Spider-Man: Brand New Day's best nods to the comics, explained

Spider-Man: Brand New Day was released yesterday in the United States and MCU fans are rushing to theaters to witness Peter Parker swinging through New York City, experience crossover moments, and much more. People who have read the comic story can connect with the film because it honors the original in ways Marvel films haven't done much lately.

The newest Spider-Man film makes comic fans happy because it contains hidden fun details and references that everyone can enjoy. The movie has plenty of obvious nods to Marvel Comics that most fans will recognize. At the same time, it hides small Easter eggs that only sharp-eyed viewers will catch. If you want to explore how the film connects to the comics, this is a great place to start.

Continue reading more about the comic book references used in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

MCU's X-Men tease via Jean Grey

Jean Grey from Marvel Comics (Image via Marvel)

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jean Grey is shown differently than in the comic book. On screen, she sometimes appears as the main villain, which is unusual because Jean is usually portrayed as a hero in the comics.

In the final scenes, the film also hints at her future by showing her traveling toward upstate New York. This detail strongly suggests she may soon be connected to Westchester and the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, fulfilling her comic storyline. Thus, Daniel Cretton is trying to insert the character into the MCU’s upcoming X-Men storyline.

In the comics, Jean Grey is one of the founding members of the X-Men and is always portrayed as a heroic figure. Her comic story includes a sister named Sarah, who eventually dies, which adds to Jean’s family background but does not define her role in the X-Men.

Unlike the film’s antagonist portrayal, the comic version of Jean is central to the team’s identity and is known for her mutant powers and her struggles with them, especially the Phoenix storyline.

Peter Parker's mutation

During the 2000s, Spider-Man’s comic stories became some of the boldest and most experimental narratives in the history of the MCU. One major example was a crossover titled 'The Other', where Peter Parker began to grow and change in ways readers had never seen before. Similarly, the movie shows the exact narrative but in a different way.

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter starts to show stronger spider-like powers, instincts, and behaviors. As a result, these extraordinary skills make him unique among others and move him further away from his human combat and fighting abilities.

The comic showed that Spider-Man died and then came back to life. In the film, those changes only gave hints to the audience. However, the similarities between the two stories are still very clear.

The crossover scene: The Hand from Daredevil appears in Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The Punisher crossover in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Image via Marvel)

The film also used The Hand's narrative from the comic book in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The ninja clan is usually recognized for battles with Matt Murdock/Daredevil, but they have also fought Spider-Man on several occasions. In the comic, Spider‑Man faced The Hand while helping Daredevil, but the film presents a different setup.

Many MCU fans who have read the comic book thought that Charlie Cox would appear in the film as Daredevil but he didn't appear. Instead, the film showed the ninja clan as opponents against Spider‑Man.

The film clearly takes inspiration from comic arcs such as the crossover Omega Effect with Daredevil, New Avengers, Punisher, Spider‑Man, and the debated Shadowland saga.