We all know superhero origin stories are tragic by nature. The good guys often need to lose someone so that they can be pushed to put on a suit and go out into the city to prevent others from experiencing such a grim fate. At this point, it isn't far-fetched to say that this is a bit of an unspoken rule in comic-book media. However, few characters have endured as much as Spider-Man himself.
The friendly neighborhood hero already had an entire trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which means he has had the opportunity to grow and become a better protector... at the cost of losing many people around him. So now that the fourth installment of his saga has been released, fans were eager to discover whether any previous tragic events would still have an influence on the character's story, and it turns out that was exactly the case. Spider-Man: Brand New Day features the appearance of a dead Marvel legend during a key and pivotal moment of the film.
But before we break down how exactly this character was brought back, be warned: there will be MAJOR spoilers for Spider-Man: Brand New Day ahead. If you don't want any surprises ruined, it's best to come back after you've watched the wall-crawler's latest adventure.
Peter Parker sees a big figure from his past in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Aunt May is one of the most important figures in Peter Parker's life, so it comes as no surprise that she has an important role to play in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It doesn't matter that she bit the dust in the events of No Way Home; May is once again instrumental when it comes to pointing Peter in the right direction and saving the day in the latest MCU blockbuster.
Many fans have theorized that a new iteration of Jean Grey would make her live-action debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and insiders have also reported on the news. As such, it didn't come as a surprise when Sadie Sink's character was eventually revealed to be one of the most powerful mutants ever created.
From the get-go, we see how Jean is able to get inside people's minds to control them and, most importantly, see their memories. In a heartbeat, Jean could learn everything there is to know about someone: their dreams, hopes, losses, and fears. She then uses this information to try to be two steps ahead of anyone who stands in her way, and it just so happens that Spidey is among the group of people who are doing everything in their power to stop her (at first, at least).
During the first act of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jean immediately tries to enter Peter's head and discover more about his life, but she's almost immediately kicked out by the wall-crawler. However, Jean manages to catch a glimpse of a conversation between him and Aunt May, and it isn't until the third act that audiences finally get to see the payoff to this sequence.
Near the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, things go horribly sideways, and Jean is able to "take hostage" everyone within a 1km radius using her telepathic powers. At that moment, Peter puts his guard down and lets her enter his mind and witness the full conversation between him and May. At that very moment, audiences finally get to see what happened after the end of Homecoming, when she discovered her nephew is Spider-Man.
May tells Peter that things are about to change for him and that his responsibility is to keep in mind two important things. First, people love him for who he is, and not the powers or special abilities he has. Second—and perhaps most importantly—his position is bound to be a huge burden that may lead him to feel alone sometimes. However, there's no need for him to go down this path alone.
Jean is able to relate to May's words of wisdom, and it is thanks to this that she stops using her powers and decides not to kill countless people in the process. It's a beautiful moment that makes audiences remember how instrumental May is in Peter's life and how she has shaped the hero behind the mask.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now out in theaters.
Add us as a preferred source on Google