Spider-Man: Far From Home

After the end of Avengers: Endgame, many MCU fans were left wondering what would bring Iron Man back to the universe. While a rotting-flesh superhero doesn’t really seem like the kind of property that Disney would prioritize, Sony could certainly do it—and in a way that nods to the fan-favorite Marvel Zombies comic book series.

Jon Watts and the film’s art department drew inspiration from the comic book to create the look of Zombie Iron Man, who makes an appearance in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Rather than a full-on costume re-design, the team went for an impressionist approach, creating the skin-crawling look of Stark’s rotting body that looks a bit like Arthur Suydam’s iconic Zombie Iron Man artwork. The result is a cool, fun homage for fans of the comics.

In the film, Mysterio uses his holographic techniques and projector drones against Spider-Man in an insane whirlwind of images. Peter is led through trippy psychedelic illusions of his school, a projection of MJ falling off the Eiffel Tower, and even a weird valley of mangled heroes, including zombie Iron Man himself. This visual battle is one of the most entertaining and visually impressive in a Marvel movie to date, thanks to Mysterio’s incredible powers of illusion.

Despite the glitz and glamour of the film’s impressive visuals, Far From Home has a deeper story to tell, and its use of illusions allows for some interesting themes and meta-commentary on the nature of deception in our world today. The film’s choice of Mysterio as a villain provides a chance to explore issues of media manipulation and mythmaking on the world stage. Mysterio’s long con also provides a good opportunity to make fun of superhero movies themselves, as the filmmakers poke fun at the kinds of things that comic book villains might do to create a memorable story for their audiences.

As for the film’s more serious moments, it lays bare the consequences of our global dependence on fossil fuels and the dangers of corporate greed. The film also tackles the complex subject of mental health, with a subplot that features MJ struggling with bipolar disorder. The movie also addresses the stigma associated with autism by introducing the character of Happy Hogan, a high-functioning autistic superhero who makes his first appearance in the MCU in Far From Home.

While the film’s ending is somewhat predictable, the final scene on Tower Bridge is still a powerful and moving moment that captures the essence of the entire movie. Far From Home is a fun, witty take on the MCU that doesn’t lose sight of its main goal: redefining what it means to be a hero. This is one of the best MCU films of the year, and it’s worth a visit in any theater.