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SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING!Ā Why is Spider-Man Marvel’s most popular character? Why do we all love him? And… which Spider-Man is your favorite?Ā DarylĀ andĀ JayĀ are joined byĀ Scott NiswanderĀ fromĀ NerdSyncĀ toĀ dig deeper intoĀ SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMINGĀ and Spidey from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
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Ashley’s Take
The Story Geeks’ blogger Ashley Pauls responds with her own take on the questions discussed in the podcast.
1. Spider-Man is definitely Marvelās most popular character. What makes Spidey/Peter unique as compared to other superheroes?
I think part of the reason for Spider-Manās popularity is that heās so relatable. Heās not ridiculously wealthy and loaded up with a gazillion high-tech gadgets like Iron Man or Batman, and heās not this powerful ruler of another realm like Thor. Although all those other characters are awesome, their lifestyles are pretty different from the average superhero fanās personal experiences.
Peter Parker seems like a regular guy who just happens to have superpowers. He still has to deal with lots of the everyday problems that we all experience (or at least did experience back when we were teenagers), like having this awkward crush, trying to find time to do all our homework + extracurricular activities, and, most tragically, dealing with the loss of a loved one. Peterās character has always felt real and authentic to me, and I think fans really respond to that.
2. Weāll be focusing mostly on the MCU version of Spider-Man, but first letās just take a quick pulse. Who is everyoneās favorite cinematic Spider-Man? What stands out to you that makes him the ideal version?
Itās easy to just pick Tom Holland, since heās the current Spider-Man and his portrayal is the one thatās freshest in my mind. Yet to me, he still feels like the ideal Spider-Man because I think this particular version does the best job capturing all the aspects of the character. Heās a superhero who still feels (and looks) like a regular teenager. Like, he can handle himself pretty well in a fight, but when he has to talk to this girl he has a crush on, heās adorably awkward. This version of Spider-Man is the one Iād have wanted to be friends with as a teenager. Plus, he and his friend Ned clearly have an appreciation for Star Wars Legos, so thatās always a win for me! š
3. Before we zero in on the MCU, what are some of the stand-out aspects of the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield versions of Spider-Man that may not be quite as present in Tom Hollandās version?
I have actually enjoyed all three versions of Spider-Man, because I think they allow us to see the story through different but equally important lenses. Since the MCU is (typically) lighter in tone, I feel like maybe the Maguire/Garfield versions have a little more gravitas. Their films dive into the grief experienced by Spider-Man more than what weāve seen from the MCU so far. However, I think Holland is definitely capable of handling heavier stuff, based on his performance in āInfinity War.ā
4. Walking through Spideyās journey through the MCU movie by movie, how would you sum up the guiding theme(s) for him inā¦
⢠Captain America: Civil War
In this film, Peter is really just figuring out where he fits within the larger universe of superheroes. He probably doesnāt know a lot about the Sokovia Accords themselves, and he fights on Team Iron Man because…well…Tony Stark asked him to. However, I think seeing these other superheroes in action really excites Peter, and he wants to be part of a team like the Avengers, even if he maybe isnāt quite ready yet.
⢠Spider-Man: Homecoming
āHomecomingā is kind of a reality check for Peter. Heās super excited about fighting crime and helping others, and his heart is definitely in the right place. Unfortunately, heās still young and inexperienced, and he tries to take on more than heās ready for. He learns some important lessons from Tony, and in the end he proves that he IS worthy of being a superhero.
⢠Avengers: Infinity War
I think āInfinity Warā proves what a great, selfless superhero Peter is. Having to fight Thanos would intimidate pretty much anybody, but Peter is more than willing to jump into action because he knows the world is in serious danger. Heās willing to risk his life to help the Avengers. Although Iām 100 percent certain Spidey will be returning, his ādeathā in āInfinity Warā is one of the most emotional and heartbreaking scenes in the film.
5. In the MCU, what motivates Peter to be a hero? What governs his sense of right and wrong?
I feel like Peter is one of the most purely motivated of the Avengers; he wants to be a hero because he wants to help people and because itās simply the right thing to do. He wants to make his neighborhood, his city, and the world a better place. Because he puts othersā needs above his own, he has a pretty good grasp of whatās right and whatās wrong. Plus, I think his friends and family help keep him accountable.
6. What is it about losing a loved one that makes for such a compelling catalyst for a superheroās journey? What do you think about the absence of Uncle Benās story in āHomecomingā?
Although Uncle Ben is such a key part of Spider-Manās origin story, I was okay with them not covering his death in āHomecoming.ā The audience has already seen two Spider-Man origin films that included Uncle Benās death, and I donāt think we needed to see that scene again. One of the things that really excited me about āHomecomingā was that it skipped the origin story and just picked up after āCivil Warā; the film felt a lot fresher than it would have if it told the same story for the THIRD time.
That being said, I would have appreciated a few more mentions of Uncle Ben in āHomecoming,ā because that is such an important part of Spideyās character arc.
Losing a loved one is like a grenade exploding; it throws your life into chaos and sends flak scattering everywhere, requiring months and years to pick up all the pieces. It leaves scars that will never completely heal, and it will change the way you view your life and the world around you. Yet somehow, we have to let our love for that person keep us moving forward, finding hope and healing even in the midst of our grief.
While Uncle Benās loss is a difficult burden for Peter to carry, his uncleās legacy inspires the current work he does as a superhero. Uncle Benās kindness lives on through Peter.
7. Why do you think the Vulture is such a good villain? Do you think the MCU is starting to make up for a trend of weaker past villains? How do he and Peter shape each other in this film?
