Into the Spider-Verse Proved Miles Morales Could Be His Own Hero, Not a Peter Parker Replacement

When I first walked into the theater to see Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I have to admit I didn't expect to like what I was about to watch. I've never been impressed when corporations take a well-established character and try to plug and play someone new who is a different race or gender.

Why I'm Usually Skeptical of Swapping a Hero's Race or Gender

That skepticism isn't because I don't want diverse characters. I think there are excellently written characters like Jessica Jones, Ripley, Buffy Summers and others who are quite awesome at what they do. My problem is different: just taking an already established character and putting a different skin on them is, to me, at best pandering and at worst another form of racism or sexism.

My view is that you don't need a character to take the role of a white male to be great. They can be great without having to rely on the history of that same character. That's the standard I walked into this film holding, and it's the standard Into the Spider-Verse had to clear for me.

Miles Morales Enhances the Spider-Man Mythos Instead of Replacing Peter Parker

Fortunately, Into the Spider-Verse doesn't try to replace Peter Parker but enhances the mythos of the Spider-Man universe. Unlike other iterations, Miles Morales is his own person with his own goals, failings and strengths. The story also doesn't take place in the world of Peter Parker that we know, at least I don't believe it does. It takes place in an alternate universe, and Miles's arc of becoming Spider-Man has similar threads to the original but is still distinct and interesting.

Even young Miles shows us something different. His powers, his web slinging and even his demeanor are distinct from the previous Spider-Man we've seen. It's like watching an entirely different hero take his place among his peers.

The Origin Story Made the MCU's Spider-Man Feel Plain to Me

The in-depth nature and origin story of Morales is so engaging that I honestly feel like it makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man seem plain. We've seen that kind of Peter Parker time and again, and Marvel isn't really adding anything upon it. It's really just the same story we've seen for years, but now we have someone new, not a replacement but the next logical step.

In fact, I think the moment Miles takes a leap of faith and becomes Spider-Man is probably the best arc fulfillment of a character in 2018.

The Film Doesn't Diminish the Heroes Who Came Before Miles

One of the dangers of letting another hero rise in an established mythos is that you can diminish those who came before them. Into the Spider-Verse doesn't do this at all. The Peter Parker of Miles's universe was a hero, something to aspire to, and Miles even uses his death as an inspiration. The alternate universe Peter Parker that Miles meets, while having fallen from grace, doesn't come off as lesser.

We understand what happened to him, what he went through, and that he's still Spider-Man, just one that's down on his luck and has lost all hope. There are a few jokes at his expense, but it feels very natural, and the way that Peter Parker handles it is very in character for where he is in his life.

The Spider-Verse Concept Shows How Different Choices Lead to Different Worlds

One of the main points of the film is that Spider-Man lives within a spider-verse where different actions lead to different outcomes in different worlds. Unfortunately, not a ton is given on these side characters, and most don't have more than just a brief blurb about their backstory, though with the exception of Spider-Ham I feel like all of these characters are unique. They aren't necessarily cardboard cutouts, and I think each has a possibility of having their own movies or expansion.

Ultimately, everything about Into the Spider-Verse feels natural and organic. Each character understands what has occurred and now has the opportunity to give their own interpretation of Spider-Man. Given that it occurs in another universe, Miles's Spider-Man is not Peter Parker but his own person with his own abilities, and even the art style shows that it's something different, making it feel like you're inside a comic book.

The Theme That Anyone Can Wear the Mask

The film also explores the theme of how we can all wear the masks, which I think is a great lesson. Anyone can be Spider-Man. It doesn't matter your creed, color or origin, with the lore still intact.

Between a very interesting main character and supporting cast and the lack of need to diminish what came before them, Into the Spider-Verse is an excellent movie.

What did you think of Miles Morales's take on Spider-Man?