Spider-Man cuts a complicated figure in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. The franchise delivered an uber-successful trilogy of films, and a new take on the hero that was undeniably easy to root for. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man fit well into the MCU, holding his own against established heavy hitters like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans). But Marvel also had to make a few sacrifices for that narrative cohesion: what began as an interesting update for a classic hero ultimately spiraled into someone comic fans don’t even recognize.
The MCU’s Spidey rarely gets the chance to stand on his own — in each of his solo outings, he’s sharing the spotlight with older, more seasoned heroes or villains. His supporting role gets even more frustrating without the presence of his rogue’s gallery: Spider-Man has the greatest and most iconic villain roster in the Marvel Universe, but Marvel’s obligation to Sony Pictures (who own the rights to the whole Spider-Franchise) has kept each of them frustratingly on the sidelines. Without the familiar landmarks of his lore, or any legacy characters to support him, Spider-Man has never truly felt like Spider-Man in the MCU.
