There are certain milestones in comic books that every character hopes to achieve. Getting a mini-series is the first thing that standout characters should hope to accomplish after debuting in a series. If they’re popular enough, an ongoing series is the next step. Then, it’s up to the creative and promotional teams to make the lead successful. Some characters skip the process and become immediate stars, and one of them is Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Since making his debut in Amazing Fantasy No.15, Spider-Man has been one of the most recognizable characters in any genre for many reasons. He’s funny, heroic, relatable because he’s far from perfect, and incredibly humble. Fast-forward 64 years later and the Wall Crawler is still one of Marvel’s high-selling comic book characters and properties regardless of the universe he’s in.
Marvel Comics has been pushing the 1000th issue of Amazing Spider-Man with social media posts announcing its release date and various variant covers by some of the industry’s best artists. Among those artists are Pepe Larraz, Mark Bagley, and the legendary Alex Ross. As important as all of that is, the series needs to stick the landing. Thankfully, there’s no doubt that writer Joe Kelly will do a masterful job with this groundbreaking issue, especially after seeing what happened in the issue leading up to it.
Spider-Man’s Greatest Test Could Come Ahead Of Ultimate Milestone
Uncle Ben and Aunt May stand in front of Peter Parker in Spider-Man issue #1000 cover
One of the themes in Joe Kelly’s Amazing Spider-Man is Peter Parker’s relationship with his Aunt May Parker. Thanks to insecurities and more Spider-Man shenanigans than normal, Peter has been forced to cancel his many engagements with her. She always understands her nephew’s flakiness, but even she has her limits. Rather than wait for him to tell her what’s going on, she confronts him at his house.
For the first time, Peter is honest with May and admits that he is self-conscious now that her “real” son, Cormac “Mac” Crane, is in the picture. She says that it’s good having Mac in her life, but he is the son she always wanted. It was such a heartwarming moment that after May left, Raelith hugs Peter and says, “Disappoint Aunt May and I will break your spine.”
Right after this, Spider-Man has to help Ghost-Spider (Gwen Stacy of Earth-65) get away from Damage Control after she blacked out, or someone took control of her body. It leaves a wedge between Spidey and his new partner (and member of Damage Control) Agent Griffyn, but it’s nothing he can’t handle.
Sadly, as Spider-Man is justifying his action, he gets a call from Mac, who says that May had a stroke. Now, that is something Peter can’t handle with all of the spider powers in the world.
What Will Happen To Aunt May In Issue #1000?
It wouldn’t be a milestone issue if something tragic didn’t happen to Peter Parker. In Amazing Spider-Man #500, Peter had to fight through his past battles to get to the present. Doctor Otto Octavious took over Peter’s body during issue #700. What do we have to look forward to now? Is it possible that, after years of close calls, that Aunt May will die? That is absolutely an option, but not in issue 1000.
Marvel’s description for Amazing Spider-Man #1000 says that Aunt May is caught in the middle of whatever is going on between Peter and his new villain Ravage. That could mean that her fate depends on whatever happens between the two superpowered beings. However, her death isn’t likely. The probable outcome is Aunt May learning that her nephew has spider powers.
Friendly Neighborhood Assessment · MCU Era Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Trivia
🏠Homecoming2017
✈️Far From Home2019
🌌No Way Home2021
😈VillainsSinister…
🤖MCUAvengers
01
Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?
✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.
02
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?
✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.
✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.
03
Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?
✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.
04
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?
✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.
05
In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?
✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.
06
With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?
✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.
07
Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?
✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.
✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”
08
At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?
✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.
✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.
Assessment Complete Your Spider-Sense Rating
/ 8
Are you an Avenger — or just a friendly neighborhood bystander?
If there was going to be a big change in the life of Spider-Man and Peter Parker, it would make sense for his identity to be revealed to May. It’s the perfect way to help her recover from her stroke and understand why Peter’s been flaky. If that doesn’t happen, then maybe Ric Bernal learns the truth and starts giving Pete some grace. Either way, all will be revealed when Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is released on September 30.
First Appearance
Amazing Fantasy
Alias
Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
Alliance
Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
