Marvel has a new rival when it comes to Spider-Man’s iconic look, and the truth is that this dark horse not only had the style first but perfected it in a way even Peter Parker never has. So who is this mysterious rival, and should Marvel be bracing for a copyright theft lawsuit?
… Spider-Man is an alpha male by animal kingdom standards…
Not much in our world can rival the sheer majesty and creativity of nature, not even Marvel’s Spider-Man. Taking the internet by storm is a photo of the Mwanza flat-headed rock agama, a real-life lizard from Eastern Africa that’s earned fame for its uncanny resemblance to the web-slinger.
With its head, neck, and shoulders donning a bright red color and its body and tail a deep blue, the lizard mirrors Spider-Man’s iconic costume. This striking similarity has earned it the fitting nickname: the Spider-Man Lizard.
Who Wore It Best: Spider-Man or the Real-Life Lizard?
Aristotle’s 2,000-Year-Old Philosophy Might Actually Prove Marvel Perfected Nature’s Design
While the lizard may be taking on Spider-Man’s namesake, this reptilian species is far older than Peter Parker’s 62-year legacy. So when the question of who wore it first arises, the lizard easily wins by a landslide. However, the real question is who wore it best, and while it’s hard to rival nature, an Aristotle quote suggests Marvel might take the crown.
Dating back to the 4th century BCE, Aristotle once wrote one of the most profound takes on nature versus art: “Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish. The artist gives us knowledge of nature’s unrealized ends.” In simpler terms, nature begins creation, and art completes it, revealing what nature could be in its ideal or perfected form.
This may seem like an overly profound take when it comes to lizards and Spider-Man, but it does help settle the “who wore it best” debate. The lizard (nature in this case) represents the red-and-blue look in its raw form, while Spider-Man’s suit reflects that same look perfected through art. Of course, what counts as “perfection” is up to each person to decide.
What Spider-Man’s Colors Reveal About His “Alpha” Status in Nature
Real Science Proves Spider-Man’s Bright Suit Makes Him the Ultimate Alpha Male
A fun fact about the Spider-Man Lizard and its coloring is that those with brighter red and blue scales are typically more dominant than their duller counterparts. Females and non-dominant males usually have muted brown or gray coloring, which helps them blend into rocky environments.
If this lizard logic were applied to Spider-Man, his vibrant colors would mark him as an alpha male by animal kingdom standards. That would also make him one of the most desired males among females, which isn’t far from the truth, considering Spider-Man has charmed some of the most beautiful women in the Marvel Universe.
