Why That Electro Plot Hole In No Way Home Isn't Really A Plot Hole

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Spider-Man: No Way Home appears to have a problem with Electro, but the supposed mistake may not be a Marvel plot hole after all. The latest Spider-Man movie gave the Marvel Cinematic Universe a taste of the Multiverse. In the film, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help after the world learns he's secretly Spider-Man. However, Doctor Strange's memory wipe spell goes wrong when Peter Parker meddles with it. Due to the enchantment's failure, beings from other universes enter the MCU, and the entire Multiverse could be at stake.

After the spell backfires, several notable Spider-Man villains make their way into the MCU. Tom Holland's Peter Parker first faces villains from Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man films. These include Alfred Molina's Doc Ock, and Willem Dafoe's Green Goblin isn't far behind him. The film also brings in villains from Andrew Garfield's The Amazing Spider-Man movies. Jamie Foxx's Electro joins the film, sporting a new look and seeking the boosted power available in the MCU. Additionally, Rhys Ifans' Lizard makes an appearance and is still obsessed with turning everyone into reptiles.

Related: The Real Reason Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Became A Hero

There are several Marvel plot holes in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but a supposed goof involving Electro isn't one of them. In No Way Home, Electro looks more like Jamie Foxx than the character's original disheveled look in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He also gets an updated yellow color for his electricity instead of his previous blue. Since the other villains mostly look the same, fans have seen Electro's vastly different looks as a plot hole. However, Marvel may have already explained the change with Jamie Foxx's character.

Getting new powers often changes heroes in Marvel movies, and Electro is experiencing that in No Way Home. In Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man films, his version of Peter Parker becomes visibly stronger and loses the need for glasses shortly after receiving his powers. Along the same lines, Chris Evans' Captain America goes from a scrawny person to a hulking superhero after receiving the Super Soldier Serum in Captain America: The First Avenger. Jamie Foxx's Electro is going through a similar change in No Way Home. In the MCU, Electro tells Peter Parker, "The power. It's different. I like it." That different power likely led to Electro's changed looks, and past Marvel films set a precedent.

Additionally, entering the MCU changes most of the villains. Jamie Foxx's character changes drastically, losing his bad teeth and comb-over due to the new universe. Still, Alfred Molina's Doc Ock has a slightly different look with an updated hairstyle as well. Similarly, Rhys Ifans' Lizard appears to have more of a snout than his previous iteration. Jamie Foxx wasn't especially fond of his Amazing Spider-Man 2 look, so his character likely had to look different to bring him back. But, unlike the complicated story in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the change is easy to explain.

More: Phase 4 Subtly Made Spider-Man: No Way Home’s Ending Even Darker

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