This all must be some terrible misunderstanding. And it lies not with Spider-Man but with Spider-Men, or to be more inclusive – Spider-people.
In a visually eye-watering display of not a few, not a few dozen, and not a few hundred but a few thousand, spider-powered super beings populate the dizzying spectacle that isSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse(2023).
Exactly How Many Possibilities Are There?
Suffering from the same issue that plaguedSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021),Across the Spider-Versecould use some editing, as fans balked at the hefty two hours and twenty minutes. As in the tradition ofits previous installments, this all-encompassing epic features the worthy inheritor of the Spider-Man mantle, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore).
Unfortunately, that’s where the positive similarities end. With Gwen Stacy’s salvation,Across the Spider-Versecontradicts the events referred to inSpider-Man: No Way Home(2021), namely Gwen Stacy’s tragic demise as portrayed inTheAmazing Spider-Man 2(2014).
The Cuisinartblender of the multiverseconcept has bled through not just into the Spider-Man franchise but indeed other cross-platform intellectual properties such asThe Flash(2023),Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania(2023), andAvengers: Endgame(2019). Fans wonder if the trend will continue and ifAcross the Spider-Versehas jumped the proverbial shark.
First proposed in the early 90s, the quantum theory of multiple realities (or alternate universes or different dimensions) has gained widespread recognition due to endorsement by such noted authorities as Dr. Michio Kaku, Dr. Neil De Grasse Tyson, and Dr. Stephen Hawking. The problem is that if this trend continues, the multiverse shtick runs the risk of becoming a one-trick pony. Infinite possibilities are only as valuable as the new, creative ideas they present.
Infinite Possibilities Invite Infinite Contradictions
As previously mentioned, the defining characteristic ofPeter Parker’s latter careerwas heavily influenced by the death of Gwen Stacy. This leads the young crime fighter to understand that one can try their best and commit no errors yet still fail – a valuable and fundamental life lesson. Without this necessary but painful character development, Miles Morales' Spider-Man is free to tinker and change the history of theSpider-Verseas he sees fit.
Spider-Pig, Ghost Spider, Spider-Punk, and so on. The film runs the risk of fans losing sight of the very simple, fundamental principle upon which theSpider-Verseexists: with great power comes great responsibility. On the contrary, the idea behindAcross the Spider-Verseseems to be thatunlimited Spider-people equals unlimited entertainment. Perhaps to the die-hard, ever-evolving fan base, but perhaps not to a wider audience.
While not quite a twist, Miles finds himself on the run from his equals and pursued by infinite former friends on what appears to be infinite fronts. Is it too much? Complicated fight and evasion scenes dispatched with stunning clarity in CGI featuring only Spider-People seem off the mark from the original Spider-Man of the comic and the early film efforts.
The Other Possible Versions of Across the Spider-Verse
With creative endeavors interrupted by the outbreak of COVID as well as rumored subpar working conditions, the visual and audio styles of the film changed mid-production contributing to multiple versions of the film. While cited as an Easter Egg by associate editor Andrew Leviton, it’s also well-known that Sony and Marvel’s mutual production of theSpider-Verseis hurtling toward its final film, and the two versions currently showing in theaters are the result.
Younger fans and repeat viewers will be rewarded, however, with the tweaks and quirks presented between various simultaneous releases, such as; Gwen saying a few lines while she’s searching for Miles in the rubble in one variant, yet in another – she is quiet, and the only audio is the swelling background score. One version has a pop-up text that reads ‘Hobie’ to introduce the character, and the other version has Miles audibly say, “Hobie.”
The most notable departure is a headlock scene in which Ben Reilly either says, “This one’s called a sleeper hold, I’m using my bicep to constrict you.”, or “I’ve got you in my well-defined musculature.”, depending on which theater is playing the film.
A History Too Obscure?
Older fans of the series may spot extremely obscure references to underwhelming Spider-Man offshootssuch asThe Spider-Man Animated SeriesSpider-Man: 2099and the Spider-Clone – also notoriously known asThe Scarlett Spider.
One of the strangest Easter Eggs is a reference to the High Evolutionary – an 80sAvengersvillain that created sentient animal-human hybrids on a plane of the multiverse known as Counter-Earth. Would younger Marvel fans know, care, or even notice these strategically-placed, painstakingly animated references?
Time will tell, as the upcoming Spider-Man feature box office numbers are sure to reflect. Miles Morales will, of course, return inBeyond the Spider-Verse,the follow-up due in theaters in March 2024.
