[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “Wasn’t that ‘Aunt May’?”

Audiences who have been following the *Spider-Man* film series for a long time likely found themselves tilting their heads in confusion at least once while watching *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*, which opened on the 29th of last month. This is because Peter Parker’s guardian—whom they clearly remembered as “Aunt May” from their childhood—suddenly became “Aunt May” at some point and has recently started being called “Great-Aunt.” The fact that the title for the same character has changed three times over the years has become a major topic of discussion among fans.
In fact, the changes in translation are evident when looking at the Korean releases. In the past, the term “Aunt May” was the most familiar in animations, comics, and among fans. However, the 2017 film *Spider-Man: Homecoming* and the 2019 film *Spider-Man: Far From Home* used the translation “Aunt May.” Then, starting with *Spider-Man: No Way Home* in 2021, the term “Aunt May” was introduced, and this same title was carried over into this year’s *Spider-Man: Brand New Day*.
How did May go from being called “Aunt” to “Big Mom”?
The main reason is that the systems for kinship terms differ between English and Korean. In English, “Aunt” is a term that encompasses not only a parent’s sister but also the spouse of an uncle. In contrast, Korean subdivides titles such as “eomo,” “gomo,” “sukmo,” and “keun-eomma” based on the specific relationship. Translators are inevitably faced with the dilemma of choosing between staying true to the original setting and ensuring the translation sounds natural in Korean.
Based on the original story, the answer is relatively clear. May Parker is the wife of Ben Parker, Peter Parker’s great-uncle. A representative from the film distributor stated, “If translated using Korean kinship terms, ‘great-aunt’ is the most accurate expression,” adding, “The fact that recent films have adopted ‘great-aunt’ can be interpreted as an effort to more faithfully reflect the family relationships in the original story.”
That said, it’s difficult to definitively claim that “Aunt May” is incorrect. This is because the translation has long been familiar to domestic fans, and even in English-speaking countries, the term “Aunt May” itself has come to be recognized as a proper noun. In fact, in translation, accuracy of meaning and audience familiarity often clash. A literal translation of “Aunt” would be accurate in terms of the relationship but might sound unfamiliar, while sticking with the familiar expression could create a slight disconnect from the original setting.
Opinions are divided online as well. While some comment, “I’ve known her as Aunt May since I was a kid, so ‘Great-Aunt’ still feels awkward,” and “The name ‘Aunt May’ itself feels like a brand,” there are also quite a few who argue, “According to the original work, ‘Great-Aunt’ is correct,” and “Now the family relationship has finally been translated correctly.”

Meanwhile, the “visual evolution” of May Parker has also been a constant topic of discussion among movie fans. In past *Spider-Man* series, May Parker was portrayed as an elderly woman with white hair, whose appearance literally evoked the image of a “great-aunt.” In contrast, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), actress Marisa Tomei took on the role of May Parker, transforming her into a much younger and more sophisticated character.
This change is also evident in the movie *Captain America: Civil War*. After meeting May Parker for the first time, Tony Stark expresses his surprise, calling her “an exceptionally charming and beautiful aunt.” This scene left a strong impression even on audiences who were familiar with May Parker from the original series.
Marisa Tomei, who currently plays May Parker, is 61 years old (by Korean age), but thanks to her ageless appearance and healthy vitality, she is hailed as “the youngest May Parker ever.” Although the character is technically an “aunt” according to the source material, many viewers feel that, based on her appearance alone, the term “auntie” feels more natural.