The Spider-Man Debate

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Mirror, mirror, on the wall—who’s the better Spider-Man of them all?

The three Spider-Man posing in defence before a big fight in the movie, No Way Home.

Image Credit: Marvel

The Spider-Man debate has been a massive discussion for years within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fandom. Arguments about who makes a better Spider-Man turns into a rapid speed-fire of “Tobey is the superior Spider-Man!” and “No, Andrew is better!” or even, “Tom portrays Peter Parker and Spider-Man like Stan Lee would have wanted!”

Blah, blah, blah. It never ends in agreement.

However, before I go into too much detail, let’s break down what makes each Spider-Man unique.

Tobey Maguire

Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man shooting a web from his wrist.

Image Credit: People

  • Lives in Queens, New York

  • Needs a chiropractor (he’s an 80’s kid)

  • His best friend (who died in his arms) tried to kill him

  • Naturally shoots webs from his wrists

  • Had an emo phase

  • Fought an alien

  • Iconic dance-moves

  • Has a complicated love life

Movies

  • Spider-Man (2002)

  • Spider-Man 2 (2004)

  • Spider-Man 3 (2007)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man crouching and pointing his hands in opposite directions, and staring at the camera, maskless.

Image Credit: NPR

  • A 90’s kid

  • Creates his own webs in a lab

  • His weakness is small knives

  • Fought a Russian guy in a rhinoceros machine

  • Wasn’t able to save his girlfriend

  • Thinks he’s cool by riding a skateboard

  • Your stereotypical nerd

  • Hates the “Itsy Bitsy Spider” song

  • Certified chiropractor for his fellow Spider-Mans

Movies

  • The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

  • The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Tom Holland

Tom Holland's Spider-Man crouched in defence during a fight.

Image Credit: PopSugar

  • Builds LEGO sets with his best friend

  • His homecoming date’s dad tried to kill him

  • Went to space and fought space aliens

  • Didn’t want to go to Germany because he had homework

  • Rocks Hello Kitty pjs

  • Fought beside the Avengers

  • Doesn’t listen to orders very well

  • Likes eating flat sandwiches

  • Can speak Italian

Movies

  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

  • Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

  • Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Alright, now you’re probably wondering what the fuss is all about and the only way to find out is to ask around. So, I went onto Instagram and asked my followers who their favourite Spider-Man is. 20 accounts responded, and I found the results rather enjoyable. 45% said Andrew, 35% said Tobey, 10% said Tom, and another 10% couldn’t decide.

Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland dressed in their Spider-Man suits. They stand in a triangle, pointing at eachother.

Image Credit: THe Guardian

Those who chose Andrew had similar responses as to why. One anonymous wrote, “Andrew Garfield has the drama and funkiness,” while another said, “I thought he was the funniest….” One account familiar with Marvel’s comics mentioned, “[Andrew’s] storyline is most like the comics,” which could be a bonus for those who follow those stories. However, one anon went into full detail, explaining how despite “the writing for the movies was subpar…, [Andrew] looked the part, was comic-accurate, and was charismatic. His Spider-Man actually felt like some kid who was just thrown into being a superhero. It felt like he really was trying to figure things out…and make it work for his life.” They also mention the emotional turmoil they felt during Gwen’s death scene.

Those who chose Tobey also had great reasons, one of them being “because of the dance scene in Spider-Man 3.” I have to agree; it is truly iconic. Another states that Tobey is their favourite because “he is so OG.” Understandable. Sometimes the original is all you need.

The two accounts who chose Tom are fighting for their lives right now. The only response—however, detailed—was, “I am extremely charmed by Tom Holland, so I feel kinda obligated to say him.” I gotta say I respect that statement! The anon then writes, “[Tom] does his best with the material. I think he plays a real relatable teen…but the writing [doesn’t make] him a working-class hero like in the comics (until the end of [No Way Home]).”

A cartoon image of the Spider-Man mask.

Image Credit: Stick.PNG

Now, the final decision of who’s the best can’t be determined just from the 20 accounts that defended their choice, of course. But we can obviously see which Spider-Man is a fan favourite with his comic accuracy and charisma. However, I don’t believe there is an actual correct answer to this debate because three is the magic number.

And yes, if you haven’t already guessed it: Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man is my favourite. I will forever defend him with my life. It saddens me that it took seven years for people to realize that Garfield’s portrayal of Peter Parker and Spider-Man had so much potential. Part of me blames it on the writers, but another part believes fans dissed Garfield’s Spider-Man because they didn’t want to be put down by other fans, which is truly unfortunate. After all, “Anyone can wear the mask.”

Hi, I’m Ailsa! I love diving deep into cinematic worlds, falling in love with fictional characters, and writing stories I hope to publish someday. And if you’re Marvel-obsessed like me, stay for the blogs (I can talk about this all day)! I’m also big into sci-fi and fantasy genres, whether it’s for novels or films.

Remember, “If you’re nothing without [the] suit then you shouldn’t have it.” So, here’s to finding your inner hero!

If you would like to read more of my writing, you can find me on Instagram!