Like many fans, I thought Spider-Man: No Way Home was the perfect conclusion to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy. It also seemed like both Holland and his co-star—and now real-life wife—Zendaya were ready to move on to other projects, a decision that has clearly paid off given their continued success. While I still believe No Way Home wrapped up this version of Spider-Man’s story beautifully, I must admit that the latest installment is a surprisingly solid sequel. It expands the character’s journey in an unexpected way and, by the end, left me genuinely interested in seeing where this Spider-Man goes next.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set several years after the events Spider-Man: Now Way Home and finds Peter Parker embracing life as New York’s anonymous, full-time friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. With the world having forgotten who he is, Peter struggles to move forward while watching the people he once loved continue their lives without him. But when a mysterious new threat emerges, one with the ability to jump from person to person and take obsession of them, Peter is forced to confront not only a dangerous enemy, but also the emotional weight of the life he sacrificed. As the stakes continue to rise, Brand New Day shifts its focus from multiversal spectacle to a more grounded, character-driven story about identity, loneliness, and what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Read full review here.

Rating: B