My favorite thing about the Marvel franchise is that the actors playing Spider-Man are perhaps the only men in Hollywood who really understand what it’s like for women in the industry. Spider-Man just keeps getting younger! Nothing makes Tobey Maguire’s Spidey senses tingly anymore.
In the first official trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man’s age is especially pertinent. Peter Parker is extremely smart and now he’s also the beneficiary of some awesome powers. But Parker is still a kid and everyone, including world-weary Robert Downey Jr., wants him to wait on the sidelines until he grows up a little. No can do, friends, because evil has snatched his love interest from the popular table. Liz Allan, played by Laura Harrier, is lovely and threatened. Parker must don Spanx. Will this be how he proves himself to the Avengers and audiences?
When it was rumored that Zendaya would be portraying the redheaded Mary Jane, racists kicked up a huge fuss online, as they love to do. But she appears here as someone named Michele Gonzales, a rude teen who brings Parker back down to earth when he can’t stop drooling over Liz. If Michele talks to another woman or—heck why not—steps in to save the day, it’ll be the best iteration yet.
Until the next one. Sleep, sweet baby Spidey, your time will come.