Spider-Man: Miles Morales gives a great introduction to Miles on his freshman outing as Spider-Man. Players are given a well-written character with motivations that makes sense and relationships that are relatable. Couple this with gameplay that expands upon that of Spider-Man PS4 and the Web-Slinger’s future is looking optimistic.
While Spider-Man: Miles Morales does a fantastic job of creating a story centered around Miles’ character, there are some key details about his origin that are omitted and may not be clear to those experiencing this character for the first time. This information is either altered for this version of the character or not fully explored and requires explanation.
10 Miles Got His Powers At Age 13
The Miles Morales in the video game iteration is far older than his comic book counterpart. Miles is 16 in Spider-Man PS4 when he is bitten by a radioactive spider from Oscorp.
In the comics, Miles is only 13 years old when the same event takes place. This age difference caused a younger Miles to be far less certain of his ability to take up the mantle of Spider-Man, and he would only be prompted to do so after tragedy strikes New York.
9 Peter Parker’s Dies
In his origin comic, the event that spurs Miles to action is the death of Peter Parker. After Peter is killed by the Green Goblin, New York is left without a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. There is a hole that villains and criminals quickly aim to fill.
Taking note of this, Miles assumes responsibility and decides to use his powers to protect those in need. Unfortunately, with Peter Parker gone, there is no one left to teach him. Miles has to navigate his superpowers alone.
8 He Cosplayed Peter Parker
With no suit of his own, Miles buys a Spider-Man outfit from a local costume shop. Seeing as he is succeeding Peter Parker, he finds no issue with this decision. Miles hops from roofs throughout the city of New York looking for crime.
While his intentions were earnest, the people and heroes of New York viewed this as a mockery of a fallen hero. Eventually, The Ultimates, a culmination of heroes similar to The Avengers, make contact with Miles to see just who is behind Peter’s mask.
7 His Signature Suit Is A Gift
After conducting an interview with Miles, The Ultimates realize that Miles has powers similar to Peter Parker, and he wants to make a difference. Recognizing that the boy behind the mask has his heart in the right place, the Ultimates give Miles a suit that helps him define himself as his own Spider-Man.
The black and red suit was designed to help Miles stand apart from Peter Parker going forward. With the proper gear to do the job, Miles officially begins his career as a new defender of New York City.
6 The Radioactive Spider Came From Oscorp
Miles Morales loves spending time with his uncle Aaron Davis, a man he looks up to, for better and worse. One day, Miles arrives at his uncle’s apartment, finding a suspicious bag while Aaron’s attention is elsewhere.
A spider with the number ‘42’ etched into its back crawls out and bites Miles. The genetic experiment that escaped from Oscorp thanks to Aaron Davis changes Miles’s life. This spider gives Miles his own unique strand of powers that differ from Peter Parker’s. Some of these abilities include spider-camouflage and venom blasts.
5 Miles Is Biracial
Miles is the son of Jefferson Davis, a Black American, and Rio Morales, a Puerto Rican woman. This gives Miles a culturally rich background that is thoroughly explored in the comics. There is a distinct shift in the culture surrounding Jefferson and Rio’s family.
One of the immediate influences of this being that he is fluent in both Spanish and English. Miles can be seen speaking Spanish frequently with his mother. To parallel this, when Miles is with his father and uncle Aaron, they speak English.
4 Aunt May, Gwen Stacy, And Mary Jane Mentor Miles
After learning there is a new Spider-Man defending New York City, May Parker, Gwen Stacy, and Mary Jane Watson eventually find and confront Miles. They ask why he chose to become Spider-Man, and what he fights for. Miles just wants to help others with the power he was given.
After getting to know the boy behind the mask, these women decide to help guide Miles in the direction that would make Peter proud. Aunt May even gives Peter’s old web-shooters to Miles to christen him as a worthy successor for her nephew.
3 He Uses Peter’s Web-Shooters
The relationship between Miles and Peter in Spider-Man: Miles Morales is that of a mentor and student. This is a stark contrast to the story of a child trying to live up to the legacy of his late hero.
Knowing this, the use of Peter’s old web-shooters is something significant to the young Spider-Man. They serve as a constant reminder of who he is trying to live up to, and the women who believe he has what it takes to fight for good in Peter’s place.
2 Miles Is From The Ultimate Universe
Miles is not originally from the main Marvel Universe. Inhabiting what is known as the Ultimate Universe, Miles lives in a version of New York similar to ours, but different. This explains why the legion of superheroes in his vicinity is dubbed The Ultimates instead of The Avengers.
While Miles is the only Spider-Man in his universe after Peter Parker’s passing, the Parker most are familiar with is still alive, eventually meeting Miles Morales in a Spider-Verse crossover comic.
1 His Uncle Is His Nemesis
Uncle Ben Parker served as a role model for Peter Parker, eventually inspiring him to become Spider-Man when he died. To contrast this, Miles Morales’s uncle Aaron Davis serves as the antithesis of what the former aspires to me. Aaron Davis is a burglar and intimidator. Also known as The Prowler, Aaron Davis finds out his nephew is Spider-Man and blackmails him with this information.
After extorting Miles into attacking some of his adversaries, the two become enemies. With the threat of his identity being exposed, Miles and Aaron have a fight that ultimately leads to Aaron’s demise, an event that continues to haunt Miles.
NEXT: Spider-Man: Miles Morales: How To Unlock The Cat Suit
