Summary
Marvel’s Spider-Manhas been a joy to experience thus far due to its creative take on the character. Not much has been taken wildly in any one direction, but enough has been changed from key character developments that it puts a fresh spin on familiar comic book arcs. Inspired by all the Spider-Man media that has come before it, there are several stories Insomniac could draw influence from forMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. However, the sequel already looks uncomfortably similar toa Spider-Man movie that was ill-received.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2wasn’t wholly egregious, with some fans enjoying its action and effects most out of any Spider-Man movies to date. That said,The Amazing Spider-Man 2is definitely divisive in its portrayal of villains, particularly Harry Osborn.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2has its own Harry Osborn, and while the game’s Venom emphasis might earn it more of aSpider-Man 3comparison, Insomniac needs to be careful not to run its Harry parallel toThe Amazing Spider-Man 2’s.
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Marvel’s Spider-Manalready introduced Harry fairly well despite never getting to meet or talk with him in person. Harry has ailed from some undisclosed illness since before the events of the original game, and his condition had been subtly hidden from Peter and others by saying he has been out of the country.
Players learn in a post-credit sequence that Norman has kept Harry suspended in a green stasis chamber with the alien symbiote. Interestingly, Harry is also afflicted with an illness inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2. Harry is released from the stasis chamber inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2but still looks to be affected by whatever it is that ails him, and he even uses a cane as he walks around.
Bonding with the symbiote seems to have already occurred while in the chamber, but it seems as if Peter will wear the symbiote before it eventually bonds with Harry or another individual thereafter. Harry believes that Spider-Man’s blood will cure him inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2and when Spider-Man declines to help him, Harry throws a tantrum in his penthouse, shouting, “You’re a fraud, Spider-Man!” There might not have been enough shown inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2’s story trailerto truly make a comparison between these two Harrys otherwise, but the trailer does even have its own Harry tantrum shot where he throws a glass at the window.
It is unclear what is causing his distress in this sequence, and it could easily be taken out of context with how hastily it passes, but regardless it creates an obvious parallel between both interpretations of a diseased Harry for the time being. Harry and Peter are childhood friends and Harry seems to depend on Peter as he does in the movie, but hopefully that is where the similarities between both takes on Harry cease.The Amazing Spider-Man 2’s Electro was a socially inept Spider-Man super-fan, but the movie’s Harry became more and more whiny until he donnedthe conveniently designed Green Goblin armorand became psychotically enraged with a look that was equally unhinged.
Harry appearing out of nowhere was also handled strangely, butMarvel’s Spider-Man 2will hopefully have made an effort to steer clear of any similarly negative comparisons. In fact,Marvel’s Spider-Man 2has an opportunity to take the foundations of that Harry’s subplot in the movie and make it phenomenal, but only time will tell and it would likely be more interestingif Insomniac created a unique story for Harry altogether.
