Web Essentials: 5 Must-Read Miles Morales Spider-Man Stories
With Marvel's release of 'Spider-Man: Miles Morales' on PS5, we’re taking a look at Miles’ comic book origins with these 5 must-read stories.
Image via Marvel
New comic book characters debut all the time, but few of them break out and capture the public’s heart as much as Miles Morales. Created by Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli in 2011 as part of the Ultimate Marvel imprint, Miles has transcended his comic origins to become the lead of his own animated movie (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and now a videogame (Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales) too.
According to then Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, Marvel had plans to introduce a Black Spider-Man around the 2008 election of President Obama but delayed to find a more thoughtful and natural approach to presenting the character. The idea popped up again during the famous #DonaldforSpiderman Twitter campaign that sought to cast multi-hyphenate Donald Glover as Peter Parker in Sony’s cinematic Spider-Man reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man. While Donald didn’t get the role, that didn’t stop Bendis from drawing inspiration from the campaign for the next phase of his run on the Ultimate Spider-Man title.
Marvel’s Ultimate imprint, originally started back in 2000, was a way to tell new and reimagined stories featuring classic Marvel characters. Divorced from decades of storytelling continuity, Ultimate Spider-Man was one of the line’s flagship titles for the innovative ways Bendis retold classic Spider-Man tales. However, change in comic books is commonplace, and imprint relaunches happen all the time. It provides publishers like Marvel with a new slate and allows a natural jumping-on point for new readers. In the wake of the Ultimate imprint event Fallout and the Death of Spider-Man, the Ultimate Marvel Universe version of Peter Parker died, leaving the world without a Spider-Man. Bendis used this opportunity to finally introduce Miles to the world. The character instantly resonated, bringing a whole new level of excitement to the Ultimate line.
With the release of Spider-Man: Miles Morales, we’re taking a look at Miles’ comic book origins and recommending five essential reads for those who can’t get enough of this truly amazing character. From the character’s earliest days to his latest ongoing adventures and plenty of dimensional travel in between, there’s a story for every fan of Miles.
'Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Who is Miles Morales?' and 'Ultimate Comics Spider-Man: Scorpion'
Author: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrator: Sara Pichelli
Where to Buy: Amazon
As mentioned earlier, the Death of Spider-Man event left the Ultimate Marvel Universe without a Spider-Man. The first five issues of Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (written by Brian Michael Bendis, drawn by Sara Pichelli, with letters by Justin Ponsor) tell the story of Miles Morales and his rise to claim the mantle. A few months before Peter’s death, Brooklyn’s very own Miles had just won a lottery to attend a local charter school. Upon hearing the news, Miles visits his uncle, Aaron Davis, to share the good news. Unknown to Miles, Aaron moonlights as the villainous Prowler and has recently stolen research from big Spider-Man baddie Norman Osborn. During the heist, another genetically-altered spider crawled into Aaron’s bag, later emerging to bite Miles. You likely know the rest of the story: Miles not only gets his own version of spider-powers but gets new ones, too—including the ability to turn invisible and to release an electric power blast.
Outside of saving a woman from a burning building, Miles keeps his powers to himself until he sees the news that Spider-Man has died. Miles and his friend Ganke (who knows about Miles’ abilities) attend Peter’s funeral, where Miles is inspired to take the mantle. After a battle with Electro, Miles fully embraces the great power and great responsibility he has—emerging as the new Spider-Man.
In the Scorpion arc of the book, Miles comes face-to-face with Uncle Aaron’s Prowler. We included these first two storylines together because they trace similar beats to what audiences saw in Into the Spider-Verse. Sure, there might be some narrative overlap, but Bendis’ kinetic scripts and Pichelli’s staggeringly beautiful art render the events wonderfully and will make the story feel fresh and new again.
'Spider-Men'
Author: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrator: Sara Pichelli
Where to Buy: Amazon
Into the Spider-Verse’s dimensional traveling draws inspiration from another Brian Michael Bendis and Sarah Pichelli series: 2012’s Spider-Men. As the Peter Parker of the main Marvel Comics is web-swinging, he’s drawn to a mysterious light in the sky that turns out to be the work of Mysterio. During their battle, Peter is tossed through a portal the villain had opened, landing on top of a roof where he encounters Miles, who is shocked at a sudden reappearance of a thought-to-be-dead Peter Parker. The two must then work together to figure out how to return Peter back home.
