- "None of this would've happened if you had just listened to me. If you even cared, you'd actually be here."
"I did listen, kid. Who do you think called the FBI, huh?" - ―Peter Parker and Tony Stark[src]
The Ambush on MV Spirit of America was coordinated by Spider-Man to disrupt an illegal arms deal between Mac Gargan and Adrian Toomes' Crew. Spider-Man's interference interrupted an FBI sting operation set up by Iron Man, leading to a fight with Vulture. This resulted in severe damage to the Spirit of America, after which Iron Man intervened to help Spider-Man save the ferry from sinking.
Background[]
- "Staten Island Ferry. 11:00."
- ―Aaron Davis to Spider-Man[src]
Aaron Davis was walking towards his car with his groceries. As he prepared to close his car's trunk, his hand was webbed to the trunk. Davis looked up in surprise to see Spider-Man advancing towards him with his voice amplified. Davis, having heard Spider-Man's voice on the bridge, wasn't intimidated and started teasing Spider-Man on whether he was a girl or a boy, causing Spider-Man to become flustered and disable the amplifier.
.png){kind=link}
Aaron Davis discusses where Vulture is going
Spider-Man asked Davis where the arms dealers were, only for Davis to tell him that he did not know where Vulture or his crew were. He confessed to Spider-Man where Vulture's next arms deal will be. Spider-Man thanks him and runs off, only for Davis to remind him that he had not given him a location. Berating Spider-Man's lackluster interrogation skills, David told Spider-Man that the deal would be happening on the Staten Island Ferry at eleven o'clock. Spider-Man then ran off leaving Davis webbed to the trunk of his car.[1]
Ambush[]
Spider-Man fighting against Vulture
- "The illegal weapons ferry was at 10:30! You missed it!"
- ―Spider-Man[src]
Spider-Man made his way to Spirit of America where he intervened Vulture's group and his new buyer Mac Gargan. Spider-Man easily took down his enemies using multiple types of webs to assist him. Spider-Man was then confronted by Vulture and the two engaged in a short battle before a Chitauri weapon malfunctioned causing several beams to shoot out slipping the ferry in half letting the Vulture retreat.
Spider-Man tries to hold the ferry together
Spider-Man quickly acted and webbed the two parts of the ferry together. He then tried to pull the two parts together himself by pulling on the webs, the other webs started to break off causing the the ferry to continue to sink. Suddenly, Iron Man arrived with several mini repulsor-powered thrusters to assist in pushing the two parts together, repairing the ferry and saving everyone.[1]
Aftermath[]
Peter Parker tries to explain his interference
- "What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? 'Cause that's on you. And if you died... I feel like that's on me. I don't need that on my conscience."
- ―Tony Stark to Peter Parker[src]
Iron Man repaired Spirit of America by reforging the cutlines in order to let the ferry stay afloat long enough for the passangers to be rescued, and then flew Spider-Man away to have a private talk. Surviving citizens of the ferry were rescued and taken to safety aboard smaller lifeboats. Spider-Man returned to dry land and watched over the rescue, recuperating from the skirmish. Iron Man arrived shortly after, angrily scolding Parker for acting without Happy Hogan's permission by hacking his suit, as well as endangering the lives of civilians aboard the ferry. Parker countered that he tried to warn Stark of the danger of Vulture, but he refused to listen to him. Parker further claimed that if Stark actually cared, he would be here in person.
.png){kind=link}
Tony Stark tells Peter Parker to return the suit
Stark then stepped out of the suit to show he was there in person, to Parker's surprise, and answered that he did listen; he was the one who tipped off the FBI about Vulture and they would have succeeded in apprehending him if Parker had not interfered. Stark expressed his disappointment at Parker, noting how he had believed in him in spite of everyone else thinking he was "crazy" to recruit a child. In a somewhat fatherly away, Stark decisively demanded Parker's suit back, effectively prohibiting him from any more dangerous misuse of it as to keep him safe more than anyone else. Parker then returned home without his suit that evening, wearing tourist clothes Stark bought for him.[1]
Mac Gargan, the potential buyer, was retrieved from the water by the United States Coast Guard, being subsequently arrested and sent to prison. As a result, he developed a vendetta against Spider-Man.[1]
Behind the Scenes[]
- One concept featured Vision and War Machine taking part in the rescue alongside Iron Man. This concept did not make it to the final version of Spider-Man: Homecoming.
- An alternative version of the battle with Spider-Man failing to prevent the ferry from sinking and the survivors being evacuated by United States Department of Damage Control.[3] In another version, the ferry was replaced by a containment ship in order to face the film's budget limits.[3]
- Director Jon Watts pointed out at a mistake that occurred creating the Staten Island Ferry scene: "The only real flaw is that there are cars on the ferry, and there haven’t been cars allowed since the ’90s. So I’ll declare that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they never had these rules."[4]