The Marvel multiverse first developed in the comics has been complicated for decades, integrating many different parallel realities that MCU movies likeEndgameand even recent shows likeLokihave just begun to scratch the surface of. Ever singe the release of the Academy Award-winning movieSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, particular attention has been drawn toSpider-Manas a great IP for exploring the marvel multiverse, particularly when it allows multiple versions of the iconic character to interact.
On top of its continued success as a movie IP, over the last few yearsSpider-Manhas also become one of PlayStation’s best-selling first-party series, with Marvel’sSpider-Man: Miles Moraleshelping launch the PS5. Although the Insomniac games have some key differences from the comic and movie versions, there is one villain who could help bring more Spider-People into the series.
RELATED:Kevin Feige Reports That Marvel Is Setting Up The Rules Of The Multiverse
Spider-Men
Miles Morales was originally introduced as Peter Parker’s successor in the comics, in a universe where Peter had been killed bythe Green Goblin. In the Insomniac games Peter isn’t killed, but instead helps mentor Miles after a spider bite give him similar powers. The fact that there’s already a Peter Parker and Miles Morales in the Insomniac universe doesn’t mean that the studio can’t include more characters from the Spider-Verse in future games, however. The original version of Miles seen in the comics did meet an alternate, still-living version of Peter Parker.Spider-Menreleased back in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of Peter Parker’s debut inAmazing Fantasy.
Spider-Mensees Peter Parker thrown into Miles Morales' universe byMysterio. While the version of the villain seen in the movieSpider-Man: Far From Homewas a fraud, the comic’s version is far more powerful. It’s revealed inSpider-Menthat the Mysterio who appeared inUltimate Comics: Spider-Man- the universe Miles debuted in - was actually an android being controlled by the Mysterio in the main Marvel comics reality, Earth-616.
RELATED:Marvel’s Spider-Man Fan Discovers Wholesome Conversation Between Peter And Aunt May
The Spider-Verse
Mysterio does not appear inSpider-Man: Miles Morales, but the character did have a strange role to play Insomniac’sSpider-ManPS4 games. In the first game, Peter goes to a Halloween party where he encounters Dr. Stratton dressed as Mysterio, making it clear that Mysterio exists in the Insomniac universe and has battled Spider-Man enough to be publicly known.
Using Mysterio to introduce multiverse elements could make thenext InsomniacSpider-Mangamevery interesting. The games have a different style to theSpider-Versemovie, but could introduce more Spider-People in a way that fits the tone. That makes some of the movie’s sillier Spider-Man versions like Spider-Ham less likely to show up, but the games could explore characters like Spider-Gwen from Earth-65, Old Man Spider from Earth-4, and many of the other Spider-Man variants from the comics' Spider-Army.
The more genre-bending characters likeSpider-Man Noirand Spider-Man J might not be to some fans' liking, but they could allow the Insomniac games to throw players into worlds with completely different art styles. The first two games have both taken place in the same in-game version of New York, but these characters could offer opportunities to completely reskin the city.
Dealing with the Spider-Verse might pose some challenges, but the opportunities it creates are massive and extremely flexible depending on what sort of story the studio wants to tell. With Mysterio already hinted at in the first game, the master illusionist could be key to expanding the series' horizons, especially with the MCU also rumored to be takingTom Holland’s Spider-Manto alternate realities. It could even allow the games to introduce characters and locations that have only been seen in the movies so far.
Spider-Man: Miles Moralesis available now on PS4 and PS5.
