Comics That Inspired Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Highlights

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 draws inspiration from iconic comic storylines like Absolute Carnage and Kraven's Last Hunt .
The game showcases similarities between the characters of Miles Morales and Peter Parker and incorporates elements such as the Symbiote and its desire for Peter.
The influence of Knull, the king of Symbiotes, is evident in the game's storyline.

With the release of Marvel’sSpider-Man 2, comic readers and gamers alike can swing through New York City, and feel the inspirations taken from the comics and placed directly into the game. Whilst Marvel’sSpider-Man 2 holds its own stories and twists on iconic characters from the Marvel franchise, it’s easy to spot the comic storylines that inspired their decisions.

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Spider-Man has a longstanding with comic books, and the character easily features in some of the best Marvel comic stories of all time, so it’s no surprise that Insomniac Games has looked to this expansive mythos to help them craft their Spider-Man universe for their own game.

This article contains spoilers for Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

6 Ultimate Spider-Man

First Appearance: Ultimate Spider-Man #33
Creators: Brian Michael Bendis & Mark Bagley

There are a few interesting comparisons to be made with Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel’sSpider-Man 2. Firstly, Ultimate Spider-Man was the origin point for Miles Morales and the new Spider-Man, and it’s easy to see the similarities between the characters, even with how smart Peter Parker is from both sources. However, another important storyline from the Ultimate Spider-Man comics comes from Venom.

In Ultimate Spider-Man, the Symbiote was created to heal wounds, and cure and treat disease and illness, rather than being an alien that Peter Parker finds during Secret Wars. However, this suit becomes a bioweapon, and Peter quickly sees the damage it could cause. Another interesting note is the Symbiote’s desire for Peter Parker, as it leaves Eddie Brock helpless and begging for its return the moment it can latch onto Peter, just like how it does in Spider-Man 2.

5 Absolute Carnage

First Appearance: Absolute Carnage #1
Creators: Donny Cates & Ryan Stegman

Absolute Carnage is a fairly recent addition to the Marvel Comics, but one where the influence only feels right. There are many aspects of the Absolute Carnage comic that feel missing from Marvel’sSpider-Man 2, such as Green Goblin and Carnage combined into Red Goblin and other important comic characters that are absent in the game. However, one influence is clear, and that’s the fact that a Symbiote has created an invasion of New York City.

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The Dark Carnage Symbiote has infected New York, and anyone it comes across will be turned into a Carnage Doppelgängers. The city is in total chaos as the Symbiotes grow in strength and numbers. There’s even a resurrection of Scream, a Symbiote character seen later in Marvel’sSpider-Man 2. Hopefully, the game has more stories for Venom, especially since Absolute Carnage, and perhaps Marvel’sSpider-Man 2, awoke Knull, God of Symbiotes.

4 King In Black

First Appearance: King In Black #1
Creators: Donny Cates & Ryan Stegman

The Spider-Man mythos was forever changed with the introduction of Knull. Knull’s influence is everywhere, from the powers of Gorr the God Butcher to the creation of all Symbiotes. The most notable aspect of Knull from Marvel’sSpider-Man 2 comes from the spiral seen on the Venom meteorite, and on the humans that have been infected by other Symbiotes. Knull is the king of the hivemind, and after Absolute Carnage, Knull awoke to further his conquest for destruction and darkness, requiring Spider-Man's help from friends and other Marvel heroes.

Since Marvel’sSpider-Man 2 had Venom attempt to “heal the world” with his meteorite, and an infection of New York City, this doing is perhaps at the request of Knull. The King In Black storyline was a Marvel event that saw the world almost end due to a Symbiote threat, and hopefully, this means more Symbiote stories for a potential Marvel’sSpider-Man 3.

3 Kraven’s Last Hunt

First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man #31
Creators: J.M. DeMatteis & Mike Zeck

Whilst Kraven has served as a primary antagonist to Spider-Man for decades in the comics, he only gets to have a fight with Spider-Man once in Marvel’sSpider-Man 2. Their origin and battle might have been fun, but lacking in the long run. However, this fight and Kraven’s fate are very much inspired by Kraven’s Last Hunt, which sees Kraven return to New York City for one last bout with Spider-Man.

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In Kraven’s Last Hunt, Kraven is dying. He declares that he will kill Spider-Man and take his place, only for a time. Kraven takes up the mantle of Spider-Man, and by capturing the one villain that bested Spider-Man, he reveals that Spider-Man was only in a medically induced coma for 2 weeks. He declares that he will never hunt again, and kills himself, contempt that he has untangled his anger. In Marvel’sSpider-Man 2, Kraven is also dying but wishes to be bested in combat by a superior hunter, which he finds from the Venom Symbiote.

2 The Amazing Spider-Man #569

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #569
Creators: Dan Slott & John Romita Jr.

Whilst just a singular issue in the comics, Amazing Spider-Man #569 is noted for being the first appearance of Anti-Venom, and it’s clear how Insomniac Games used this story for their own game. Whilst Eddie Brock may not be in the game, his presence in this comic is essential, and as he holds onto the remains of a dying Venom Symbiote, it is only through being touched by Martin Li that his cancer is cured, and the Symbiote transforms into Anti-Venom.

The origins of Anti-Venom come directly from the comics, except Martin Li didn’t lose his powers as Mister Negative. Anti-Venom is essential to Spider-Man 2, and Peter Parker takes up this mantle, with traces of Venom still inside him to help turn him back into the hero who wields the Symbiote for good with no corruption.

1 The Spider’s Shadow

First Appearance: Spider-Man: The Spider's Shadow #1
Creators: Chip Zdarsky & Pasqual Ferry

A more indirect influence, The Spider’s Shadow was a What If? storyline, an alternative universe telling in which Peter Parker never removed the Symbiote, and he would eventually succumb to his fate as Venom. The Spider’s Shadow shows the terrors of the Symbiote and the effect it has on Peter Parker’s mental state, his powers, and what it does to his relationships.

The struggle with addiction and dependency on this power makes for a horrific Spider-Man comic that has the hero succumb to the influence of Venom, and begin murdering his villains. This comic is clearly a reference point for Insomniac Games, as Peter becomes more aggressive the longer he uses the Black Suit, to the point where Venom tries to influence him to start killing.