Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is back, and he’s getting ahead of himself

By GEO CABRAL

When Spider-Man was revealed to appear in Captain America: Civil War, there were many
things to be excited about. The most obvious thing is that Spider-Man is finally going to be involved in
this big cinematic universe Marvel is creating for themselves; it’s what everyone’s been asking and
hoping for. Second is that they casted someone that’s actually young, and portrays Peter Parker as a high
school student, in the truest sense, as compared to those before him. And third, they were able to capture
that classic comic relief that Spidey has. It’s safe to say that when “Spider-Man Homecoming” was
announced, fans were excited to see more of our favourite web slinger. And the movie didn’t disappoint.

Spider-Man Homecoming is a nice little look into Peter Parker’s life, after almost eight months
of becoming Spider-Man, and two months since the events of Civil War. It really feels like it’s taking
us on a journey, as a young Spider-Man continues to try and make a name for himself, bigger than his
reputation in Queens. It’s understandable why he feels this way, since this version of Spidey now exists in
a world where he isn’t the only superhero, and certainly not the most experienced one. After a taste of
what it’s like “playing in the big leagues” when he got to fight Captain America and his team, he’s ready
for more. He becomes impatient, overconfident, and reckless, but not in the way that he’s incredibly sure
of himself, but exactly the opposite, clinging almost desperately to the Spider-Man identity in order to
become more than what he is with his life as Peter Parker.

This is the version of Peter Parker that makes Tom Holland’s portrayal the most relatable out of
all that’s taken the mantle. What we need to remember is that Peter Parker is a young high school student,
who’s a bit awkward and geeky. Those are what make up the character of Peter Parker. Toby Maguire as
Peter was awkward in that cute kind of way that only kind of works. Andrew Garfield’s version was
awkward sure, but was a bit cocky and full of angst. But Tom Holland nails the character, portraying him
as someone who is geeky and awkward but kind of owns it, but at the same time wishes to be seen as
someone more, just like your average teenager.

And that’s the great thing about this portrayal of Spider-Man; it shows us what it might really be
like if you were a teenager, living in a world of super heroes, and you got some powers of your own.
While it’s true that Peter spends the entirety of the movie concerned with taking down the Vulture
(Michael Keaton), the movie becomes comedic and relatable as he has to deal with his other big problem
as well – being a teenager. He has to deal with homework, classes, and the clubs he’s part of (as shown
when he tells his academic decathlon team that he’s not coming to the competition in case Mr. Stark
needs him for his internship). He deals with crushing on girls, homecoming, house parties, being
unpopular. He deals with his different friends, the most notable of which is his friend Ned Leeds (Jacob
Batalon), who becomes his “guy in the chair,” helping him with his computer skills. We get a slice-of- life
kind of movie with Spider-Man Homecoming, as it shows Peter’s life as a teenager, high school
student, and as our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

All in all, the movie was great. I really feel like Tom Holland might not just have the best
portrayal of Spider-Man to date, but of Peter Parker as well, and I’m excited to see more of him in the
next instalments in the MCU.