2018 was a big year for Spider-Man as a brand. There was the movie,Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Versewhich took the hero to new places in the film world. Also, it’s the first movie to focus on Miles instead of Peter although to be fair it also highlighted a bunch of other Spider-Heroes too like various Peters. Then there was Insomniac’s first game,Marvel’s Spider-Man, which was a hit on PS4.
Now, five years later, the combo returns withSpider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseandMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. Both things have Miles Morales in them although how he is depicted is quite different. Let’s take a look at these differences across both movies and all three Spider-Man games from Insomniac. There will be spoilers for all five things.
6Miles’ Father And Uncle
Death is a big part of any Spider-Hero’s life and Miles is no different. InSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles loses his Uncle Aaron after he finds out he is The Prowler. He hesitates to take action against Miles after he uncovers his secret identity too. In the confusion, Kingpin has Uncle Aaron shot. In the games starting withMarvel’s Spider-Man, Miles loses his fatherto Mr. Negative.
In the sequel wherein Miles becomesSpider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, he has to face off against The Prowler who once again is his Uncle Aaron but he does not die. InMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, Uncle Aaron has returned from prison after serving his time. He claims that he has changed his ways, but is that really the case? Through a series of missions, Miles will find out exactly what Uncle Aaron is up to.
5Miles’ Core Villain
Miles deals with a lot of feelings that the younger version of Peter had to deal with when hisUncle Ben died. Should he, Peter, kill the villain that took his uncle for retribution or should he do the just thing and turn him in? For Miles inSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, his central villain is Kingpin who, again, is the one who took down his Uncle Aaron. Miles deals with his feelings in that movie, and Kingpin doesn’t appear inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
In the first game, Mr. Negative is the cause of Miles’ pain which led to his father dying. Mr. Negative is not present in his solo game, so Miles doesn’t get to deal with his feelings until Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Should he kill Mr. Negative for what he did or let him live? It’s a tough choice for Miles in the latest sequel and where the story goes with this conflict won’t be ruined here.
4Miles’ Mom
Rio is Miles' mom and a core pillar in his life. In the animated movies, she plays a nurse, but in the games, she is a teacher who later becomes a councilwoman. This seat is a big part of Miles’ solo game along with the escapades that happen inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. Perhaps the biggest difference between the two universes is that Rio knowsMiles is Spider-Manin the games along with Peter’s identity.
InSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, it seems like Rio might suspect that Miles is Spider-Man but it is never outright said. Miles does actually confess to Rio but it turns out to be a big twist in the movie as Miles accidentally wound up in another universe. In this world, Spider-Man doesn’t even exist. What’s more his father is the one that dies just like in the games, Uncle Aaron is still alive, and another version of Miles is The Prowler.
3Miles’ Peter
Peter Parker is the classic example of Spider-Man and the character that started the franchise. InSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Peter is an established hero who has fought every villain and has even had merchandise made for him like bad popsicles. After gaining his powers, Miles is hopeful that Peter will teach him how to be Spider-Man too, but Peter dies in the line of dutythanks to Kingpin. This is another reason why Miles despises Kingpin so much.
In the games, Miles becomes Peter’s pupil but he doesn’t actually become a playable character until Miles’ solo game where Peter takes a backseat. Now, inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, the two are working side by side and players can switch between the two heroes. Also, as a first for Miles, he has to deal with Peterbecoming the Venomversion of himself which is a dark arc in the grand lore of the franchise.
2Miles’ Friends
Miles has a lot of friends in the games, but most of his friends in the animated movies revolve around other Spider-Heroes.Gwen Stacey isone of the first friends he makes at Brooklyn Visions Academy who turns out to be a female Spider-Hero. She is often referred to as Spider-Gwen. He also has a roommate, Ganke, although they don’t talk much in the first movie. InSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Ganke knows Miles is Spider-Man but he doesn’t help him out much.
In the game universe, Ganke is Miles’ man in the chair. The two have been friends for a long time too. There is also Hailey, a love interest for Miles, which begins in Miles’ solo game and starts to fully bloom inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. She’s an interesting character as she is deaf, and the game plays around with this trait in some unique ways. Most tragically, one of Miles’ best friends, Phin, turns out to be an anti-hero inMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Moralesand is known as The Tinkerer. While the two butt heads in the game, she ultimately saves his life by sacrificing her own.
1The Multiverse
The biggest difference between the two universes is clear from just the name of the animated movies. The core gimmick of the movies revolves around the multiverse opening up. The aforementioned Gwen Stacey is from another universe, for example. Miles also meets another Peter Parker who is washed up, a young girl who pilots a spider robot, a talking pig, and a black and white crime fighter. The amount of Spider-Heroes is expanded exponentially inSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
While the games only have Peter and Miles representing the Spider-Man name, other heroes appear. There’s Phon, The Tinkerer, fromMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Black Cat is a big one in the comics who appears inMarvel’s Spider-Man. She doesn’t interact with Miles in the first two games, but there is a big mission with her inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2. Also, while they are never seen, it’s hinted that some formof The Avengersexists within the game universe as they have a building in New York City.
