The Untold Truth Of Spider-Man's Iron Spider Suit

When Spider-Man entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: Civil War, it was Tony Stark who gave Peter Parker the technology he needed to live up to his superpowered potential — a creative decision that was not without controversy among fans. Some worried that a reliance on Iron Man, whose presence already loomed over much of the MCU, would undermine the strength of one of comics history's most beloved characters.

Fortunately, Spider-Man: Homecoming was a crowd-pleaser, and it allowed Peter to come out from under Iron Man's high-tech wing and realize that it was his heart, not his suit, that made him a hero. But then came Avengers: Infinity War, requiring Spider-Man to journey into space. He needed a new suit, and Stark was there again to provide a significant new upgrade: the Iron Spider.

But the Iron Spider is more than just a spacesuit. It's a costume with a dense comic book pedigree that represents some important twists and turns in the life of Spider-Man, and bringing it to the screen required more than some flashy fabric. Join us as we explore the tangled web of the Iron Spider. 

Far from just being an extra-strength armor, the Iron Spider suit comes equipped with a variety of features Spider-Man didn't have before. Essentially combining the strengths of both Spider-Man and Iron Man, a cutting-edge blend of nano-technology and onboard computer systems makes the Iron Spider a whole new kind of hero. The suit even generates webbing on the go, ensuring that Parker will never run out of the sticky stuff (not that the comics had a history of being concerned with realistic quantities to begin with).

With 17 layers of functionality, the Iron Spider suit lends itself to many of the very specific far-out situations a Marvel superhero might find themselves in. Enhanced gliding, climate control, chemical filtering, speed-of-thought communication, and digital camouflage supplement Spidey's already heightened senses and powers. Much like Iron Man, the suit is powered by a self-sustaining chestpiece, and the mask provides its wearer with an interconnected heads-up display. The whole thing is topped off with a layer of diamond nitrile overcoat, providing near-impenetrable defense without compromising the wall-crawler's agility. 

As it did for so many others, the Civil War comics event led Peter Parker to nothing but misery. While the conflict over the Superhuman Registration Act grew more bitter and violent, Tony Stark became increasingly paranoid. Parker soon realized that Stark had secretly equipped the Iron Spider suit with features designed to spy on and potentially subdue him. This, coupled with his first good look at the government's treatment of superhumans in custody, led him to switch sides and abandon the suit.

But it wasn't long before the Iron Spider found a new home...or three. With the original Spider-Man an outlaw on the run, Stark gave upgraded versions of the armor to the Scarlet Spiders. Tasked with replacing Parker, this trio of clones (Spider-Man's comic history is just crawling with clones) was created from the DNA of the fallen hero known as MVP. A furious Peter Parker took on the Spiders, but ended up rescuing them from an attack by the Vulturions. The grateful replacements then helped him evade capture. 

Despite that interrobang-tinged cover proclamation, it would be the last comic issue to date with Mary Jane as the Iron Spider. The suit was next seen as part of a world-shattering event. When the Ultimate Universe crossed over with the Marvel Prime Universe, the Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales, came face-to-face with his own version of Spidey's collective of nemeses, the Sinister Six. This iteration of the evil legion consisted of Hobgoblin, Spot, Bombshell, Sandman, Electro, and the Iron Spider.

The identity of the man in the iron mask remained secret until a shocking revelation: it was Miles' uncle, Aaron Davis, known in the Ultimate Universe as the Prowler. This was surprising for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that Davis was dead before the universes merged. Miles attempted to turn his uncle away from this life of crime, but the Iron Spider fell in battle, seemingly to his death. He did return, however, to tell his nephew he was right.

The MCU has its own version of the Prowler, even if it seems unlikely that he'll end up as the Iron Spider. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Donald Glover portrayed a version of the character, attempting to buy black market weapons technology (much like how he acquired the armor in the comics). He eventually helps Spider-Man because he wants the neighborhood to be safe for his nephew. A deleted scene even had him call Miles by name over the phone. 

Of course, the highest-profile appearance of the Iron Spider in another medium is its arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since Spider-Man's new movie origins are so closely linked with Tony Stark, it's no surprise that the films wasted no time in introducing the armor. Stark, finally convinced that Peter Parker was a hero in his own right, offered up the Iron Spider at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming. With a room full of reporters waiting for Stark's announcement of the newest Avengers recruit, Peter walked away, choosing to remain a "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."

More than just a nod to the comics, this moment represents a turning point for the whole MCU. A press conference to announce the arrival of a new superhero is a perfect parallel to the ending of the original Iron Man, the franchise's origin. Peter's decision to eschew Stark's brand of spotlight-loving swagger signals the spirit of a new generation ready to take up the torch as the movies move into their second decade.

Though fans were thrilled by their first glimpse of the Iron Spider in action in Infinity War's trailers, Marvel's marketing department was determined to save some surprises for opening night. The suit's most distinctive feature, its four long, mechanical legs, make for a dynamic visual when they're first revealed. Later, they play a key role in one of the movie's most engaging action scenes, as Peter scuttles to the rescue of his many new friends during the fight with Thanos on Titan.

To maintain the fun of the legs' first sudden deployment, Marvel took several measures to deny fans an early peek. While new Avengers toys and merchandise began flooding the market months before Infinity War dropped, Spider-Man figures highlighting the arachnid appendages were withheld until closer to the film's release (despite an early leak or two). The ever-prolific Funko made a special addition to their Infinity War line of vinyl Pop figures to include a leg-bearing Iron Spider and the "Stonekeeper," another character whose true face would have been a spoiler. Some shots in the trailers are even missing the legs where they would be in the finished film.