As fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are gearing up forSpider-Man’snext cinematic adventure, a surprising villain is making their return to the comics. Fans everywhere are still unpacking the next movie’s subtitle,Brand New Day, and what it means for Peter Parker, especially now that a villain from that era is about to make their big comeback.
Marvel Comics’Spider-Girlseries has only gotten started, but the publisher has given fans a peek at what lies ahead thanks to its solicitations for future books. In August, Marvel will releaseSpider-Girl #3and, as the cover reveals,Spider-Girl is going to goup against Paper Doll, a villain who hasn’t had a major role in over a decade.
It’s an interesting choice of villain for Spider-Girl. Sure, Paper Doll hasn’t made many appearances in the last few years and that’s something to consider. But what’s more interesting is that this next appearance follows the announcement that the next MCU Spider-Man movie will be calledSpider-Man: Brand New Day,named after the storyline Paper Doll first appeared in.
Marvel Comics is Bringing Back a Long-Lost Spider-Man Villain
Laying the Groundwork for a Bigger Appearance?
Marvel Comics' “Brand New Day"storyline followed Spider-Man as he adjusted to a new normal after trading his marriage to Mary Jane to Mephisto to save Aunt May’s life. This was a very ‘back to basics’ period for Spider-Man, but he also had new threats, including Paper Doll, an obsessive villainwho could compress her body like paper.
It seems like a very odd choice to pit Spider-Girl against someone as out-of-left field as Paper Doll. Beyond cameos, Paper Doll hasn’t been a featured villain in the comics for almost 15 years. That being said,Marvel does like synergy, so it’s not a stretch to think it’s preparing fans for a big-screen Paper Doll appearance.
An Underrated Spider-Man Foe is Being Prepped for a Comeback
Paper Doll Might Just Be Coming to the MCU
Granted, Marvel movies are almost never 1:1 adaptations, and chances are Spider-Man: Brand New Day will deviate heavily from the comics. But given how Marvel likes to make its comics resemble the MCU when it can, it does seem likely that the publisher wants fans to be aware of Paper Doll before she appears in the live-action franchise.
Paper Doll might not be on the level of Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus, but she’s a wildly creative villain who’s perfect for Spider-Man to fight in a new chapter of his life. Hopefully, Paper Doll’s upcoming Spider-Girl appearance isn’t random, and she’ll actually be facing off againstSpider-Manwhen “Brand New Day” comes to the MCU.
