Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Anyone can wear the mask.
I loved Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. I loved the animation, which flowed beautifully from action to emotional moments and in and out of various unique styles for the individual spider-people. I loved the music — the way it evolves for each new character and heightens the tension in the more thrilling moments is wonderful. The original songs work in tandem with the score, too — scenes of Miles walking to school or jumping off buildings feel even more memorable due to the strong work of the many featured artists.
But what I love the most is the way the movie treats Spider-Man. I know he’s just a comic book character. He’s not real. He’s a crazy guy in spandex who swings around and punches bad guys. But he’s also been such an inspiration to me throughout my life. When I was very young, Spider-Man showed me how to be brave; how to keep going when things et tough. Spider-Man will lose; he will mess up and make mistakes and hurt himself or others. But he’ll always get up. He won’t quit. He’ll keep going and giving because he has to — Spider-Man isn’t the greatest superhero because he can do whatever a spider can, he’s the greatest because underneath the mask and quips, he’s just a guy. He struggles with paying rent and dating and holding down a job. And through it all, he will stand up for the little guy. He’ll do whatever it takes to help others.
This movie gets that. For me, Peter Parker is and always will be the best character in comics. His unyielding will and sense of duty have inspired me countless times. But now we have a film that can take a look at Miles — a newer, younger hero. He follows after Peter, and he stumbles — but, just like Peter, he gets up and keeps going.
Into the Spider-Verse shows us that those defining traits of Spider-Man can transcend the mask. We get to see different spider-heroes from other dimensions work together, and their drive and courage shine through in every frame. Miles is the protagonist, sure — we watch him grow and learn and become just as much of a Spider-Man as Peter Parker, and his journey is told with care and emotional honesty.
An animated Spider-Man movie could’ve been a quick and easy project to rake in the cash. But everyone involved in this production clearly loves the admires the character, and they worked so hard to treat not only Peter Parker, but Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and more with the utmost reverence and respect.
This is an inspiring story. It’s a hero’s journey, but a fundamentally solid and funny one. There’s action and emotion and all the other things one might expect from a Spider-Man story. It’s the kind of comic book movie that can speak to children and adults and still dazzle and entertain with ease.
Into the Spider-Verse treats my favorite hero with love and care, but it reminds us that the character is universal. Anybody could be behind the mask. Anybody could be brave. Anybody could help others. He’s an ideal to aspire towards; a reminder of the greatest things about ourselves and the ways we should try to better. Even if we can’t do whatever a spider can.
