Summary
- The MCU might avoid addressing controversial or dark narratives from Spider-Man comics in future films.
- Comic-accurate stories like The Evil That Men Do or Kraven's Last Hunt may not be adapted due to their tones conflicting with the MCU.
- The Superior Spider-Man storyline, where Doc Ock becomes Spider-Man, could be too risky for the mainstream audience.
It's surprising just how far the Spider-Man franchise has gone in film. The Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have seen the friendly neighborhood Marvel hero join the Avengers and even team up with Peter Parkers from other universes. The multiverse of Spider-Man characters has even been explored by Sony's cameo-filled Spider-Verse movies.
However, there are plenty of story arcs from Spider-Man's comic book history that are difficult to imagine ever making it to the big screen. Whether it's because of how controversial they are to longtime fans of the series, or perhaps their appropriateness contrasting with the tone of the MCU Spider-Man, these comic book stories will likely remain on the page.
10 The Evil That Men Do
Fans Disliked This Take On Black Cat
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Publication Date(s) |
2002-2006 |
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Writer(s) |
Kevin Smith |
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Artist(s) |
Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Lee Loughridge |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Black Cat, Mr. Brownstone, Scorpia, Daredevil, Nightcrawler, Kingpin |
The relationship between Spider-Man and Black Cat would already be a challenge to adapt into the films and keep comic-book accurate. Black Cat is a much more risque character than the MCU is typically used to, and the comic book miniseries The Evil That Men Do will certainly not be the storyline that Marvel chooses to adapt if they do bring her to live-action.
Particularly, The Evil That Men Do garnered controversy for featuring some explicit scenes where Black Cat is assaulted by the villainous Mr. Brownstone. Although it was bold of Marvel Comics to tackle such a serious topic in this story, many fans saw it as a trivialization of those issues. It's unlikely that the MCU would ever do this story, knowing how fans feel about it.
9 Spider-Man Vs. The Punisher
The Punisher's Debut Was A Different Tone For Spider-Man
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Publication Date(s) |
1973 |
|---|---|
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Writer(s) |
Gerry Conway |
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Artist(s) |
Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, Dave Hunt |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, The Punisher, Jackal, M.J. Watson, J. Jonah Jameson, Harry Osborne, Betty Brant |
A surprising fun fact about The Punisher is that the character originally appeared as a Spider-Man antagonist in a 1973 comic. Hired by the Jackal to assassinate Spider-Man, the Punisher's characterization was beloved by fans and took off with his own solo series. Now, the character is one of Marvel's most iconic heroes, played by Jon Bernthal in the MCU.
However, for those who have seen Bernthal's Punisher in the Netflix series, it's hard to imagine him coming face-to-face with Spider-Man. The two characters' MCU adaptations simply operate in wildly different tones, so although they share history together in the comics, the films will probably stick with depicting some of Spider-Man's more unique villains.
8 The Death Of Jean DeWolff
Police Corruption Is A Tough Topic To Tackle
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Publication Date(s) |
1985-1986 |
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Writer(s) |
Peter David |
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Artist(s) |
Rich Buckler, Kyle Baker, Brett Breeding, Pat Redding, Josef Rubinstein |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Daredevil, Jean DeWolff, Sin-Eater, J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant |
Jean DeWolff was a notable ally of Spider-Man after being introduced in the early 1970s, as an NYPD chief who harbored feelings for the friendly neighborhood superhero. However, the character was tragically killed off in the 1985 comic book story arc The Death of Jean DeWolff, where she's discovered murdered by shotgun, forcing Spider-Man to search for her killer.
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The culprit turns out to be police sergeant Stan Carter, who takes on the persona of Sin-Eater in order to vanquish the world of sinners. The story dives deep into the world of police corruption in New York City, and Sin-Eater is a much more terrifying villain than Spider-Man usually faces. Although it's a strong narrative to pull from, young fans may not fully get it.
7 Kraven's Last Hunt
A Dark Story With An Even Darker Ending
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Publication Date(s) |
1987 |
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Writer(s) |
J.M. DeMatteis |
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Artist(s) |
Mike Zeck, Bob McLeod |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Kraven the Hunter, M.J. Watson, Captain America, Vermin |
Kraven the Hunter is finally set to make his live-action debut in the 2024 film, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. While fans are hopeful to see Kraven battle Peter Parker on-screen, it likely won't be an adaptation of Kraven's Last Hunt. This comic storyline kicks off with a fight between the two rivals, resulting in Spider-Man's apparent death by Kraven.
In a surprising twist, Kraven steals Parker's Spider-Man costume and masquerades as the hero while fighting crime. Predictably, Peter Parker isn't actually dead, and he ends up confronting Kraven once and for all, though things don't end in a typical way for the hunter. Kraven ends up committing suicide at the end of the story, which is way too dark for Marvel to ever adapt.
6 Spider-Man: Reign
Tragedy Befalls An Older Peter Parker
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Publication Date(s) |
2006-2007 |
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Writer(s) |
Kaare Andrews |
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Artist(s) |
Kaare Andrews, Jose Villarrubia |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, M.J. Watson, Electro, Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, Sandman, Scorpion, Hydro-Man, Kingpin, J. Jonah Jameson, Mayor Waters, Hypno-Hustler, Doctor Octopus, Venom |
Spider-Man: Reign takes place thirty years into Peter Parker's future, examining the tragedy that has befallen his life. New York City has become controlled by an authoritative regime, Mary Jane Watson has died due to radiation exposure from Peter, and even J. Jonah Jameson leads a revolution against the police, known only as "the Reign."
