Spider-Man: Long Way Home Is The Perfect Story Before The MCU’s Brand New Day

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1

Marvel has just released the perfect series ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Set in an alternate reality apart from the main Marvel Universe, Spider-Man: Long Way Home features all the known primary heroes who will soon be featured in the upcoming MCU movie.

A five-issue miniseries from Jonathan Hickman and Adam Kubert, Spider-Man: Long Way Home is a unique standalone story starring the titular Webslinger, The Incredible Hulk, and The Punisher. However, all three heroes have new status quos in this alternate reality.

Even after one issue, this fresher setting is already allowing Hickman and Kubert to reinvent these familiar characters without decades of continuity getting in the way. As such, the result is a very exciting Spider-Man adventure that’s the perfect read while we all wait for Brand New Day’s release.

Spider-Man: Long Way Home Pits The Webslinger Against Hulk & The Punisher

Spider-Man: Long Way Home wastes no time establishing just how different its unique version of the Marvel Universe is. In this alternate reality, Frank Castle’s Punisher is part of a mercenary task force, while Bruce Banner’s Hulk is still a terrifying rumor that few people have survived.

In Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1, it’s revealed that A.I.M has successfully created a powerful Cosmic Cube in the jungles of South America. Learning that Hydra was planning an attack to claim the cube, SHIELD hires Castle’s task force to intercede and claim the cube and keep it out of both sinister groups’ hands. However, everything falls into chaos with the arrival of the Hulk, who also wants the Cosmic Cube for some unknown purpose. Additionally, he’s also speaking perfectly, suggesting that this version of Banner is still in control of his mind despite being a powerful rage monster.

In the aftermath of this first issue, Frank loses his entire squad while still having the Cube. Meanwhile, SHIELD recruits Spider-Man to help them manage the situation, needing some major superpowered backup in the face of Hulk’s power and Frank currently being MIA in the jungle. As a result, Spider-Man, Punisher, and Hulk all now have the same objective, no doubt putting them all on a major collision course as Long Way Home continues.

You Couldn’t Ask For A Better Miniseries Ahead of Brand New Day

Without a doubt, the timing of Spider-Man: Long Way Home couldn’t be better/more fun. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day arriving at the end of July, it’s no accident that Marvel has just released a comic featuring the very same characters fans are most excited to see together on the big screen for the first time in the MCU. While Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will naturally be the central focus of Brand New Day, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk are both set to play key roles.

While the new Spider-Man: Long Way Home series isn’t connected to the MCU, it does offer readers an entertaining preview of the sort of dynamics these three characters can have when they’re all in the same Marvel story (as well as some we might not see in the new movie). Likewise, the unpredictability of a new series in a brand-new alternate universe free of the main established continuity is pretty dang exciting as well.

As Long Way Home continues, it’s going to be very exciting to learn why Bruce Banner wants the Cosmic Cube, and who will ultimately end up with the classic Marvel relic by the end of the five-issue miniseries. Likewise, you have to love Marvel’s overall company synergy with this new series’ release just ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.