The MCU’s Spider-Man Problem Has Officially Come To Marvel Comics

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #85

When Spider-Man first made his way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans were overjoyed with the prospect of the Web Slinger joining the Avengers, though some had one issue with that particular iteration and that problem has made its way into Marvel Comics. The aspect of Spider-Man most fans seem to love the most is his ability to beat any villain he faces with his intelligence alone. Spidey’s powers and limited gadgets certainly assist in his victories, but they are not the reason he is victorious. In both modern Spider-Man comics and earlier MCU films, that aspect of Spider-Man has seemingly been forgotten. 

In Amazing Spider-Man #85 by Cody Ziglar and Paco Medina, Doctor Octopus is attacking the Beyond Corporation to steal some company secrets regarding technology the villain claims to have developed. Since Beyond is the current sponsor of Spider-Man and funds his crime-fighting life, Spidey quickly jumps into action to stop Doc Ock, though the way he stops him is arguably a bit different from his ordinary methods. 

Spider-Man uses what is essentially a gun that fires magnetic charges to neutralize Doctor Octopus’ tentacles which marks the hero’s victory over the villain. Spider-Man solely relied on a piece of technology created by the Beyond Corporation rather than using his own tactical genius and quick wits to take down the villain, something fans have recently seen upon his inclusion in the MCU. Peter Parker made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War where he was given a suit created by Tony Stark equipped with a number of gadgets that some would argue turned him into a spider-themed Iron Man. Spidey’s reliance on tech only grew especially when he donned the Iron Spider Armor in Avengers: Infinity War which arguably pushed the character further from his friendly neighborhood roots and closer to being Iron Man’s apprentice. 

While this supposed issue was once prominent in the MCU, it has completely corrected itself upon the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Spider-Man has returned to no longer using technology to solely solve his problems and has gone back to relying on his intelligence to lead him to victory. Similarly, the Spider-Man in the comics is currently Ben Reilly, the clone of Peter Parker, so when he used the Beyond tech to take down Doc Ock, that had no impact on Peter Parker’s character as Spider-Man. 

While a similar problem with Spider-Man is popping up in the comics after it presented itself in the MCU, it seems as though Spidey’s reliance on technology is waning or doesn’t involve the original Spider-Man at all. The real issue that fans have is the visualization of Spider-Man opting to use someone else’s technology to defeat a villain rather than just his smarts and his gadgets. The MCU’s Spider-Man problem has officially come to Marvel Comics, though both examples of the same problem are seemingly resolving themselves. 

About The Author