Episode 320: Spider-Man Brand New Day

Barry Irving returns to The Analysis to break down Spider-Man: Brand New Day and ask the big question: did Marvel actually deliver the definitive Tom Holland Spider-Man movie—or did the MCU get in its own way? Bob and Barry dig into Peter Parker’s new life of loneliness and isolation, why the quieter street-level Spider-Man moments work better than the massive action sequences, and whether Brand New Day wastes its clean slate by turning into an X-Men setup halfway through. They debate Jean Grey’s role as the film’s antagonist, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, the return of Ned and MJ, Hulk’s strange regression, Peter’s darker turn, and why Spider-Man’s actual rogues gallery continues to sit on the sidelines. Plus, Barry breaks down that mysterious post-credit scene and what it could mean for Doomsday, Secret Wars, Battleworld, and the possible return of all three live-action Spider-Men. Is Marvel finally building momentum again? Is superhero fatigue actually just mediocre-movie fatigue? And after a summer of Spider-Man, The Odyssey, Project Hail Mary and more, have we finally reached the most important conclusion of all? Movies are back, baby.