Spider-Man’s Fantastic Four Link Prevents Phase 6 From Repeating An Iron Man Problem

In Spider-Man 4 and future MCU installments, Peter Parker’s closest Fantastic Four ally can help him avoid repeating the same kind of relationship he had with Iron Man. After Peter Parker lost nearly everything he held dear at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he finds himself forced to start from scratch as the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Spider-Man no longer has access to Iron Man’s tech and resources, and he can’t simply contact the Avengers if he needs help now that his identity is a secret once again.

Spider-Man will continue to fight crime and protect New York in the MCU’s upcoming Spider-Man4, and he can join forces with any MCU hero or anti-hero if their paths were to cross. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm make their debut in Phase 5’s Fantastic Four, opening the gate for a shared adventure between Spider-Man and Marvel’s First Family. In Marvel Comics, Spider-Man has developed a special relationship with the Fantastic Four, who have welcomed him as part of the family and even accepted him as a member of the team on more than one occasion.

Spider-Man Can’t Repeat Iron Man’s Friendship With Mr. Fantastic

Spider-Man Has Grown Past The Need For An MCU Mentor

Although seeing Spider-Man and Reed Richards develop a close friendship in the MCU is an exciting possibility, their potential father-son dynamics would risk resembling Iron Man’s reluctantly paternal relationship with Spider-Man too much. Tony Stark helped Peter Parker grow into his superhero persona across Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Avengers: Infinity War. After Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man matured both as a superhero and as a human being. If he still needed a mentor like Iron Man or Mr. Fantastic, it would seem like Spider-Man never learned how to be an independent hero.

However, that doesn’t mean Spider-Man can’t befriend other MCU heroes, including the Fantastic Four. Spider-Man usually trusts the Fantastic Four so much that he confides his secret identity to them. In fact, Peter Parker reveals his identity to the Fantastic Four after wishing to erase it from everybody’s memories following the events of Marvel Comics’ One More Day storyline, which inspired Doctor Strange’s memory-wiping spell in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Eventually, Tom Holland could have the same level of trust in the MCU’s Fantastic Four, especially with one of his lifelong best friends, Johnny Storm.

Why The Human Torch Is Spider-Man’s Best Possible MCU Ally

Peter Parker And Johnny Storm Are Equals

Instead of focusing on Reed Richards’ father-son relationship with Spider-Man, Spider-Man 4 and future MCU installments could develop Peter Parker’s friendship with Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch. Spider-Man and the Human Torch have a long history together in the source material, having been close friends for at least five real-life decades and many in-universe years. Unlike Harry Osborn or Deadpool, Johnny Storm has rarely had a falling out with Spider-Man, let alone tried to kill him. In fact, Spider-Man took the Human Torch’s place in the Fantastic Four when Johnny Storm died, creating the Future Foundation.

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Most importantly, Spider-Man’s friendship with the Human Torch is one of equals. Peter Parker and Johnny Storm are both brave, easy-going heroes with their fair share of self-doubt, which motivates them to support each other through tough times. A friendship with a fellow superhero who has the same humorous and optimistic outlook on life would create a fresh dynamic for Peter Parker, as well as an organic way to take both characters deeper into the MCU’s lore. Eventually, Spider-Man’s complete MCU timeline could then comprise his time as Iron Man’s pupil, the Human Torch’s partner, and possibly Miles Morales’ mentor.

Which MCU Characters Can Fill Iron Man’s Role In Spider-Man’s Next MCU Trilogy

Many MCU Characters Could Be Spider-Man’s Next Anchor To The Wider Franchise

The Human Torch is a strong candidate for Spider-Man’s next MCU ally, but he’s not the only character who could be Spider-Man 4‘s secondary superhero. For instance, Spider-Man has fought both against and alongside Sam Wilson and Scott Lang. These two Avengers have enough experience to help Spider-Man face off against a powerful villain, but not enough to overshadow him the way Tony Stark or Steve Rogers would. Following the departure of the original Avengers team, a shared adventure between Spider-Man and another established Avenger could help pave the way for Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Otherwise, Spider-Man could first join forces with less powerful, street-level heroes like Daredevil and the Defenders. If Spider-Man faces a grounded villain the likes of Kingpin, Scorpion, or Hammerhead, these vigilantes would be the ideal supporting cast for Spider-Man 4, not only because of their abilities, but also due to their already established role in the MCU’s criminal underground. Even an anti-hero like the Punisher, who made his original comic book debut in a Spider-Man issue, would shake up the dynamics between Spider-Man and the MCU figures he has shared the screen with.