Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Months after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker has become a ghost in his own life. With no one remembering who he is, Peter throws himself completely into being Spider-Man, using crime-fighting to escape the pain of losing Aunt May and everyone he once loved. While attending Empire State University and volunteering at FEAST, Peter meets brilliant forensic science student Gwen Stacy and encounters Bruce Banner, who recognizes Peter's exhaustion and warns him against burying his pain. Meanwhile, Peter crosses paths with the seductive thief Black Cat and the ruthless vigilante Punisher, both of whom become involved in his investigation of the Inner Demons, a criminal organization led by FEAST director Martin Li. As Peter grows closer to Black Cat and increasingly embraces Frank Castle's violent methods, he begins losing touch with the compassionate person beneath the mask. Peter's descent reaches its breaking point when he discovers that many of the Inner Demons are actually vulnerable teenagers psychologically enslaved by Li. After Li corrupts Bruce Banner and unleashes the Savage Hulk on New York, Peter realizes how close he has come to becoming the kind of person he once fought against. Frank forces Peter to confront the truth: he isn't fighting because he wants to live—he's fighting because he doesn't want to be Peter Parker anymore. With Bruce's guidance, Peter rediscovers that Spider-Man is not a replacement for his life but an extension of the person he is. In the final battle, Peter, Black Cat, Punisher, and Bruce unite to defeat Martin Li and free the teenagers, with Peter refusing to kill Li despite having every reason to seek revenge. In the aftermath, Peter begins rebuilding his life, returns his focus to ESU, continues Aunt May's work at FEAST, and finally accepts Gwen's invitation to coffee. For the first time since No Way Home, Peter chooses to live as Peter Parker—not just survive as Spider-Man.

Story added by stevenkelly on August 20, 2026