Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Is Secretly Building Up to 1 of Spidey’s Best Stories

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Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a whimsical and colorful new take on Spider-Man’s origin story. A spinoff set in an alternate timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the animated Disney+ series follows Peter Parker’s Freshman year of high school, which is complicated enough without adding a fresh set of superpowers to his plate. Thankfully, Peter isn’t alone in figuring out his new superhero identity. In this universe, rather than Tony Stark, the wealthy CEO Norman Osborn is his mentor, helping the burgeoning superhero navigate his amazing new abilities and become the icon he was always meant to be. Along the way, Spider-Man will face fresh dilemmas as new supervillains come into play, including the Scorpion, Doctor Octopus, Tombstone, and more.

Marvel recently revealed the episode titles for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 1. While most of these titles act as vague teases for what audiences can expect in each episode, the season finale boasts a familiar phrase that fans of Marvel Comics will undoubtedly recognize. The Season 1 finale of the upcoming animated series is “If This Be My Destiny,” referencing an iconic comic issue of the same name. This lesser-known but important title was a turning point in The Amazing Spider-Man, helping craft the character of Spider-Man as the world knows him today. If adapted correctly, this arc could mean big things for the future of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

What Is “If This Be My Destiny” In Spider-Man Comics?

This Comic Book Story Is When Spider-Man Becomes a True Hero

“If This Be My Destiny” is the title of a storyline found in The Amazing Spider-Man #31-33 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Originally released in the mid-1960s, the final installment of the iconic storyline features Spider-Man trapped beneath a mountainous pile of rubble after a battle with Doctor Octopus in his underground lair. All hope is lost as the issue begins. Weak from his battle with Doc Ock, Spider-Man cannot lift the rubble off of himself and, as water begins to pour in, he knows that he is about to die. Spider-Man begins to despair, recognizing that his death will inevitably lead to his Aunt May’s death as well, as she lies dying from radiation poisoning. At this moment, readers understand just how young and inexperienced Spider-Man is. At this point, he is still a fifteen-year-old kid, caught up in a world far bigger than himself.

However, the hero in Peter Parker begins to emerge as the water level grows higher in Doc Ock’s sinking base. Refusing to fail Aunt May the same way he failed Uncle Ben, Peter begins to rally, struggling under the weight of the rubble above him until he finally has a handhold. Fueled by his love for May, Spider-Man emerges once more, lifting the rubble off of himself triumphantly. He then engages Doc Ock’s remaining minions, fighting vehemently (such that he’s still swinging after the last minion falls). After this terrific Spider-Man comics storyline, Spider-Man successfully delivers the life-saving serum that May desperately needs, saving his aunt’s life.

“If This Be My Destiny” Changed Spider-Man Forever

Spider-Man Was Never the Same After This Landmark Event

“If This Be My Destiny” marks a distinct shift in The Amazing Spider-Man stories. Before this point, Peter Parker was very much a character stuck in his teen years, struggling with his newfound responsibility and the challenges that come with being Spider-Man. Although he gets his powers long before this point, Issue #33 is often considered the moment when Peter Parker truly becomes Spider-Man. Trapped under the rubble, Peter has every reason to give up–but he doesn’t. Instead, he gathers his strength, overcomes the burden, and emerges triumphant. As Spider-Man struggles under the weight of the rubble, he pontificates on the nature of power and responsibility, realizing that anyone can win a fight when things are easy, but the true heroes are the ones who keep fighting even when the odds are stacked against them. Up until that point, things had generally been easy for Peter in his superhero career. This was his first true trial as Spider-Man, testing him to see whether he would give up when things got difficult. Because he refused to quit in this first trial, Spider-Man would have the strength to weather the many storms that came his way in later years.

The effects of “If This Be My Destiny” are still felt in Spider-Man comics today, as the wall-crawling superhero continues to feed from the strength he demonstrated under the rubble all those years ago. As a superhero and as a civilian, Peter Parker has faced countless trials over the decades, from the death of Gwen Stacy to the schemes of the Green Goblin. Spider-Man himself has even died on multiple occasions. None of this was ever enough to stop him, however. Spider-Man learned to never give up early in his career, and it has driven him to remain a relentless force of nature ever since. Though he has had his weak moments since Peter proved that he would never stay down for long.

How Will Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Adapt This Iconic Comic?

The Upcoming Series Can’t Mess Up This Important Arc

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man may not adapt the full “If This Be My Destiny Arc,” as the original storyline includes plenty of ancillary details that don’t necessarily have to make their way into the animated series. However, given the title of the last episode, viewers can be sure that the series will adapt the iconic moment from the opening of The Amazing Spider-Man #33. This moment was similarly captured in the third act of Spider-Man: Homecoming when Tom Holland’s Peter Parker lifts rubble off of himself after the Vulture attempts to kill him in his old warehouse. Since Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man isn’t MCU canon, the series can offer another perspective on this iconic scene, giving Hudson Thames’ Spider-Man the same coming-of-age moment that Holland got in his first standalone movie.

“If This Be My Destiny” should be a turning point for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man‘s titular hero. The first season of the animated series explores Peter Parker’s early days as Spider-Man, struggling under the weight of his newfound responsibility. He may have episodes where he loves being Spider-Man; he may have others where the weight of the responsibility is too much. The finale, however, must mark a change of pace for Peter as he finally comes to terms with his new mantle. From that point on, he is Spider-Man.

“}]] A list of episode titles reveals that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is building to a terrific comic book arc in its Season 1 finale.  Read More