Avengers and Peter Parker: The Secret Identity of Spider-Man
One of the most intriguing questions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is whether all the Avengers know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. The answer is quite complex, as it depends on the context and current events within the timeline.
Who Knows in the MCU?
In the film Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, the Avengers have come into close contact with Peter Parker. Iron Man, specifically, and other Avengers who resided at the Avengers Tower, such as the Vision and other heroes, would have had ample opportunities to observe Peter without his mask. Additionally, Mary Jane Watson, Peter’s girlfriend, was living with him and witnessed his true form. They were even married at one point, although this was later manipulated by Mephisto, making people remember them as just living together.
Cap’s Knowledge
Furthermore, in the comics and MCU, Captain America also knew that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. This is evident from his reaction during Avengers: Endgame when Peter was trying to rescue Mary Jane from the alternate dimension. This event confirms that Captain America was privy to Peter’s secret identity.
In the comics, the majority of the recognizable Avengers have learned Peter’s secret identity during the Civil War storyline, which had significant repercussions. Any Avengers who didn’t know beforehand were likely made aware when Peter publicly revealed his identity. The Avengers’ database is a comprehensive list of members and their secret identities, and heroes with access to this information would certainly know. Many annuals and issues of the Avengers show them going through the members and listing the secret identities where known. This likely includes Peter’s as a full member since the early 2000s, making it known to the majority of the current Avengers in Earth-616.
MCU Timeline and Modern Context
In the modern MCU, most active squad members either knew or did not care who Peter Parker was. Tony Stark (Iron Man), being instrumental in Peter’s development as a superhero, has a deep understanding of Peter’s identity. Doctor Strange also remembers, as evidenced by his reaction during No Way Home. However, the spell in Spider-Man: No Way Home had the effect of undoing the collective knowledge that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. It’s likely that any of the normal human Avengers, who were not present during the pivotal scenes, have forgotten about Peter’s secret identity.
The Role of Cosmic Beings and Other Characters
Characters that are more connected to the cosmic realms, such as Thor, are less likely to have forgotten about Peter’s secret identity, given their involvement with multiple realms and dimensions. Similarly, characters who spend significant time off Earth, such as Lok, Iron Lad, and others, might still have retained the information. The spell in No Way Home specifically targeted the human memory, meaning that characters deeply rooted in the cosmic aspects of the MCU are less affected.
It's important to note that the secret identity of Spider-Man remains a focal point in both the comics and the MCU, making it crucial for many heroes to maintain its secrecy. The knowing and unknowing of Peter Parker’s identity by the Avengers adds layers of complexity to the narrative, making it a central theme in both the comics and the films.