Spider-Man: No Way Home's Story Just Made Mephisto Redundant

Despite Spider-Man: No Way Home featuring several elements from a major Marvel Comics story involving Mephisto, the new trailer for the upcoming film makes Marvel's devil redundant. Taking cues from one of Spider-Man's biggest (and most controversial) stories known as One More Day, Peter Parker ended up making a deal with Mephisto that resulted in his revealed identity being erased from public memory along with many other retcons to his personal history. However, it seems as though Mephisto's role will most likely be circumvented by Spider-Man going to Doctor Strange for help, resulting in the multiversal chaos featured in the trailer.

In Marvel Comics' One More Day from J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada, Aunt May was shot in a hit meant to take out Spider-Man due to his identity being revealed to the world in the comics' Civil War. Nearing death with Peter Parker and Mary Jane having no way to save her, they were approached by none other than Mephisto the Lord of Hell, who offered to save May in exchange for their marriage. Agreeing to Mephisto's terms, Peter and MJ's history was changed so that they had never married at all, and Aunt May survived. However, a side-effect was that the world forgot that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, resulting in a massive retcon for the Webslinger.

Now, much like in One More Day, the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer shows an attempt to erase the world's collective memory of Spider-Man's secret identity, which was revealed by Mysterio. However, it seems as though Mephisto's role won't be featured. Interestingly enough, Peter and MJ had no memory of their deal with the devil in the comics (by Mephisto's design), resulting in Spider-Man's thinking that the memory wipe came from the combined efforts of Doctor Strange, Iron Man, and Mr. Fantastic. Likewise, it looks like No Way Home will see Doctor Strange actually helping Peter for real by attempting to cast a dangerous spell (rather than Mephisto being the true cause).

Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Stephen Strange in Spider Man No Way Home

While there's still a slight possibility that Mephisto could be involved in No Way Home, it seems unlikely due to the film's overall focus which is the dangers of multiversal chaos before Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (the MCU's subsequent film). Additionally, Doctor Strange in No Way Home certainly seems to be a lot more palatable and recognizable for audiences, rather than a wheeling and dealing devil whose actions came from the thinly-veiled desires by Marvel's editorial team who wanted to bring Spider-Man back to basics in the comics' continuity.

In any case, Doctor Strange using a spell to instigate the mind wipe (regardless of whether or not it works) is a great homage to One More Day, a major story that is just as prevalent in the comics now (like in Spider-Man's current Sinister War event) as it was back when it was published back in 2007. That being said, with so many villains teased in Spider-Man: No Way Home, it's doubtful Mephisto and his now redundant role will be featured when the film releases on December 17th.

More: When Does Spider-Man: No Way Home Fit In The MCU Timeline?