Insomniac’s Spider-Man games carved out a unique niche from the start. Instead of revisiting Spider-Man’s early days, they dropped players into the middle of Peter Parker’s life as the web-slinger, eight years into his career. By this time, he had battled numerous foes and learned many lessons. This approach gave Insomniac the freedom to explore villains and storylines beyond the familiar origin tales. Introducing Miles Morales further enriched the story, allowing players to see Peter transitioning into a mentorship role.
However, Peter’s adventures might soon take a backseat. At the conclusion of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Peter decides to step away from his Spider-Man duties, passing the torch to Miles. This sets a promising stage for Marvel’s Spider-Man 3, which could explore new directions, perhaps drawing inspiration from recent comic book arcs to shape Peter Parker’s future.
Peter Parker’s life, as portrayed across various mediums over the years, has rarely been smooth sailing. The concept of “Parker Luck” embodies his constant struggle—whenever things seem to be going well, something inevitably goes wrong. In many stories, whether he’s battling a villain or experiencing personal turmoil, Peter finds himself facing significant challenges and losses, from witnessing the tragic death of Gwen Stacy to losing his marriage to darker forces.
Amidst all of Peter’s trials, there might finally be a glimmer of hope for him to find balance and tranquility. In the latest run of Ultimate Spider-Man by Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, we see a radically different side of Peter’s life. This series reimagines a world where Peter never became Spider-Man as a teenager. Instead, a mishap prevents the spider from biting him, leaving Peter to lead a seemingly ordinary life.
Fast forward to a 35-year-old Peter who is now married to Mary Jane and has two kids. Although he feels a sense of purpose lacking in his life, fate hands him a second chance to become Spider-Man. This time, he embarks on his heroic journey later in life, balancing his superhero responsibilities with family commitments. So far, this new storyline offers Peter the fulfilling life he never quite managed before, blending his personal joys with his superhero duties.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 could take cues from this narrative, allowing Peter to find happiness and stability, while characters like Miles Morales continue keeping the city safe. By letting Peter enjoy a well-deserved peaceful life, while still contributing to the fight against evil, the series could explore new storytelling dimensions in future games.
