Why Spider-Man Can Resist Mind Control

2 hours ago 13

Published Jul 31, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: Brand New Day!The MCU unveils a new superpower for Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as he can resist Jean Grey's mind control and other telepathic abilities, which may leave some viewers scratching their heads. The Phase 6 film explores the evolving nature of Spider-Man's powers, courtesy of Peter Parker's DNA mutating further, with his arachnid side becoming more prominent.

But as he is dealing with the challenge of understanding and controlling his new abilities, he's faced with a threat that no one else can track or stop. Brand New Day introduces the X-Men's ultra-powerful telepath Jean Grey, played by Sadie Sink, as a villain. She's taking control of innocent people's minds to do her bidding, which is primarily focused on attacking Damage Control buildings in search for information about her sister.

Jean's mind control abilities are put on full display throughout the movie. When she isn't jumping from one host to the next, she takes control of MJ to taunt Peter, and Punisher and Hulk (separately) to be her muscle. Brand New Day's ending even has her put everyone within a certain radius under her command. But Spider-Man is the only person who is immune to Jean's mind control.

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Spider-Man Trivia

🏠Homecoming2017

✈️Far From Home2019

🌌No Way Home2021

😈VillainsSinister…

🤖MCUAvengers

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Before getting his own solo film, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut by being recruited by Tony Stark to help in a massive superhero conflict. In which MCU film did Holland first appear as Spider-Man?

AAvengers: Age of Ultron BCaptain America: Civil War CSpider-Man: Homecoming DAvengers: Infinity War

✓ Correct! Tom Holland first appeared as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War (2016), where Tony Stark visits Peter in Queens and recruits him for the airport battle against Team Cap. His quippy, starstruck portrayal instantly won over audiences.

✗ Web miss! The answer is Captain America: Civil War. Holland debuted in the 2016 film before Homecoming (2017). He was recruited by Tony Stark for the iconic airport fight scene, stealing Captain America’s shield with his webs in one of the film’s most memorable moments.

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter faces a blue-collar salvage contractor who turned to arms dealing after being shut out of the Chitauri cleanup by Damage Control. Using an alien-tech wingsuit, he becomes one of Spider-Man’s most grounded villains. Who is he?

AThe Vulture (Adrian Toomes) BThe Shocker (Herman Schultz) CThe Scorpion (Mac Gargan) DThe Tinkerer (Phineas Mason)

✓ Correct! Adrian Toomes, played brilliantly by Michael Keaton, is the Vulture — a working-class father who builds a criminal empire selling alien-derived weapons. The twist that he’s the father of Peter’s date Liz is one of the MCU’s best surprises.

✗ Web miss! The answer is The Vulture (Adrian Toomes). The Shocker and Tinkerer are his henchmen in the film, and Scorpion (Mac Gargan) only briefly appears. Toomes is the main antagonist who personally confronts Peter in the unforgettable car ride scene.

Tony Stark built Peter a high-tech suit loaded with features Peter didn’t even know about, including an AI assistant that helps him in combat, provides tactical analysis, and even gives dating advice. What name does Peter give this AI?

AFriday BEdith CKaren DJocasta

✓ Correct! Peter names his suit’s AI “Karen,” voiced by Jennifer Connelly. She assists him with web shooter modes, reconnaissance, and even his love life. Friday is Tony Stark’s AI, and E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark satellite system that appears in Far From Home.

✗ Web miss! The answer is Karen. Friday is Tony Stark’s personal AI, E.D.I.T.H. is the Stark defense satellite Peter inherits in Far From Home, and Jocasta is an AI from the comics. Karen, voiced by Jennifer Connelly, is Peter’s suit assistant throughout Homecoming.

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Peter encounters a seemingly heroic figure who claims to be from an alternate Earth, battling elemental creatures across Europe. In reality, he’s a disgruntled former Stark Industries employee using advanced holographic drones. What is his real name?

AWilliam Ginter Riva BAldrich Killian CJustin Hammer DQuentin Beck

✓ Correct! Quentin Beck, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is Mysterio — a master of illusion who uses Stark Industries’ B.A.R.F. holographic technology and weaponized drones to fabricate the Elementals and pose as a hero. His final act of revenge shapes the entire third film.

