from friends being and family to keep them safe, even as he balances the demands of the night job with the challenges of being a teenager.

Peter Parker was not a conventional superhero. According to Encyclopedia Britannic (2023), “Spider-Man was a radical departure from the established conventions of the comic-book superhero: he was a teenage character who was not relegated to sidekick status beside an older, more-experienced hero.”

While Mike spends his day in a suit, Peter prefers spandex. However both demonstrate cleverness, moral integrity and a desire to sue their skills to help others. Mike wins cases to defend the underdog, just as Peter catches thieves and saves citizens as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Despite the secrecy each fiends partnership and purpose through relationships with confidants like Harvey Specter and Aunt May.

Romantic Relationships: Rachel Zane and Mary Jane Watson

Rachel Zane and Mary Jane Watson share similarities in their relationships. As the main love interests of Mike Ross and Peter Parker respectively, Rachel and Mary Jane experience the ups and downs of dating someone with a secret double life.

Slow-build romance

The relationships between Rachel and Mike and Mary Jane and Peter start out as friendships that gradually develop into romance over time. Their love stories were not rushed and evolved realistically as their bonds deepened through shared experiences, eventually realizing they were more than friends.?

Complicated by secret identities

Dating a super hero like Peter Parker or are fraud lawyer like Mike Ross came with its own set of challenges for Rachel and Mary Jane. They had to accept and support their partners’ secret lives that often interfered with their relationships. Rachel had to cover for Mike’s lack of a law degree, while Mary Jane worried for Peter’s safety as he fought dangerous villains. However their love and trust in their partners allowed them to overcome difficulties together.

A source of strength

Rachel and Marry provided support and encouragement which helped motivate Mike and Peter to become better at their jobs. At the same time Mike and Peter’s love gave Rachel and Mary Jane confidence in their own lives. The couples were able to balance each other out through patience, understanding and teamwork.

While not without hardships, the relationships between Mike & Rachel and Peter & Marry Jane were built on friendship, trust and mutual support. Their love stories inspire us and show how true partnerships can overcome any challenge.

Conclusion

So there you have it, two heroes cut from the same cloth. While Mike and Peter went down very different paths, their core values remain the same. They are underdogs who use their smarts and wit to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. They care deeply about justice and looking out for the little guy. At the end of the day, they just want to help people. Even though one fights crime in a custom Brioni and the other in a spandex one size, they prove that heroism comes in all shapes, sizes and professions. Mike and Peter remind us that you don’t need superpowers to be a superhero. All you need is heart, humour and a desire to make the world a little bit better.