Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo teased their latest with carefully arranged furniture. We picked it apart, endlessly. Now, Marvel has another web for us to unravel, not to mention comic book artist Alex Ross throwing more confusion into the mix.
On Sunday, the official Marvel Twitter account presented a picture of a "4" spun from spiderweb, with a caption saying only, "#MarvelComics."
#MarvelComics pic.twitter.com/tqeAGUaEVl
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) June 16, 2019
Following that, Ross, who contributed concept and narrative art to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2, piped up with a painting of Spidey and Kirsten Dunst's version of Mary Jane. He wrote "#SpiderMan4," before subsequently deleting the tweet.
#SpiderMan4 pic.twitter.com/fJaM6uP4SV
— Alex Ross (@thealexrossart) June 17, 2019
Spider-Man: Far From Home is due to swing in June 28. Given it's the second in Tom Holland's run as the hero, it seems premature to announce he's on track for a fourth. We turn to Marvel Comics, which has a few Spider-Man releases out this month. How does the "4" come into play? Immediately it brings the Fantastic Four to mind. Maybe a team-up is on the cards, but it might not be what we expect.
Then there's Ross' input. It points to Raimi's unmade Spider-Man 4, which entered development in 2007, with Anne Hathaway reportedly involved to play Felicia Hardy, and John Malkovitch to play Vulture. However, Sony cancelled it and served up Andrew Garfield's reboot instead. Is Ross just toying with us? Could Raimi's Spider-Man 4 be on the way? Or is Ross involved some way in the comic? Note the drawing is from the beginning of Spider-Man 2, when it recaps what happened in the previous film.
But given that Ross quickly deleted the tweet, we can probably relegate this to being a teaser for any of his art featuring at the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con.
#SpiderMan #SundayNight #SDCC pic.twitter.com/oNUEbPUwLM
— Alex Ross (@thealexrossart) June 17, 2019
Still, let the speculation continue, and let us turn to Twitter to see what we can collectively piece together.
First, we should probably stick to the right publisher.
Batman 4? Finally!
— 🥧Enclosed Grand Dad | BANJO'S BACK (@sevengranddad92) June 16, 2019
A start could be eliminating the possibility of this referring to Spider-Man 4.
When u realise this won’t be Spider-Man 4 pic.twitter.com/HNX8CfrtVa
— Marble (@gayboi64) June 16, 2019
The most likely meaning.
Perhaps a new Spider-Man/Fantastic Four team up series???
— 🕷Let’s Talk Venom🕷 (@LetsVenom) June 16, 2019
Another look at a meaningful "4".
— Alex Ruiz ⚽⚠ (@alexruizglez) June 16, 2019
It implies a team-up, but which team-up?
Please tell me it's what I think it is..... pic.twitter.com/mn7lJGItg5
— Kyle (@Notsosmartguy95) June 16, 2019
While some hope for Spider-Man sequels...
— MOON KNIGHT IS BIG YOSHI 🦀🛡🌵 (@Chaos20X6) June 17, 2019
Some might end up being crushed.
— 𝒞𝒶𝓁𝑒𝒷🎸 𝑀𝒶𝓃-𝒲𝑜𝓁𝒻𝒮𝓆𝓊𝒶𝒹🐺 (@Da_PrplGam3r) June 17, 2019
Whatever it means, read this, Marvel.
— Pheonixmaster1 (@Pheonixmaster1) June 16, 2019
Originally published June 16 at 5:19 p.m. PT.
Updates, 7:01 p.m.: Adds Alex Ross' tweet; 7:36 p.m.: Adds Ross deleted his tweet.