Quick warning: Spoilers ahead!
The Spider-Verse is easily the most expansive superhero world, and that's just for one character! Spiderman is beloved amongst all ages, and for good reason. His snarky yet awkward humor brings laughs from audiences all over the world. But, the other Spiders bring an added dimension to the original character, reminding us that the possibilities are endless.
Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse and its sophomore installment, Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse have broken the seams in the animation world. With modern-day animation being bestowed with 3D animation and its same-face syndrome, the genre was seemingly hitting a downturn for the first time. But, the Spiderman multiverse swooped in, ultimately reigniting the genre once again.
Effective Story-Telling
Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse follows Miles one year after the events of the previous film. Miles has been Earth 1610’s Spiderman for a year now, and he has more experience. He laments his Spider friends that he met previously, yearning for a connection with people who understand his dual identity. However, when he is launched into the Spider Society, he realizes that maybe his counterparts aren’t the best after all.
The plotline of the second installment of the series is quite linear. But, its incredible callbacks to the first movie are exhilarating. For instance, when we find out that our Miles was bitten by a spider from another dimension, we realize why the spider was glitching in the first film.
Miles was never supposed to be Spiderman in his dimension, rather, he was supposed to be the Prowler. This is displayed through the color shift in Into The Spider-Verse, where Miles’ color scheme shifts from green and purple to the classic red and blue of Spiderman. These callbacks tie the two films together, putting together the puzzle pieces of the story.
Although Miles is a superhero, we can all still relate to him. He is hiding a defining part of himself from his family, which most of us have had to do. The parallels between this superhero and a classic coming-of-age story are not only realistic, but also powerful.
Although he definitely has more pressure on him than an average teenager in our world, his portrayal of adolescent stress is both accurate and touching. When Miles is stressed out about creating the perfect story for college applications, teenagers are able to relate to his experience, as college applications are a brutal battle royale.
Though the plot is pretty simple, the surrounding elements in the film truly transform it into a masterpiece.
Eccentric Characters
One of these elements is the diverse personalities present in the film. Staying true to the nature of the comics is incredibly important to elitist fans, and both Spider-Verse films do it perfectly. Each major character has their motivations, albeit with some filler characters (like a T-Rex Spiderman for some reason).
Every character in the Spider-Verse duology (soon to be a trilogy) is unique and alluring, allowing viewers to identify with at least one. With easter eggs littered throughout, Spiderman: Into The Spider-Verse and Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse take into account the diversity of the different Spiders and their fans. Callbacks to past Spiderman films are present throughout Across The Spider-Verse, the first of which being when Miguel rants about the “nerd on Earth-199999”, or Tom Holland’s Spiderman. We also see the various renditions of Peter Parker throughout Miguel’s representation of canon events, including Andrew Garfield’s and Tobey Maguire’s. For comic book lovers, we can see the many versions of Spiderman that are explored through the comics.
Miles Morales, our frontrunner, is undeniably endearing. His recognizable Retro Chicago Jordan 1s bring a refreshing character design to the sometimes plain Spiderman. His personality is aligned with that of Peter Parker, but somehow the team behind the Spider-Verse was able to transform Miles into a lovable character who doesn’t seem like a carbon copy of Peter.
His relationship with his family is adorable, showcasing the multifaceted character of Miles. Not only is he a superhero, he is alo a blossoming student and a loving son.
Peter B Parker, the “original” Spiderman, retains his dorky humor in this Spiderverse, but he is older than we usually see him. Grown and battered from his teenage years, Peter gives representation to the word “burnout”, which we all feel like once in a while. His unorthodox mentorship of Miles is pleasant, recognizing himself in the younger boy. His disposition gives the classic “Peter Parker” feel, but with an amazing twist.
A new character, Miguel O’Hara, or Spiderman 2099, portrays a more intense version of a Spider. With a tragic backstory, Miguel causes watchers to sympathize, even though he is incredibly frustrating. He is unsettling, more so because he isn’t funny (this isn’t an insult!
