The creatives behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe likely didn't anticipate using Spider-Man in their films when they first started. When the opportunity arose, so did a unique chance to build out one of the franchise's now most distinguishing features: Peter Parker's relationship with Iron Man. Tony Stark became a real father figure to Peter in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which stands in contrast to their dynamic in comic books.

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The MCU successfully adapts the comics and changes some elements for the better. The Iron Man/Spider-Man relationship is one of the best changes, taking what had been a fairly thin relationship in comic books and transforming it into one of the most beloved in the movies.

Updated on August 5, 2022 by Cole Kennedy: Spider-Man and Iron Man have a close relationship in the MCU, but that's not exactly the case in the actual Marvel Comics. Peter Parker and Tony Stark have teamed up alongside other Avengers, but the camaraderie they share in the movies didn't come off the page.

10 Spider-Man And Iron Men First Met Well Into Their Superhero Careers

Spider-Man and Iron Man from Marvel Team Up in Marvel Comics

One of the coolest things about the nascent Marvel Comics universe in the early 1960s was that it created a shared world for its many characters to inhabit. Despite many early crossovers – including Spidey's own meeting with the Fantastic Four in Amazing Spider-Man #1 by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Stan Goldberg, and Jon D'Agostino – Spider-Man and Iron Man didn't properly meet for years.

It wasn't until 1973 and Marvel Team-Up #9 by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Bolle, Stan Goldberg, and Charlotte Jetter that the two actually shared an adventure (they had only been in a brief scene together in the Avengers book). In the MCU, Spider-Man met Iron Man within months of first web-slinging.

9 Spider-Man And Iron Man Share Mutual Respect As Scientists

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Tony Stark is a mentor and quasi-father figure to Peter Parker in the MCU. In the absence of Uncle Ben, Tony became the man Peter has looked up to. Of course, Aunt May would later be the one to give the famous "great power, great responsibility" line in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

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Once they finally met in the early comics, their relationship was mostly built on mutual respect. They were both a scientist and engineer in their own right, but there was little between them except for professional respect and courtesy. Tony was billionaire playboy while Peter attended Empire State University. Tony dealt with hostile Stark Industries takeovers while Peter tended to his frequently sickly aunt.

8 A Version Of Iron Man Was The Kid Of The Group

Teen Tony Stark

At one point, Peter Parker wasn't the teenage protégé, but Tony Stark was. In one of Marvel's worst retcons, Iron Man was revealed to be a secret agent of Kang The Conqueror in The Crossing event. He became a murderous traitor and the Avengers replaced the evil Tony Stark with a teenage version from an alternate reality.

The teen Tony Stark operated somewhat as Spider-Man does in the MCU. Teen Tony was powerful, smart, and the new kid on the block. As it is commonplace in comics, the original Tony eventually returned and the entire event was quickly was forgotten.

7 Spider-Man Joined The New Avengers In The Comics

Bendis New-Avengers - Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Sentry, And Spider-Woman in Marvel Comics

Spider-Man was never a member of the original Avengers team, which is a shared fact in both the MCU and main Marvel comic continuity. However, Spider-Man would go on to become a key member in many Marvel superhero teams, including the Heroes for Hire, Future Foundation, and New Avengers. In the early 2000s, Brian Michael Bendis revamped The Avengers into The New Avengers and brought Spidey and Wolverine into the fold for the first time.

Wolverine's presence alone makes Spidey's entrance into the Avengers very different from the movies. Whereas Spidey proved himself as a reliable hero for years in the comics, he was swiftly knighted as an Avenger in a last, desperate bid by Tony Stark in Avengers: Infinity War.

6 Captain America Is More Spidey's Mentor Than Iron Man

Captain America gives Spider-Man advice

The Spider-Man: Life Story limited series by Chip Zdarsky, Mark Bagley, John Dell, Frank D'Armata, and Travis Lanham explored an alternate reality where the Marvel Comics characters aged naturally, rather than staying perpetually young throughout their publication histories. In this world, Captain America was Spider-Man's main idol and mentor.

When Cap joined the Vietnam War, Peter felt guilty, realizing he could use his own powers to help his country as well. When Life Story's "Civil War" event erupted, Peter was against Tony from the beginning as the two had developed an antagonistic relationship in the years prior.

5 Tony Created The Iron Spider Costume For Different Reasons

Spider-Man wears his Iron Spider armor in the Civil War comic

Tony Stark created versions of the Iron Spider costume in both the MCU and comics, but his reasons for doing so were entirely different. In the comics, Tony gifted Spider-Man with the suit after Peter joined Iron Man's side in Civil War and revealed his identity to the world. In the movies, Iron Man not only created the Iron Spider suit, he created Spider-Man's "classic red and blue" suit to protect the kid as well.

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The original Iron Spider costume debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #529 by J. Michael Straczynski, Ron Garney, Bill Reinhold, Matt Mila, and Cory Petit and became a fan-favorite, appearing as an unlockable suit in nearly every Spider-Man video game thereafter.

4 Civil War Played Out Very Differently In The Comics

Spider-Man unmasks in Civil War

The foundation of the Civil War comic book storyline was very similar to the events depicted in the Captain America: Civil War film. After an event involving superhumans led to the deaths of civilians, a registration act was proposed, forcing all costumed heroes to ally themselves directly with the United Nations.

In the comics, Spider-Man revealed his identity to the world and joined Iron Man's Pro-Registration team. In the Civil War film, Peter also joined Tony's side. However, comic book Peter ultimately turned on Tony and the two shared a climactic, armored battle. The MCU Peter never defected from Tony's team.

3 Spider-Man Switched To Cap's Side After Civil War

Spider-Man was forced to choose - and then abruptly change - sides during Marvel's Civil War event.

During the events of the Civil War comic event, Spider-Man switched sides and joined Captain America's Anti-Regestration team. In the MCU, Peter was recruited by Tony and remained on Iron Man's team for its entirety. While Peter looks up to Tony in the movies, their comic book counterparts have very different memories of their Civil War.

After Civil War, Tony had driven a wedge between himself and half of the superhero community. Peter's decision to reveal his identity, something that was encouraged by Stark, led to the near-death of Aunt May and the subsequent "One More Day" & "Brand New Day" eras.

2 Spider-Man And Iron Man Don't Share A Close Relationship In The Comics

Iron Man hunted Spider-Man during Civil War

Since the divisive events of the original Civil War storyline – not to mention the more recent Civil War II crossover event – Iron Man continues to straddle the line between hero and antagonist. While he's not a villain like Doctor Doom, Iron Man's ego often outweighs his better judgment.

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Although the MCU Tony shares many traits with his comic book counterpart, a young, glossy-eyed MCU Peter Parker doesn't see Iron Man's faults, but focuses on the things that made Tony special and well-respected. Comic book Peter, on the other hand, is more mature, recognizes when Tony is in the wrong, and is not afraid to call him out.

1 Peter Rivaled Tony With Parker Industries

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After Doctor Octopus successfully swapped bodies with Spider-Man, he became the Superior Spider-Man and ushered in a new era for the Spider-Man universe. Peter, of course, eventually triumphed and reclaimed his stolen body. Utilizing the empire Octavius built while using his body, Peter established a global tech company called Parker Industries.

During the "Worldwide" era created by writer Dan Slott, Peter's company rivaled Stark Industries. The two owners even chatted about their competing companies when they teamed up to defeat Regent. In this storyline, Peter convinced the world that Spider-Man was his hired bodyguard, a facade that Tony used in his early days as Iron Man.

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