10 Times Miles Morales Spider-Man Totally Outdid Peter Parker
How a niche Ultimate Universe spin-off character become as popular as what inspired him.
Yo, is it just us, or is Miles Morales like so much cooler than Peter Parker, it’s insane?
Okay, that’s not fair, and very subjective, but if you’ve been keeping up with Pop Culture recently, then it’s hard to ignore the sudden and massive impact that Miles Morales has had on the fan community. How exactly did a somewhat niche Ultimate Universe spin-off character become as popular as the character that inspired him?
Well, that’s actually a more complicated question than you might think.
Miles Morales was initially created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli, making his first appearance in Ultimate Fallout Issue #4 in 2011. As the first Black man to inherit the title of Spider-Man, Miles had a lot of heavy lifting to do. Bendis and Pichelli both cited the election of President Obama in 2008 as a sign that the public was ready for a character like Miles to take the mantle.
When first introduced, Miles took over after the death of Peter Parker in the Ultimate Universe. The decision to focus on a different Spider-Man faced scrutiny both inside the story and in the real world. As Miles began to grow into his own character and got featured in more stories, especially the 2018 film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, his fan base grew. Thanks to that resurgence, now even the most casual marvel fans know his name.
Though Miles struggled in the comics to uphold the legacy of Peter Parker, in many people’s eyes he has come to represent one of Spidey’s most important principles: Anyone Can Wear the Mask.