Why The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man Will Never Please Fans

With the acclaimed relaunch of The Amazing Spider-Man comic series, and the release of an outstanding new Spider-Man video game, it’s a great time to be a Spidey fan. And if that isn’t enough for you, there’s a new film on the horizon as well. Certainly, Spider-Man: Far From Home may be still some time away, but that hasn’t stopped the internet from becoming very excited about it. From the inclusion of Nick Fury, to every sign that the Sinister Six are finally coming to the silver screen, our collective hype grows with every rumor and announcement. Yet not everyone is enamored by the prospect of another Spider-Man movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Most film have their detractors in some shape or form. However, a cursory look online will show a growing, increasingly vocal group of MCU Spidey haters. Why is this dissatisfaction occurring, though? And is this a unique situation for film and superhero fanatics? Good Morning, Planet Earth Let’s start with what little we know about Spider-Man: Far From Home. We know that it begins mere moments after Avengers 4, and that Jake Gyllenhaal is (almost definitely) playing Mysterio. But the crucial, key difference between Far From Home and its fellow Spider-Man movies is that it'll be a globe-trotting adventure. Indeed, with filming occurring in London – and various other locations across Europe – it seems that Peter Parker is set to have a holiday of sorts with his fellow high-schoolers. It’s a plot that makes perfect sense, too. After all, for a large amount of Spider-Man: Homecoming’s runtime, the hero’s investigation led him away from Manhattan and into the heart of Washington. Therefore, having him web sling across London and Europe –places that he’s never been in a movie before – is a continuation of this theme through the new series. Despite this, a vocal portion of Spidey enthusiasts feel that a sizable trip away from New York betrays the essence of the character. But does it? Spider-Man and New York – A History There’s no denying that Spider-Man is a New Yorker, through and through. Peter’s affection for NYC’s culture and citizens are reflected many times across all of his related media. So saying that New York is a big part of Spidey lore isn’t dishonest. But suggesting that he can’t function properly outside that setting, most certainly is. In Spider-Man's earliest comics, he flew to Florida to battle against the Lizard, and he later fought the Hulk and the Green Goblin in New Mexico – in the latter's first ever appearance no less. In recent years, Spidey has traveled to Los Angeles to mend his relationship with Mary Jane, but ended up battling Luke Carlyle and Doctor Octopus. Spider-Man also journeyed into outer space in the famous Secret Wars storyline, where he gained his black costume. And, more recently, he traversed the globe in the Ends of the Earth series. So, the impropriety of Spider-Man leaving the country is a strange assumption to make, especially when many of his original, prominent storylines did. Yet, this kind of criticism isn’t limited to the second MCU Spider-Man film. Far From Home’s predecessor was – and still is – routinely lambasted by fans for its lack of Uncle Ben. Peter's heavy use of gadgetry is also decried, along with his seeking of Tony Stark’s approval. Of course, as stated earlier, no pop culture property is complete these days without someone ready and waiting to be ill-informed and Mad Online about it. Yet the emergence of Marvel’s Spider-Man seems to have only catalyzed these arguments. The game, which follows an older, more experienced Peter Parker, has even been lauded as a “truer” and more accurate modern representation of the character. But is this a fair assertion? And what’s the crux of all this contention over Spidey’s representation onscreen? Video Games Vs. Films On the one hand, it’s obvious that people will have different preferences for different versions of Spider-Man, in the same way that we gravitate towards certain flavors of ice cream. It’s part of being human. But on the other, whilst it may seem logical to compare two iterations of the same character, on two separate visual platforms, it’s not as straightforward as that. In the same way that the detail and introspection of novels and comics often don’t translate well to film, games and movies have contrasting freedoms and limitations. Depending on how good of a gamer you are, you can spend twenty-odd hours getting to know Spider-Man, as opposed to a two hour runtime with Tom Holland’s portrayal. Also, fantastical worlds and situations can be created far easier in games than in movies, where actors’ schedules, budgets and the laws of physics play a huge part in determining potential plots. Speaking of stories, a game’s narrative is simply not scrutinized in the same way that a film is. This meant that the writers behind Marvel’s Spider-Man had free reign. As such, the game tells a new story which cherry picks aspects from all manner of Spidey media. In opposition to this, a Spider-Man film has to work in a completely different arena. It has to make sense to newcomers (who aren’t as au fait with the character) and it has to be divorced from what came beforehand. The Hardships That Spider-Man: Homecoming Faced Given that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man operates in the wake of two previous versions, Far From Home has to work a lot harder than many other movies. If you’re reading this, then the chances are that you’re an avid follower of