“The bravest thing you can do is to ask for help. This is what Peter Parker’s been learning throughout this movie.”

– Tom Holland

Tom Holland growing with his character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man spotlights the humanity of superheroes. He has aged into this role, and understands more than anyone how loneliness and responsibility can affect a powerful hero. 

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we move past the portrayal of superheroes as stoic and arrogant, and approach a relatable and sensitive portrayal of having powers. This new strategy allows viewers to escape into the story more realistically and connect with the character empathetically.

The superhero who still feels human

After being shot, Peter Parker’s near death experience finally helps him realise that he has an entire community supporting him, praying for his health. Jean Grey actively helping him breathe when his body has given up shows us that community is the most important factor in survival. 

The people of New York come together to support an anonymous superhero they don’t know because they see the humanity in Spider-Man when Peter doesn’t see it in himself. They see the sacrifices he makes for their city, with bloody hands and black and blue eyes. There is humanity in bleeding and feeling, despite it also being expected of a superhero.

“This movie is a cautionary tale of living a life alone” 

– Tom Holland

We see how the struggle of juggling the personas of Peter Parker and Spider-Man affects Peter. He believes that losing one part of himself means losing every part of himself. 

The arachnid taking over Peter’s mind and body becomes an analogy for mental health controlling his life. The erasure of Peter Parker from the memories of his loved ones leads to him putting all his effort into his identity as Spider-Man; but one cannot exist without the other, as he later finds out. 

What makes Spider-Man such a relatable character is the honesty of Peter Parker: a young man who also lives an ordinary life and walks the path everyone else does. His true superpower is making people feel like they can be an ordinary person and a hero simultaneously. 

You don’t have to look like him to relate to his struggles. Behind the mask is every person who has ever felt like they couldn’t do it, but did.

“Are you Spider-Man or Peter Parker?” “I am both.”

The message of the latest film is, ultimately, to keep going; it is a reminder that a brand new day will always come, and the chance to be better will always arrive. 

Despite not knowing how to move on, the opportunity will always be there for you to take. Though the past is a strong force that can hold you back, with every decision and action weighing on you as the days go on, this movie is a reminder that the past will never define you. 

What defines you is what you do moving forward: taking the ‘brand new day’ that comes and utilising it to control your own narrative. 

Peter Parker represents every individual in any stage of life that feels the terrifying weight of change, experiencing loss so unexpected it becomes detrimental to one’s health. Life keeps moving and time doesn’t negotiate. However, you can still make mistakes, get overwhelmed and have no idea what to do. What matters most is that you get up the next day and keep going, like Peter does.

“The people who love you, love you not because you’re special, we love you because you’re you.”

– Aunt May

There will always be different versions of us, like there are different versions of Peter Parker, and each one continues to make it to the next day despite not knowing what to do.

Images: via Pinterest and ANSHUMEEL.