"Spider-Man: No Way Home has brought lots of differences between the three version of the cinematic Spider-Man, but what about the comic book Spider-Man?" -- Reeghan Walsh, 7th Grade
SPOILERS FOR SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME
Since the release of the new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, many have been conversing about the differences between the 3 Spider-Man actors that appear in the movie franchises. But there is one thing fans have not considered: Spider-Man in the comics.
Since the release of the new Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, many have been conversing about the differences between the 3 Spider-Man actors that appear in the movie franchises. But there is one thing fans have not considered: Spider-Man in the comics.
1. Peter Parker's Personality
Spider-Man in the comics is quite different from the Spider-Men portrayed in the movies. For one, the movies portray the 3 different Spider-Men as 3 different people, from three different universes. Thus, setting up the multiverse as if multiple Peter Parkers and “Spider-Men” are in existence. In the comics, the Spider-Men portrayed in the movies are all the same person.
In the comics, the multiverse is set up in a way that there are only a few Peter Parkers, and that most Spider-Men only share the same powers, origin story, and a few personality traits. With different identities including Penelope Parker (born on Earth 11 and taken in by Ben and May Parker and using the alter-ego Spider-Girl); Spider-Gwen (also known as Spider-Woman born on Earth 65); The Spider (born on Earth 15, merged with the Carnage symbiote and a sociopathic mass murderer); Miles Morales (born on Earth 1610 and taking over after the Peter Parker from his earth dies), and 33 others.
Spider-Man in the comics is quite different from the Spider-Men portrayed in the movies. For one, the movies portray the 3 different Spider-Men as 3 different people, from three different universes. Thus, setting up the multiverse as if multiple Peter Parkers and “Spider-Men” are in existence. In the comics, the Spider-Men portrayed in the movies are all the same person.
In the comics, the multiverse is set up in a way that there are only a few Peter Parkers, and that most Spider-Men only share the same powers, origin story, and a few personality traits. With different identities including Penelope Parker (born on Earth 11 and taken in by Ben and May Parker and using the alter-ego Spider-Girl); Spider-Gwen (also known as Spider-Woman born on Earth 65); The Spider (born on Earth 15, merged with the Carnage symbiote and a sociopathic mass murderer); Miles Morales (born on Earth 1610 and taking over after the Peter Parker from his earth dies), and 33 others.
As aforementioned, the different multiverse Spider-Men have different personalities, even if they have similar traits within those personalities. A big part of Peter’s personality is his sass and smarts. These two combined come out in a way that makes Peter seem like a smart aleck (which frankly, he is). This is demonstrated a lot throughout the comics. We witness his banter and comebacks while crime fighting, and in his personal life. In the movies, we only really see Spider-Man as an ammature hero, who hasn’t quite gotten the swing of fighting, and doesn’t really know proper crime fighting etiquette. We do still see a lot of sass from Peter in the movies, we just see more of it in the comics.
2. Web Shooters
Spider-Man also makes webs differently in the comics. Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man makes webs organically. They are part of his powers that he gained from the spider bite, and come out of his hands. CBR.com states, “Inheriting a spider’s ability to generate its own webbing was not only logically sound but favored Peter’s financial situation in which he struggled to pay rent, let alone procure the funds to replace his web cartridges at the required rate.” This explains why Sam Raimi, the director of Spider-Man, decided to stray from the comics. In the comics, the web fluid (a chemical compound of sorts) is shot out of web shooters, both of which Peter creates himself. Assisting the idea that part of Peter’s crime fighting skills are because of his intelligence.
Spider-Man also makes webs differently in the comics. Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man makes webs organically. They are part of his powers that he gained from the spider bite, and come out of his hands. CBR.com states, “Inheriting a spider’s ability to generate its own webbing was not only logically sound but favored Peter’s financial situation in which he struggled to pay rent, let alone procure the funds to replace his web cartridges at the required rate.” This explains why Sam Raimi, the director of Spider-Man, decided to stray from the comics. In the comics, the web fluid (a chemical compound of sorts) is shot out of web shooters, both of which Peter creates himself. Assisting the idea that part of Peter’s crime fighting skills are because of his intelligence.
