Summary
- Bruce Banner being Tony Stark 2.0 as a mentor would stunt Peter Parker's growth.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day aims to take Peter in a new direction without a mentor figure.
- Marvel should allow Spider-Man to flourish without constant mentorship from other characters.
Marvel is expected to add Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/Hulk to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which many fans are excited about. Given Marvel's resistance to giving Hulk his movie, it's essential for him to be interjected in various other films so he can still play a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and develop his character.
However, given that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be based on the popular web slinger, Marvel needs to be careful with how Banner is handled in this movie. It's not like an Avengers project where he can easily take over and dominate many scenes, and Marvel must be sure not to just have him act as a Tony Stark replacement.
Avengers: Doomsday's Release Date Delay Could Be Great News For Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday release date being delayed might end up being positive news for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Marvel Fans Are Worried Bruce Banner Will Simply Be Tony Stark 2.0 In Spider-Man: Brand New Day
He Has The Same Level Of Intelligence To Tap Into If Needed
From the moment that Peter Parker was first introduced into the MCU, he found himself under the learning tree of Tony Stark. Robert Downey Jr's original Marvel character became a mentor for the young hero, helping him learn and develop both as a superhero and a person. Tony provided him with great technology to advance his Spider-Man suits while also giving him some harsh lessons at times when Tom Holland's character required them. The connection between them became one of the most popular in the franchise. Therefore, Iron Man's death was a massive blow to Parker. It's something that massively impacted the character from an emotional perspective, but it also left a void in the form of a male role model. Given that Banner is just as intelligent as Stark and also knows how to balance that with being a superhero, fans are convinced he will fill the gap left behind in this movie.
However, that's something that most fans hope doesn't happen, and it wouldn't be Marvel's wisest choice. While Banner and Stark are similar in their smartness, they're different people. It's hard to imagine the shy and reserved Banner wanting to spend his time teaching a talkative young person like Parker, and the connection they'd go on share would feel forced because of it. Instead, Marvel should be coming up with a unique reason for Banner to be spending time in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, whatever that might end up looking like. He's already an established character; therefore, just becoming the next Stark would be lazy writing.
Peter Parker Having A Mentor Is A Storyline Marvel Has Already Pursued
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Is Supposed To Take Tom Holland's character In A Fresh Direction
Marvel's decision to give Spider-Man a mentor was a wise one because he's such a young character with a very excitable personality. His relationship with Stark helped to ground him in reality, but it also made him mature. That was crucial in developing him to the point he's at now, where Spider-Man feels far more well-rounded and interesting. While there's nothing wrong with Parker taking advice from people as the character moves forward in the Marvel world, the idea of him having another mentor feels like a cheap and unoriginal idea.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to take the character in a new direction, and going back to a plot that has already been explored to its fullest doesn't feel like Marvel achieving that. The likes of Ned and MJ are set for reduced roles as Spider-Man gets set for a new chapter in the MCU, but having Banner appear to be a mentor would instantly take the character backward. Spider-Man has been in enough difficult positions now that he should know how to handle himself in terms of action and intelligence factors. That's why Banner isn't needed as a mentor, as it's a decision that threatens to negatively impact both characters.
Bruce Banner Being A Mentor Would Stunt Peter Parker's Growth As A Character
Marvel Needs To Allow Spider-Man To Flourish In His Own Right
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Marvel's most significant problem with Spider-Man is not letting him develop. He's constantly being paired with other characters in the MCU, whether that's Stark, Banner, or even Doctor Strange, and it makes him seem like a less capable hero in his own right. The whole point of having Stark as his mentor was so that he would be able to step up and essentially replace him when the time came to it, but that still hasn't happened. Adding another mentor would make that even more difficult and continue stunting Spider-Man's growth as a character. On top of that, it doesn't help Banner as a character because there would be constant comparisons to what Stark did, rather than allowing the two of them to form a different type of relationship in this movie. Spider-Man needs to be allowed to try and flourish in his own right, taking all of the character development that has already happened and moving forward to further benefit the MCU. That's why Banner's role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day needs to be anything other than as a mentor.
- Release Date
- July 31, 2026
- Director
- Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
- Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O'Connor, Avi Arad, Louis D'Esposito
- Prequel(s)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man
Cast
-
Spider-Man / Peter Parker -
ZendayaMichelle Jones -
Jacob BatalonNed Leeds -
Mark RuffaloBruce Banner / Hulk