He was made to be humorless). His gigantic frame makes him even more intimidating if his fangs and deadpan didn’t strike your nerves already. His motivations, demeanor, and his ability to command a room makes him diverge from the classic Spiderman of Peter Parker, proving even further that “anyone can wear the mask”.
Each version of Spiderman is significant in its own ways, which makes for dynamic dialogue and fulfilling action scenes. The plot is effective simply because of the outstanding characterization of all the Spiders. Weaving together different stories of the myriad of characters in the series is a difficult task.
But the Spider-Verse team seems to weave them in a beautiful quilt that makes up the pair of films. The characters themselves add the cherry on top to the chronicle, bringing distinctive personalities and perspectives to a beloved superhero. They remind us that anyone can wear the mask, and anyone can be great.
Philosophy: Miles vs Miguel
The main philosophical debate throughout the twin films is Kantianism versus Utilitarianism. Kantianism asserts that an action’s morality is assumed by the motivation of the doer, while Utilitarianism asserts that an action's morality is assumed by the consequences of said action. In terms of the Spider-Verse, we see the moral dilemma between saving one person (Kantianism) or saving a universe (Utilitarianism).
The figure who represents Kantianism is Miles, whose family values put him in the way of the ultimate well-being of the dimensions. He displays the philosophy of Kantianism by prioritizing his father over the fate of the dimension. His canon event, or destined events, is for his father to die.
If he disrupts the canon event, the multiverse will collapse, effectively ending the world as they know it. He believes that because his motivation is to save his father, his action would essentially be helpful.
Miguel O’Hara or Spiderman 2099 represents the opposite view; Utilitarianism. He is mainly concerned with the greater good of the universe. Concerning himself with canon events, Miguel desires to save the multiverse over Miles' father because he is simply one person.
Since the action of sacrificing Miles' father would ultimately end in a surviving universe, the action would be beneficial. This philosophy is difficult to consider, as he is asking Miles to sacrifice his loved one. However, Miguel inspires sympathy as well, making the conflict a hard choice for each watcher. He is a new type of villain, one that isn’t truly evil, like the Green Goblin or Thanos. Instead, he is morally divergent, considering the fate of the universe over individual people.
A kids' movie exploring the hidden philosophical debates isn’t so rare now, but doing it in the way Spider-Verse does is incredibly impressive. The dichotomy between the philosophies presented in the second film is undeniable, making for an animated film full of thought-provoking qualities.
A Novel Use Of Colors
The use of colors is essential to any film in the 21st century. Colors convey emotions, qualities, and can even foreshadow the destinies of characters in a film. For instance, the symbolism of gold in The Great Gatsby reflects Jay Gatsby’s wealth and high prestige.
This gives the readers an inkling as to the characterization of Gatsby, allowing them to more easily understand the character. We as humans identify colors with different emotions, allowing creators of media to strike our color associations to cultivate the environment of a scene.
Color use in the Spider-Verse is prominent, the bright colors first engage the viewers and make for incredible film stills. The deep purple and blue hues of a Brooklyn evening or the bright magentas and oranges of the dimensional portals make for chromatically complex cinematography. The scene of Miles taking his “leap of faith” as Spiderman in Into The Spiderverse is a visual amalgamation of color and design, showcasing the genius of the team behind the mask.
The vibrancy of the colors also suggests the intensity of the moment, such as the fluorescent violet and fuschia in the Prowler chase scene of the first film. This keeps the audience engaged but also conveys the potency of the scene. The colors stimulate the minds of the watchers, rather than providing just an aesthetically pleasing scene.
In the opening scenes of Across The Spiderverse, we follow Gwen Stacy after quitting her band. As she sulks in her room, the color scheme is composed of cool toned colors; blue, purple, and teal. These colors blended together in a watercolor-esque technique to symbolize her sorrow.
