Spider-Man and Iron Man’s relationship on the big screen is one of the most entertaining, heartfelt aspects in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) have incredible chemistry, as their father/son-like relationship is a big part of what makes the heart of the MCU beat. However, in the comics, Iron Man and Spider-Man didn’t always get along as well.
Both Spider-Man and Iron Man have fought alongside each other as members of The Avengers, while also on opposite sides (after initially fighting together) during the Civil War crossover event. In the pages of Marvel Comics, Peter Parker and Tony Stark have been everything from enemies, to good friends, to distant teammates, to mentor and protege. It’s fair to say their relationship has had plenty of and ups and downs, like when Iron Man got the chance to insult Spidey in front of one of his biggest fans.
In 2016’s Invincible Iron Man by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Tony is on a mission to find out his true identity after learning Howard and Maria Stark aren’t his real biological parents (Tony’s trouble with his true parents didn’t end there). In the series fifth issue, Stark is at an orphanage in Bulgaria after taking down his former girlfriend Cassandra Gillespie and a group of Mandroids. The old woman running the orphanage, Anna, finds new information about hospital records regarding his potential parents. As a form of thanks, Tony offers the kids a chance to wear the armor and fly. One kid raises his hand. Once it’s revealed Spider-Man is his favorite hero, Stark drops the ’truth’ about Spidey - he’s stinky.
After Anna translates the kid’s question, “do you know Spider-Man?” and proclaiming the web-slinger is his favorite hero, Stark approaches him with his Iron Man helmet and lets the kid in on “something not a lot of people know.” Tony tells him “Spider-Man is stinky. Do you know what swamp butt is? Spider-Man practically invented it.” It’s all in good fun, as the kid doesn’t speak English and understand the dig at his favorite hero. Did Spider-Man actually invent having swamp butt? That’s a question I’m okay never getting an answer from.
Iron Man might have used the moment to take a shot at Spider-Man, but he also put the orphanage under his own financial care, despite Friday’s financial objections, he says “Sell a painting. Sell all the paintings.” Iron Man’s got a big heart, but won’t miss the moment to take down Spider-Man given the chance. After all, he’s offered the kid a chance to use his Iron Man armor, the least he could do is lie to him about liking Iron Man more than Spider-Man.
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