Despite the differences between western superhero comics and manga, there are still some connections that can be made between the two. Spider-Man, for example, is an iconic Marvel superhero with abilities and ideals which are easily recognizable across all forms of media. He is an agile, powerful, web-slinging hero who was greatly encouraged to do good by his uncle, Ben Parker.
Some of these attributes are often replicated by anime characters, evident enough to elicit a sense of nostalgia or familiarity upon viewing. The fact comes as no surprise as the spandex-clad superhero is a compelling and well-loved character, prompting mangaka and other creators to draw inspiration from him to create their own equally exciting counterparts. Though this may not always be the case, there is enough evidence to suggest it is with these individuals.
10 Yuji Itadori – Jujutsu Kaisen
Spurred on by his dying grandfather’s request to die surrounded by others, Yuji’s very own “Uncle Ben” came and went early on in the Jujutsu Kaisen series. Partly as a result, he is a very caring individual who will not hesitate to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. Furthermore, he has enhanced physical strength and is very powerful even without using cursed energy.
Perhaps most similar to the iconic wall-crawler, Yuji possesses outstanding speed and reflexes in addition to his impressive strength. He also gained his powers suddenly and was scouted by a charismatic mentor figure, just like Peter Parker in the MCU. He was introduced to a dangerous world at a young age and adapted pretty quickly while also keeping his focus on helping others.
9 Shino Aburame – Naruto
Shino is a quiet and odd individual renowned for his connection with insects. Though spiders are classified as arachnids and not insects, there is a connection between the two groups, which sometimes makes them nigh-indistinguishable. Due to this, it is easy to link Shino’s bug-facilitated abilities to that of the arachnid crimefighter.
Shino is also quite intelligent in battle. Despite his odd nature, he shows compassion for his peers in his own way and is an extremely brave character. As many of these are traits shared with the red and blue superhero, a serious case can be made concerning their relationship.
8 Kurapika – Hunter X Hunter
Driven by an unstoppable vengeance, Kurapika is a character who will stop at nothing to get revenge on the group that murdered his clanmates. He is also a conjurer known for using special chains that he can extend from his fingers. Furthermore, he is incredibly agile and acrobatic while also possessing impressive reflexes.
Kurapika’s desire for revenge is much similar to the one Peter Parker initially had with regard to his Uncle Ben’s killer. The way he uses his chains is also a fact to be noted, as some techniques resemble Spider-Man’s webbing, especially when used to restrain others. Despite these similarities, however, Kurapika has a distaste for spiders so great that he loses control simply at the sight of them.
7 Inosuke Hashibara – Demon Slayer
Known as the loud and largely inelegant member of the main Demon Slayer trio, Inosuke has a host of abilities fostered by his rough upbringing in the mountains. He is an extremely flexible and agile fighter who also possesses enhanced strength. Furthermore, he can sense ill will through his impressive awareness and can avoid fatal attacks because of it.
Toward the end of the series, he even showed a vengeful side to Doma after the Upper Moon was revealed to be responsible for his mother’s death. Though Spider-Man may not be as unrefined, he is an orphan, is flexible, has enhanced awareness, and was determined to avenge his uncle.
6 Jolyne Cujoh – JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Jolyne is the daughter of one of the most iconic characters in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, Jotaro Kujo. Due to receiving very limited attention from her father as a child, she developed into a delinquent who committed criminal acts mainly so she could be noticed.
What makes her most similar to Spider-Man, however, is her stand, Stone Free. Apart from possessing incredible strength, it grants her body string-like properties, which can be used in various situations. For example, she can sever people's organs, restrain others, patch up injuries, and, most similar to the iconic hero, swing across different locations.
5 Charlotte Katakuri – One Piece
As one of the most formidable antagonists to ever appear in One Piece, Katakuri is an extremely powerful character. Despite his brutal treatment of his enemies, however, he cares for his siblings greatly and strives to protect them in times of danger. In addition, he possesses incredible speed and, as a testament to his great strength, is second in command only to Big Mom herself.
Most importantly, he is outstanding at the use of Kenbusnshoku haki. This allows him to see into the future for short periods, giving him a power similar to spider-sense, where he can react quickly to unfavorable situations. Also, like Spider-Man, in a way, this ability does not work properly if its user is not calm and collected.
4 Lubbock – Akame Ga Kill!
Lubbock is a member of an assassination group named Night Raid and is a tactician capable of using his weapon, Cross Tail, in many different ways. It allows him to manipulate strong wires and, in combination with his skill, is a weapon capable of boundless possibilities.
Besides his weapon mastery, Lubbock is also easygoing and one of the more talkative characters in the show, even in combat. This trait, coupled with his thread-like wires, which hold various uses, establishes two great similarities between him and the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
3 Levi Ackerman – Attack On Titan
Levi is an extremely powerful captain within the survey corps and is commonly known as humanity’s strongest fighter. His strength is facilitated greatly by his Ackerman bloodline, and he is one of the most skilled users of the vertical maneuvering equipment featured in the series.
Generally, movement through the use of the equipment bears a resemblance to Spider-Man’s web-swinging, but with Levi’s speed and expertise, it becomes much more apparent. Even in close-quarters combat with regular humans, he has shown to be extremely agile and quick-witted, overpowering his enemies more often than not.
2 Usagi Tsukino – Sailor Moon
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Sailor Moon is one of the most influential franchises in all of anime history, but even its main protagonist Usagi Tsukino may have been conceived with predated heroes in mind. She was formerly a powerless young student, but after suddenly gaining powers from the black cat Luna, she began living a double life where she fights monsters on one front and lives as a normal girl on another.
All these circumstances bear a very significant resemblance to that of Peter Parker. For example, he also suddenly gained powers that threw his life into disarray and forced him to act under two different personas. They also operate under a sense of justice that compels them to assist others in trouble.
1 Izuku Midoriya – My Hero Academia
Izuku is a teenage boy who aspires to be the world's greatest hero, just like his idol, All Might. Similar to Spider-Man in many of his portrayals over the years, Izuku shares an intense fascination with popular heroes and is sometimes even referred to by others as a nerd.
Izuku’s quirk greatly augments his physical capabilities and allows him to perform superhuman feats. He is capable of great speeds and is extremely agile. He is also good at thinking on the fly, partly due to his time studying heroes. Lastly, he has a second quirk named Blackwhip. This ability allows him to extend multiple ropes from his hands made of dark energy. Its use is extremely similar to Spider-Man’s webs as it helps Izuku swing across platforms, restrain enemies, and move objects.