Into the Spider-Verse Ending Explained: Miles Morales's Uncle Ben Moment and Oscar Isaac's Spider-Man 2099 Post-Credits Scene

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is one of the best comic book movies of 2018, and there is a lot to unpack from both its ending and its post-credits scene. Here is everything worth knowing about the final act and what comes after it.

Miles Morales's Brooklyn Life Sets Up a Familiar Spider-Man Origin

The film opens with Peter Parker running through his origin, and it is pretty clear that this is the same Spider-Man from the Raimi films, a nice nod that gives the story some background from the get go. From there the story cuts to Miles Morales, the main protagonist, who lives in Brooklyn with his mother and his policeman father. He is a creative and streetwise kid loved by the locals.

Miles is highly intelligent, which has caused him to move schools, and this has strained his relationship with his father, who wants what is best for him even though Miles wants to go back to his old school where his friends are. Throughout the film Miles feels out of place among the elite at his new school, and it is very difficult for him to fit in.

The movie also shows how Miles looks up to his uncle Aaron and how spending time with him is the reason for his street smarts. Aaron wants Miles to express himself, so he takes him to a secret spot to spray paint, which is where Miles is introduced to Alchemax.

Uncle Aaron and the Spray-Paint Spot Where Miles Gets Bitten

It is at that Alchemax spot that Miles's life is sent spiraling out of control after he is bitten by a spider. Miles then stumbles into a fight between Spider-Man and Kingpin, who is also working with the Green Goblin and the Prowler. Peter notices that Miles is special, like him.

Peter dies in that fight, leaving Miles to promise that he will stop Kingpin as the villain opens a portal into another dimension. Kingpin wants that portal open because his wife Vanessa and his son are dead, and he wants to pull other versions of them from the multiverse.

Miles Meets Peter B. Parker and the Rest of the Spider-Verse

This is when Miles meets Peter Parker from the 616 universe, an older and out of shape Spider-Man who is trying to get back home. Miles agrees to help him in exchange for training. The story then introduces several other versions of Spider-Man, including Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker and Spider-Ham, and together they devise a plan to get home.

Miles promises to destroy the machine after their return journey, but the plan unravels when the spider gang fights Kingpin's men.

The Prowler Reveal Is Miles's Uncle Ben Moment

During that fight the Prowler is killed and revealed to be Miles's uncle Aaron. This is Miles's Uncle Ben moment, and it is where he learns that with great power comes great responsibility. Aaron had been working for Kingpin but refused to kill Miles, so Kingpin killed him instead.

That scene also shows that Miles is not ready to take on Kingpin, and the rest of the Spider-family decide they will do it without him. However, Peter inspires Miles to take a leap of faith and shows him that anyone can be Spider-Man, setting up the final act of the movie.

The Final Battle and Miles Becoming Spider-Man

In the final act Miles joins the rest of the Spider-family in a fight to get everyone home and stop Kingpin from opening another portal and destroying New York. They win after what is described as one hell of a battle that nearly kills Miles, and all of the other characters get to return to their respective worlds.

It is a brilliant origin story, and by the end Peter Parker sets Miles up as the new Spider-Man. "To me this story is about how anyone can be spider-man," and it shows an origin for the whole Spider-family while setting up the idea that anyone can be the hero if they just take a leap of faith. "It's a really powerful message that reminds us that we all have the ability to do the right thing no matter the odds," and "I absolutely love this meaning behind the movie."

Miles and His Father Find New Respect

Miles's father, who was originally distrusting of Spider-Man, gains a new respect for him after he saves the city. Miles shares that respect with his father after realizing how difficult his father's job actually is and how he just wants the best for his son.

Oscar Isaac's Spider-Man 2099 Post-Credits Scene

In the post-credits scene we join Spider-Man 2099, played by Oscar Isaac. There were rumors that Isaac was cast in the film over a year before its release, and it is great to see him behind the first Latino Spider-Man in his New York apartment.

2099 uses a web sling gadget that allows him to hurl across the universe to Earth 67, named for the 1967 cartoon that aired during the 60s on ABC. That show recently saw a resurgence through a number of memes, so it is brilliant to see it surface here. As 2099 arrives at Earth 67 he bumps into that universe's Spider-Man, and the two Spideys recreate one of the show's most famous memes. "Fans will obviously lap this up," and "I adored seeing the meme play out on the big screen."

It is clear that Sony have some big plans for the expansion of the spider-verse, and I can't wait to see what they are.

What are your thoughts on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and where does it rank among the other comic book films of 2018 for you?