The Thunderbolts Void Could Reveal the MCU’s Uncle Ben in Brand New Day

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Fans have been carefully examining the latest trailer, hoping to find clues about the next Marvel movie. One thing they’ve noticed is that New York City looks much darker and less colorful than in previous Spider-Man films. This gloomy look is especially apparent in a scene where Spider-Man is swinging while carrying someone – a shot that seems to be inspired by the cover of his very first comic book appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15.

The gloomy look of the recent Spider-Man trailer could just be a stylistic choice, meant to show Peter Parker’s mood. However, some fans believe it hints at a bigger plot point. They point to the upcoming Thunderbolts movie, where a similar darkness descends on New York City. If the trailer scene shows that event from Peter’s point of view, the new film could finally reveal a key part of Spider-Man’s origin story that’s been missing from the Marvel Cinematic Universe: the death of Uncle Ben.

Thunderbolts* Forced Superheroes to Deal With Their Trauma

As a huge movie fan, I always found the story of the Void fascinating. He wasn’t just some random villain; he was basically the dark side of the hero, Bob Reynolds, the Sentry. Valentina de Fontaine tried to bring out the best in Bob, but instead unleashed this… emptiness. The Void wasn’t just powerful with all the usual superhero abilities; he could trap people in this awful mental space, a twisted labyrinth of their own guilt and shame – Yelena Belova described it perfectly as a ‘maze of interconnected shame rooms.’ It was a really unsettling power, and a great way to show the psychological toll being a hero can take.

Those consumed by the Void didn’t leave bodies behind—only dark, shadowy outlines. Their minds, however, were imprisoned, forced to endlessly replay their most painful memories. Yelena, for example, was stuck reliving a terrible moment from her past: when she unknowingly led a childhood friend into danger during a mission for the Red Room.

Towards the end of Thunderbolts, the villain Void trapped everyone in New York City in special rooms that filled them with shame, causing darkness to spread across the city. Yelena and the Thunderbolts were able to rescue everyone by finding Bob and helping him regain control. The dark shadow shown in the trailer for Brand New Day might have been a glimpse of this event.

Bringing up the Thunderbolts storyline from the Brand New Day comic arc could connect different parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and deepen Peter Parker’s character development. Given all the difficult things he’s gone through, his ‘shame room’ could show painful memories – like Doctor Strange’s spell to erase him from everyone’s memory – but it would be even more compelling to explore a previously unseen event from his past.

Uncle Ben Was Hidden in the MCU

The death of Uncle Ben is the key event that turned Peter Parker into Spider-Man. As first shown in Amazing Fantasy #15, Peter could have stopped a thief, but he didn’t because he didn’t see it as his problem. Tragically, that thief then killed his uncle. Peter’s self-centered decision cost him someone he loved, and it taught him a crucial lesson that became his guiding principle: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

This line first appeared in the narration of early comics. While Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man both featured Uncle Ben’s death, the Marvel Cinematic Universe decided to leave it out. The writers believed audiences didn’t need to witness Ben’s death again, particularly since The Amazing Spider-Man was released only four years before Peter Parker appeared in Captain America: Civil War within the MCU.

Even so, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made a few references to Ben Parker. In Civil War, when Tony Stark asks Peter Parker why he became a superhero, Peter’s answer echoes his uncle’s well-known line: “With great power comes great responsibility… if you don’t use it, bad things happen, and it’s your fault.”

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, a more direct reference was made to Ben Parker. Peter’s suitcase had the initials “BFP” engraved on it, which director Jon Watts explained stood for Ben’s full name, Benjamin Franklin Parker. Additionally, Ben’s death was shown in the What If…? episode “What If… Zombies?!” and in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, both taking place in alternate universes.

Given what we’ve seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s likely Peter Parker’s origin story mirrored that of the classic Amazing Fantasy #15 comic. However, Uncle Ben probably didn’t say the exact phrase “with great responsibility.” Instead, May delivered a similar message to Peter as she was dying in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Peter realized a version of himself from another universe had heard the same words from his own Uncle Ben. It’s probable Ben still offered Peter important life advice at some point, which explains his conversation with Tony Stark in Civil War.

Brand New Day Will Be a Return to Form For Spider-Man

While it was smart for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to avoid showing Uncle Ben’s death initially, many fans now want to see this important event in Peter Parker’s life. With The Amazing Spider-Man being over a decade old, a new generation of viewers might not even know Spider-Man’s origin story. Given that the upcoming film, Brand New Day, suggests a fresh start, it’s an ideal moment to explore this key part of Spider-Man’s history that the MCU hasn’t yet covered.

The conclusion of No Way Home left Peter completely on his own. He’s lost the financial help and high-tech gear Tony Stark provided, and he can’t rely on the Avengers for assistance. Even his closest relationships are gone – either through loss or because everyone has forgotten he exists.

The trailer for Brand New Day showed Peter Parker at his most vulnerable. The opening scene featured him watching a painful video from his old friends. It also hinted at some dramatic changes, including naturally produced webbing and completely black eyes. This has led fans to believe he might transform into Man-Spider, a monstrous version of the character that first appeared in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

With his life falling apart, Peter will really need to remember the lessons his uncle taught him. The characters in Thunderbolts faced intense trauma in the shame rooms, but they came out stronger for dealing with their inner struggles. Peter could experience a similar growth in Brand New Day, and this could create a meaningful connection throughout the story.

Marvel Should Make the Most of Its Cinematic Universe

Since Avengers: Endgame finished the main storyline, many fans have pointed out that Marvel movies and shows don’t feel very connected. We’re seeing fewer team-ups between heroes, and events in one project are often ignored in others. Connecting the story of Thunderbolts to the Brand New Day storyline could fix this issue and feel like a logical step. If Peter wasn’t away when the Void attacked, he would have definitely been impacted by it.

Even though things were difficult, Peter appeared to be handling things okay at the end of No Way Home. However, revisiting the pain of losing Ben could be the breaking point that leads to trouble in Brand New Day. By connecting Thunderbolts to Peter’s story, Brand New Day has the potential to show that these films can offer more than just fun references and quick appearances. When done well, movies within a shared universe build on each other, creating a stronger overall story than any single film could achieve on its own.

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2026-03-22 02:10