Hero Worship: Miles Morales Should Be "the" Spider-Man

Let it be known that this is conjecture; a simple theory based on what Marvel’s most recent solicitations suggest. As you might know, in 2011 Marvel introduced Miles Morales to replace Peter Parker in their Ultimate Universe – a continuity meant to be more accessible for newer readers and unrelated to the “regular” Marvel Universe (also known as Earth 616 or just 616). Peter had died, heroically, just as Miles found himself gaining similar powers. Inspired by Peter’s sacrifice, Miles took it upon himself to take up the mantle of Spider-Man… with a lot of trial and error.

The relaunched Ultimate Comics Spider-Man has been a superb read, from the very beginning, through the Spider-Men mini-series that found 616 Peter Parker crossing over into the Ultimate Universe for a brief team-up, all the way to the current “one year later” time jump, where Miles has given up playing Spidey for a while following the death of a parent.

But now, the Ultimate Universe stands on the cusp of an event called Cataclysm, in which the Galactus of 616 will be, presumably, eating everything in his path in the Ultimate Universe. According to the November solicits, the regular Ultimate books are on hiatus, replaced with a mini-series for each title that ties into the larger story.

Some have speculated that this is the end of the Ultimate line. It’s not all that unlikely, as I would argue that the Ultimate Universe’s very reason for existing – a cleaner point of entry – is long gone, particularly with Marvel doing such a swell job in their Marvel NOW! initiative to make the entire “regular” line easy to pick up and read. While I have no greater insight to that theory than anyone else outside of Marvel, even if it proves true, I wouldn’t suspect Miles Morales to suffer extinction.

First and foremost, those same solicits blatantly say that Miles is coming to the Marvel Universe. To what degree, we don’t know, but it wouldn’t shock me if in the event of the Ultimate line’s end, he came to stay. After all, 616 Peter Parker is dead and gone (for now) and Doctor Octopus is currently masquerading as the Superior Spider-Man. Miles would be coming to the 616 Universe at the perfect time.

If the Ultimate Universe ends, it would likely be because Spider-Man and the Ultimates failed to save it. So Miles arrives, guilt-ridden over failing to live up to the Spider-Man/Peter Parker legacy, only to discover that the Peter he did get to meet has died too, with an impostor now sullying is name. Miles sees his chance to make good, ultimately defeating Spider-Ock and taking over as the new Somewhat Inexperienced Spider-Man.

This simultaneously gives Doc Ock his comeuppance and gives Miles a new spotlight to shine in. Though Peter’s return is probably inevitable, wouldn’t it be quite a statement to have Miles – already an icon for diversity in superhero comics – as “the” Spidey when Amazing Spider-Man 2 hits theaters next summer?

There is another lingering thread though; after 616 Peter Parker returned from the Ultimate Universe (and before Doc Ock pulled a Freaky Friday and took over Peter’s body), he Googled (or Binged, according to the Amazing Spider-Man movie) to see if there was a 616 incarnation of Miles Morales. Though we never saw the result of his search query, we did see his reaction that indicated shock at what he found. Assuming Miles already exists in the 616 Universe, does Ultimate Miles’ presence mean that there are now two of him running around? It’s not unreasonable to assume so, and heck, their meeting would make for a great story as well.

Inevitably, a shake-up to the status quo is going to bring about stirring from fans. We saw it when Ultimate Peter Parker was killed off and we saw it tenfold when 616 Peter Parker was killed off and replaced by Doc Ock (reports of threats against writer Dan Slott actually made the evening news – kudos, fandom). But now combining those two things to tell new stories? It’d be the biggest upheaval in the Spider-Man status quo to date. Cataclysmic, even.

And that’d be a great thing. Superheroes are supposed to evolve and reflect society, but in an era where everything is a brand and a franchise, there’s been too much fear or hesitation to shake things up in a real, significant way. You can retcon marriages or bring Bucky back from the dead, but those are still variations on old, existing ideas. Making Miles “the” Spider-Man would be a step forward for superhero comics and proof positive that they are willing to change with the times and not just regurgitate variations of the same idea over and over again.

Here’s to progress.

Do you want to see Miles Morales in the 616 Universe? Do you think I’m a traitor to all that is sacred? Please, let me know.

Joey is a Senior Editor at IGN and a comic book creator. Follow Joey on Twitter @JoeyEsposito, or find him on IGN at Joey-IGN. He hopes Ganke makes the jump too.

Source : ign[dot]com