Marvel Doubles Down On A Controversial Change The MCU Made To Spider-Man In No Way Home
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 3, "Secret Identity Crisis."
Marvel Studios just repeated one of the most controversial Spider-Man changes from the MCU in the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series. Marvel dropped three new episodes of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on February 5, developing Peter Parker's evolving superhero career and new partnership with Norman Osborn against the backdrop of the Avengers' dispute over the Sokovia Accords. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 3, "Secret Identity Crisis," marked some huge changes for Peter Parker, both as Spider-Man and at home.
Just like in the MCU, Aunt May, voiced by Kari Wahlgren, plays a crucial role in Peter Parker's life in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Also similarly to the MCU, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man began after Uncle Ben's death, which means Aunt May and Peter Parker's relationship is even more important to explore. This took an even more emotional turn in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 3, which gave Marvel the opportunity to repeat one of Spider-Man: No Way Home's most controversial moments.
2025's Newest Spider-Man Story Doubles Down On No Way Home's Controversial Aunt May Decision
Aunt May Almost Repeated Her Iconic Line In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episode 3, Peter Parker returned home to find Aunt May packing up Uncle Ben's old belongings, noting that "sometimes things gotta get done, whether you want to do them or not."This was reminiscent of Marisa Tomei's Aunt May's "with great power" quote from Spider-Man: No Way Home, which was traditionally spoken by Uncle Ben in previous Marvel media. Gifting Aunt May this line in No Way Home was a controversial choice, and Marvel has now doubled-down on this decision in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Originally, it was Uncle Ben's murder at the hands of a villain Peter Parker refused to stop earlier that urged the wall-crawler to become a more heroic Spider-Man, taking on the responsibility of his great power. Spider-Man: No Way Home saw Aunt May killed by the Green Goblin, allowing her to deliver this line. While nobody died in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Aunt May's quote still urged Peter Parker to accept Norman Osborn's deal and become Oscorp's Spider-Man. Though the context of May packing up Ben's things makes this line more emotionally raw.
Why Marvel Keeps Giving Aunt May "Great Responsibility" Moments With Peter
Aunt May Is Pivotal To Peter Parker's Development In The MCU
Aunt May has been forced to step into this key position in Peter Parker's Spider-Man evolution primarily because Uncle Ben has already passed away in both the MCU's Earth-616 and the animated reality of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Uncle Ben usually plays a more prominent role in Spider-Man's story, but it has been great to see Aunt May fill his shoes in the MCU, though this has ended in tragedy for her in live-action. It seems Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man could head in the same direction.
Beyond filling Uncle Ben's shoes, Aunt May is also a huge influence on Peter Parker in her own right in Marvel Comics. This is especially true as she becomes his last surviving guardian after Ben's death, which occurs very early on in Peter Parker's career as Spider-Man. It's brilliant that Aunt May has had her time in the spotlight in the MCU and in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and she has proven time and again how much she deserves to deliver any version of the notable "with great power" quote.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
- Release Date
- January 29, 2025
- Network
- Disney+
- Writers
- Charlie Neuner
- Franchise(s)
- Spider-Man
Cast
Hudson ThamesPeter Parker / Spider-Man (voice)
May Parker (voice)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man follows Peter Parker as he navigates the complexities of heroism, facing a series of extraordinary challenges.
- Creator(s)
- Jeff Trammell
- Producers
- Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Pauer, Brad Winderbaum, Danielle Costa, Jeff Trammell
- Seasons
- 1
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