Spider-Man’s 5 Most Essential Supporting Characters In Film

1. Aunt May

While she often gets overlooked, Peter Parker’s aunt is an essential character. No matter which universe you’re in, she is always sweet, caring, and she fiercely loves her nephew. After Peter and May lose Uncle Ben, they lean on each other for support. In the MCU, she even learns about Peter’s secret life as a superhero and tries to support him as best she knows how, even if she doesn’t always understand what he has to go through. While her age varies greatly depending on which universe you’re in, she is always Peter’s rock. Many tears were shed when the MCU killed her off.

2. Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, and Michelle Jones

Is it cheating to put three characters in one entry? Yes, but otherwise this list would be overtaken by love interests. Another constant in the Spidey film universes is that love will be a strong motivation behind Spidey’s actions, no matter who his love interest is. In the Sam Raimi trilogy, Mary Jane is beautiful, smart, and loyal. The Andrew Garfield and Into the Spider-Verse films have clever, resourceful Gwen Stacy, who is even a fellow superhero in the Spider-Verse films. Finally, the MCU has Michelle “MJ” Jones, who is tough and cynical, but has a good heart. It’s hard to pick out who is the best love interest, so let’s just say they’re all great.

3. Ned

Peter’s best friend from the Marvel Cinematic Universe films deserves more love. He is a loveable nerd to the core, and when he finds out that his best friend is a superhero, he just thinks that is the coolest thing in the world. He relishes in his role as “the guy in the chair,” who sends Peter information during his missions. It’s heartbreaking to think that he doesn’t remember being “the guy in the chair,” but maybe Brand New Day will find a way to undo that.

4. Harry Osborn

Another Peter Parker best friend in another universe, Harry is one of the most tragic characters in any of the Spider-Man film franchises. In the Sam Raimi movies, Peter is his best friend in the world, but he also harbors extreme anger at Spider-Man for killing his father. When he finds out they’re the same person, that sends his mind into a downward spiral. However, in the end, he sacrifices himself for Peter, in one of the most heartbreaking deaths in any Spider-Man movie. It’s a real shame that his character was so underdeveloped in the Andrew Garfield movies.

5. Peter Parker

What, why am I listing Spider-Man himself as a supporting character for Spider-Man? Well, in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movies, Peter serves as a mentor to Miles Morales, the new Spider-Man. Who better to mentor a young superhero than another superhero who knows the burdens of having to balance a regular life with a life of crime fighting? It’s a treat to watch the two Spideys bond. In addition, the MCU has Tom Holland’s Peter befriending the Peters from the other live-action film universes, and they make a great trio.

Conclusion

As we anticipate Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we can wonder how Peter will rebuild his life after the world forgot him. Will he get back together with MJ? Will MJ and Ned get their memories back? Rumor has it that Bruce Banner might even be a mentor for Peter. Spider-Man needs a rock of support from his friends, no matter the universe, so let’s see where he gets that rock in the next movie.