3. Spider-Man's Job
Peter’s personal life and his superhero life mix together in his work in both the movies and the comics. In Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield's movies, Peter works for the Daily Bugle, like he did in the comics. He works as a freelance photographer with a contract. He got lots of shots of him as Spider-Man by setting the camera up, then swinging into action. In Tom Holland’s movies, he is just a highschool student. He lied about having an internship at Stark Industries, using it to hide his Spider-Man adventures.
Peter’s personal life and his superhero life mix together in his work in both the movies and the comics. In Maguire’s and Andrew Garfield's movies, Peter works for the Daily Bugle, like he did in the comics. He works as a freelance photographer with a contract. He got lots of shots of him as Spider-Man by setting the camera up, then swinging into action. In Tom Holland’s movies, he is just a highschool student. He lied about having an internship at Stark Industries, using it to hide his Spider-Man adventures.
4. Spider-Man and the Avengers
In the comics, Spider-Man joined the Avengers for the money. He originally turned down a spot in the Avengers, but when her learned that active members earned $1,000 per week, he accepted. He went to the Avengers Mansion to request a full Avengers membership. He was made a trainee member, after being denied a full membership due to a government loophole, in 1983, before joining the team in 2004. This was after the first Spider-Man movie came out (Spider-Man) in 2002, featuring Maguire. In the movies, Holland's Peter Parker doesn’t officially join the Avengers until Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019. This Spider-Man joined the Avengers because he wanted to be part of a bigger picture, and save more lives.
Spider-Man was introduced to the Avengers in the cinematic universe due to Tony Stark (Iron Man). This leads to the difference of the relationship between Tony Stark and Peter Parker. In Holland’s movies, Tony serves as a mentor or father figure to Peter. He recruits Peter to fight on his side in Captain America: Civil War, then joins forces with him and Dr. Strange to fight aliens in Avengers: Infinity War.
In Civil War, Tony treats Peter as a student or superhero in training, whereas in Infinity War, he treats him more like a son. They build a strong father-son relationship, and it is evident that Peter looks up to Tony. But in the comics, Iron Man is just another colleague to Spider-Man. The two are work associates, not father and son. Spider-Man not seeing Iron Man as a mentor, and Iron Man not seeing Spider-Man as a mentee. Spider-Man being more of an “I work alone” type person than someone to partner up with others, which is why he and Iron Man don’t build any sort of relationship.
In the comics, Spider-Man joined the Avengers for the money. He originally turned down a spot in the Avengers, but when her learned that active members earned $1,000 per week, he accepted. He went to the Avengers Mansion to request a full Avengers membership. He was made a trainee member, after being denied a full membership due to a government loophole, in 1983, before joining the team in 2004. This was after the first Spider-Man movie came out (Spider-Man) in 2002, featuring Maguire. In the movies, Holland's Peter Parker doesn’t officially join the Avengers until Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019. This Spider-Man joined the Avengers because he wanted to be part of a bigger picture, and save more lives.
Spider-Man was introduced to the Avengers in the cinematic universe due to Tony Stark (Iron Man). This leads to the difference of the relationship between Tony Stark and Peter Parker. In Holland’s movies, Tony serves as a mentor or father figure to Peter. He recruits Peter to fight on his side in Captain America: Civil War, then joins forces with him and Dr. Strange to fight aliens in Avengers: Infinity War.
In Civil War, Tony treats Peter as a student or superhero in training, whereas in Infinity War, he treats him more like a son. They build a strong father-son relationship, and it is evident that Peter looks up to Tony. But in the comics, Iron Man is just another colleague to Spider-Man. The two are work associates, not father and son. Spider-Man not seeing Iron Man as a mentor, and Iron Man not seeing Spider-Man as a mentee. Spider-Man being more of an “I work alone” type person than someone to partner up with others, which is why he and Iron Man don’t build any sort of relationship.
