For months, students at King’s College London (KCL) have reported sightings of a masked vigilante swinging (well, jogging briskly) all over King’s.
Known as ‘KCL Spider-Man’, he’s become a friendly flash of red and blue, a reminder that even academia needs a little absurdity.
Roar (R) sat down with Spidey himself to find out why he does it.
R: What inspired you to become KCL Spider-Man?
Spider-Man: Spider-Man means a lot to people, we see ourselves in Spider-Man. I feel like I’m giving a bit of hope to people. Spider-Man’s about doing good, doing your own little bit in the world. Why did I do this? I want to be that bit of hope for people at King’s, to keep them going.
R: What’s your relationship with students and faculty like?
Spider-Man: Lots of societies know me. I’ve been swinging around some events as well. I have run into some faculty heads and they’ve recognised me. I’ve received a ton of messages from people, though, thanking me for what I do. “You made me laugh” and “You make me enjoy coming to King’s” are a few of my favourites. That’s what I’m trying to do with this, because we’re at King’s, at one of the best universities in the world, and it’s not just because of the academics but because of the people. People don’t make fun of someone who gets into costume and goes around campus, they like it. I think that’s the most inspiring thing.
R: How do you balance fighting crime, essays and deadlines?
Spider-Man: It’s never perfect. It’s about trying where you can and prioritising your tasks. I plan out my day and decide on the most important things I have to do, then I think about what I can do to help myself and other people be happy. So it’s all about having a thought-out plan.
R: Does anyone know your identity?
Spider-Man: A couple of people know. A few friends, either I’ve told them because at the start I wasn’t the best at keeping it a secret. Some people have managed to figure it out because it’s not impossible. But I do try to keep this separate from my personal life, you know. At the moment, I’m running this unofficially solo. I don’t take orders so I’m just kind of doing my own thing.
R: What is the weirdest reaction you’ve gotten when suited up?
Spider-Man: I’ve had many interesting photo requests…I think someone wanted me to pose as if I were being defeated by a villain. But the weirdest…I was asked to take down a job application. It was a tough battle.
R: Does your anonymity give you freedom or take away from your identity?
Spider-Man: I’d say it’s a bit of both. I guess there’s a certain freedom in no one knowing who I am, so it’s a good break from my personal life, from all the hustle and bustle of what normal life looks like. Sometimes it does feel like there’s a lot of weight on my shoulders because I’m…well, I’m Spider-Man. I’ve got a lot of expectations to meet and there’s a lot of pressure. But I try not to let it get to me because I know that in this suit I do have power and responsibility.
R: Do you have any advice for King’s students?
Spider-Man: You have to realise that, yes, you do have a lot of expectations and a lot of worries, a lot of pressure put on you as a student. The important thing is to not let that control you. Keep going and get back up. I’ve faced many villains that push me down but what makes Spider-Man, Spider-Man? He gets back up.
As the interview wraps up, one thing is clear. KCL Spider-Man isn’t doing this for instagram likes. He’s doing it because it makes people smile. In a university where the pressure of striving for the best can weigh people down, a bit of silliness and whimsy goes a long way.
His presence on campus is a reminder that community isn’t built only through lectures or societies, but through shared jokes and tiny moments of joy. Maybe that’s the real superpower: choosing to make people smile when life feels a little too heavy.
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