Sony Pictures Releasing
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” wastes no time throwing viewers into the action, opening with a fast-moving montage packed with more villains than many Spider-Man movies manage to include from start to finish. Some of these antagonists flash by so quickly that even longtime fans may miss them on a first viewing. Fortunately, Looper’s video above breaks down every villain featured in the “Brand New Day” opening and explains exactly where each one fits within Spider-Man lore.
The film begins by catching audiences up on Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and what his life has become after the ending of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” That is no small task, especially since “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is set much later in the MCU timeline than the previous installment. The opening montage has to bridge a four-year gap, showing Peter’s growth as a crimefighter and his evolution into a familiar, much-discussed presence across New York City. To get that across quickly, the movie turns several recognizable names from Spider-Man’s rogues gallery into brief but memorable cameos.
Several Spider-Man villains make an appearance in the Brand New Day opening montage
Sony Pictures Releasing
The classic Spider-Man villain who stands out most clearly is Scorpion, also known as Mac Gargan (Michael Mando). Gargan first appeared in the MCU in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” although he had not yet taken on the power armor associated with his comic book counterpart. In “Brand New Day,” however, Scorpion becomes far more important to the story after Jean Gray (Sadie Sink) breaks him out of prison and seizes control of him, intending to turn his abilities against the Department of Damage Control.
Still, the opening sequence is loaded with lesser-known Spider-Man villains as well, many of whom are much easier to overlook. Sharp-eyed fans can spot Tombstone (Marvin Jones III), Boomerang (Aidan Kennedy), Ramrod (Billy Clements), and Tarantula making the most of their limited screen time in stylish battles with the friendly neighborhood hero. For a closer look at the established Marvel Comics characters who make brief appearances in the “Brand New Day” opening montage, watch Looper’s video above.
