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Spider-Man. Spider-Man. Miles Morales is Spider-Man. Catches thieves? Just like flies. Spins a web, any size. Is he strong? Does he have radioactive blood? Let’s find out! Miles Morales is the son of Rio Morales and Jefferson Davis and lead a happy life, though he grew up knowing his extended family was a bit of a sore spot. This would come into play when his uncle Aaron came to visit unexpectantly, and had unknowingly let loose a genetically modified spider that he’d stolen from Osborn Industries, the same kind that made Peter Parker into Spider-Man. The spider bit Miles and soon he was developing powers like wall-crawling, a danger sense, a stinging touch, and camouflage. Miles hid his powers at first, terrified with what he could do. His best friend, Ganke, told him to become a superhero, like Spider-Man. Then it happened, Spider-Man was killed in battle and revealed to be Peter Parker to the whole world. Miles realized that the world needed a Spider-Man so he took up a costume and tried to carry on his legacy. Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. would step in to give Miles his own suit and web shooters. Miles would keep his powers and heroics a secret from everyone but Ganke which wore on him, especially since he was normally honest with his mom. Things in his life would continue to get complicated with the normal parts of growing up as well as his heroic lifestyle. It would hit hardest when his mother would be killed by the monstrous Venom. Devastated, Miles would retire as Spider-Man for a year before he’d get brought back in. He’d meet a different dimension’s Peter Parker and work with him to send  him home. He’d team up with fellow heroes his own age to form a new Ultimates since many of the former team were gone or dead. Then came the Cataclysm, Miles’ home dimension and another, the same as the other Peter Parker, were merging and possibly both be destroyed. Miles would join a team from both universes to try and help stop the destruction while a new reality, Battleworld, was formed making new mini-realities next to one another. The resulting reality would have most of Miles’ home dimension destroyed. Miles would awaken to a new world that he always remembered this way. He lived in the 616 universe, though few if any people there call it that. Not only were Miles, his friends, and father along with him, so was his mother, alive and well. In this new reality, Miles’ dad knows his identity as Spider-Man and the two keep it a secret from his mom. No one is sure why this is a thing, just tell her. When a new Avengers team was formed, Miles would join along with members both new and old. He’d make friends with Ms. Marvel and Nova, who are around his own age and could understand one another’s trial and tribulations as a teen superhero. They’d eventually leave the team to branch out on their own and create a new Champions team with other teen heroes. During the second superhero civil war, Miles would play major role when he would be seen in a vision of the future in which he kills Captain America. Both sides would fight over him while he would fight to survive. Fresh out of the fight, Miles’s dad would go missing on a S.H.I.E.L.D mission sending Miles in search of him into another dimension where he would meet Spider-Woman, Gwen Stacy. There you have it folks! Miles is one of my favorites new characters to come out of Marvel in recent years. He’s appeared in the animated Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon and may get to make more appearances in the animated world. Will we ever get to see a live-action Miles? Here’s hoping! See you next time!

Suggested Reading
Ultimate Fallout #4
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man
Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Spider-Men
Champions Vol. 2
Spider-Man Vol. 2 Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net