Okay, I’ll talk about Spider-Man, I promise. But first, hear me out.
There is no such thing as the “best” anything in this world. Cappuccino, latte, espresso, whatever your poison, there will always be someone who prefers something different. If a billion people love cappuccino, does that make it the best coffee in the world? No, not even close. While these cappuccino-loving folks sip away to glory, another billion caffeine junkies would sell their souls for a perfect espresso or start a war for a cup of latte.
And while we are losing our minds debating the best coffee, half the world has joined the green tea movement, binge-watching TikTok videos about matcha like it’s going to stop climate change. But seriously, tea? The Chinese have been drinking it for millennia, and what has come out of that? Kung fu? Anyway, you get the idea.
Oh, another heated debate that throws people into the boxing ring is about the best phone. Don’t shoot me yet, okay? Is the iPhone really the best phone? Maybe. But the funny thing is, Apple worshipers go wild when some recycled Android feature, like, let’s say, dark theme, lands on their precious slab. Meanwhile, Android users are like, “Bro, we’ve been having it.” Yet this “not-so-new” feature would still drive Tim Cook’s congregation into a frenzy like they have discovered the fountain of youth. It’s crazy.
Point is, “best” is mostly just a matter of taste. Which brings me to Spider-Man. Everyone’s got their favourite. Whether you’re for Tobey, Andrew, or Tom, arguing over who is the “best” is just another coffee war. So, let’s break it down.
Tobey Maguire was the first to don the red and blue costume in modern film. His portrayal had some emotional depth and focused on Peter Parker’s struggles with responsibility because with great power comes great what? Exactly. But he was a darling for the nostalgic comic book fans, the ones who grew up devouring Tintin’s adventures and Asterix’s wild antics.
Next was Andrew Garfield. His take on Spider-Man emphasized Peter’s wit and charm. He connected with the “younger” audience who liked faster action and romance. Come on, don’t act as if you don’t remember his chemistry with Gwen Stacy.
Then came Tom Holland. He brought in the awkward high school life and infused his role with the kind of goof-ups you’d expect from a kid. But you see? That was the point. Marvel Studios wanted a new, light-hearted, and humorous superhero. A goofy Spider “Kid,” if you will, to connect with Gen Z, because boomers would have to squint their eyes to see what in the magic world was happening.
I know some of you think this is all gibberish, so I’ll give you a minute to Google it and come back.
Have you noticed something? These three actors and their respective film eras can be a perfect example of Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning. I can hear someone already screaming “Marketing 101,” whatever that means. Anyway, Tobey’s Spider-Man was a hit in the early 2000s, but he could not have made sense in 2012. So, Marvel threw in Andrew Garfield with a grunge vibe. Later, a goofy, relatable kid named Tom came in, right when Gen Z was starting to take over the world. Timing is everything.
Each film was tailored to meet a different set of expectations, just as marketing isn’t about selling the same thing to everyone, unless you’re selling eternal life, of course. If you try to sell the same Spider-Man across different generations in the exact same way, it will be like forcing your dad to use TikTok. Yeah, I know.
So, here’s the thing. If you are planning to sell something to different groups, you have to understand them. You have to target what matters to them and position your “Spider-Man” in a way that speaks to their needs, values, and reality. Otherwise, it’s just another tired product, and nobody is going to buy it. We don’t all like the same things; that’s a fact. Even identical twins don’t vibe the same. While one is flying high with Liverpool, the other is still on their knees waiting for the Gunners to rule the league.
But for real though, who is your best Spider-Man?
