DR. NICHOLAS BROMWELL

Real Name: Dr. Nicholas Bromwell

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Family doctor, physician, surgeon

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Harry Osborn, Ben Parker, May Parker, Peter Parker, Anna Watson, Madeline Watson, Mary Jane Watson, many unidentified patients

Enemies: None (though May and Peter probably caused him to eventually quit his job)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Forest Hills Hospital in Queens, New York City, New York;
   a practice in New York City, New York;
   place of birth Briarwood in Queens, New York City, New York

First Appearance: (Unidentified) Amazing Spider-Man I#9 (February, 1964); (named) Amazing Spider-Man I#31 (December, 1965)

Powers/Abilities: Dr. Nicholas Bromwell has a Ph.D. in medicine and is a trained physician and surgeon.

   He has the patience of a saint.

Height: 6'
Weight: 190 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Grey (formerly brown; sometimes dyed brown with white temples)

History:
(Amazing Spider-Man Family I#7/1 (fb)) - Bromwell was May Parker's personal physician and a long time ago when she was still young and in love with Ben Parker had the chance to reveal to them that she was at least two months pregnant. It didn't take long for her, at point unknown, health problems to cause a miscarriage and not even Ben calling Bromwell could prevent it because he was a doctor and not a magician. After the miscarriage Bromwell had even worse news for May because a cardiac anomaly was discovered in her, which would make it too dangerous for her to ever bear children on her own.



(Marvel Graphic Novel: Amazing Spider-Man, Parallel Lives (fb)) - Bromwell checked on old Aunt May after Ben's death. She was with the Watson family and moaned like an old woman in pain until she finally quieted down.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#94 (fb)) - Not long after Ben's death Bromwell told Peter the truth about old Aunt May's weak heart and that any sudden shock could kill her. At that point Peter decided to keep his Spider-Man identity secret from her forever.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 - BTS) - Aunt May didn't want fragile Peter to watch bad news on TV because he wasn't feeling so well and she was pretty sure that it was pneumonia. She had already called Dr. Bromfield (it was probably supposed to be Bromwell, but lets not be mad at the old hag for not remembering her family doctor's name) and he promised to be there to check on Peter that afternoon.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Bromwell prescribed meds to May Parker for her illness and Peter picked up the prescription and got them as fast to her as he could. He told her the doctor wanted her to rest and hid from her how ill she really was.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#9) - During a housecall to May Parker, Bromwell told Peter that she had gotten worse and that they had to send her to the hospital.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#12) - Bromwell made a housecall to check on weakling Peter Parker, who had just been brought home by the police after he had fainted on the street. Bromwell promised May that he was just suffering from the 24 hour virus and would be fine in the morning.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#18) - Surprise housecall by Bromwell, who was in the area and just dropped by to check on the old bat May. He told Peter that May was holding her own as long as Peter made sure that she took her medicine. He promised to come by again the next day.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#18 / Untold Tales of Spider-Man#22) - Housecall by Bromwell to decrepit, old bat Aunt May. Peter reminded Aunt May that the doctor told her to take it easy that month, but she was already feeling better and wouldn't allow Peter to make an invalid out of her. She was in a wheelchair at the time, but she sounded so chipper that Bromwell agreed with her that she was doing much better. The final result of Bromwell's examination was that she was actually doing fine for a woman her age (a million years) and that Peter should be proud of her because she had a lot of spirit (obviously unlike egotistical teen Peter).

(Amazing Spider-Man I#31) - Peter called Bromwell after frail May collapsed in front of him. Bromwell had to give Peter the bad news that he didn't know why she was so weak again, but didn't want to take any risk at her age and immediately called an ambulance to get her to the hospital for special tests.

(Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man#1) - Aunt May promised to call Bromwell, but only after she got Peter all cleaned up again in the bath after he got all icky and sticky after failing at an alleged experiment for school in the attic.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#39) - Peter visited Bromwell because he had a cold. Bromwell took his blood pressure, which was amazing, and prescribed him with anti-histamine pills and a B-12 shot for his cold. He then changed the subject because he had to tell Peter that he had been watching May since her last operation and made it clear to him that the operation had weakened her and a sudden shock or excitement could prove fatal to her. He was sure Peter would have no problem to keep her calm and unworried because their lives were so uneventful and boring.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#40) - Bromwell made an emergency housecall to brittle May because she was so concerned about Peter staying out late without calling that he had to give her a mild sedative to get her to sleep and prevent any serious ill effects on her health. He reminded her that any stress could cause her death and was surprised that Peter was acting so careless. Peter promised Bromwell not to cause May any further stress.

