A stunning new Spidey swings into town.

Sometimes a hero’s biggest enemy isn’t some suped-up villain hell-bent on vengeance, it’s overfamiliarity. For quite some time now, this has been Spider-Man’s biggest hindrance. 

Radioactive spiders, dead uncles, great power, even greater responsibilities – we’ve seen Peter Parker’s story play out so many times by now that any attempt to retell it risks major burnout. Things, however, are changing and one of the most famous superheroes on the planet now has a new lease of life as a result.

On the big screen, Spider-Man: Homecoming saved the day after the debacle of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 almost killed the franchise dead, with an approach that took the classic elements of Peter Parker and span them off in new and exciting ways. However, on the comic book side of things, an even more extraordinary evolution has been happening to the character.

For better or worse, a great many things have happened to Spider-Man in the comics through the years, but by far one of the most exciting has been the introduction of the Spider-Verse concept. Bringing with it a smorgasbord of weird and wonderful alternate spider-people (and pigs), the storyline was an exciting and mind-bending trip through a spider-wonderland that brought together a number of alternative versions of Spider-Man - from which Miles Morales swung to prominence.

Created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sarah Pichelli in 2011, Miles Morales pre-dates the Spider-Verse run but nevertheless had a major part to play in the storyline and has become one of the most successful and important heroes for Marvel ever since. While many dismissed the character at the time as nothing more than ‘political correctness gone mad’, it’s hard to deny just how powerful the image of an Afro-Latino teenager swinging through the streets of New York in full Spider-Man garb is. 

Almost singlehandedly redefining what it means to be Spider-Man, it’s such a shame we’ve had to wait this long to see the character on the big screen but now he’s here, has the wait been worth it? And is the world ready for yet another Spider-Man in their lives?

Struggling with family, school, and friends; Brooklyn teen Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) feels alone and adrift until a chance encounter with a radioactive spider transforms him into the unlikeliest of superheroes. With the villainous Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber) hell-bent on ripping apart the multiverse, Miles soon crosses paths with a number of Spider-Man counterparts from alternate dimensions - including an overweight, over-the-hill Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), who reluctantly agrees to show him the spider-ropes. As the very fabric of Miles’ world begins to unravel at the seams, he must embrace his newfound powers and superhero status to save the multiverse from collapsing altogether. 

As both a character and a symbol, Spider-Man’s importance above and beyond the realms popular culture should not be underestimated. Up there with the Superman and Batmans of this world, Spider-Man has a cultural cache that transcends boundaries to appeal to anyone and everyone. In true Marvel spirit, Peter Parker has always been the ultimate symbol of the underdog - the bullied nerd by day and high-flying hero by night - that stands for and fights for the little guy.

By his very nature, Spider-Man is a symbol for the outsider and, for that alone, he’s an incredibly important figure to the wider cultural landscape; yet, like all cultural icons, an evolution needs to occur for continued relevance. In the case of Spider-Man, perhaps the most significant evolution in the character’s long and lauded history didn’t happen to Peter Parker himself but in the introduction of someone else entirely.

Miles Morales is that evolution and a particularly fitting one in an era where representation and cultural diversification are becoming more and more crucial within cinema. In a year that started with a watershed moment in the wonderful Black Panther, it seems only fitting that it’s bookended by something equally powerful.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is vibrant, hilarious, and dynamic; yet none of it would mean a jot if they fumbled Miles Morales’ introduction. After many, many years of Peter Parker as the one and only big screen Spider-Man, the film had an incredibly tricky task on its hands to convince us that there was an alternate version worth rooting for, however Into the Spider-Verse plays its hand perfectly.

It’s a bold move to have your Spider-Man protagonist not named Peter Parker, yet the way the film deftly introduces Miles Morales along with his motley crew of wacky alternate spider-cohorts is nothing short of spectacular, if a little bewildering for the uninitiated out there. 

With so many oddly shaped plates to spin, Into the Spider-Verse’s writing needed to be on point to stay on top of all the insanity, but there’s little worry here as scribes Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman go above and beyond for the cause. With cleverness and dexterity, the writing dives deep into the inherent nerdiness of the Spider-Verse setup, yet is only too happy to open the story up to general audiences in pleasant and unexpected ways. 

Make no mistake though, Into the Spider-Verse is the geekiest big screen Spider-Man outing there’s ever been – in the best possible way, of course. The film has even the hero’s most ardent fans covered and, as such, it can become a little bewildering for those unprepared for the ride. While a PhD in Advanced Spider-physics isn’t a necessity, it would be advised to go in with at least some prep work behind you.

Fight it and you may get lost, yet, go with the film’s flow and you’ll be richly rewarded. There’s a keen sense of anarchic joy to the entire thing that’s incredibly hard to resist and the sheer fun the filmmakers have with the setup is positively infectious. There’s a clear affection for the concept from all involved and this certainly comes across in the assured introduction of the film’s many outlandish characters.

The collection of spider-people on display is positively bewildering and from the Loony Tunes-inspired Spider-Ham (aka Peter Porker) to the Nicolas Cage-voiced monochrome Spider-Man Noir, what could have been an over-stuffed, zany hodgepodge of characters, quickly turns into an all-out, gleeful celebration of what makes Spider-Man and his’s extended universe so special.