Bendis nails the mentor/mentee relationship between Miles and Peter that Spider-Verse so expertly mined. However, while the movie focused more on Miles and his journey, Spider-Men gives equal weight to both, well, Spider-Men—especially as Peter encounters those who have been grieving his death in the Ultimate Universe. And as great as Pichelli’s work is in Ultimate Comics, she elevates her style once more and delivers some stunning and iconic visuals. This mini-series a must-read for any Spider-Man fan.
'Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man'
Author: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrator(s): Sara Pichelli, Chris Samnee, David Marquez
Where to Buy: Amazon
Ahead of Marvel’s massive Secret Wars storyline, Marel relaunched the title relaunched as Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man. The series saw Miles juggle dating his girlfriend (the Ultimate Universe of Kate Bishop), attending school at the Brooklyn Visions Academy, joining the Ultimates roster, and fighting against the Green Goblin alongside Peter Parker?!
The mystery of Peter’s return is better left a secret for those who want to read the series. Still, it’s fun to see Bendis and artist David Marquez put Miles through a more traditional set of Spider-Man problems—balancing school, a love interest, and crime-fighting —ahead of the literal end of the universe in Marvel’s massive Secret Wars.
'Spider-Man' and 'Spider-Man/Spider-Gwen: Sitting in a Tree'
Author(s): Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Latour
Illustrator(s): Sara Pichelli, Robbi Rodriguez
Where to Buy: comiXology
Following Secret Wars, which combined the regular Marvel Universe and the Ultimate Universe into one big reader-friendly world, 2016’s Spider-Man relaunch is a bold new direction. After years of being in the Ultimate Universe, Miles finally gets to hang out alongside Peter Parker, the Avengers, the X-Men, and other major characters we know and love. The first volume of the series sees Bendis team up with Pichelli again as Miles—and new readers—get accustomed to this new reality.
We’d recommend skipping the second volume, as it ties in heavily with the Civil War II event and head right into the highly entertaining crossover between Spider-Gwen and Spider-Man. Like Spider-Men before it, Spider-Verse pulls from this story as inspiration for the relationship between Gwen and Miles. Yes, it involves another trip for Miles through the Multiverse, but one that features surprisingly romantic results for our hero.
'Miles Morales: Straight Out of Brooklyn'
Author: Saladin Ahmed
Illustrator: Javier Garron
Where to Buy: Marvel
All good things must come to an end, and so Bendis passed the writing torch in 2018 to Hugo-award-winning writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Javier Garron. Ahmed is a perfect fit, infusing the book with narratives that speak to his multi-racial experience. The result makes the title feel even richer and builds upon the already strong foundation Bendis created.
Miles’ lack of work/life balance hits home in the first volume—Straight Out of Brooklyn—as Ahmed throws one obstacle after another at Miles. The Peter Paker version of Spider-Man has long moved past these kinds of issues, so it’s refreshing to have another Spider-Man comic to tackle the tried and true themes of balancing adolescence and superheroics. The first volume also features the Rhino as its primary villain; those lucky enough to get their hands on a PS5 will know the first part of the Spider-Man: Miles Morales videogame focuses on the bulking villain, perhaps in a nod to Ahmed’s run.
Extra Credit
Those who work their way through these stories and want more Miles should check out a few different titles. The previously mentioned Secret Wars (written by Jonathan Hickman, drawn by Esad Ribic, with letters by Chris Eliopoulos & Clayton Cowles) is more of an Avengers and Fantastic Four-heavy crossover but does feature Miles in a critical role closer towards the end of the event. Want to see Miles on an Avengers team? Check out 2015’s All-New, All-Different Avengers (written by Mark Waid, drawn by Adam Kubert & Mahmud Asrar, with letters by Cory Petit), which also features the Sam Wilson version of Captain America. In the wake of Civil War II, Miles quits the Avengers to co-found the Champions (written by Mark Waid, art by Humberto Ramos, and letters by Ferran Delgado) which is essentially Marvel’s version of the Teen Titans. Finally, the Spider-Men II (written by Bendis, art by Pichelli, and letters by Ponsor) mini-series sees Miles and Peter track down the main Marvel Universe’s version of Miles Morales, with surprising results. No matter what you choose, however, you’ll find amazing stories with one of comics’ single best characters awaiting at every page turn.