(Untold Tales of Spider-Man Novel - The Doctor's Dilemma) - Bromwell was so concerned for Peter due to his dangerous job as Spider-Man's photographer for the Daily Bugle that he decided to offer him a job at his practice after he saw Peter injured again. He eventually fired Peter because he wouldn't stop taking photos for the Daily Bugle.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#44 - BTS) - Peter saw May off to vacation and reminded her to get plenty of rest like the doctor told her to.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#49 - BTS) - At Harry and Peter's new apartment May called Bromwell after she, Harry Osborn and Anna Watson found Peter dazed in bed with his costume still on, which he was hiding from them. Bromwell was in surgery at the time and May had to tell someone else to ask Bromwell to come to Peter's apartment as soon as he was finished.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#49) - Bromwell finally arrived hours later after the liar Peter had just snuck back to bed after a battle with Kraven and the Vulture. Bromwell promised to get Peter back on his feet in no time, but after a quick look at him realized that he was doing fine after a long rest in bed. He guessed that it was just another 24 hour virus because he was completely healthy again.

(Marvel Super-Heroes I#14 - BTS) - Peter felt so sick that he asked Harry to call Bromwell.

(Marvel Super-Heroes I#14) - Bromwell had a quick look at Peter, but couldn't find anything. He assumed that Peter was just studying too hard and needed more sleep. He also told him to see him in a week or two before giving him a prescription because it was possibly just another form of the 24 hour virus.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#50 - BTS) - Older than dirt May fell ill again, but luckily Bromwell was just passing by to have a quick look at her. Anna let him in and Bromwell gave May a sedative because she was so worried where irresponsible Peter was because she couldn't reach him by phone.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#54 - BTS) - Aunt May collapsed seeing Spider-Man fight her nice, innocent tenant Otto Octavius at her home upstairs. While Doctor Octopus took off, Peter called Bromwell and stayed with his fragile aunt until he arrived.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#54) - Bromwell examined May and told Peter that she would pull through if she got plenty of rest. Peter lied that he didn't know what caused the shock and Bromwell reminded him that the next time something like this happened could be fatal. He promised to return to check on May in the morning.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#57 - BTS) - Aunt May was so worried about Peter because he had been away for so long without calling. She collapsed and was found by Anna Watson, who immediately called Bromwell to check on the old bat or call an ambulance right away.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#57) - Bromwell examined the ailing May and told Anna that her condition was 100% emotional and could not be cured by medicine as long as she wasn't sure that her nephew Peter was safe.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#58) - At the hospital Bromwell couldn't allow Gwen and Harry to see decrepit, old hag Aunt May because she was so damn weak. He asked them if they knew how to contact her nephew Peter, but they didn't know where he was either.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#66 - BTS) - Watching Mysterio (Quentin Beck) and his special effects on TV was too much for eggshell-like Aunt May and she had to lie down. Peter asked Anna to call Bromwell before he left again to deal with something else.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#67) - Bromwell arrived while the always anxious Aunt May woke from a nightmare wherein Peter was in danger. Anna didn't even have to open the door for Bromwell because it was so damaged and he just wondered where the May's damn nephew always was when he was needed. Though May claimed that she was doing fine, Bromwell examined her and warned her that she would grow weaker with each attack. At first he considered sending her to hospital for complete rest and isolation, but shied away from it because he didn't want to move her at the moment. May assured him that she would be fine with the help of Anna and her devoted nephew, but Bromwell questioned Peter's devotion and couldn't understand how much May loved that stupid boy. Bromwell left and asked Anna again to keep May away from any worry and sudden shocks. In his opinion the best therapy would be more visits from her nephew.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#81 (fb)) - Peter was present when Bromwell made another housecall to check on the weakened, bed-ridden hag Aunt May.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#83) - Peter went to Bromwell to see him about not paying the bill for Aunt May yet. Bromwell assured him that Medicaid would take care of it, but he was still worried about her weakened condition and told Peter that she needed a lot of care.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#97 - BTS) - Peter saw that Harry looked sick and wanted to call Bromwell for him, but Harry didn't want to see a doctor. Peter later found Harry collapsed on his bed and went for the phone to call Bromwell, but the arrival of the Green Goblin (Norman Osborn) interrupted him.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#113) - Harry and Gwen found Peter passed out on his bed and Harry went through Peter's phone directory and called Bromwell to check on him. Bromwell told Peter not to look surprised because he was still a family doctor and made housecalls. He immediately saw that something was wrong with Peter when he saw a cut on his nose. Bromwell asked Peter to remove his shirt and relax for examination because he seemed too tense for a boy his age. His diagnosis in the end was that Peter showed signs of nervous exhaustion and asked Gwen to make sure that Peter didn't eat anything spicy until he could run further tests on him because he was pretty sure that Peter had a duodenal ulcer. Bromwell gave Harry a prescription to fill ASAP. Peter had to take the meds three times a day before meals.

