Warning: Spoilers for Avengers: Tech-On Avengers #2!
When it comes to Spider-Man, one of his best costumes comes in the form of the Iron Man-inspired look known as Iron Spider, and now he’s just gotten a new version of that same suit that’s decidedly a bit too creepy for a Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. Having spider legs sprout from Spidey’s back is no doubt a cool part of the original Iron Spider ensemble, but adding some mini hands at the ends of those legs pushes the look into a territory that’s a bit too hair-raising to see, especially for the silver screen.
Seen in Avengers: Tech-On Avengers #2, by Jim Zub and Jeffrey “Chamba” Cruz, Avenger benefactor and tech whiz extraordinaire, Tony Stark aka Iron Man, has taken it upon himself to create a fleet of custom-built armored suits that are as slick looking as they are effective in combating an overpowered evil that knows no bounds. Needing enhanced protection and offensive capabilities that mimic the powers each Avenger lost in the aftermath of Red Skull’s Infinite Mirror Shard infused attack, Iron Man bestows his teammates with these sweet new upgrades, with Spider-Man being given a familiar look for a costume that’s been a fan favorite fashion choice since its introduction during Marvel’s Civil War event way back in 2006.
Battling it out with a new version of Venom that’s giving the Avengers a run for their money now that they don’t have the use of their assorted powers, the team is forced to unleash their new superhero toys on a villain that’s more powerful than ever. Jumping into the fray against a baddie he knows well, Spider-Man tries to talk Venom down, only for it to blow up in his face, leading Spidey to reveal a new element of his suit that’s creepy enough to freak out readers and MCU fans alike.
Advancing on Venom to open up some weak points for Iron Man’s next devastating attack, Spider-Man pops out a familiar-looking set of spider legs from his back, completing a look made famous by his original Iron Spider outfit. But as Spidey hurtles towards his foe, eagle-eyed fans will notice the spidery arms that usually end in finely sharpened claws have been given a new attachment that’s decidedly weirder than anything Spider-Man’s ever had before: mini humanoid-like hands.
An interesting addition to a suit that immediately turns Spider-Man from a wildly cool looking hero to something unusually creepy, the first Iron Spider outfit was already a slightly disturbing if anatomically correct costume that drew more inspiration from Spidey’s namesake insect than ever before. Treating Peter’s extra arms less as stabby utensils of destruction and more as literal appendages, the human-like hands at the tips of his extremities effectively make his costume way creepier than before, giving the MCU no real reason to introduce a variation on an Iron Man-inspired suit that’s already been seen — and redesigned — in a way that fits into the overarching look of the live-action movies perfectly.
So while this new Iron Spider outfit is slightly different from the original’s unique design, adding creepy baby hands to the ends of Spidey’s extended claws gives the suit a new look that doesn’t exactly feel right when it comes to a potential MCU appearance. And although Spider-Man might have great taste in superhero threads on a normal day (his OG costume is iconic for a reason), Peter Parker is most definitely better off sticking to his current Marvel Cinematic Universe version of this suit, at least for now.
