Alright, folks, here we go again. As we were promised, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has returned in the second trailer for the much-awaited sequel to “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” aptly named “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” We have Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and Peter (Jake Johnson) alongside Miles. However, things are not smooth sailing for Miles as a furious web-slinger from the future is pressuring him to make decisions he may not be ready to make.
The character in question is Miguel O’Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099, portrayed by Oscar Isaac. Contrary to earlier expectations, he appears to be at odds with the main protagonist. It has been revealed that the crime-fighter from the future has assembled a team of Spider-People to join forces and maintain order in their respective universes. However, some members of the team must make significant sacrifices and life-altering decisions, and Miles is struggling with the prospect of having to do so.
The outcome of events remains uncertain. However, it is evident that the protagonist will cross paths with a guitar-playing Spider-Man, a black hole in human form, and an adorable spider-kid that is bound to tug at our heartstrings. Moreover, there are indications of a universe teeming with superheroes that we know and love. Don’t delay; stock up on web fluid, and let’s embark on this adventure.
New villain spotted
Although Miles is heading towards a multiverse-spanning journey, he first needs to confront some small-time criminals in his locality. However, these crooks possess extraordinary abilities that are difficult to handle. For instance, Johnathon Ohnn, aka the Spot (played by Jason Schwartzman), is a thief who can generate inter-dimensional portals all over his body, making him a formidable opponent for any hero, even those with wall-crawling abilities. Recently, he was caught red-handed while looting a convenience store.
The Spot made his debut in “Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man” #98 back in 1985 as one of Peter Parker’s adversaries, not Miles’. Although this universe tends to take liberties with the portrayal of heroes and villains from different versions, we can expect The Spot to be a standout character in this world. In the upcoming sequel, Miles will be traversing through multiple dimensions, and encountering a villain who can create portals at will is sure to lead to some thrilling moments. We’re eagerly anticipating the spectacular sequences that will result from this clash.
Spider-Men, Women, and Punks
The previous movie set in this multiverse made it clear that anyone can don the mask, and the latest trailer for “Across the Spider-Verse” showcases a plethora of characters doing just that. While there are numerous fan favorites to admire, such as Spider-Horse, we also get a good look at some of Miles’ primary allies on his upcoming adventure. Joining him are Jessica Drew, known as Spider-Woman (voiced by Issa Rae), who arrives on her motorcycle with a noticeable baby bump. Additionally, we have Hobart “Hobie” Brown, aka Spider-Punk (voiced by Daniel Kaluuya, who greets us with an “oi oi”), and Pravitr Prabhakar, aka Spider-Man India (voiced by Karan Soni of “Deadpool” fame).
Jessica Drew hails from the primary Marvel Universe, but Spider-Punk and Spider-Man India come from entirely different dimensions. The guitar-wielding Spider-Punk first appeared in 2014 and has a London accent, which sets him apart from the New York-based Spider-Man. On the other hand, Spider-Man India is based on a four-issue comic book run that reimagines Spider-Man’s origin story in an Indian context.
The Scarlet Spider, the spider-clone
One of the biggest attractions of “Across the Spider-Verse” is its capacity to showcase a vast array of Spider-Man-related characters. Based on the recently unveiled trailer, there seems to be an overwhelming number of new faces to look forward to. However, for die-hard Spider-Man fans, the appearance of the Scarlet Spider stands out among the rest.
Ben Reilly, also known as the Scarlet Spider, stands out from his fellow Spider-Men for two reasons. Firstly, he wears a stylish blue hooded vest. Secondly, he is a clone of Peter Parker, created by the villainous Miles Warren, also known as the Jackal. This raises the possibility that this particular Scarlet Spider is one of two Spider-Men from the same universe, as cloning is a defining characteristic of the character. Although Ben was originally created to be a villain and replace Spider-Man in his reality, he ultimately chooses to fight for good and becomes one of Peter’s allies.
