Into the Spider-Verse: Oscar Gold for Latino Hero?
When Miles Morales first debuted in 2011 as part of Marvel comics’ Ultimate Spider-Man series, fans took a liking to him almost immediately. He wasn’t Peter Parker, but he was still Spider-Man and his popularity alone kept the Ultimates line running. In 2016, Marvel cancelled the Ultimates comic but introduced Miles into the main comic universe, allowing him to work alongside Peter Parker. Since then, fans have been begging for Miles’ inclusion into the Marvel movie pantheon and in 2018, they got it the form of Into the Spider-Verse.
Like the new comic books, Into the Spider-Verse’s Miles works alongside Peter Parker despite the fact that they come from different universes. In the new film Miles also interacts with a wealth of alternate Spider-Man characters like Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman, Spider-Man Noir, Penni Parker and Spider-Ham. What makes this story unique is that it is the first Spider-Man movie not to star Peter as the main character. Peter’s in the movie, but it’s all about Miles, giving the Spider-Man story a fresh new twist.
Since Peter’s creation, the books have revolved around the idea that Spider-Man is an outsider, the man in the mask who steps up to become a hero. Spider-Verse takes this message to heart, repeatedly stating that “anyone can wear the mask.” Miles embodies this concept perfectly because he isn’t Peter but he is still everything Spider-Man should be. He’s an outsider in his new school where he feels he doesn’t belong, a young, afro-Latino boy with a heart of gold and a desire to do what’s right. That is what Spider-Man is all about. The film never shies away from his culture either, actively showing him speaking Spanish to his mother and to friends on the street. It’s a seamless way to have Miles interact with his culture and portray an organic, real character. He’s a fresh, unique character who still manages to completely embody the hero he should be.
The film is hilarious, heartwarming and has already made a name for itself amongst comic book and non comic fans alike. It’s also garnered quite the reputation for its stunning visuals and innovative animation style. There is no movie that looks like Into the Spider-Verse and it looks incredible. It already won a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and it looks like it could win gold at the Oscars as well. Not too bad for a young kid from New York.
Here’s hoping Into the Spider-Verse wins gold. We’re certainly loving the press it’s getting, but what about you? Let us know in the comments below.
