Insomniac’sSpider-Manseries began in a pretty unique place. Rather than retell the Wall-Crawler’s origin for the hundredth time,Marvel’s Spider-Manstarts eight years into Spidey’s superhero career. At this point, Spidey has already fought a ton of villains, taken a lot of punches, and learned a lot of lessons. SettingMarvel’s Spider-Manmuch later than other previous adaptations allowed Insomniac to focus on the parts of Spidey’s rogue’s gallery that fans don’t get to see all that often, and the addition of Miles Morales was another brilliant creative decision, allowing Insomniac to show Peter Parker in a mentor role.
But Pete’s role in Insomniac’s universe might be coming to an end soon.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2endswith Pete taking a break from being Spider-Man, and letting Miles take the reins. An eventualMarvel’s Spider-Man 3is sure to pick up from there, and there’s a recent comic run that it might want to use for inspiration when it comes to Peter Parker’s future.
Peter Parker Deserves a Happy Ending in Marvel’s Spider-Man 3
Peter Parker Rarely Gets a Happy Ending
Throughout Spider-Man’s countless appearances over the last 63 years, the hero has referred to a unique brand of personal fate called “Parker Luck.” Just as things start to go well for Peter, and he feels as though his life is finally on track, something happens to throw it all back into chaos. This can be something simple like running out of web-fluid mid-jump, or something catastrophic like a villain finding out his secret identity.
But Parker Luck is just one of the ways in which Peter Parker is kept from getting his happy ending. Over the last few decades, Peter Parker has suffered and lost an absurd amount, and while the hero’s perseverance in the face of total disaster is a key element of the character, it means he can never be truly happy.Gwen Stacey dies in his arms, his marriage to MJ is bargained away by Mephisto, and the originalUltimate Spider-Mancomic run even sees Pete make the ultimate sacrifice at just 16 years old.
The New Ultimate Universe Paves a Way Forward for Marvel’s Spider-Man 3
But for the first time in decades, Peter Parker might have caught a break. Beginning in January 2024,Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s currentUltimate Spider-Manrunfinally gives Peter Parker the life he’s always wanted, and more importantly, the life he’s always deserved.
Kicking off with theUltimate Invasionevent, thisnew iteration of the Marvel Ultimate universesees most of the world’s superheroes being prevented from ever getting their powers. Peter Parker is one such hero, whose radioactive spider is caught by The Maker before it can bite him.
TheUltimate Spider-Manseries then opens with a 35-year-old Peter Parker at home with his wife, MJ, and his two kids, Richard and May. Though Pete is happy, he feels as though something is missing from his life, like he should have some greater purpose. He’s then given the chance to reclaim that purpose when he’s presented with the same spider from his youth.
Pete seizes the opportunity, and at the age of 35,becomes Spider-Man for the first time. As ofUltimate Spider-ManVol. 1, Pete is finally living the life fans have wanted him to for years. He’s married, he has kids, and though he has a few bruises from his fight with an exoskeleton-wearing Kingpin, he’s balancing it all pretty well. Of course, there’s the potential for it all to come crashing down, but at least for the moment, Peter Parker has been given his happy ending.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3should follow inUltimate Spider-Man’s footsteps, and let Peter Parker live out the life he deserves while Miles Morales and other potential Spider-People keep the city safe from harm.