Making his debut in 1975, the Scarlet Spider has become a prominent part of the Spider-Man universe, and at one point, even took over as the main Spider-Man when Peter Parker was unable to do so. Peter also assumed the Scarlet Spider identity when he was falsely accused of a crime, and Ben Reilly took his place in prison. With his first appearance in a movie, it will undoubtedly be of great interest to dedicated Spider-Man fans to see how the Scarlet Spider is portrayed in “Across the Spider-Verse.”
Did Doctor Strange get mentioned? No way (home)!
Miles has his fair share of problems, including battling villains and struggling with his studies (he even got a B in Spanish). It’s no surprise that he’s tempted to escape his reality and jump into other dimensions. According to Gwen, the Lobby is a creation of Miguel O’Hara, a hero from the future who has recruited the best Spider-People to help him. Unfortunately, it appears that Miles hasn’t made the cut for some unknown reason. “You can never be part of this,” warns Oscar Isaac’s tough-talking hero to Miles, “and don’t even get me started on Doctor Strange and the little nerd back on Earth-199999.”
The announcement of the “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” film has generated excitement among Marvel Cinematic Universe and Sony’s Spider-Man Universe fans, as it may mean another crossover. However, some have pointed out that the Earth number mentioned in the trailer, Earth-199999, does not match the one used in the movie, Earth-616. While some fans see the MCU as set in Earth-199999, others, such as Ms. Marvel’s Iman Vellani, are more comics-focused and may have a different perspective. Whatever the case, the possibility of an animated Tom Holland appearing alongside Miles Morales and the Prime Peter is sure to get fans excited.
Mayday! Mayday!
The original Spider-Man also shows up in the trailer, and as hinted at in the teaser, he is a father to a baby girl named May. In a heartwarming moment, we see him swinging through the air with his cute little bracelet web-shooter. May “Mayday” Parker, the inspiration for the baby girl, is based on the character Spider-Girl from a “What If?” story released in 1997. She hails from the MC2 universe and is the daughter of Peter Parker, with close ties to Ben Reilly.
It is worth noting that his role in the movie may be limited despite Peter’s appearance in the trailer as a proud father. This raises the question of whether the focus will be more on Miles than Peter this time around. Although Peter has been accepted into O’Hara’s group of webslingers, he may not be as active due to his new role as a father. He may only appear to Miles in a mentor capacity. However, Miles does not seem to be keen on following his mentor’s advice when it comes to sacrificing for the greater good.
A Death in the Family with a Touch of Venom?
Initially, Miles is eager to become a part of the new Spider-Club, but it appears that the entry fee may be too high for him to pay. O’Hara explains that being Spider-Man comes at a great sacrifice. “You have a choice between saving one person and saving every world,” he warns, while footage shows Miles’ father, Jefferson Davis, falling off a ledge. It could be a double bluff, possibly occurring early in the film when Miles is still in New York. However, any casual fan of the web-slinging world knows that losses are inevitable in this line of work.
The death of a parent figure is a common theme in Miles’ story, with his mother, Rio, typically filling that role. However, in some versions, it’s his father who dies. In the trailer for “Across the Spider-Verse,” it seems that Miles will do everything in his power to prevent such a tragedy, as indicated by the fallen Spider-People around him, possibly taken down by his venom blast. This could potentially lead to Miles becoming a wanted fugitive, as hinted at by a meme and an angry leader in the trailer.
Miles vs. Miguel and a whole lot of Spider-People
Concluding this eye-watering sneak peek, the action intensifies as Miles and Miguel engage in a fierce spider-on-spider showdown aboard a high-speed bullet train with other web-slingers, such as Peter and Gwen, not far behind. Peter confronts Miguel about how this is not what he had promised, implying that the future hero may have become intoxicated with his newfound power. Regardless of O’Hara’s plans, however, Miles is not willing to participate in them.
