Warning: This article contains spoilers for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 1, “Amazing Fantasy.”
Marvel’s new animatedYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manseries has debuted a new version of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man in theMCU, and I can’t believe he’s battled a Venom-like Symbiote before Tom Holland’s Spider-Man got the chance. While originally planned to explore the origin story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, who made his MCU debut in 2016’sCaptain America: Civil War,Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manactually focuses on a Spider-Man variant. This allowed a completelynew Spider-Man origin storyto be told, which I was surprised to see include a notable Spider-Man villain.
Tom Holland’s Spider-Manhas always been a bit stuck in the MCU, as the deal between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures allows him to do some things while others are off-limits. I’ve felt as though this has always restricted him, but these rules don’t apply to thePeter Parker seen inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. I loved seeing Peter Parker meet the likes of Carla Connors, Lonnie Lincoln, Nico Minoru and more inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’sfirst two episodes, butI would have rather seen Tom Holland’s Spider-Man meet one new character first.
Peter Parker Already Took On A Symbiote In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Symbiote Is Key To Peter Parker’s New Origin Story
While I would have loved to see theorigin story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Manfinally explored in the MCU, asCivil Warand 2017’sSpider-Man: Homecomingskipped over it, I was thrilled to finally see one version of this origin story brought to the screen inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.In this alternate reality, Peter Parker is ready to attend his first day at Midtown High School, but is interrupted by Doctor Strange coming through a portal while fighting a Symbiotic alien creature. Through this same portal comes the spider that fatefully bites Parker, beginning his adventure as Spider-Man.
The MCU’s Newest Spider-Man Origin Story Is Everything I Didn’t Know I Wanted
The MCU’s new look at Spider-Man’s origin story is almost nothing like I was expecting - but the series' unique approach to the story is a fun take.
The fact that this origin story is so different to the original version from Marvel Comics or the modernized interpretation from 2002’sSpider-Manand 2012’sThe Amazing Spider-Manmakes me question why Marvel Studios couldn’t show us the origin story of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. This could have also introduced some excitingSpider-Man-related characters, such as the Symbiotes, to the MCU, which would have solved a major problem I have withYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’sorigin story.The new Peter Parker has already battled a Venom-like being while Holland’s Spider-Man hasn’t been given this opportunity.
After 9 Years, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man STILL Hasn’t Battled Venom In The MCU
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Debuted In The MCU In 2016’s Captain America: Civil War
I loved seeing a Symbiote finally appear in the MCU, but I would have preferred it if Tom Holland’s Spider-Man had been the one facing it.Holland has been in the MCU for nine years now, and has become one of the franchise’s central heroes, but he still hasn’t come face-to-face with one of his best enemies. This is even despite the fact that Tom Hardy has been portrayingEddie Brock’s Venom in Sony’s Spider-Man Universesimultaneously with Tom Holland playing Spider-Man, and we even saw Eddie Brock briefly appear in the MCU’s Earth-616 inSpider-Man: No Way Home.
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Venom was one of the multiversal villains pulled into the MCU’s main continuity by Doctor Strange’s original botched spell inNo Way Home, but he was quickly sent back home in the mid-credits scene without ever battling Holland’s wall-crawler. I consider this a massive wasted opportunity, andI’m still waiting for Marvel to do something with the piece of the Venom Symbiote being left in the Mexican bar. It’s now been three years sinceNo Way Home, and there’s still no sign ofVenom in the MCU, allowingYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manto do it first.
How Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Symbiote Could Be Important To The Series
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s Symbiote Could Be Connected To Peter Parker’s Spider
Currently,we don’t know anything about the spider that bit Peter Parker inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, other than the fact that it came through the same portal as the Symbiote creature. Since the spider survived, I reckon upcoming episodes will explore its origin and what impact it will have on Peter Parker’s story, and I think this might connect to the Symbiote itself, perhaps revealing that the spider and the Symbiote come from the same dimension. This would giveYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’sPeter Parker a direct connection to Venom.
I’m glad to see a version ofSpider-Man finally meeting Venomand perhaps establishing a clear connection between the Symbiote and his heroic nemesis, especially after Sony’s Spider-Man Universe skirted round the fact for six years. This decision ultimately led to the demise of the SSU, butI’m surprised that not even Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has yet battled Venom, let alone established a connection between the Symbiotes and his origin story. I’m surprised Marvel Studios has already given its newest Spider-Man more substance than Tom Holland’s wall-crawler, but the MCU can soon rectify this.
When Could Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Finally Fight Venom?
Spider-Man & Venom Could Still Fight In The MCU
Since Marvel Studios already teased the existence of Venom in the MCU back inSpider-Man: No Way Home’smid-credits scene, the Symbiote can soon appear alongside Tom Holland’s Spider-Man.Tom Hardy’s version of Venom sacrificed himself to save Eddie Brock inVenom: The Last Dance, which means theMCU’s own version of Venomcan become the primary iteration of Venom in live-action. Venom might have spent the last three years rebuilding his entire body, since only a piece of him remained in the MCU, so I think he’s primed to reemerge very soon.
Why Tom Hardy’s Venom Is Not In The MCU
Spider-Man: No Way Home confirms Tom Hardy’s Venom isn’t part of the MCU’s future, and here’s why Sony’s big Venom 2 tease wasn’t paid off.
Tom Holland is billed to appear in a number of upcoming MCU projects, which presents a number of opportunities for his Spider-Man to battle Venom. Most notably,Venom may have a large role inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars, in which Spider-Man is expected to feature prominently. Venom would also make the perfect villain forDestin Daniel Cretton’s upcomingSpider-Man 4, which will release in 2026. AfterYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, I’m desperate to see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man take on Venom, and I’d prefer it to happen sooner rather than later.
