Warning: contains spoilers for Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23!
The King in Black’s symbiote dragons have plagued Earth’s heroes, but Spider-Man just took one of Knull’s beasts for himself. Miles Morales’ unique powers made freeing the beast possible, but it was his own bravery and empathy that actually got the job done. It all happens in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23 from Saladin Ahmed, Carmen Carnero, and David Curiel.
The genetically enhanced spider that bit Miles Morales granted him powers his predecessor Peter Parker doesn’t possess. In addition to the standard wall crawling, enhanced strength, agility and spider-sense, Miles also has the ability to camouflage himself and fire bioelectric “venom blasts.” The attack varies depending on the victim’s biology, but it proved to be particularly effective the first time Miles used it against a symbiote when he fought Venom in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #20. The blast continues to have devastating results against symbiotes, and Miles relied on it in Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales to free himself from a parasite while combating the armies of the King in Black.
Spider-Man’s venom blast is the key to freeing a vicious dragon from its symbiote and Knull’s control in his latest issue. Spider-Man encounters a symbiote dragon rampaging near his school in Brooklyn in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #23. Unaware it’s bonded with a symbiote, Miles lands on the back of the dragon and is slowly consumed. Knowing symbiotes are vulnerable to the venom blast, he gives the dragon a shock, destroying the black parasite and emancipating the creature. In a touching moment, Spider-Man bonds with the dragon through their shared symbiote trauma. The instant friendship culminates in Miles getting a Game of Thrones-inspired dragon ride on the beast’s back across the East River to help Ms. Marvel. After the flight, Miles tells his new friend to find safety, and the dragon disappears between New York City’s skyscrapers.
What really shines through in this moment is Miles’ incredible compassion. Facing terrifying odds, he doesn’t even hesitate to send the dragon on its way, seeing a creature in need of freedom and protection where anyone else would have seen a weapon. It’s also worth noting that Miles is one of very few heroes who can free other beings from Knull’s symbiote control – something which could easily come into play in the wider King in Black event, where allies are at a premium and the those symbiotes freed from Knull’s control are able to remain free from that point on.
As the heroes start to have victories and find ways to turn the tide in the war against Knull, the venom blast of Miles Morales could end up being a major factor. Even if he doesn’t single-handedly win the war, he’s counteracting the metaphorical and literal darkness that the King in Black feeds on – not because of some carefully crafted battle tactic, but just because Miles Morales is a hero to his core.
