There's a world outside of your Twitter feed and the bubble of movie journalism. Spider-Man joining the Avengers is a big deal to fans of the series and those with a wider knowledge of the comics, but in the real world it's not 2002 any more. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been the dominant force in superhero cinema since The Avengers in 2012, but it had been a stronger voice than all-but Christopher Nolan since 2008. That's seven years of high-level market exposure. And in that time things have changed. You're now just as likely to see a kid wearing an Iron Man costume as you are a Spidey get-up. Spider-Man was perennially the most popular superhero for a myriad of reasons, but chief amongst them was his simplistic appeal - he was immediately relatable and had a clear moral standing. But as geek culture has come to dominate blockbuster cinema, the worlds and characters audiences are introduced to has become more diverse and varied, leading to cinemagoers wanting and expecting more from the movies. Add to that a string of uninspired movies that trod conceptual water, constantly redoing old stories and ideas (every villain has been a riff on Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin), and there just isn't the audience engagement with the idea that makes this seem worthwhile. Put simply, if Marvel get to the point where they can make Guardians Of The Galaxy work, then they don't need Spider-Man. What do you make of the Spider-Man/Marvel deal? Great idea for all involved or a shaky prospect? The outcome will no doubt be great, but was this really the best deal for Marvel? Share your thoughts down in the comments.
