Warning: This article contains spoilers for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Proceed at your own risk.

Although Insomniac has stated they wanted to tell a story fans had never seen before with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it's clear that the developer took inspiration from a few of the Wall Crawler's most famous comics. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 incorporates a variety of different storylines that tie together its overarching plot while featuring Insomniac's version of characters like Dr. Curt Connors and Venom. Despite these deviations, there are some obvious allusions to the source material that form the basis for the game's plot.

The major story beats of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 follow the actions of the game's two key villains: Kraven and Venom. Although these two characters cross over occasionally in the Spider-Man comics, Spider-Man 2 incorporates enough other elements from their stand-alone comic appearances to weave together a unique story. However, Insomniac does a great job of paying homage to some of Spider-Man's most iconic comics, and fans of the hero will likely recognize where the inspiration for many of the game's story elements came from.

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Kraven's Last Hunt

Arguably the most memorable appearance of Kraven the Hunter is from the Kraven's Last Hunt storyline that began in Web of Spider-Man Vol 1 #31 and sees Kraven take on the mantle of Spider-Man, hunting down and killing many of the hero's most notable villains. Spider-Man 2 plays off of this storyline by having Kraven capture and kill villains like Scorpion and Vulture, even though he does so as himself and not as Spider-Man. Kraven's Last hunt ends when the Hunter is satisfied with his hunt and commits suicide, much like how Kraven accepts his death after being bested by Venom in Spider-Man 2.

Ultimate Spider-Man

Although the original appearance of the Venom symbiote in the comics occurs after Spider-Man finds the symbiote on Battleworld during the Secret Wars storyline, Ultimate Spider-Man offers an alternative origin story for the symbiote that more closely resembles Spider-Man 2's plot. In Ultimate Spider-Man, Eddie Brock is working to develop a "suit" with healing properties using the symbiote, and part of the symbiote ends up bonding with Peter while working with Brock to complete it. In Spider-Man 2, Eddie Brock is replaced by Harry Osborn, but the symbiote is used similarly as a treatment for Harry's illness before bonding with a near-death Peter.

Absolute Carnage

While Carnage does not directly appear in Spider-Man 2, he is referenced during The Flame side quest and the Absolute Carnage series serves as a major inspiration for some of the game's enemy types. Absolute Carnage follows the Dark Carnage Symbiote's invasion of New York, possessing New Yorkers and creating Carnage doppelgangers. This is referenced in Spider-Man 2's late game as the symbiote invasion creates hordes of enemies bonded to unwilling hosts that bear a similar spiral pattern on their heads as a sign that they are under the control of Knull, the symbiote progenitor.

The Amazing Spider-Man

The final act of Spider-Man 2 sees the creation of the Anti-Venom suit by mixing the White Energy Cells of Martin Li with the remaining symbiote cells left in Peter Parker. By doing this, Peter can turn the tide against Venom and the symbiote with the powers of Anti-Venom, and these powers are directly inspired by The Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 #569. In this comic, Martin Li uses his power to heal Eddie Brock's cancer but in the process, mixes some of Brock's symbiote cells with his own to become Anti-Venom, differing from how these events play out in Spider-Man 2.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Franchise

Spider-Man

Platform(s)

PS5

Released

October 20, 2023

Developer(s)

Insomniac Games

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Genre(s)

Open-World , Action-Adventure

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

20 Hours

Metascore

90

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Expand

$70 at Amazon