9 years later, Spider-Man still can’t break from the MCU’s most divisive Peter Parker tradition
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man films have maintained a divisive tradition for nine years: equipping Peter Parker with an AI assistant. This pattern, which began in Spider-Man: Homecoming, continues in the latest film Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
In Brand New Day, Peter finds himself increasingly isolated. Following Aunt May’s death in the previous film and a memory-erasure spell cast by Doctor Strange, Peter has lost contact with his friends. His primary social interactions are limited to conversations with NYPD detective Jean DeWolff, typically centered on criminal cases, and dialogue with E.V., his AI assistant.
The inclusion of AI companions in MCU Spider-Man films represents a point of contention within the fanbase. The tradition originated with Tony Stark’s design of Peter’s suit before evolving further in Homecoming. The persistent presence of these AI assistants has become a defining—and controversial—characteristic of this iteration of Spider-Man across multiple installments.