The film’s real master stroke is the decision to make this an ensemble piece, which allows Miles Morales the spotlight while ensuring he’s given support from a solid supporting cast. This is, after all, the character’s first ever movie appearance, meaning he doesn’t quite carry the same star power of someone like Peter Parker, so the team up angle works perfectly considering his rookie status.

As the core relationship of the group, the initially awkward companionship between Miles and the alternate Peter Parker is both hilarious and surprisingly touching. It’s a classic mentor-student dynamic by the end, yet it’s certainly not a clichéd one, with their relationship taking many twists and turns as they both learn from one another and embrace the need to confront their demons.

In terms of the wider spider-based ensemble, there’s a hell of a lot of fun to be had with the rag-tag collection of eccentric alternate heroes. Spider-Gwen (voiced beautifully by Hailee Steinfeld) holds the biggest emotional link to Miles, but between Peni Parker, Spider-Man Noir, and yes, even Spider-Ham himself, there’s so much going on and so many colourful (or not so colourful, in Spider-Man Noir’s case) character interactions to enjoy that it’s often hard to keep up.

As they interact with one another and collectively teach Miles the ropes, the writing crackles with energy and dynamism in an avalanche of jokes that rarely lets up. While Into the Spider-Verse’s visuals will take many of the plaudits, it’s the comedy that ends up the unsung hero of the piece, as the humour pops with energy and invention, managing to be both universal and meta all at once.

To this end, a large part of the film’s success rides on the shoulders of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who, despite being credited as producers (although Lord is also listed as a writer), clearly have their fingerprints all over it. The filmmaking duo have a lot of fingers in a lot of pies right now and, while their patented manic sense of humour doesn’t always click with a project (give us a wave Solo: A Star Wars Story), when it works, it’s absolute comedy gold.

From 21 Jump Street to The LEGO Movie to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Lord and Miller have a very particular sense of humour that walks the thin line between surrealism, slapstick, and observation with style. It’s a brand of comedy that jives perfectly with what Into the Spider-Verse is looking to achieve and the result is something quite special.

Balancing comedy, action, and heart is no mean feat but the duo, along with all the various writers and directors that have contributed to the film, juggle them perfectly. All three components work together impeccably and, while the action will be the real showstopper for many, the heart and humour are what makes Into the Spider-Verse really swing.

Yet, at times, it’s hard not to get caught up in the film’s mesmeric action. Quite simply, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is nothing short of stunning to look at and despite a short period of necessary adjustment to get your head around the film’s one-of-a-kind animation techniques, its visuals are really something to savour. 

Unlike anything you will have seen before, the film’s animation clearly isn’t aiming for the gleaming CGI style of someone like Pixar, yet the result is no less impressive, as the film employs the kind of techniques rarely seen on the big screen. Innovative and bold, the film’s mix of 3D, CGI, and traditional cell-shading truly feels like a comic book brought to life and probably as close as you’ll ever get to seeing the perfect representation of a comic in cinematic form.

The action itself is kinetic and truly thrilling, flowing smoothly and breathlessly in and around New York and the multiverse. The free-wheeling, vertigo-inducing action is all part and parcel of any Spider-Man movie, yet the way Into the Spider-Verse constructs it’s set pieces feels like something else entirely, as it makes full use of its medium.

But, as is always the case, humour and action alone will get you nowhere unless you have heart to back it up and Into the Spider-Verse has this in abundance. As mentioned, the dynamic between Miles and Peter Parker is both sweet and fun and a major factor in the film’s ultimate success, yet what really lends the movie its soul is the Morales family.

The bond between Miles and his family is both heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measure, especially the fraught relationship between the hero and his father as they continuously struggle to come to terms with one another. Throw in Miles’ affection to his estranged uncle Aaron (voiced with customary charm by Mahershala Ali) and his struggles to juggle familial duties with his newfound abilities, and you’ve got a potent and poignant mix that packs a real emotional punch. 

As ever, all the usual trappings of a superhero origin story are present, but rather than rest on its laurels, Into the Spider-Verse deals with them cleverly; playing with our expectations and offering us just enough to keep what is a very well-worn narrative infinitely intriguing. Miles’ motivations to take up the fight and become a hero aren’t particularly new to the comic book world, yet the film dedicates an impressive amount of time to giving us ample reason to care.

After all, this is another Spider-Man origin story in a long line of Spider-Man origin stories, but rather than satisfy itself with going over the same old ground, Into the Spider-Verse goes above and beyond to offer us something utterly unique and rather special.

Not only one of the best films of the year (animated or otherwise), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has the distinguished honour of being one of the greatest Spider-Man movies of all time – perhaps even THE greatest. Between Spider-Man: Homecoming and PS4’s critically acclaimed Spider-Man game, it’s been quite a time for Spidey and his fans, but it feels like we’ve just entered into a whole new era with this latest effort. 

In terms of pure, unadulterated fan service, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an absolute triumph, yet never loses sight of pleasing even the most casual viewer. With Phil Lord and Christopher Miller injecting their patented brand of humour into proceedings, while skilfully balancing it with heart and knockout visuals, Into the Spider-Verse looks nothing short of spectacular and represents the perfect introduction of a new generation of web-slinger in Miles Morales – the young and vibrant hero the entire multiverse needs right about now.