Theory: Peter Parker’s Parents Were Killed By The Winter Soldier

A Reddit Theory Suggests That Bucky Barnes/ The Winter Soldier Killed Peter Parker’s Parents In The MCU When They Worked For SHIELD

By Kunal Sharma
October 23,2022
Featured Image

Even though Spider-Man has been appearing on our silver screens for the past twenty years, we first met Peter Parker’s parents, Richard and Mary, in Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of the superhero. Who Spidey’s parents are was never explicitly stated in either the RaimiVerse or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A fascinating MCU theory, meanwhile, claims that Peter’s parents experienced a terrible past.

Bucky Assassinated Richard And Mary Parker

Mary And Richard Parker
Mary And Richard Parker

A Reddit theory claims that Peter’s parents worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. and learned of HYDRA’s infiltration of the agency during the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The group sent the Winter Soldier, their most reliable killing machine, to murder Peter’s parents in order to keep their secret safe. Tony would have further learned that Peter had a similar past to him after learning about his parents, which further motivated Tony to mentor Peter. We learned in Captain America: Civil War that Tony’s parents were murdered by Bucky Barnes, and their death in a car accident was a hoax. He was sent by HYDRA to murder Howard and Maria Stark and collect the Super Soldier serum.

Uncle Ben’s Death

Uncle Ben's Death In Raimi's Spider-Man
Uncle Ben’s Death In Raimi’s Spider-Man

According to another theory, HYDRA might have assassinated Peter’s parents because they were S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, which is what happened in the comic books as well. The Winter Soldier was assigned to assassinate Peter’s parents because they had been engaged in a top-secret experiment involving radioactive spiders, and things may have gotten messy. The Winter Soldier not only murdered Peter’s parents but also killed Uncle Ben since he was too aware of what Peter’s parents were up to.

The Winter Soldier’s role in Peter Parker’s parents’ deaths would also make Peter’s arc resemble Tony Stark’s arc, and if there is one characteristic of Spider-Man in the MCU that fans don’t like or think that it is overdone, it is Peter’s reliance on Tony, which has obstructed the Spidey from developing into an identity of his own.

The Loophole

Bucky Barnes In Falcon And The Winter Soldier
Bucky Barnes In Falcon And The Winter Soldier

Although there is one flaw in the theory that appears to contradict it as a whole, if Peter’s parents were indeed on the list of those he killed, shouldn’t Bucky have patched things up with Parker as well? The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showed Bucky making amends with the victims he caused pain while serving as Hydra’s top assassin.

Read More About