'Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'—How Disney+ show changes Spider-Man's MCU storyline
What's the story
The first two episodes of the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man have dropped, filled with plenty of Easter eggs and references.
The show takes place in an alternate timeline that closely resembles the main live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
These premiere episodes also feature several ties to Tom Holland's MCU debut as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War.
Plot twists
How Spidey gets introduced is subverted
In this series, Parker is moved to a different school after Midtown High comes under attack during a battle between Doctor Strange and an alien monster.
This incident creates a new branched timeline from the primary MCU timeline. So, the way Spidey was introduced to MCU fans gets a makeover.
Despite the changes, the series still features plenty of references to Spider-Man's original MCU story.
Visual cues
'Spider-Man' premiere features Avengers Tower and Iron Man ornament
Another major plot deviation is that Uncle Ben is already gone before Parker gets his spider powers in this alternate timeline.
Thus, the original storyline where Ben's death motivates Parker to use his powers for good is lost.
That's not all, per Screen Rant, Avengers Tower can be spotted in the opening sequence, suggesting Tony Stark hasn't sold it yet as he does in the main MCU timeline.
An Iron Man car ornament is also spotted in Aunt May's car.
MCU references
'Spider-Man' episodes feature MCU parallels and comic characters
The series features a huge "Queens" location title card, just like the Russo Brothers's Civil War and more of their MCU-directed movies.
Parker's room has the same layout we saw in Captain America: Civil War.
One of Parker's drawings in class resembles Mark Bagley's artwork, especially his work on the original Ultimate Spider-Man comics.
Musical cues
'Spider-Man' features iconic MCU theme and Eye of Agamotto
When Doctor Strange comes to fight the alien, his iconic MCU theme from composer Michael Giacchino plays.
The series also features the Eye of Agamotto/Time Stone, which Doctor Strange uses during his fight with the monster to reverse a garbage truck crashing into the school.
But there's still plenty of damage he was unable to reverse.
Character introductions
This time, Parker gets offered a real internship
The series also introduces Nico Minoru, a powerful magic user from the comics, whom Parker meets just before he gets bitten by the spider that came from the portal.
In the second episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Norman Osborn invites Parker to join the Oscorp internship program. This turns out to be a real program, unlike the Stark Internship which was just a cover in the main MCU.