Among a lot of issues MCU fans may have with the content, Spider-Man: Reign will likely not see the big screen simply because it's hard to imagine anyone getting excited over an older Spider-Man story. It can be done right, as seen with 2017's Logan, but odds are Tom Holland has no desire to still be playing Spider-Man in 30 years.
5 The Clone Saga
Clone Wars Get Messy In The Comics
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Publication Date(s) |
1994-1996 |
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Writer(s) |
Terry Kavanagh, Joey Cavalieri, Todd Dezago, J.M. DeMatteis, Tom DeFalco |
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Artist(s) |
Various |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Scarlet Spider, M.J. Watson, Jackal, Norman Osborn, Kaine, Spidercide, Judas Traveller, High Evolutionary, Gwen Stacy |
Though The Clone Saga gave birth to one of the most iconic Spider-People, the Scarlet Spider, it's even more confusing than the multiverse sagas that Marvel Studios has already explored with Spider-Man. The most notable iteration of Clone Saga saw Jackal create a clone of Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, in order to kill Spider-Man for letting Gwen Stacy die.
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Given the series' popularity, it continued for many years and features a lot of twists and turns, including the reveal that Norman Osborn was behind everything. Though it could be possible for Gwen Stacy's death, Jackal's descent into madness, and Ben Reilly's introduction to happen in live-action, there are simply much simpler Spider-Man stories to adapt.
4 Sins Past
A Polarizing Revelation About Peter's Lost Love
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Publication Date(s) |
2004 |
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Writer(s) |
J. Michael Straczynski |
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Artist(s) |
Mike Deodato Jr. |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Gwen Stacy, Norman Osborn, M.J. Watson, May Parker, Sarah Stacy, Gabriel Stacy |
One of the most controversial Spider-Man story-lines of all time was Sins Past, which shocked fans of the superhero comics. According to J. Michael Straczynski, prior to her iconic death, Gwen Stacy had an affair with Norman Osborn, birthing two children: Sarah and Gabriel, who rapidly age as a result of Osborn's Goblin formula.
Following the publicized reveal of Osborn as Green Goblin, Sarah and Gabriel set their sights on revenge against Spider-Man, who was naive to their existence. Given the run's unpopularity, especially among Gwen Stacy fans, it was retconned years later during the Sinister War storyline. Marvel probably doesn't want to make the same mistake twice.
3 One More Day
Spider-Man Makes A Deal With The Devil
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Publication Date(s) |
2007-2008 |
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Writer(s) |
J. Michael Straczynski, Joe Quesada |
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Artist(s) |
Joe Quesada, Danny Miki |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, M.J. Watson, Mephisto, Aunt May, Tony Stark, Doctor Strange, Harry Osborn, Reed Richards |
J. Michael Straczynski was on a roll when it came to pushing the limits with Spider-Man. One More Day is a familiar premise to Marvel Comics, finding Peter Parker searching for ways to revive his Aunt May after she's killed by a henchman of Kingpin. After failing to acquire help from the likes of Doctor Strange or Tony Stark, Peter finds an unlikely savior in Mephisto.
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Mephisto offers Peter the chance to have Aunt May back, for the price of his marriage to M.J. Watson. Effectively, this completely resets the two characters' entire relationship, which wasn't a popular choice among fans. Given that Spider-Man: No Way Home has already erased Peter and M.J.'s relationship, Marvel probably won't try treading the same ground.
2 Spider-Man And The Fantastic Four
An Iconic Team-Up That Could Be Hard To Pull Off
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Publication Date(s) |
2007 |
|---|---|
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Writer(s) |
Jeff Parker |
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Artist(s) |
Mike Wieringo, Wade von Grawbadger, Pate Pantazis |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Human Torch, The Thing, M.J. Watson, Aunt May, Impossible Man, High Evolutionary, Doctor Doom |
The Fantastic Four are soon making their MCU debut with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set on an alternate universe in retro-futuristic '60s New York. Only time will tell how the MCU's Fantastic Four, played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, will meet the familiar faces of Earth-616 for the Avengers films.
However, given the massive scale of The Fantastic Four's future in the MCU, adventures alongside Spider-Man probably aren't much of a priority, despite the fleshed-out alliance from the comics. Since the MCU has already explored Mount Wundagore and the High Evolutionary, they probably won't look to this story arc for potential Spider-Man/F4 team-ups.
1 The Superior Spider-Man
Doc Ock Tries Out Being A Superhero For Once
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Publication Date(s) |
2013-2014 |
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Writer(s) |
Dan Slott |
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Artist(s) |
Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, Giuseppe Camuncoli |
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Featured Characters |
Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, M.J. Watson, May Parker, Hobgoblin, Vulture, Black Cat, Harry Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, Miguel O'Hara, Flash Thompson, Kingpin, Goblin King, Scarlet Spider |
One of the darkest story-lines of Spider-Man is fairly recent to Marvel Comics. In 2012, Peter Parker was killed by Otto Octavius in the Dying Wish arc. In The Superior Spider-Man, Doc Ock implants his mind in Spider-Man's body and seeks to prove himself a better hero than Peter Parker was, which initially ran for over 30 issues from 2013 to 2014.
Although many fans love the stories that came out of Octavius' adventures in Peter Parker's body, it's unlikely that Marvel Studios would do something like this in live-action. Tom Holland's portrayal of Peter Parker is iconic, so having him be ostensibly "replaced" with a new personality might scare off the more casual fans who aren't as invested in the comics.
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