pop culture news. But we need to remind ourselves that fandoms on the internet are relatively small and insular. There were a great many moviegoers back in 2016 that weren’t aware of the Sony/Marvel deal, and thus wondered why, suddenly, there was a new actor playing Spider-Man – and in a Captain America film no less. There’s nothing wrong with not following movie news. Again, different people have different perspectives. But the case of the MCU’s Spider-Man vs. PS4 Spidey underlines a pertinent point. What many fans are searching for is a new, and definitive filmic take on the hero and his mythos. And this is, to be quite frank, an impossibility. The Conundrum Of Continuities What do we know about Peter Parker? He’s a put-upon, scientific genius, photographer and a witty, all-round nice guy who always tried to do the right thing. Every Spider-Man movie has – give or take – portrayed all of these qualities in its protagonist. We may argue that one of the three iterations is more accurate to its source than the other, but it’s only really provable in general terms. This is due to the nature of comics themselves. Spidey is over half a century old, with hundreds of issues devoted to his adventures. Many of these long-running series are written by various different writers, with stories that cancel or contradict their fellows. Let’s face it; it’s doubtful that Dan Slott would have Peter show such disdain for student protesters as Steve Ditko did, for example. On top of these differing “mainstream” runs, we have alternate realities. The Ultimate Universe, the “What If’s” and Marvel Noir are just several comic book worlds where parallel Spider-Men exist. In Spider-Man’s movies, it’s a similar tale of seeing different takes on the character. From his bulkier body shape (echoing John Romita Sr.’s art) to the heavy focus on Peter’s days at the Daily Bugle, Sam Raimi’s original trilogy took many of its cues from the wall-crawler’s “classic” 616 canon. For Homecoming, Jon Watts heavily references Ultimate Spider-Man, with his leaner physique and a prolonged focus on a high schooling Spidey in a wilder, grown up world of superheroes. And there’s Mark Webb’s duology which (sometimes uneasily) sat midway between the two canons. Both the Ultimate – and various modern 616 arcs – are revered for capturing the essence of Spider-Man in their own manner. But does that mean that one is “truer” to the character than the other? And does that ensure that any movie – which defers to either Spider-Man run – is therefore more accurate? Again, it’s not that clean cut. “Who Are You, Masked Mystery Man?” Whether it's the world-building or characterization, no Spider-Man movie series thus far can claim fidelity to any sole run. As stated earlier, Tobey Maguire’s portrayal hews closely to many traditional Spidey tales. However, in a break from comic book lore, this Peter is more insecure, doesn’t quip and rarely applies his scientific acumen practically, such as in the creation of synthetic webbing, since his is organic. Conversely, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man retains the comic book garrulousness of both his Ultimate and classic counterparts. Peter additionally demonstrates his intelligence through his manufacturing of artificial webbing, along with his manipulation of Stark tech. But on the flip side of this, the guilt of Uncle Ben’s death, and Pete’s inner conflicts and heartaches haven’t been as detailed (so far) and thus, people aren’t happy. It’s clear that the filmmakers learned from the lessons of Marc Webb’s series. All of the trailers promised an “untold story,” but Webb’s pics retread much of the same ground as Raimi’s trilogy, such as Uncle Ben’s tragic lesson. As such, they were lambasted upon release. Again, audiences crave a “complete” cinematic version of our favorite web-slinger, but it's unlikely that it'll ever occur. In this way, the MCU’s Spider-Man gains a lot of criticism for its deviating depiction of Peter Parker. But the filmmakers had to make these changes to Homecoming so that it differed from what came before. It was at a disadvantage before production even started. In Conclusion Furthermore, even the lauded PS4 iteration of Spidey and his world is not above reproach. A subset of fans have bemoaned its depiction of Mary Jane Watson. In the game, she was no longer rendered as a model/actress, but as an accomplished journalist. Twitter was filled with protestations that this was not accurate to the character – except that it is, albeit in the Ultimate universe. The bottom line is this: you'll never be able to please every fan. Indeed, for all the people that love Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, there are also those decry its lack of fantastical elements. However, adaptations of our favorite superheroes should try to be simply guided by the character’s past, and not just retread it. Newness is nearly always a necessity in longstanding properties, for it serves to reinvigorate characters and stories for audiences. And it can enhance them, too. For example, Uncle Ben’s iconic motto regarding power and responsibility? He never said it originally. Only latter comics attributed it to him. We should remember this, particularly as Spider-Man: Far From Home's release date draws nearer. The same goes for any other comic book adaptation which stays true to the essence of their character. If Peter Parker crawls up walls and attempts to live by the adage of “with great power, comes great responsibility”- in some shape or form - you can bet that he’s a genuine incarnation of Spider-Man.