✗ Web miss! The answer is Quentin Beck. William Ginter Riva is one of Beck’s team members, Aldrich Killian is the villain of Iron Man 3, and Justin Hammer is from Iron Man 2. Beck is Mysterio, the illusionist who manipulated Peter’s trust across Europe.

In one of the MCU’s most shocking mid-credits scenes, J. Jonah Jameson broadcasts doctored footage from Mysterio’s final moments that completely upends Peter Parker’s life. What does this broadcast reveal to the entire world?

AThat Spider-Man killed Mysterio in cold blood BThat Spider-Man is Peter Parker CThat Spider-Man is a Skrull impersonator DThat Spider-Man commanded the drone attack on London

✓ Correct! Mysterio’s doctored footage, broadcast by J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons reprising his iconic role), exposes Spider-Man’s identity as Peter Parker to the entire world. This revelation drives the entire plot of No Way Home as Peter desperately seeks to undo the damage.

✗ Web miss! The answer is that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. While the footage also frames Spider-Man for the London drone attack, the earth-shattering reveal is Peter’s unmasked identity being broadcast globally by The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson.

With his identity exposed and his loved ones under threat, Peter seeks help from a powerful sorcerer to cast a spell that would make the world forget he is Spider-Man. Peter’s constant modifications to the spell cause it to fracture the multiverse. Which sorcerer casts this spell?

AWong BWanda Maximoff CDoctor Strange DKarl Mordo

✓ Correct! Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casts the memory-wiping spell at Peter’s request, but Peter keeps asking for exceptions — for MJ, Ned, May, and Happy to still remember him. These constant changes corrupt the spell and tear open the multiverse, pulling in villains from other Spider-Man universes.

✗ Web miss! The answer is Doctor Strange. While Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme and actually warns Strange against it, it is Stephen Strange who agrees to cast the spell. Wanda’s multiverse interference occurs in Multiverse of Madness, not here.

Throughout all three films, Peter’s loyal best friend serves as his “guy in the chair,” helping with tech support and keeping his secret. In No Way Home, this character even discovers he can open magical portals using a Sling Ring. Who is Peter’s best friend?

ANed Leeds BFlash Thompson CHarry Osborn DMiles Morales

✓ Correct! Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, is Peter’s best friend and self-proclaimed “guy in the chair.” He discovers Peter’s secret identity in Homecoming, supports him across all three films, and in No Way Home he accidentally uses Doctor Strange’s Sling Ring to open portals to other Spider-Men.

✗ Web miss! The answer is Ned Leeds. Flash Thompson is Peter’s rival and bully who ironically idolizes Spider-Man. Harry Osborn is Peter’s friend in the Raimi and Webb films but doesn’t appear in Holland’s trilogy. Miles Morales is only hinted at. Ned is the irreplaceable “guy in the chair.”

At the emotional climax of No Way Home, Peter makes an enormous personal sacrifice to save the multiverse. Doctor Strange completes the spell, and when it takes effect, Peter is left completely alone. What does the final spell do?

AIt sends Peter to an alternate universe where no one knows him BIt erases Spider-Man from existence entirely CIt removes Peter’s spider powers permanently DIt makes everyone in every universe forget who Peter Parker is

✓ Correct! The final spell makes every person in every universe forget that Peter Parker exists. MJ, Ned, Happy, the Avengers — everyone. Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop afterward but decides not to re-introduce himself, choosing to protect them. He starts over completely alone, sewing his own suit in a small apartment.

✗ Web miss! The answer is that everyone forgets who Peter Parker is. The spell doesn’t erase Spider-Man — people still know the hero exists — but nobody remembers Peter Parker the person. This devastating sacrifice means MJ, Ned, and even Happy Hogan have no memory of him at all.

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Brand New Day never takes time to explicitly explain why this is the case. Some may assume that it is a surprising Spider-Man superpower rooted in the comics. And while there is some loose inspiration the MCU can pull from, this is largely a wholly original idea and extension of Spider-Man's unique abilities.

