Spider-Man swings his way to the top of Marvel Universe
Ambitious plans are in store for the popular superhero
There’s a scene in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” — you’ll know it when you see it — that harkens back to the origins of Marvel’s signature superhero.
When created in 1962 by the late Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Peter Parker was a nerdy teenager with plenty of smarts but unsure of himself. His amazing powers only complicated things. It’s hard enough for teenagers just trying to figure out life. It’s always felt as if Peter’s troubles piled on top of each other.
So when this scene pops onto the screen, it encapsulates most of what you need to know about Spidey, played wonderfully by Tom Holland for the fifth time on the big screen. He’s made a mess of things, but his powers can help fix them.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s obvious there are big plans for Peter and his alter ego. Rumors are rampant “Far From Home” was just the second of what could be nine stand-alone films. The rumored plan is one more with Peter in high school, three of him in college, and another trilogy of him as an adult.
That’s an ambitious plan for Disney-owned Marvel Studios and Sony — partners on this film and its predecessor, 2017’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” — but with Holland and others on board, it makes sense for the studios to think big. Holland as Spider-Man is Marvel’s biggest star going forward — much the same way Robert Downey Jr. was as Tony Stark/Iron Man for the first decade of the MCU.
The “Blip” — as it’s called in “Far From Home” — revives all who were dusted, and that includes Peter and his friends Ned (Jacob Battalion) and MJ (Zendaya). It all gets explained.
Just understand that for Peter, it’s a trying time. He misses his mentor, Tony, but now — while on a European vacation — new threats arise. An alliance is formed with Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). In typical fashion that dates back to the Lee/Ditko years, the character has good intentions trying to stop the threats, but he messes it up pretty good.
There to lend a helping hand, encouraging words and direction is Stark’s best friend, Happy Hogan, played by Jon Favreau. It’s a beautiful scene between Happy and Peter. The encouraging words jumpstart it, but it’s a simple look by Hogan — no words are needed — that tells fans and moviegoers all they need to know about this universe.
It’s in the hands of Spider-Man now. It only seems fitting, right? Tony Stark’s glasses, which are teased big time in the trailers, are important to the plot in “Far From Home.” Technology has been a connective bridge between Tony and Peter, and that continues in the scene. There’s nothing subtle about the changing of the guard, as AC/DC’s “Back in Black” — featured in the beginning of 2008’s “Iron Man” — is played.
When Downey Jr. starred as Tony in that first “Iron Man,” it kicked off the MCU, but there were questions. The character was seen as B-level at best, but the actor’s talent, charisma and charm took Iron Man to Alevel status.
Spider-Man has never been B-level at any point, but as the MCU began, the rights to the character were exclusively at Sony Pictures. That’s all changed. Sony and Marvel Studios share Spidey, and fans should rejoice.
It’s not exactly clear where the wall-crawler goes from here — a post-credit scene is must-watch — but there is no doubt SpiderMan will be a force in the MCU going forward.