The trailer concludes with what appears to be a climactic battle between Miles and Miguel on a futuristic train. As the two clash, Miles declares that he will be doing things his own way, which raises the question of how this will impact the various universes. As both the MCU and “Into the Spider-Verse” have demonstrated, disrupting the delicate balance of the multiverse can lead to unforeseen consequences, as seen in the Kingpin’s misguided attempt to resurrect his family. Will Miles’ rebellion have similarly disastrous effects? We’ll have to wait and see.
Considering this, it remains to be seen if Miles’ decisions could ultimately have a negative effect, resulting in Miguel being proven right. The outcome is uncertain as this film is the second installment in a planned trilogy. Nonetheless, it is undeniable that our Spidey-Senses are tingling in anticipation of what is to come.
BoJack Spider-Man is here to Trot Out Justice.
While we can’t possibly list all the Spider-Man suits shown in the trailer, one particular version of the character caught our attention. Just before the preview’s conclusion, a horse sporting a Spider-Man mask appears in a quick, easy-to-miss cameo. The sight is nothing short of hilarious, especially when Miles and a cluster of Spider-People interrupt the amusing Spidey-to-Spidey therapy session and burst through the wall. All in all, it’s brilliant stuff.
Since we’re discussing a comic book film, it’s not surprising that the appearance of a Spider-Horse in the trailer has a basis in the source material. The horse’s name is Widow, and he obtains his superpowers when he gets bitten by a radioactive spider along with Patrick O’Hara, also known as Web-Slinger, who is inspired by the Wild West. Miles meets these characters in the comics and even includes them in his Web-Warriors squad at one point to battle a Multiversal danger.
Given that we’re discussing a movie based on a comic book, it’s not entirely surprising that the appearance of a Spider-Horse in the trailer has a basis in the source material. In fact, the horse’s name is Widow, and he becomes endowed with spider-like abilities after being bitten by a radioactive spider alongside his human partner, Patrick O’Hara, also known as Web-Slinger, whose character is Wild West-inspired. In the comics, Miles encounters these characters and even includes them in his Web-Warriors team at one point to combat a threat across multiple universes.
What’s Up Danger is now clearly Miles’ theme song.
The movie “Into the Spider-Verse” has a remarkable soundtrack, but Blackway and Black Caviar’s “What’s Up Danger” is perhaps the most exceptional song of the film. The previous trailer for “Across the Spider-Verse,” which was released in December, also featured the song, thus continuing its legacy. The second trailer for “Across the Spider-Verse” prominently features “What’s Up Danger,” making it evident that the repetition of the song was deliberate and intentional.
A superhero’s theme song is a crucial element that helps in their branding and recognition, and Miles is no exception. The new trailer for “Across the Spider-Verse” emphasizes this fact by cementing “What’s Up Danger” as Miles’ anthem. This is a smart move, considering the song’s popularity, its perfect synergy with Miles’ character, and the dynamic animation style of the “Spider-Verse” films. It won’t be surprising if “What’s Up Danger” or a remixed version of it tops the charts again when the movie releases and possibly again when “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” comes out in 2024.
The trailer brings the Spider-Man pointing meme to its logical conclusion.
Chances are, if you’ve spent any time on the internet at all, you’ve come across the classic Spider-Man pointing meme featuring two animated Spider-Man characters from the 1960s cartoon. Sony and Marvel are certainly aware of this popular meme. In 2022, the official @SpiderManMovie Twitter page even recreated it with “Spider-Man: No Way Home” stars Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, taking the meme to its logical conclusion.
The “Spider-Verse” creators are not only aware of the Spider-Man pointing meme but also take it to the next level. In the trailer, the audience is treated to a delightful scene where all the Spider-People start pointing at each other in confusion upon hearing that one of them is wanted by the authorities. The trailer only spends a few seconds on this escalating pointing scenario and ensuing confusion. Still, it’s already so funny that one cannot help but hope that the full movie will turn it into an extended comedic sequence.
