Warning! Spoilers for The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 ahead!Marvel’s new Spectacular Spider-Men series explores the relationship between Peter Parker and Miles Morales, updating the two’s rapport beyond their shared identities as Spider-Man. Though the two web-slingers have had more of a mentor and apprentice relationship over the years, it is about time that their dynamic evolves and establishes them as true equals. While solving a mystery, Miles and Peter’s friendship becomes more established in their new co-leading series.
The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 by Greg Weisman and Humberto Ramos introduces Peter and Miles discussing a weekly meet-up outside crime-fighting and “arachnobatics,” a term coined by Peter. The Spider-Men decide that it’s important for them to touch base, trade notes or quips, and hang out like normal friends do. They land on meeting at a university coffee shop Wednesdays at 4 p.m., and things go smoothly for the friends while Peter establishes himself as a regular at the shop. However, it doesn’t take long for crime to get in the way, as a Hulk-sized Jackal interrupts their get-together.
The evolution of Miles Morales and Peter Parker’s dynamic is a welcome update to the world of Marvel Comics. While Peter may have been an iconic superhero for decades of Marvel history, Miles has also certainly earned his stripes as a full-fledged hero over the years since his introduction.
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Though Miles hasn’t been around as long as Peter, his permeation throughout the Marvel Universe in comics, animated films and TV, and video games has made him a beloved character. The two Spider-Men finally becoming true peers is necessary to their legacies in Marvel Comics.
Miles Morales has become the most important legacy Spider-Man character, and evolving Peter’s relationship with him is essential. Although Miles made his debut in 2011, almost 50 years after Peter Parker was introduced in 1962, there is a generation of readers who have grown up with Miles Morales as their Spider-Man. While the character is still only 16 years of age in the Marvel canon, him outgrowing the label of a junior hero and becoming a peer of Peter’s is a vital progression. As The Spectacular Spider-Men writer Greg Weisman said in a press release for the series:
In this book, I see the younger Miles trying really hard to show his maturity to his mentor Peter, while the older Pete feels free to let out his inner 16-year-old with Miles. So there’s a bit of role reversal to the normal mentor-protege relationship than one might expect to see. But I think both Pete and Miles still feel very true to character. And when things get serious, so do our boys (quippage notwithstanding.) What we’re seeing here is the evolution from mentor and protege to them simply being good friends. And that change of status (in process, as it is) really interests me as a writer.
Peter and Miles Build A Friendship Outside “Arachnobatics”
The series sets up many characters and clues in its first issue. Peter meets Miles’ old friend, Cedric Harrison, later seen following up on a sketchy ad for beta testing. Peter’s former teacher and the Jackal’s brother, Professor Warren, also makes an appearance. Defeating and sending the Jackal to The Raft isn’t the only thing the two Spider-Men have to contend with, as more mysteries arise for the web-slingers when a corpse is found in the university laboratory’s wreckage. It’s likely that strengthening their bond as friends will influence and enhance their abilities as crime-fighters in this mysterious chapter for the Spider-Men.
Although Peter and Miles have lived in the same universe for some time now, Spectacular Spider-Men marks their first co-lead ongoing series. It will be interesting to see their dynamic shift in and outside this series in the broader Marvel Universe as their friendship develops. It’s still to be seen how Peter and Miles’ evolving relationship will redefine Spidey comics as readers know them, but what’s certain is that it’s well overdue. Miles Morales and Peter Parker sharing the title of Spider-Man as true peers is a spectacular update to the Marvel canon.
The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 (2024) | |
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