The latest trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home proves the Spider-Man universe is expanding all the time. Not only will numerous villains appear in the movie, but a large number of non-superhero or supervillain characters will play a role as well. Some of them, like The Daily Bugle's J. Jonah Jameson, are among the best non-superhero characters in Spider-Man comics.
Spider-Man's ing cast is almost as important in the comics and now the movies as his villains are, helping to ground Peter Parker and help make his world a more recognizable one for readers. Most of his ing cast doesn't have superpowers, though some of them do in some alternate realities of the comics, like Spider-Gwen, a variant of Gwen Stacy, so she's not included.
Ben Urich
Ben Urich is a reporter for The Daily Bugle and one of the hardest working of the staff. He also has an enormous amount of integrity and dedication to his job, making him one of the best non-superhero characters connected to Spider-Man. He takes his job very seriously, despite the editorial whims of J. Jonah Jameson, and his reporting has led to criminal charges against the Kingpin.
Ben Urich has often accompanied Peter Parker on assignments as a photographer, but comics fans may know him better from some of the best Daredevil comics ever, where he has a close relationship with Matt Murdock.
Ned Leeds
Ned Leeds is Peter's best friend in the MCU, but in the comics, their relationship is much more complex. A reporter for The Daily Bugle as well, he was a colleague of Peter Parker but also a rival for the affections of Betty Brant as well. His close ties to both Peter and Betty made him central in a lot of stories, and then he became one of Spider-Man's best comic book villains, The Hobgoblin.
It remains to be seen if the MCU Ned Leeds will follow the same path as his comic book counterpart, or if one will be introduced via the multiverse. Either way, Ned's journey from friend to villain is a fascinating one.
Jean DeWolff
Jean DeWolff is one of the best non-superhero characters in Spider-Man comics, and one of the most tragic. Jean is a rare member of the New York City Police Department who doesn't see Spider-Man as a vigilante, leading to a productive and positive working relationship between the two that lasts for many years.
She even helps the Black Cat out of a jam, knowing Felicia's true nature and despite her own feelings for Spider-Man. It all came to a tragic end when Jean died at the hands of The Sin-Eater in "The Death Of Jean DeWolff," a storyline that provided some of the best Spider-Man comic book issues of the 1980s.
Betty Brant
Betty Brant is a central figure in the life of Peter Parker in many ways. Though her roles in the movies haven't been significant, she was one of Spider-Man's love interests for a long time. As a member of The Daily Bugle staff, she was a constant presence in both lives that Peter lived. The two had deep feelings for each other, but Peter eventually backed away.
She has very strong relationships with other characters, including Ned Leeds, J. Jonah Jameson, and Flash Thompson, making her a key link in the intricate web of non-superhero characters in Spider-Man's world.
Harry Osborn
Harry Osborn was the best friend of Peter Parker in the comic books. He was a positive role model and sounding board for Peter through some of his biggest challenges, and Harry's position as both an ex-boyfriend of Mary Jane Watson and the son of Norman Osborn made him the lynchpin in the highly complex drama of the early comics.
Harry's story largely culminated with his taking up the mantle of the Green Goblin, leading to his tragic death. Though the comics have since retconned aspects of his demise, his arc from friend to villain remains powerful.
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson is the biggest counter to J. Jonah Jameson at The Daily Bugle, and one of the most ardent ers of both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. His presence in the newsroom has been constant since his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #51, and he's also one of the first major Black characters in Marvel Comics history.
Robertson's objectivity and commitment to journalistic integrity have made him one of the most honorable characters in the comics, which extends to his having figured out who Spider-Man really is and never saying a word.
J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson is one of the best non-superhero characters in Spider-Man comics thanks to his antagonistic relationship with the character. Jameson employs Peter Parker and relies on him to get pictures of a figure he ostensibly hates but relies on to drive sales of The Daily Bugle. Jameson's comical and perhaps performative bluster is a hallmark of the character.
Jameson and Spider-Man have a long, complex relationship in the comics, with Jameson eventually becoming family. In recent years, Jameson's father married Aunt May in one of the stranger twists in the comics.
Aunt May
It's impossible to overstate the importance of Aunt May in the life of Spider-Man. As the only guardian of Peter Parker for the majority of his time in the comics, she's been his only real family and his greatest er. Her love and trust have led him to do extraordinary things to save her life, including sacrificing his own marriage to Mary Jane.
Aunt May's knowledge of Spider-Man's secret identity varies depending on the iteration of the comic, though her unwavering trust in Peter Parker never wavers, regardless of whether she knows the truth about him or not.
Uncle Ben
The demise of Uncle Ben Parker is one of the most heartbreaking deaths in Spider-Man comics. It's also one of the most seminal moments in comic history. Uncle Ben was a father figure to Peter Parker and an enormous inspiration to him. His iconic quote, "With great power comes great responsibility," has had profound impacts on the Marvel Universe.
Uncle Ben's role in the comics is mostly through Peter's memory of him, which casts a long shadow into the present day. Though the MCU has yet to address Uncle Ben in any real way, he remains one of the most important characters in Spider-Man's life.
Mary Jane Watson
Far and away the most important figure in Spider-Man's life, and arguably the best non-superhero character is Mary Jane Watson. Mary Jane's relationship with Peter and Spider-Man has been at the center of his comic book adventures for 50 years, with her grace and empathy playing a major role in helping him move past the death of Gwen Stacy.
She's sometimes been a damsel in distress herself, but Mary Jane is fiercely independent and heroic in her own right. Her love and for Peter Parker through the most difficult circumstances have been essential to his being able to be the hero he is.