By: Dr. Michael Robinson | Communication Studies Professor
On March 18th, the long-awaited trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day dropped. The trailer broke internet records with 718.6 million views in a 24-hour period. In addition to hinting at social and love life complications from an amnesia spell cast in the previous Spidey film and worrisome body-horror hints of spider mutations to come.
Another thing became very clear in the trailer. Spider-Man is going to get in a lot of fights in this movie. How many? Here is a list of foes we saw in the trailer.
The Punisher
But wait, you say, the Punisher is a good guy. Is he? Well, he’s certainly an antihero. In fact, he was one of Marvel Comics’ earliest. Frank Castle’s introduction in Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1973) gave this brutal crimefighter about a six-month edge over Marvel’s most popular antihero, Wolverine. While on the same side of the law as Spidey, the Punisher’s lethal, heavy ordinance/high-calibre bullet approach to superheroics often puts him at odds with Spider-Man.
Bruce Banner
Another good guy! And in his human form to boot. But the presence of Banner always suggests the Hulk is just one angry moment away from a guy who is always angry. While a Spider-Man/Hulk match-up might be a bit too similar to the recent Captain America/Red Hulk throwdown in Captain America: Brave New World (2025), Spidey and the Hulk have battled in the comics before, and it is always a blast.
The mystery narrator
A mysterious narrator begins discussing the natural development of spiders, laying down some classic comic-book pseudoscience to set up fears of Peter Parker’s transformation. Who is this deep-voiced individual? Some parts of the trailer clearly reference “The Other,” a controversial storyline in which Peter Parker mutated to survive the fantastically powerful threat of Morlun. This foe essentially devours heroes with animal-based powers. He would definitely know about spider evolution.
I’m going to suggest another possibility. It’s a long-shot guess, but given the presence of the Punisher and the Tarantula in the trailer, I’m thinking that might also be the Jackal. This mean green foe of Spider-Man first set the Punisher on Spidey’s trail, had the Tarantula for a sidekick, and cloned his own Gwen Stacy (because he’s a creep) and his own Spider-Man. It would be just like the Jackal to mess around with Spidey’s DNA.
Whoever jumps bodies
We see a scene where a force jumps from the body of an elderly woman in a tank to a guard to another guard. Fans think this is a clear reference to Jean Grey’s MCU debut. I think it could also be a different take on the corruptive powers of Mister Negative or someone working on his behalf
A mystery person in a hoodie that we see from behind
I’m not sure who it is, but I sure hope it’s not a Ned Leeds’ Hobgoblin.
The Scorpion
He’s back from Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and this time he’s brought his infamous tail. About time too! The Scorpion is a classic brawling foe for Spidey. This baddie is none too bright, but he’s cunning and cruel.
Boomerang
Just a quick shot of him in the trailer. I don’t think we’ll see much of him. But trick boomerangs are always a fun supervillain weapon.
Tarantula
Appearing just five months after the Punisher, Tarantula is one of my favorite gimmicky supervillains. His schtick? Deadly spikes on his boots. Sometimes poisoned, always sharp, this pointy footwear looks silly but always proves dangerous. We probably won’t see much of him either, but he once horribly mutated into a giant spider-monster in the comics, so you never know.
Hand Ninjas
And just because this movie doesn’t have enough villains, let’s round things out with some ninja warriors from the Hand. Just ask Daredevil– these guys are always a problem. They also give some credence to a Mister Negative connection.
That’s a lot of fights. However, that’s right on brand for Spidey. Over the past six decades or so, there’s hardly anyone in the Marvel Universe that Spidey has not fought at some point or another. It’s just surprising to see them all in one film.
