Discussing
Spider-Man: Homecoming and the Amazing Technicolor Spidey Suit

From Joseph’s robe to Peter Parker's suit, costumes serve as markers, status symbols, and emblems of authority.

**Spoilers Ahead!**

Interesting write-up from a perspective I hadn't considered! The suit as a framing device was a great move on the part of the writers and directors. Something about seeing Spiderman take on Vulture in the homemade suit instead of the teched-out Stark version made it feel like he was a real human being beneath the outfit. If Cap and Iron Man are legends, Spiderman is a normal human being confronted with real problems and real evil. I think it added the kind of "personal stake" to the movie that Marvel often lacks. Tony Stark in an Iron Man suit with an army of drones isn't really in any danger. A fifteen-year-old in a hoodie and goggles? That's a fight the viewer can be invested in.

The costume ark- Peter gaining powers, using them in an irresponsible but well-meaning way, and learning to protect his community independently of his super-suit actually made me think of Homecoming as a kind of counterpoint to Watchmen (2009). Watchmen focused deeply on the character of those behind the masks, and feared that power in the hands of a concentrated few was a bad thing specifically for that reason- humans have a tendency towards bad, and often do bad even when they try to do good, so power is ultimately a dangerous thing.

Homecoming had the same fear- that power can be abused, even by the well-meaning, but added the concept of virtue in as a sort of counterargument. Peter did a lot of damage by being too immature to handle the power he was wielding but was able to learn and do better. In Watchmen, character is fixed, so bad people with power do bad things, and good people with power still do bad things on accident. Homecoming has these presuppositions about power (early film Peter Parker functions almost like a light-hearted Rorschach), but is more optimistic in its idea that humans can grow into wiser, more virtuous people.

I suppose that philosophical difference- character as fixed and character as moldable through virtue- has bigger implications, especially in the way we think about political power and criminal justice. But this is a comment on an article, not an essay :)

Anyway, really enjoyed the film and really enjoyed your write-up

Also, if you haven't yet, buy Josh's book. I'm a book critic for a few publications and I've lost track of the number of books I've read this year, but Movies are Prayers is easily one of the best. Check it out, you won't be sorry!

In Reply to Jake Raabe (comment #30490)
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You're too kind, Jake! Thanks for the good thoughts on the movie.

In Reply to Jake Raabe (comment #30490)
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Ditto on Josh's book. You think Homecoming works more as a prayer of joy or a prayer of submission, obedience, or joy? (Or all three?)

In Reply to JKana (comment #30492)
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I can see ways this works as a prayer of obedience, for sure.

Fun article, Josh.

I too find the film a bit thematically confused, despite being loads of fun.

It want Peter to 'grow up,' but often finds itself unclear of its expectations for this maturity. Does it mean relying on his own powers as opposed to his fancy Stark suit? Maybe a motivation tweak: doing what he does out of a sense of justice instead of a desire to impress? It's significant, I think, that he explains his web-slinging activities using the "Stark internship" excuse - sure it's a fun plot device, but also conveys the sense that he expects his actions to be monitored and evaluated in the hope of an eventual hire.

None of the options really get a focus, though your analysis has given me a new appreciation for the use of costumes in the film. Definitely more to look for in a second viewing.

I talk a bit more about this in an essay of my own, if you're interested:

http://www.heromonitor.org/movietv-reviews/thematic-analysis-of-spider-man-homecoming-aka-what-wonder-woman-did-better