Know your Spider-Man: A guide to who's who in the Spider-Verse

By: Jake Weatherill

Wed 31/May/23

‘Spider-Man. Spider-Man. 
Does whatever a Spider can. 
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies.
Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man.’

 

Can you believe I haven’t done a comic based blog since February? It’s a travesty! So given June is a veritable feast of superheorey goodness I decided to take advantage of it! So as you probably gathered we’re starting with everyone’s favourite webbed wonder, Spider-Man!

 

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse comes out in cinema’s this week, and it’s going to be a Spideyfest (trademark pending). And if you think you know Spider-Man think again as we explore some of the Spider’s who are going to be cropping up in the sequel to the Oscar winning Into The Spider-Verse!

 

 

Peter Benjamin Parker, The Amazing Spider-Man:

 

Peter B Parker from Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse


An older, more jaded Peter Parker who sort of ends up playing the mentor role to Miles Morales (see below). An amalgam of various ‘mainstream’ depictions of Spidey (although the greying temples certainly give of some fantastic vibes) throughout the years. Pretty much your classic Spidey power set, but with a more cynical, less naïve version of Peter Parker than we have previously seen. This spin on a classic means that you don’t feel like you have seen this Spidey (or any of them) before. The poster for Across The Spider-Verse has tantalisingly given us a glimpse into this Spidey’s post Into The Spider-Verse life, with seemingly his very own Spider-Baby hanging from his hair. 

 

Recommended reading:

The Amazing Spider-Man: Brand New Day Volume 1

 

Cover of The Amazing Spider-Man Brand New Day Volume 1

 

Miles Morales, Spider-Man:

 

Miles Morales from Spider-Man Into the Spider Verse


Heir to the Spider-Mantle in the first film, stepping up to replace his worlds Peter Parker. A historically significant given he is the first Black Spider-Man, the first Latino Spidey, and only the 3rd person to permanently take up the Spider-Man identity in 61 years.

Miles Morales was originally created for Marvel’s Ultimate Universe (an early 00’s attempt to update the classic Marvel characters for a new generation) to succeed that universes Parker. While possessing the classic powers of wallcrawling and Spider-Sense Miles has some pretty unique powers of his own, such as the ability to turn invisible/camouflage with his surrounding and deliver bioelectrical ‘stings’ from his hands.

Given the big shoes he has had to fill and the very stop/start nature of the post Ultimatum Ultimate Universe, Miles' ascendence to one of the most popular Marvel Characters is a testament to his depth and development as a character. 

 

Recommended reading:

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man (2014)

 

Cover of Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man

 


Ben Reilly, The Scarlet Spider:

 

Ben Reilly from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse


Possibly a Spider you might not be aware of, who has been around almost as long as Peter Parker, Ben Reilly is The Scarlet Spider. Debuting in The Amazing Spider-Man Issue 149 as a clone of Peter Parker created by the insane Jackal (Peter’s ex-lecturer Miles Warren) and the two are forced to fight to the death, only for them to team up to save the day, seemingly at the cost of Reilly’ life.

 

Fast forward a few years as Peter is trying to settle down in preparation of a family life, Ben reappears throwing Peter’s life into disarray. Living a nomadic existence in between appearances Ben ultimately steps up to, and falls fulfilling, the role of Spider-Man with an iconic costume to boot!

 

Recommended reading:

Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider (2017) Volume 1

 

Cover of Ben Reilly The Scarlet Spider Volume 1

 

Gwen Stacy, Spider-Woman/Spider-Gwen:

 

Gwen Stacy from Spider-Man Into the SPider-Verse

 


In a world where everything is the same, but a little bit different along came a spider and bit a curious teenager on a field trip. Except this wasn’t Peter Parker, but Gwen Stacy. In a classic example of how one little change can everything Gwen becoming her universes Spider-Woman would see Peter heading down a completely different path which would lead to Parker becoming her worlds Lizard. Gwen is arguably one of the most capable and skilled Spidey’s in the multiverse, forged in the heat of adversity and heartbreak. 

 

Recommended reading:

Spider-Gwen (2015) Volume 0

 

Cover of Spider-Gwen Volume 0

 

Jessica Drew, Spider-Woman:

 

Spider-Woman from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse


Jessica Drew originally from jolly old England, and re-locating to Wundagore Mountain with her geneticist parents where exposure to radiation makes her very ill. Her father injects her with a serum made from irradiated spiders to help try and cure her, however he has to leave her in suspended animation for this to work. This serum leaves Jessica transformed into one of The Spider-People, but with a slight variance on the powerset. Although she has the standard wall crawling powers, she also has venom blasts, not entirely dissimilar to Miles ‘stings’. Jessica will go from Villain to Avenger over her life, and becoming a mother along the way. 

 

Recommended reading:

Spider-Woman (2015) Volume 1

 

Cover pf Spider-Woman Volume 1

 

Pavitr Prabhakar, Spider-Man India

 

Spider-Man India from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

 


Based out of Mumbai, Pavitr Prabhakar is arguably at the more unique end of Spider-People. Rather than science his powers and enemies are derived more from mysticism and magic. Pavitr himself gains his powers not from the bite of an irradiated or genetically modified spider, but are bestowed upon him by an old Yogi in preparation for the threats on the horizon. The two classic villains he confronts in Doc Ock and Green Goblin are subjects of demonic possession rather than a product of a scientific accident and an attempt to replicate the Super Soldier Formula respectively (albeit varying levels of willingness to being possessed by a demon). How Pavitr will impact the Spiderverse is as yet unknown, but could have a completely different effect to most of the ‘sciencey’ Spidey’s.

 

Recommended reading:

Web Warriors of the Spider-Verse Volume 1

 

Cover of Web Warriors of the Spider-Verse Volume 1

 


Hobie Brown, Spider-Punk:

 

Spider-Punk from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

 


In a world where Norman Osborn is president of The USA, supported by his symbiote enhanced V.E.N.O.M troopers who can be relied upon to protect the people of New York from tyranny? Hobie Brown, the Spectacular Spider-Punk! Bitten by a spider that was irradiated courtesy of Osborn’ Toxic Waste Dumps, Brown dons his mask and electric guitar to confront injustice and topple President Osborn by any means necessary.

 

Recommended reading:

Spider-Verse: Spider-Zero

 

Coover of Spider-Verse Spider-Zero

 

Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099: 

 

Spider-Man 2099 from Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse

 


The Spider-Man of tomorrow comes today! After the end of the Heroic Age and the decline of The Supes the world undergoes some massive transformations, leading us to the Neo-Noir world of 2099. In 2099 Miguel O’Hara is a geneticist for Alchemax, the big shadowy conglomerate wielding an outsized influence on late 21st century America. After having his drink spiked with a highly addictive drug Miguel attempts to use a device to overwrite his DNA with his pre-drugged DNA. Sabotage leads to someone contributing the DNA profile of a spider into the mix and thus Spider-Man 2099 is born! Miguel’s powers are an interesting mix of the classics such as wallcrawling, with some new ones such as enhanced vision allowing him to see in the dark, as well as organic webbing, talons and venomous fangs. The Leader of a Multiversal Spider-Society in Across The Spider-Verse, Miguel will find himself and Miles drawn into conflict.

 

Recommended reading:

Spider-Verse

 

Cover of Spider-Verse

 

 

So there’s some of the big guns in the Spider-Verse, but there’s many more you will be introduced to in the film! All that’s left for me to do is thwip thwip to my nearest cinema on June 2nd. Adios! 

 

All our recommended reads and many more Spider-Man graphic novels can be read instantly for free with your Lewisham Libraries card and pin number thanks to Libby