Cody LeBlanc

Swinging in action

Evolution of Peter Parker  

Over the years there have been three live-action movie adaptations of Spiderman starring Tobey Mcguire, Andrew Garfield, and now the new Spiderman which is Tom Holland. These very talented actors have been receiving as much love for their work in the film production as your well-known Spiderman. Now, there’s only one question that many people have debated: who is your favorite Spiderman? Let’s Look deeper into Spiderman and which is the best over the years.

 Tobey Mcguire -Original Spiderman

Tobey Mcguire the original Spiderman took action in Sam Raimi’s (2002) Spiderman film. This film has shown a significant turning point in the Marvel Studios’ superhero movies, Spiderman (2002) has blended action, humor, and even emotional events. McGuire’s role as Peter Parker captured the character’s qualities and traits. Tobey Mcguire has shown many character traits to create a sense of understanding of how Peter Parker is going to act in the movies According to Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) “Peter Parker has shown to be awkward, vulnerable, brave, and great responsibility, Since the death of his beloved Uncle Ben, Peter’s vow of responsibility had led him to a path of heroism”.

The Trilogy, which includes Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007)  was also praised for its development of the character Peter Parker and the emotions of the storytelling in the movie, with the iconic scenes of the first Spiderman movies with Tobey Mcguire and the emotional character development like Tobey’s first web-slinging experiences and his battles with villains like Green Goblin and Dr. Octopus which set a high standard for superhero films.

Andrew Garfield- Modern Take 

Spiderman in 2012 with Andrew Garfield taking the new role in The Amazing Spiderman. Garfield’s performance introduced new edgier characteristics of Peter Parker, According to chsbleuprint  Andrew Garfield was announced as “more charming, witty, and physically capable.” This film aimed to modernize the superhero movie and give a deeper understanding of Peter Parker’s backstory, like his relationship with his parents. Another dynamic the movie brings is the start of a romance between Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone also known as (Gwen Stacy) in the movie.

The two lovers got a nice fresh romantic dynamic to the series. Their emotional weight to their relationship brought depth to the story, especially in Spiderman 2 (2014) which included glimpses of joy and tragedy. Although the film’s mixed reviews, Garfield’s performance was often praised for his determination and emotional connection. In contrast to Maguire’s honest version of Peter, many fans enjoyed his more independent, skateboarding version of the character.

Tom Holland: The Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman 

In 2016, Spiderman made the return to the big screens, but this time as part of the MCU(Marvel Cinematic Universe), with Tom Holland playing the new role of Spiderman. Holland’s Portrayal made a significant shift, bringing a younger, youthful jo and excitement to Peter Parker that fit in with the latest generation.

Tom Holland first made his name as Spiderman in Captain America: Civil War in the movie his relatability and humor characterized him. The films Spiderman: Homecoming (2017)  and Spiderman: Far From Home (2019) showcased Tom Holland’s efforts to balance his life as a high school student and the life of a superhero. According to northerniowan.com/ “Tom Holland’s portrayal of Spider-Man balances both personas the best out of all three of the actors. He is the ideal height, age, and personality to play Spider-Man and Peter Parker. He is more than believable as the geeky kid in high school and brings youth to the character that we have never seen on screen before.”

Holland’s version of Spiderman shows friendship, and mentorship, especially with Iron Man/Tony Stark and the importance of his community. The films have been praised for the tone, action, and character development of the people’s beloved Spiderman. In Spiderman: No Way Home (2021), Tom Holland Spiderman faced the consequences of being a hero in a multiverse storyline, bringing the elements together from the previous Spiderman films which brought Andrew Garfield, Tobey Mcguire, and Tom Holland together to fight off their dangerous and epic battles against their most dangerous villains to fight off.

Miles Morales: The New Generation 

While Peter Parker continues to be the face of Spider-Man, the introduction of Miles Morales represented an important evolution for the character. First, he appeared in “ Ultimate Fallout” in 2011. Miles Morales is a teenager who is half African American and half Puerto Rican and has spider-like abilities. His story in the movie resonates with the fans because the fans see themselves reflected in him.

The animated film Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse in 2018 brought miles into showcasing his journey and self-discovery as he learns what it feels like to be Spiderman. The film’s animation style and heartfelt storytelling won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature because of Miles Morales’s significant part of the Spiderman legacy.

Here is a Pie chart of 100 students selecting their favorite Spider-Man. As you can see, Andrew Garfield seems to be the fan favorite, with 40% of students selecting him because of his acting skills. The second best was Tobey McGuire with 30%, then Tom Holland coming in 3rd with 28%, and Miles Morales falling in last place with 2%.

After interviewing Senior Levi Hessel he states “Peter Parker starts very irresponsible and inexperienced. When he began, he didn’t understand the weight of his responsibilities, he was young and naive. With hardships and significant loss in a short amount of time between his mentor, parents, and friends, he begins to shape into a very mature Spiderman. Even though he lost everything, he took all the bad and decided to do good. He grew into his character who understands his role and responsibilities.” 

From Tobey McGuire’s heartfelt portrayal to Andrew Garfield’s modern take, and Tom Holland’s teenager-like energy, Spiderman has evolved while remaining true to his core values of responsibility and resilience. The introduction of Miles Morales also further enriches this legacy, showing new stories and perspectives of Spiderman. As Spiderman continues to keep moving forward in the future, Spiderman’s experiences represent the challenges and successes of being both a hero and a normal ordinary guy, inspiring fans throughout the world. no matter your vote for Tobey, Andrew, Tom, or Miles, the legacy will surely remain.