(Giant-Size Spider-Man I#1) - Bromwell checked on that goddamn, fragile, decrepit, old bat Aunt May again and determined that she had the flu. With tears in his eyes Peter told May to do whatever Bromwell told her to do and then asked Bromwell for the truth about May's health. Bromwell told him that it was the flu, which had reached epidemic proportions in the area and that he was afraid that in Aunt May's frail condition it could be fatal. Her only hope would be a new vaccine brought into the country by its eccentric discoverer A.J. Maxfield, who came to America by boat. Unfortunately its arrival would be days too late to help the old hag.

   Spider-Man retrieved the vaccine in time from the inventor Alice Joyce Maxfield to safe his aunt's life once again.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#340 - BTS) - Aunt May told Peter to call a doctor right away when she found him sick in his apartment. (see comments)

Comments: Created by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko.

This guy is a saint for keeping that old hag Aunt May alive. He probably retired after his last appearance because of her and her irresponsible nephew.

Height, weight and I am pretty sure also his first name was revealed in the Spider-Man's Friends & Associates profile.

According to the Marvel Index the doctor in question Peter was supposed to call in Amazing Spider-Man I#340 was Bromwell (though I honestly don't know why).

This profile was completed on 12/13/2025, but its publication was delayed for Stan Lee's birthday on 12/28.

Profile by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dr. Nicholas Bromwell has no known connections to:

images:
Giant-Size Spider-Man I#1, p5, pan5 (main)
Amazing Spider-Man I#67, p7, pan4 (head shot)
Amazing Spider-Man Family I#7, p16, pan3 (younger)
Amazing Spider-Man I#94, p6, pan7 (Bromwell telling the truth about the old hag)
Amazing Spider-Man I#9, p4, pan6 (first app, heavier)
Amazing Spider-Man I#18, p6, pan7 (surprise housecall)
Amazing Spider-Man I#40, p19, pan7 (be quiet Peter)
Amazing Spider-Man I#67, p7, pan1 (broken door)
Amazing Spider-Man I#83, p8, pan2 (in white coat)
Amazing Spider-Man I#113, p12, pan7 (Peter's ulcer)

Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man I#9 (February, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#12 (May, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#18 (November, 1964) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (plot/artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#31 (December, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Steve Ditko (artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#39 (August, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#40 (September, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#44 (January, 1967) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (artist)
Amazing Spider-Man I#49 (June, 1967) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#50 (July, 1967) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#54 (November, 1967) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#57 (February, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. & Don Heck (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#58 (March, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. & Don Heck (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Marvel Super-Heroes I#14 (May, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Ross Andru (pencils), Bill Everett (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#66 (November, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. & Don Heck (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#67 (December, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#81 (February, 1970) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Buscema (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#83 (April, 1970) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Mike Esposito & Tony Mortellaro (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#94 (March, 1971) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Sal Buscema (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#97 (June, 1971) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Gil Kane (pencils), Frank Giacoia, John Romita Sr. & Tony Mortellaro (inks)
Amazing Spider-Man I#113 (October, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), John Romita Sr. (co-plot/pencils/inks), Jim Starlin & Tony Mortellaro (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Giant-Size Spider-Man I#1 (July, 1974) - Len Wein (writer), Ross Andru (pencils), Don Heck (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Graphic Novel: Amazing Spider-Man, Parallel Lives (May, 1989) - Gerry Conway (writer), Alex Saviuk (pencils), Andy Mushynsky (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#340 (October, 1990) - David Michelinie (writer), Erik Larsen (pencils), Randy Emberlin, Mike Machlan & Friends (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 (September, 1995) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Patrick Olliffe (pencils), Al Vey (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#22 (June, 1997) - Kurt Busiek (plot), Tom DeFalco (script), Patrick Olliffe (pencils), Al Williamson (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man Novel (October, 1997) - Danny Fingeroth (writer)
Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man#1 (January, 1999) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Michael Zilli (artist), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man Family I#7/1 (August, 2009) - Roger Stern (writer), Val Semeiks (pencils), Mike Getty (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)

First Posted: 12/28/2025
Last updated: 12/13/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters