Why Aunt May Should Know Peter Is Spider-Man In The MCU
Why Aunt May Should Know Peter Is Spider-Man In The MCU
The buzz for Spider-Man: Homecoming has now started to pick up, as set photos keep being released and rumors of potential teaser trailer coming soon are in the air. That aside, one of the more talked about items in the upcoming Spidey film is Marisa Tomei's Aunt May. What will she be like in the MCU? Will she find out about Peter's secret life?
The answer to that question would be yes, she should know, and here's my reasoning why...
Ultimate Spider-Man Comics
Marvel Comics Image.
So far, most of what we have seen regarding to the MCU's version of Spider-Man has been based of The Ultimate Spider-Man comics. Peter is still high school and deals with the normal problems of being a kid. The point being that in The Ultimate Spider-Man comics, Aunt May does find out that Peter is Spider-Man. This creates a whole new level of intensity for the character that we have not yet scene on the big screen. It will give Spider-Man the grounding that the character so deserves. We will get to see how Aunt May deals with the horror of some of Spider-Man's more serious injuries, and see how this takes a real toll on her well-being. Not to mention, it would be an easy way to balance out an assumably quite humorous film.
Aunt May Will Not Be Fooled
giphy.com
Now don't get me wrong, I loved Rosemary Harris as Aunt May and I thought Sally Field did a decent job. That said, I think it's time that we moved on from the classic "cheesy fool Aunt May" scenes. I agree that the scenes were hilarious, but I feel like this version of Spider-Man needs a less easily fooled Aunt May. Maria Tomei is the youngest onscreen Aunt May there has been thus far. It's kind of harder to get the audience to believe that her confident version of Aunt May will keep being so easily tricked about Peter's secret. She is bound to find out! I mean good grief, she was already catching on by the end ofCaptain America: Civil War.
Last and most importantly...
Relationship With Mary Jane
Marvel Comics Image.
In my opinion, one of the most interesting parts about Aunt May is her relationship with Mary Jane. The two of them have a very unique bond that has been touched upon a little in Sam Raimi's trilogy but was never fully explored. This bond is strengthened through their worry about Peter's double life as Spider-Man. They serve as each other's support system and have worked together multiple times to help Peter. Whomever Mary Jane turns out to be in the MCU, it is important that she has a good connection to Aunt May. This also drives home an important concept of family and responsibility that is so rich in the Spider-Man comics.
Final Thoughts
Aunt May needs to know about Peter's secret identity in the MCU so that new doors can be opened for her and Spider-Man as characters. Opening these doors will allow the characters to be displayed in a new light yet also maintain the traits that have given them rich history.
Of course, Peter was secretive when he needed to be. After all, he saved the day more than a few times without Aunt May wising up to what he was doing every night:
What do you think? Should Spider-Man's identity stay hidden from Aunt May?
