Summary
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Proceed at your own risk.
Although Insomniac has stated they wanted to tell a story fans had never seen before withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, it’s clear that the developer took inspiration from a few of the Wall Crawler’s most famous comics.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2incorporates a variety of different storylines that tie together its overarching plot while featuring Insomniac’s version of characters likeDr. Curt Connorsand Venom. Despite these deviations, there are some obvious allusions to the source material that form the basis for the game’s plot.
The major story beats ofMarvel’s Spider-Man 2follow the actions of the game’s two key villains: Kraven and Venom. Although these two characters cross over occasionally in theSpider-Mancomics,Spider-Man 2incorporates enough other elements from their stand-alone comic appearances to weave together a unique story. However, Insomniac does a great job of paying homage to some of Spider-Man’s most iconic comics, and fans of the hero will likely recognize where the inspiration for many of the game’s story elements came from.
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Kraven’s Last Hunt
Arguably the most memorable appearance of Kraven the Hunter is from the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline that began inWeb of Spider-Man Vol 1 #31and sees Kraven take on the mantle of Spider-Man, hunting down and killing many of the hero’s most notable villains.Spider-Man 2plays off of this storyline by havingKraven capture and kill villains like Scorpion and Vulture, even though he does so as himself and not as Spider-Man. Kraven’s Last hunt ends when the Hunter is satisfied with his hunt and commits suicide, much like how Kraven accepts his death after being bested by Venom inSpider-Man 2.
Web of Spider-Man Vol 1 #31
Mike Zeck
Ultimate Spider-Man
Although the original appearance of the Venom symbiote in the comics occurs after Spider-Man finds the symbiote on Battleworld during the Secret Wars storyline,Ultimate Spider-Manoffers an alternative origin story for the symbiote that more closely resemblesSpider-Man 2’s plot. InUltimate Spider-Man, Eddie Brock is working to develop a “suit” with healing properties using the symbiote, and part of the symbiote ends up bonding with Peter while working with Brock to complete it. InSpider-Man 2,Eddie Brock is replaced by Harry Osborn, but the symbiote is used similarly as a treatment for Harry’s illness before bonding with a near-death Peter.
Mark Bagley
Absolute Carnage
WhileCarnage does not directly appear inSpider-Man 2, he is referenced during The Flame side quest and theAbsolute Carnageseries serves as a major inspiration for some of the game’s enemy types.Absolute Carnagefollows the Dark Carnage Symbiote’s invasion of New York, possessing New Yorkers and creating Carnage doppelgangers. This is referenced inSpider-Man 2’s late game as the symbiote invasion creates hordes of enemies bonded to unwilling hosts that bear a similar spiral pattern on their heads as a sign that they are under the control of Knull, the symbiote progenitor.
Ryan Stegman
The Amazing Spider-Man
The final act ofSpider-Man 2sees the creation of the Anti-Venom suit by mixing the White Energy Cells ofMartin Liwith the remaining symbiote cells left in Peter Parker. By doing this, Peter can turn the tide against Venom and the symbiote with the powers of Anti-Venom, and these powers are directly inspired byThe Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 #569. In this comic, Martin Li uses his power to heal Eddie Brock’s cancer but in the process, mixes some of Brock’s symbiote cells with his own to become Anti-Venom, differing from how these events play out inSpider-Man 2.