Peter's Spider-Sense Protects Him From Mind Control

The reason that Peter can resist Jean's mind control boils down to his Spider-Sense. The ability acts as an early warning system for Peter to potential danger. In the MCU, this has meant being able to detect Thanos' ship arriving on Earth, blindly battle Mysterio's drones, and sense Green Goblin overtaking Norman Osborn's regular persona. He could even avoid Doctor Strange while Peter's astral form was separated from his physical body.

These same senses are the reason why Peter doesn't fall prey to any of Jean's mind control abilities, at least to some degree. When she initially tries to enter his mind, his Spider-Sense could presumably feel it happening before Jean fully took control, allowing Peter to push her out. The same logic would then apply to how he moved through Jean's field of mind control without also becoming frozen in place.

Peter's immunity to mind control is clearly linked to his Spider-Sense, as he becomes less aware of Jean when his hormones become imbalanced. He has no trouble tracking Jean and keeping her out of his mind when he's equal parts human and spider. But when the arachnid side of him increases, the sensory overload stops Peter from being able to know who Jean is.

This is why Peter is the only enhanced individual (and person overall) who can resist Jean's telepathic powers. Brand New Day makes a point to show that Jean could overtake Bruce's mind and still control Hulk, although she can't re-enter Hulk's mind after "breaking" it. It also shows that Jean's sister Sara could control her mind, confirming that telepaths can mind control each other. But thanks to the Spider-Sense, Peter can resist these powers and keep control of his own mind.

Spider-Man's Immunity To Mind Control Doesn't Come From The Comics

It's worth noting that the MCU making Spider-Man immune to mind control is not something pulled straight out of the decades of adventures he's had in Marvel Comics. The wall-crawler has encountered many villains whose powers include mind control, such as Mister Negative, and he has fallen prey to them over the years. Other telepath-powered individuals that Spider-Man has been manipulated by include the Spider Queen, Purple Man, and even Professor X.

While Spider-Man can be mind-controlled in the comics, these stories have also shown he's capable of breaking out of it through various means. In one instance, when Mister Negative had taken over his mind, Peter broke the villain's hold by remembering how much he loved Betty Brant, whom he was meant to kill. But Brand New Day doesn't utilize this explanation.

There has also been a time when "Peter Luck" alerted Spider-Man to the fact that he's being psychologically manipulated. Peter Luck is his understanding that he consistently has bad luck throughout his life. So, when his mind was trapped in a virtual reality world, Peter realized it was fake because his life was too good. While Spider-Man's life is in rough shape in some areas in Brand New Day, that's not part of the equation for Peter resisting Jean.

Jean Grey's Power Levels May Have Also Been A Factor

Spider-Man being able to hold off Jean Grey's telepathic powers may seem like a stretch for longtime Marvel fans. Jean is one of the most powerful mutants in history, and her mental abilities are nearly unmatched. But before anyone cries foul about Marvel weakening Jean, Brand New Day subtly explains that his mental immunity isn't a result of Marvel supercharging Spider-Man's powers.

It's explained in Spider-Man: Brand New Day's ending that Jean isn't close to operating with her full powers when she and Spider-Man first interact. She tells Peter near the end as she threatens to jump into his mind that she's a lot more powerful now than she was last time she tried. So, rather than Spider-Man resisting Jean's mind control after years of training under Professor X or once she's unlocked her Phoenix abilities, he's doing so when her powers are not fully developed.

That's probably why Peter just lets Jean enter his mind at the very end. He no longer views her as a threat, so his Spider-Sense doesn't block her, and he does not resist her in any way. While Spider-Man's mental immunity is still strong enough at that point to keep him safe from getting trapped in the mind control field, he potentially would not have been able to stop her this time anyway.

Given the increasing nature of Jean's powers throughout Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter resisting her early on is easier to understand. His abilities are more in check at that point, and hers are not quite as powerful as they become later on. Spider-Man could still resist some mind-controllers in the future given his own increased Spidey powers, but it's unlikely he'd be able to stop Jean again if they are at odds at any point in the future.