Something I released about modern Spider-Man adaptations

Modern Spider-Man adaptations just don’t get how hard Peter actually worked to keep his identity a secret in the comics, especially before Gwen's death. Like, this man was paranoid. He went through insane lengths to make sure no one found out. Literally, only two people figured it out back then: Norman Osborn, who had to trick Peter into revealing it by messing with his Spider-Sense, and Captain Stacy, who was just smart enough to put the pieces together on his own. And guess what? Both of them died after finding out. Even Harry Osborn only figured it out because he straight-up went snooping in Peter’s drawers, and then he forgot after getting help for his issues.

Now look at modern adaptations. It’s like Peter doesn’t even care anymore. Tony Stark? Deduces it in two seconds because Peter uploaded a video online like a rookie. Ned Leeds? Walks in on him in his Spider-Man suit by accident. Aunt May? Just casually catches him one night because Peter wasn’t even trying to hide it. MJ? Figures it out based on some super basic behavior. Nick Fury and the Avengers? Apparently, they just know because... why not? It’s like Peter has zero sense of caution now.

Even in Marvel’s Spider-Man games, Peter’s secret identity feels like an afterthought. In the first game, Peter reveals his identity to Miles Morales instantly the moment he realizes Miles has spider powers. There’s no hesitation, no clever testing to see if he can be trusted—just, “Oh, hey, I’m Spider-Man too!” like it’s no big deal. Classic comics Peter would’ve gone through mental gymnastics and planned ten backup contingencies before even thinking about revealing himself to someone, no matter how much he trusted them.

And in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Harry Osborn figures out Peter’s identity with almost no effort because Peter doesn’t even bother to cover it up. Peter openly talks about Spider-Man stuff around Harry, leaves obvious clues, and acts like he’s just waiting to be discovered. Classic Peter would never let his guard down like this—he was constantly on edge, always protecting his secret because he knew how dangerous it would be if anyone found out. But in the game, Peter just rolls with it, like it’s no big deal.

The same goes for the 2017 Spider-Man Disney show. Curt Connors straight-up outs Peter in front of everyone when Peter is defending Max Modell at Horizon High. Bro didn’t even try to have a backup plan for this. Grady Scraps, Alistair Smythe, and others at Horizon? They find out without Peter doing anything about it. Even his classmates and friends, like Gwen and Anya, figure it out so easily it feels like they barely had to try.

Compare all this to the comics: Peter would’ve rather died than let someone figure it out. He used decoys, fake Spider-Man appearances, and even sacrificed his personal relationships to protect his secret. He understood the stakes—if anyone knew, it put Aunt May, Gwen, MJ, or anyone else he cared about in danger. His secrecy wasn’t just a habit; it was a lifeline for everyone he loved.

But modern Peter? Man’s out here casually revealing himself to Miles, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Harry, his friends, his teachers—like, where’s the tension? Where’s the risk? If everyone knows who Peter is, what’s even the point of the secret identity? Comics Peter treated his secret like it was sacred because it was. Modern adaptations make it seem like his identity is just another detail, completely missing what made classic Spider-Man so compelling and relatable.