7 Comics To Read Before 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing Published Jul 20, 2026, 12:11 PM EDT Michael John Petty is a Senior Author for Collider who spends his days writing, in fellowship with his local church, and enjoying each new day with his wife and daughters. At Collider, he writes features, reviews, recaps, and conducts interviews. In addition to writing about stories, Michael has told a few of his own. His novella, The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain, was released in 2023. His Western short story, The Devil's Left Hand, received the Spur Award for "Best Western Short Fiction" from the Western Writers of America in 2025. Michael currently resides in North Idaho with his growing family. Sign in to your Collider account It's a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and certainly a new era for Tom Holland's Spider-Man. After "Peter Parker" has been erased from the minds of those in the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is about to introduce audiences to a new take on the web-slinger as he navigates life in New York City apart from his entire support system. With trailers that echo many of the most iconic Spider-Man comic book covers and a title that does the same, we've put together a list of Spidey comics that you ought to give a shot. Before Brand New Day swings into theaters, brush up on your Marvel knowledge with these popular Spider-Man stories that will have you in the mood to read more. From single issues of The Amazing Spider-Man to multi-issue arcs that changed the character's status quo, we've got a little bit of everything for die-hard wall-crawler enthusiasts. So get those web-shooters ready, because here comes your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Spider-Man: Coming Home (2001) Image via Marvel Comics Not to be confused with the first Tom Holland movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Coming Home was an arc penned by J. Michael Straczynski (the guy who made Babylon 5, a sci-fi classic that has aged like fine wine) during his highly-popular run with the character. With this six-part return to form, Straczynski re-examined Spidey's origins and begins moving Peter in a bold (and profound) creative direction. It's the type of Spidey story perfect for newcomers who are already familiar with the basics. Coming Home (also called "The Spider Totem" by many) is a strong beginning chapter to Stracynski's multi-year run on Amazing Spider-Man. Peter's discovery that his powers may not have been an accident, but destiny is a stunning revelation that sets the stage for the next arc on this list. Oh, and did we mention that this is a period of separation for Peter and MJ? Yet another reason to give it a read ahead of Brand New Day. Spider-Man: The Other (2005) Image via Marvel Comics Long before the MCU, Marvel Comics was already taking cues from the brand's most successful live-action outings. In the case of Stracynski's "The Other," Spider-Man undergoes a transformation that gives him organic webs, increases his strength, and offers him an array of unusual spider abilities he didn't have before (including stingers!). Considering this is one comic that could offer insight into Peter's transformation in Brand New Day, fans shouldn't leave it off the list. The Other was a 12-part, four-act crossover that took place across several books: The Amazing Spider-Man #525–528, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19–22, and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1–4. Collected editions make this an easier read, but for those hoping to track down those individual issues, be sure to consult some online resources to discover the official reading order. While some of the changes made to Peter's power set were reversed following the next arc on this list, The Other is a wild ride that makes for a fun swing. Spider-Man: One More Day (2007) Image via Marvel Comics Spider-Man: One More Day is the most hated Spider-Man story ever written, and for good reason. It's an abomination that reset Spidey to his "default" setting and stripped the character of all the major growth and change he endured during Straczynski's larger Amazing Spider-Man run — it even undoes one of the most perfect Spidey comics out there. It's a real tragedy that has yet to be undone by Marvel, and it continues to be despised by fans everywhere. That said, it's pretty relevant to the latest MCU picture. At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter is forced to give up his happy life with MJ (Zendaya), much like Peter and Mary Jane are forced to give up their marriage to save Aunt May in this story here. It sets the stage for the "Brand New Day" arc that would follow, as well as Spider-Man's new place within the Marvel Universe. While Straczynski famously didn't agree with the final direction of One More Day (that was Joe Quesada's doing), it has had major ramifications in Spider-Man comics for the past 20 years. "Denial" From Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14 (1999) Image via Marvel Comics With Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/Hulk returning for Brand New Day, we thought it would be fun to revisit one of Spidey's most memorable tussles with the Green Goliath in Marvel Comics. For that, we turned to "Denial," a story from the pages of Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14, in which a grief-stricken Spidey — who believes Mary Jane has been killed — takes out all his rage, anger, and pain on the Hulk. Written by Howard Mackie with art by the magnificent John Romita Jr., "Denial" is an excellent one-and-done tale that will have you weeping with the wall-crawler. While Spidey and the Hulk have battled one another before — and certainly have fought at each other's sides as well — this issue of Peter Parker: Spider-Man takes the cake for their on-page squabbles. For one thing, it's perhaps the most emotionally-driven Spider-Man vs. Hulk (whose solo outing is a Marvel movie better than its given credit for) battle on the list, but secondly, it's a story about grief and understanding that feels quite relevant to the plot of Brand New Day. Don't miss out on this one before these two Marvel icons are united on the big screen. Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory? 🕷️Spider-Man 😈Daredevil 🤖Iron Man 💀Punisher ⚡Thor 🛡️Cap FIND YOUR HERO → 01 What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you. AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully. NEXT QUESTION → 02 It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think. ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours? AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard. NEXT QUESTION → 04 How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything. AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it. AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are. AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are. AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against. NEXT QUESTION → 08 When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story. ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly. NEXT QUESTION → 09 What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of. AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing. NEXT QUESTION → 10 The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over. REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed. 🕷️ Spider-ManYou carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing. You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will. You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you. Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up. Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything. 😈 DaredevilYou fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free. You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks. You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy. Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own. Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you. 🤖 Iron ManBrilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem. You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic. You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility. Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too. You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man. 💀 The PunisherYou've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief. You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude. You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned. Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours. Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute. ⚡ ThorPowerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry. You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth. You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on. Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector. You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much. 🛡️ Captain AmericaYou believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will. You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard. Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you. Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost. In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" From The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1973) Image via Marvel Comics In addition to the Hulk's return in Brand New Day, Spider-Man will also be joined by Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. Hot off The Punisher: One Last Kill, Frank is back in action for Spidey's latest big-screen outing. With that being the case, there's no reason not to go back and revisit their first comic book appearance together (and Punisher's first period) in "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" Penned by Gerry Conway​​​​​​​ with art by Ross Andru for The Amazing Spider-Man #129, this 19-page tale introduced Punisher as an antagonistic force who eventually discovers that Spidey isn't really his enemy (go figure). "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" is an important story not just because it was the first appearance of the Punisher, but because it had ripple effects on Spider-Man comics still seen today. It was also the introduction of the Jackal, a long-time, intelligent enemy of the web-slinger who had been active in comics for some time as Professor Miles Warren before revealing his green-costumed appearance here. Still, the main feature here is The Punisher, who is as bold-headed, violent, and persistent as ever. Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2008) Image via Marvel Comics The comic book story arc that the new MCU film takes its name from, Brand New Day is probably the most direct source of inspiration for this new solo Spidey outing. Marvel's post-"One More Day" initiative for Spidey and his supporting cast, the title, "Brand New Day," was printed on the cover of every issue of The Amazing Spider-Man from #546 to #564, though many consider the arc to last through #647. With a rotating roster of writers and artists, Marvel revamped Spider-Man comics while taking Peter back to his more traditional status quo. Even if you hated One More Day (and still do, like this author), Brand New Day is a fun Peter-centric Spidey arc that allows the character to exist as many of us know him well into his adulthood. Back to being a bachelor, he struggles with finances, wrestles with his superheroics, and has returned to mechanical web-shooters. Nobody remembers Peter's secret identity after Civil War either (still considered one of the greatest Marvel stories of all time), which is probably the biggest crossover between comics and the screen. Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) Image via Marvel Comics For those who haven't already tracked it down, Amazing Fantasy #15 is the very first appearance of Spider-Man. Penned by Stan Lee with art by Steve Ditko, the final issue of Amazing Fantasy sparked the wildfire that was Marvel's signature superhero. While the character would quickly graduate to his own book with The Amazing Spider-Man #1, it was this first tale (simply titled "Spider-Man!") that is at the very foundation of the Peter Parker character. While it's unlikely that Amazing Fantasy #15 will heavily factor into Brand New Day, this short 11-page adventure deserves the spotlight. Lee and Ditko likely had no idea what they had done by bringing the web-slinger to life, nor how it would change their lives and careers forever. With an iconic cover drawn by Jack Kirby himself, Amazing Fantasy #15 is the comic we have to thank for all the Spider-Man movies we've been blessed with since. Spider-Man: Brand New Day Release Date July 31, 2026 Runtime 150 Minutes Director Destin Daniel Cretton Writers Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee Producers Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O'Connor, Avi Arad Prequel(s) Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man Main Genre Superhero Studio(s) Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios, Pascal Pictures Distributor(s) Sony Executive Producer(s) David Cain, Louis D'Esposito