When Captain Stacy walks in, he is colorized in warm toned colors; orange, yellow and pink. His palette showcases the place he holds in Gwen's life, one of trust and adoration. When they hug, his colors blend into the rest of the scene, comforting Gwen.
The scenes in dimensions other than Earth-1610 (where Miles resides) are carefully crafted in terms of their colors and general design. Spiderpunk, for example, is intelligently created using magazine-like clippings to create a “punk” feel. This is an ode to homemade zines that circulate alternative spheres.
The creative coloring of Spiderpunk, along with his pasted-together persona, emulates his outspoken personality and his anarchist motivations. Additionally, the deep colors of Spiderman 2099 compared to the classic blue and red of Peter Parker suggest the temperament of the character. The cavernous red and the Mariana Trench blue gave way to his solemn demeanor. Contrastingly, the main villain of the series, The Spot, is absent from color. His monologue transforms the vibrant schema into a monochrome atmosphere. This makes him more unsettling, marking him as a stark contrast to the vivid palettes of the Spiders. Finally, the red and black trademark of Miles Morales diverges from Peter’s blue and red, making him stand out even more. From his suit to his Jordans to his puffer-hoodie combo, these colors define Miles as a character.
Sound Design
Sound is incredibly captivating. We use sounds to characterize events in the film and to plan in real life, amongst other things. Thus, sound is an important factor for filmmakers to consider. The team behind the Spider-Verse does this perfectly, with both the score and soundtrack.
The scores of both Into The Spider-Verse and Across The Spider-Verse are magnificent, with themes of characters such as the Prowler and Spiderman 2099 providing inclinations for the viewers to their intentions. The morphed elephant sound of the Prowler is unsettling, perfect for the antagonist. The ending scene of Across The Spider-Verse features a build-up track, making us watch at the edge of our seats. The disturbing elephant sound returns, but soon transforms into a bass and drum-heavy rhythm, essential for a superhero’s theme.
The soundtracks of both films are glorious, with talented artists on every single track. The first movie featured Swae Lee and Post Malone’s Sunflower, which became a classic summer song. What’s Up Danger by Blackway and Black Caviar provided a perfect backtrack to Miles’ leap of faith.
Each song on the first album provides an exemplary accompaniment to the plotline of the film. The second album was produced by Metro Boomin, one of the most highly acclaimed producers ever. Once again, this soundtrack was nothing short of flawless. The quintessential Self Love by Coi Leray is a fan favorite, which the film opened with. Setting the stage for the rest of the wonderful soundtrack, all of which superbly characterizes Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse. Dominic Fike’s Mona Lisa plays as Miles and Gwen swing across Brooklyn, making for a lighthearted dance-like sequence between the two. Movies with perfect soundtracks are rare, but the Spider-Verse series has two exquisite albums under their belts.
The sound builds upon the already well-developed story and characters, fully immersing every viewer in the movie. In a world where our attention spans are slowly shrinking, this is incredibly notable.
The significance of the Spider-Verse series is prominent, as after the first movie was released in 2018, a resurgence of diverse animated movies began. Films became more stylized, with unique and recognizable animation styles emerging from the sea of 3D animation. For example, Kid Cudi's Entergalatic is obviously inspired by the Spider-Verse, with vibrant colors and symbolism.
Thus, the influence of the Spider-Verse series is undeniable. Its skilled execution of Miles' story, both as Spiderman and as himself, marks the film as a multiverse movie done right. It explores the struggles of adolescence, and in Miles' case, he juggles his stressful home situation with the weight of the entire universe on his shoulders. Being able to intertwine the trials and tribulations of being Spiderman with teenage clichés adds more nuance to the character. After years of Peter Parker Spiderman movies, effectively introducing a new version of Spiderman proved to be difficult. Fortunately, the team behind Spider-Verse did it perfectly. The legacy of the Spider-Verse is destined to live on forever.
Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse is a must-see for the summer. I’ve already seen it twice! The film will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions; giddiness, anxiety, and melancholy to name a few. Don’t miss out and go witness the genius that is Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse!