The MCU has definitely had some stronger villains lately ā from Vulture to Hela to Killmonger, and especially Thanos. Vulture stands out in a unique way, though, because out of all the MCU villains, he seems the most like a āregular guy.ā I actually appreciated that his plan was pretty lowkey. Heās not looking to destroy the galaxy or even the planet; heās just trying to earn a living and support his family, even though heās going about it in an unethical way. Thanks to a great performance from Michael Keaton, Vulture feels like an incredibly realistic/believable villain.
Vultureās interactions with Peter force the Vulture to take on more of a traditional villain role; heās going to have to fight and maybe even kill this teenager ā his daughterās (sort of) boyfriend ā if he wants his plan to succeed. In turn, Vulture gives Peter a true nemesis to fight, testing out Peterās powers and the limits of what heās willing to do to save the day.
At the end of the film, I loved that Peter chose not to kill Vulture and even saved him from the explosion. This firmly establishes Peter as a compassionate hero and sets the tone for his identity as Spider-Man.
8. How do you feel about the relationship between Peter and Tony Stark? What draws them together? Do you like Tony and Happyās presence in the movie?
I love Tony Stark (heās my favorite Avenger), but even I have to admit that if I was looking for a mentor for my teenage kid, Tony Stark probably wouldnāt be my first choice. š I feel like Tony still has plenty of his own problems to work through. However, I do think mentoring Peter is good for Tony. It forces Tony to look at his actions from a different perspective and examine whether heās setting a good example for Peter.
I think Tony and Peter are drawn together because they both know what itās like to lose a father figure. Tony had a complicated relationship with his father, and with Peter, he sees an opportunity to be a better mentor than perhaps his own father was.
Overall, I felt like Tony and Happyās presence in āHomecomingā was really fun and helped tie Spider-Man into the MCU. I feel like Spidey now being a part of the MCU really boosted excitement for the film. Plus, having Tony and Peter interact in āHomecomingā made their interaction in āInfinity Warā even more meaningful.
9. āHomecomingā makes several tweaks to the Spider-Man mythos. Weāve already talked about a few of the big ones, but letās hit some others too. How do you think the following updates affect this version of Peter?…
a. The Stark tech suit / Karen
I really like the Stark tech suit with its A.I. component (a.k.a. Karen), because itās one of several things that helps this version of Spider-Man feel fresh and different from what weāve seen before. I also like that having the tech suit teaches Peter an important lesson: simply having technology is not enough ā you have to know how to use it properly and responsibly. And I do love that Peter defeats the villain using only his homemade suit, because that proves to him that he doesnāt need a fancy suit to be a hero.
b. A younger Aunt May
I really liked seeing Marisa Tomei as Aunt May; sheās a good emotional support for Peter, and I think heās also a good support for her. I enjoyed seeing their relationship in the film. And even though the āyoungerā Aunt May generated quite a bit of discussion amongst fans, it makes sense that a 15 year old would have an aunt who is Tomeiās age.
c. The inclusion of Ned Leeds
I love Ned, and he was definitely one of my favorite parts of the film. Iām glad he learned early on in the film about Peterās secret identity, and it was cool to see him play a role in the filmās climax and help to āsave the day.ā Heās more than just the filmās comic relief, although he does provide plenty of great lines.
d. A different take on Mary Jane / a different take on Flash Thompson
One of the things I appreciated about this version of Spider-Man was the diversity and authenticity of Peterās peers at school. It felt like a real high school, with students from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Weāve already seen several versions of Spider-Man, so it was cool to see fresh takes on some of the familiar characters.
10. Where do you think Peter and Adrian Toomesā relationship stands at the end of āHomecomingā? Are they still enemies? Is Toomes still a villain?
To me Toomes is definitely still a villain, because he sincerely tried to harm Peter and doesnāt seem too guilty about it. However, Toomes does appreciate that Peter saved his life, which is likely why he didnāt reveal Spider-Manās secret identity. That was his way of making sure they were āeven.ā
When/if Toomes gets out of prison, I imagine he would try to steer clear of Peter. I think their relationship would still be somewhat antagonistic if they were to meet again, although I can see Peter wanting to give Toomes a second chance.
11. We get to meet Aaron Davis in āHomecoming,ā who we know from the comics as the uncle of Miles Morales, another version of Spider-Man. How would you like to see Miles incorporated into the MCU? How do you think he and Peter would affect each other?
Iām really enjoying Tom Holland as Spider-Man, so I hope he sticks around a while. That being said, when he does decide to bow out of the MCU, Iād love for them to introduce Miles as the new Spider-Man. This would be a way to keep the character fresh and interesting, since weāve now seen three different āPeter Parkerā Spider-Mans. Maybe you could have Holland serving as a sort of mentor to Miles after Peter retires.
Iām pretty excited to see the animated movie featuring Miles Morales this December called āInto the Spider-Verse.ā I think this is a great way to introduce audiences to Miles without conflicting with whatās currently going on in the MCU.
12. Letās wrap up with a little bit of dreaming. Assuming Peter will be alive at the end of
Avengers 4 (safest assumption ever?), what would you like to see in future Spider-Man films? Are you excited about the possibility of Mysterio? What other villains would you like to see?
Since Iām not as familiar with the original comics, there arenāt any particular villains I would like to see. Iād just like them to be villains we havenāt seen before; I donāt really want Peter to have to fight the Green Goblin again.
Iād like to see them touch more directly on Uncle Benās legacy, and I hope Peter keeps Ned around as āthe guy in the chair.ā Iād also like to see what Aunt Mayās feelings about Peterās crime-fighting activities are, now that sheās (presumably) discovered Peterās secret identity.