5. “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility”
On the subject of father figures, the iconic line, “With great power comes great responsibility” is what Peter thinks when he is reflecting on the death of Uncle Ben, in the comics. In Holland’s movie series, Aunt May is the one to tell Peter this, just before she dies in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Uncle Ben isn’t even mentioned throughout Tom Holland’s movies, save for some comments from the other two Spider-Men.
On the subject of father figures, the iconic line, “With great power comes great responsibility” is what Peter thinks when he is reflecting on the death of Uncle Ben, in the comics. In Holland’s movie series, Aunt May is the one to tell Peter this, just before she dies in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Uncle Ben isn’t even mentioned throughout Tom Holland’s movies, save for some comments from the other two Spider-Men.
6. Aunt May
Additionally, Aunt May’s age decreased in Holland’s movies. Aunt May was a middle-aged woman in the comics and in the Spider-Man trilogy (though only being featured in the first two) and the Amazing-Spider Man duology, but was pushed down to her early 50's in the most recent movie series.
The death of Aunt May was a very big shock to many watchers of Spider-Man: No Way Home. In No Way Home, Aunt May is impaled by some shrapnel from the collapsed building (caused by the Green Goblin), which ends in her demise. In the comics, she is shot by a sniper named Jack Martin (ordered by Kingpin). She is hospitalized and in such dire condition that Peter strikes up a deal with the demon Mephisto. This leaves May alive and well again, but Peter’s marriage with MJ undone. She dies many times throughout different multiverses in the comics. One of the most notable being the death in which she relapses after recovering from her coma, and dies in her bed with Peter by her side.
Additionally, Aunt May’s age decreased in Holland’s movies. Aunt May was a middle-aged woman in the comics and in the Spider-Man trilogy (though only being featured in the first two) and the Amazing-Spider Man duology, but was pushed down to her early 50's in the most recent movie series.
The death of Aunt May was a very big shock to many watchers of Spider-Man: No Way Home. In No Way Home, Aunt May is impaled by some shrapnel from the collapsed building (caused by the Green Goblin), which ends in her demise. In the comics, she is shot by a sniper named Jack Martin (ordered by Kingpin). She is hospitalized and in such dire condition that Peter strikes up a deal with the demon Mephisto. This leaves May alive and well again, but Peter’s marriage with MJ undone. She dies many times throughout different multiverses in the comics. One of the most notable being the death in which she relapses after recovering from her coma, and dies in her bed with Peter by her side.
7. Peter's Love Life
Previously stated, Peter dated and even got married to MJ in the comics. In Maigure’s trilogy, he dates the same MJ as in the comics (Mary Jane Watson), and in Holland’s trilogy, he dates a different MJ (Michelle Jones-Watson). In the comics, there is no Michelle Jones-Watson, only Mary Jane Watson. In Garfield’s duology, Peter dates Gwen Stacy, Peter’s original girlfriend in the comics. In addition to Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy, Peter dates other women including Jill Stacy and Carlie Cooper.
All this to say, the movies and the comics both do a great job portraying New York’s favorite web-slinging hero. While the comics offer a broader world of Spider-Men, the movies get in-depth about Spider-Man's origins, and overall bring this beloved character to life.
Previously stated, Peter dated and even got married to MJ in the comics. In Maigure’s trilogy, he dates the same MJ as in the comics (Mary Jane Watson), and in Holland’s trilogy, he dates a different MJ (Michelle Jones-Watson). In the comics, there is no Michelle Jones-Watson, only Mary Jane Watson. In Garfield’s duology, Peter dates Gwen Stacy, Peter’s original girlfriend in the comics. In addition to Mary Jane Watson and Gwen Stacy, Peter dates other women including Jill Stacy and Carlie Cooper.
All this to say, the movies and the comics both do a great job portraying New York’s favorite web-slinging hero. While the comics offer a broader world of Spider-Men, the movies get in-depth about Spider-Man's origins, and overall bring this beloved character to life.
