This article contains spoilers for the mid-credits scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home.The latest film starring everyone's favorite web-slinger, Spider-Man: No Way Home, has been in theaters for nearly a month now. And while it’s been a massive success with fans and critics alike, people are already hungry to see where the story of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will go next.
Naturally, the ending of No Way Home provides a good idea of what Spidey’s new status quo in the MCU looks like. But even so, it’s unknown exactly what action-packed adventures and vile villains Peter will face in the next phase of his hero’s journey. Here are just a few comic book storylines that Spider-Man’s next MCU trilogy could draw some inspiration from.
The Alien Costume Saga
One major clue towards the next Spider-Man film is, of course, the mid-credits scene of No Way Home, which features a remnant of the Venom Symbiote (as featured in the Tom Hardy Venom films) being left behind in the main MCU timeline. Needless to say, it won’t be surprising if Spidey’s next solo film adapts the black suit arc from the comics, much like Spider-Man 3 before it — which in turn could easily lead into the MCU receiving its own Venom.
Fans are already theorizing that Tony Revolori’s Flash Thompson or even Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan could become future hosts of the Venom Symbiote, much like they did in the comics. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the original Symbiote arc from the comics prominently featured the Fantastic Four in a supporting role. And with Jon Watts, the director behind Tom Holland’s first Spidey trilogy, set to help the MCU’s first FF feature, we could very well be seeing the Fantastic Four in the web-head’s next solo film as well.
The Death of Jean DeWolff
Another iconic storyline from the 80s, this arc by Peter David originally ran from Spectacular Spider-Man #107-110. True to its name, the story begins with NYPD Captain Jean DeWolff, an ally of Spidey’s, being gunned down in her sleep by a serial killer known as the Sin-Eater. But this is only the beginning of Sin-Eater’s reign of terror, and the more bodies he leaves in his wake, the more desperate Spider-Man becomes to stop him.
In fact, Peter becomes so consumed with vengeance that he nearly kills Sin-Eater, only sparing the killer’s life because Daredevil manages to bring him back to his senses. This arc is one of the first comic stories to build upon the friendship between Peter Parker and Matt Murdock, taking them from occasional allies to close comrades. While the Sin-Eater storyline may be too dark for an adventurous action flick, it’d still be great to see Spidey and Daredevil properly teaming up on the big screen — possibly against Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin.
Kraven’s Last Hunt
Yet another iconic arc from the 80s, this absolute masterpiece from writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck is without a doubt one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever told — not to mention one of the darkest. In this storyline, an unhinged Kraven the Hunter finally defeats Spider-Man in battle, then steals his costume and buries him alive. Kraven then dons the stolen costume and becomes a new, more brutal Spider-Man in order to finally surpass his nemesis. But eventually, Peter manages to crawl his way out of the grave, fueled by his love for MJ, and he returns to defeat Kraven.
This beloved story is a gripping character study of both Peter Parker and Kraven the Hunter, contrasting Peter’s kindhearted determination with Kraven’s twisted brutality. And like all great Spider-Man stories, it showcases how it’s Spidey’s compassion, not his strength, that makes him a true hero. With Kraven slated to receive a solo movie next year from Sony, it’s possible that he could be crossing paths with Spider-Man soon.
The Origin of the Hobgoblin
One last prominent 80s arc, this long-running storyline from writer David Michelinie introduced one of Spider-Man’s biggest enemies who has yet to appear on the big screen — the Hobgoblin. At first glance, Hobgoblin may seem like a second-rate knockoff of the Green Goblin, but his introductory storyline portrays him with a level of cunning and resourcefulness that give him an identity all his own. Norman Osborn was a sadistic showman, but the Hobgoblin is a tactician and a manipulator who works from the shadows, using pawns and decoys to hide his true identity.
At the climax of the long, drawn-out mystery, the Hobgoblin is finally unmasked as none other than Ned Leeds, one of Peter Parker’s closest friends. However, it would be revealed by Michelinie over a decade later that Leeds was yet another decoy, and that the original Hobgoblin was wealthy fashion designer Roderick Kingsley — Michelinie’s original idea for the man behind the mask, which was forcibly changed due to editorial interference. However, the initial reveal of Ned Leeds as the Hobgoblin stuck with fans, and it’s already being theorized that Jacob Batalon’s Ned could become the MCU’s Hobgoblin in the future. And while Ned certainly doesn’t seem like the supervillain type, stranger things have happened.