One weekend after web-swinging into theaters, Spider-Man: Brand New Day makes a compelling case that sometimes the best way forward is to look backward. I saw this film on opening day, and I have many thoughts. Those thoughts include spoilers.

Filmed practically by director Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and other combat-oriented films, Spider-Man: Brand New Day features action choreographed and performed by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team, particularly the standout fight against a group of martial artists.

Tom Holland was in the writers’ room this time, bringing even more of his perspective to Peter Parker. He has also confirmed that the new Brand New Day suit was deliberately designed as an homage to all three live-action Spider-Men, incorporating visual elements from Tobey Maguire’s, Andrew Garfield’s, and his own previous costumes.

Villains, Side-Kicks, and Mutants (Oh, my!)

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is packed with comic-book recreations.

• The Scorpion fight reproduces the dynamic pose from Spider-Man Adventures #2, especially the composition of Spider-Man and Scorpion locked in combat.

• Peter’s swinging pose while carrying a civilian recreates the cover of Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), Spider-Man’s very first comic-book appearance.

• The same extends to the opening montage of villains, including Boomerang, Ramrod, and Tarantula, whose introductions echo their comic counterparts. Source

Jon Bernthal returns as the Punisher, a character typically confined to R-rated stories, yet he never feels out of place in a PG-13 Spider-Man film. Bernthal and Tom Holland have excellent chemistry, undoubtedly helped by their long-standing real-life friendship. I have no notes on Bernthal’s performance. He lands every line, every scene, and every emotional beat 24/7…all the time.

My favorite panel-like still came during the three-way fight between Spider-Man, the Hulk, and the Punisher, with the Punisher on the ground, Hulk pursuing him, and Spider-Man pursuing Hulk. It looked as though it had been lifted directly from a comic-book page. Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk returns to his Savage Hulk roots, a welcome change after years of the more restrained Smart Hulk.

By now, you’ve probably heard who Sadie Sink is playing: a powerful psychic mutant who can jump into the minds of others, not only experiencing their thoughts but also possessing their bodies. Her origin story, including her sister Sara, is largely comic accurate, with the notable exception of Professor Xavier’s presence.

The telepath even inhabits MJ at one point, quickly appreciating her dark humor and intelligence. Her kiss with Spider-Man while inhabiting MJ echoes the iconic upside-down kiss between Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in the first Spider-Man film, which famously won Best Kiss at the MTV Movie Awards 2003.

Yelena Belova also makes a brief cameo, offering a glimpse into how the New Avengers seem to be prioritizing threats ("small potatoes" versus "big potatoes"). While it's a fun surprise, I'm still not entirely sold on continuing to use the Black Widow name for Yelena given how closely that identity was tied to Natasha Romanoff. The bathtub gag also didn't quite land for me.

Tramell Tillman, known for the show Severance, joins the MCU as William “Bill” Metzger, the head of Damage Control. The character is a deep-cut X-Men villain adapted for the MCU; in the comics, Metzger is an anti-mutant extremist who leads the Anti-Mutant Militia in X-Men: Children of the Atom (1999). Source

Marvel needs damage-control on Damage Control

The biggest disconnect for me was Peter’s relationship with Damage Control.

Spider-Man fails to see the obvious implications of his invention and Damage Control’s intentions. This felt like the Game of Thrones “Dany kind of forgot about the Iron Fleet” problem: Peter kind of forgot that Damage Control has been one of the defining institutions he’s been fighting against.

Damage Control began in the MCU as a government cleanup agency created after the first Avengers film and the Battle of New York.

• They took over salvage operations in Spider-Man: Homecoming and indirectly created the Vulture.

• By Spider-Man: No Way Home and Ms. Marvel, Damage Control had evolved into a more aggressive law-enforcement agency targeting enhanced individuals.

• Its appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine further reinforces the MCU’s growing theme of powerful organizations claiming to protect people while operating with questionable authority.

That history makes Peter’s trust in Damage Control’s intentions in Brand New Day feel questionable.

His relationship with them goes all the way back to Homecoming, when their takeover of salvaged alien technology created the conditions that turned Adrian Toomes into the Vulture. Then in No Way Home, they personally hunted Peter after Mysterio framed him for the London attack, treating him as a threat before the truth was established.

So why would this Peter Parker—who was personally pursued by Damage Control—not immediately see the potential danger?

If the film intended this as a commentary on Peter’s hopefulness or his tendency to believe he can use technology for good, it needed to make that conflict clearer. Otherwise, he risks seeming naïve rather than responsibly optimistic. The issue is not that Peter trusts people; that has always been one of his defining traits. The issue is that this specific organization has repeatedly shown him exactly why it should not be trusted.

Peter, MJ, and Ned

With Tom Holland and Zendaya now married in real life, it adds an interesting layer to the emotional weight of their on-screen reunion. Four years older and more mature, Peter and MJ’s dynamic has evolved beyond the teenage romance of the earlier films. MJ does not remember Peter, but she figures out that she used to know him. However, when Peter tries to rekindle their relationship, she responds with the simple truth that she cannot love someone she does not know.

Peter ends the film by introducing himself to Ned. After seeing that they are still naturally drawn to each other—especially through their shared connection while playing Star Wars Legos—it feels obvious that their friendship deserves another chance. The ending suggests that their relationship may rebuild naturally.

There is also an interesting unresolved thread from No Way Home:

• Ned’s family history hints at possible magical ancestry, including his grandmother’s comments about their family having a history of mysticism.

• Ned may have some connection to magic that could eventually allow him to remember Peter, similar to how he was able to interact with Doctor Strange’s sling ring.

• While not confirmed, it would be a fitting explanation for why Ned might recover memories erased by Strange’s spell.

Avengers: Doomsday / Secret Wars Setup

The post-credits scene placing Spider-Man off-planet at first made me wonder if it was a reference to Avengers: Doomsday, particularly given the expected role of incursions in that storyline. Another thought was that this could involve an alternate Spider-Man—such as Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield—arriving through an incursion. However, the connection may instead point toward Secret Wars and the possibility of Spider-Man being drawn into a Battleworld-style setting. Exciting stuff! 👀

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