Spider-Man: What Happens After Everyone is Sent Back Home?

It’s no mystery that Spider-Man: No Way Home has left its mark on countless lives, myself included. From tears to cheers, the film offers a constant whirlwind of visceral and surreal euphoria. It awakens the kind of feelings only channeled through nostalgia and most importantly, empathy. No one can deny that Peter Parker’s intent on saving this ragtag group of multiverse misfits was anything short of selfless, but just how successful was his plan really? With all of the rogues cured, rehabilitated and sent home, it made me wonder for their sake: What happens next? What does this mean for the universes they return to? Does their world truly change... does their fate?

Electro

When we last saw Electro he was sucked into an electronic grid and morphed into pure energy. In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, at some point before burning out into nothingness, through data absorption, he gains the knowledge that Peter Parker is Spider-Man and at that very moment he is pulled into a new universe. With all the said, I can’t quite see how Electro returning wouldn’t result in either his immediate vaporization, or an insanely gruesome dismemberment. An ultra-energized grid with active electric currents seems like it would probably be in the top ten most unsafe places for a regular human being to just materialize. Unless he re-appears just far enough away from the high voltage charges to avoid getting immediately charred to a crisp, and there is an Amazing Spider-Man quick and willing to swing under him before his body hits the ground, his odds of survival are basically zero. As sad as Max’s fate may be, his time in this new universe did give him another chance to fully discover his power, because at the end of the day, he just wanted to be “somebody”.

Doctor Octopus

Doctor Otto Octavius’ fate might be the most ironic and upsetting of all the villains. Unfortunately, a morally sound and in control Otto probably won’t change much of anything. Phased into the MCU only a moment after fully realizing Peter Parker’s true identity, exclaiming “I had him by the throat...”, referring to a moment in the last ten minutes of Spider-Man 2. This leaves him with little time to change his life for the better. With his machine at full power and minutes away from causing mass destruction, Otto would most likely only be left with the same, singular option, sacrifice. Which he would have been willing to do even before he was cured, as we’ve all seen. While there is a slight possibility that this more level-headed version of Doctor Octopus could think up a quick solution on dismantling the machine without anyone losing a life, it is unlikely. On a darker, more grand note, Octavius' return might result in an even higher death toll. That being because he’s down a tentacle, courtesy of the Green Goblin. While the loss of one of his mechanical arms won’t affect his health, it means one less hand on deck to drown the machine. This might take more than Doc is capable of doing on his own. A young blue-eyed Spider-Man might have to offer up some strength or in a worst case scenario, his life.

Green Goblin

Of all the semi-sinister antagonists in this film, Green Goblin undoubtedly wreaks the most havoc. From murdering Aunt May to destroying the cube and Peter's last chance at having an almost normal life, it's hard for anyone to look forward to a happy ending for this not-so-gentleman. Nevertheless, sending a non-superpowered, mentally stable Norman Osborn back to his time actually has the most potential for a positive outcome. Since it was Goblin's own warped mind that sent the glider through his torso, he would have no reason to do this and therefore, he wouldn't have died. We know the goblin was taken before the final battle in Spider-Man because he appears in Spider-Man: No Way Home with a shiny, almost completely undamaged suit. So him being returned seconds before he is impaled by the glider, is not a possibility. The next step for Norman would be either prison or institutionalized rehabilitation, but given the stories he's going to bring back to his world, I would bet on the latter. Assuming Norman doesn't relapse and get his hands on the serum again, sometime down the line he could actually help Spider-Man, maybe with some new technology and maybe keep Otto from ever letting his inventions get the better of him. Most importantly, there would be no bad blood between Harry and Spider-Man and no one in Peter Parker's immediate circle would have to die. Harry would never become the New Goblin and Oscorp would be on Spider-Man's side and potentially, at his disposal.

Sandman

The exact point in time of which Sandman is pulled remains generally ambiguous, but what we do know is that when he does arrive he's on decent terms with Spider-Man. In the film, he offers to help Spider-Man, which means he must have been pulled out of his universe sometime after the events of Spider-Man 3, when Peter has already forgiven Flint. With all that said, the lasting effect his ability to turn to sand has on his body is not entirely clear. Though, it’s probably not so positive considering he never does turn fully human in this film. At least not until he is cured. Which begs the question, was his body slowly degenerating? If he could no longer turn fully human, how long would it be before he is nothing more than a lifeless pile of weathered glass? Thankfully, now that his body has been restored back to its original anatomical makeup, his human form is the only one he will need to worry about maintaining. If he can either finish his sentence, hide away or in a best case scenario, get pardoned, maybe he can hold his daughter once again. Not as Sandman, but as Flint Marko, in the flesh.

The Lizard

For The Lizard, not much really changes. The Amazing Spider-Man said it himself: “I cured him once I can do it again.” Dr. Connors will survive and be sent to Ravencroft. Only, a little bit sooner than before. However, just exactly how much sooner, could change a lot for everyone else. Since the Lizard discovers Peter Parker is Spider-Man in the final act of The Amazing Spider-Man, that leaves about a thirty minute chunk of story to pull him from. If it's before the climax of the final battle on top of a skyscraper, that means that Captain Stacy, father of Gwen Stacy is still alive. Which of course, opens a world of possibilities; A well communicated partnership between Spider-Man and the GCPD, a forced, patrolled separation between Peter and Gwen and just maybe, a Gwen that dies much later from natural causes.

Although the birth of many new alternate timelines remain an intriguing enigma full of potential possibilities, the burning question still remains unexplored... What does the future hold for the Spider-Men?

The Amazing Spider-Man

Burdened by knowing that the love of his life is lost forever because of his own selfish misjudgment, this Spider-Man returns home with more than just the knowledge of a multiverse. He will return with redemption. He returns knowing he had a second chance at saving Max. He arrives knowing he will never let what happens to Gwen, happen again. Most importantly, he comes home knowing that he's not alone, he has made a difference, and he is Amazing. The Amazing Spider-Man can finally be Peter Parker again and find someone new, move on. He hasn't given up on Gwen... he knows there's an infinite amount of worlds out there in which... he can find her again.

The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

After many years of being Spider-Man, he thought he knew all there was to know about the superhero business. Now, much like the Amazing Spider-Man, he touches down knowing there's so much more. After being the responsible hero for so long, he's finally had a chance to share everything he's went through. He comes home as a mentor, knowing his wisdom has helped set someone else on the right path. The same path that his Uncle Ben sent him down. Not to mention he got a chance to save some of the people he couldn't before. On a less symbolic note, he's also got a pretty bad wound. There's a chance that might be his last. For the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man though, that might not be so bad. He's had a good run, and he knows that Spider-Man's legacy will live on, long beyond his own life. I wouldn't bet on that though, I do think we will be seeing more of The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man... very soon.

Spider-Man

Unfortunately for Spider-Man, his return, though not physically departing, is too a world very different than it was before. His homecoming has a lonely welcome. When the entire world forgets you exist, it's bound to take some adjusting. However, this story won't close on such a somber note, his arc is not over. With Spider-Man 4 in active development, the story will continue. Spider-Man will swing again and the multiverse will live on...

Good thing too... he might just need some help.