'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse': Meet all the six Spideys in Sony's groundbreaking new movie
Spider-Man clearly has had enough of being away from home in 'Avengers: Infinity War' as he is now back — in six different versions from six different multiverses. The second trailer of Sony's 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' is just as compelling as the first but the only difference is that the new trailer gives a quick glance at all six 'Spideys'.
Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind 'The Lego Movie' and '21 Jump Street', have brought together all six versions of Spider-Man to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe with a groundbreaking visual style that's the first of its kind.
'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse where more than one can wear the mask. Miles encounters all the Spider-Men who are the protectors of their own Earths and, quite expectedly, Miles is being led by none other than Peter Parker.
Ever since the release of the first trailer, fans have been pretty excited about the coming together of the various web-slingers. However, since Marvel has never really considered these various versions, and had just stuck to the single version of Peter Parker, let's take a look at the six 'Spideys' and their stories.
1. Peter Parker
We all know him and maybe some of us remember him as the first Spider-Man that we ever saw. Director Sam Raimi's 'Spider-Man' trilogy starring Tobey Maguire was probably the most accurate depiction of the high school honour scholar who suddenly gets bitten by a radioactive spider which gives him great power to take up great responsibilities. Orphaned at an early age, Parker grew up with his surrogate parents Ben and May Parker. However, he finds himself in a rather claustrophobic situation when Ben is murdered by a thief.
Parker then sets off to possess the most relatable human form of Spider-Man as he tries to put an end to the various crimes in society. While Parker (Jake Johnson) certainly returns with a different kind of charm to him in 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', he seems to be retaining the crispy humour of Maguire who had probably depicted the superhero in the most appropriate way. When Miles confronts Parker, the original Spider-Man seemed to have lost all his charismatic skills except his quick wit. More than being just a companion to Miles, Parker is also his mentor and would probably want to make sure that the kid does not repeat the similar mistakes he had made.
2. Miles Morales
Unlike Parker, Morales was bitten by the genetically enhanced spider which was evolved by the OZ Formula (also known as the Goblin Formula) created by Oscorp to augment the human body. While most of his powers, other than camouflaging and the stun blast, are pretty similar to Parker's Spider-Man, Morales was always against the idea of becoming a superhero. Unlike Parker who grabbed the chance to embrace his body's evolution, Morales was pretty dumbfounded when he discovered his powers. However, after the death of Parker, Morales decides to follow his mentor's footsteps and continues Spider-Man's legacy by encountering Kangaroo on his first night as the web-slinger.
As the protagonist of the movie 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse', Morales (Shameik Moore) soon discovers that they (he and Parker) are not the only Spideys in the world. As he swings around to train himself alongside Parker, he develops a strong bond with Gwen who becomes his love-interest in the comics.
3. Gwendolyn Stacy (Gwen)
Ever since it was declared that Gwen, to whom Hailee Steinfeld has lent her voice, would be one of the chief characters in the movie, fans have been crushing hard on the girl who has often been described as Parker's first true love (after Mary Jane, of course). Although in the present universe, Gwen is more of Parker's go-to girl and is eventually killed by the Green Goblin, her character forms a different arc in the alternate universe where she is bitten by a radioactive spider. Possessing the spider-like powers, Gwen soon becomes the Ghost Spider (Marvel has recently changed her name from being Spider Gwen to being Ghost Spider) but maintains a more secretive public life where she is the drummer of a band along with her friend Mary Jane.
In the movie, Gwen certainly seems to be a lot younger than what she has been depicted all along. Although in the comics, and in the previous movies, she was Parker's college mate and long-term love, Gwen in the movie is a teenager with a supercool haircut and (certainly) Steinfeld's hefty voice.
4. Peni Parker
Probably the most anticipated character in the movie, director Peter Ramsay probably has good reasons to leave Peni in her original anime form, and also the bravest and youngest in the lot, this little girl willfully threw herself to the sting of a radioactive spider. When she was informed by Uncle Ben and Aunt May (Parker's surrogate parents) that her father had died while flying the SP//dr suit and that only she can carry forward her father's project. She takes up the SP//dr suit and soon finds herself fighting against the bad guys, Mysterio being one of her first hunts.
While writers Lord and Rodney Rothman seem to have left Peni in her original anime form just for the sake of authenticity, it honestly will give the movie a new edge. Peni is probably set to be the most favoured character in the movie and she is totally a good contestant against Gwen when it comes to protecting her universe from the bad guys.
5. Peter Porker (Spider-Ham)
Seriously, what is he? Is he Spider-Man in the form of a pig or a pig with the superhuman powers of Spider-Man? Although the character has mostly been used for gimmicks and parodies, Porker appears in the movie much to Parker's dismay. Everything seems to go in the opposite direction for Porker. Instead of being bitten by the usual radioactive spider, the anthropomorphic creature who had begun life as a spider gets bitten by a radioactive pig. He soon develops his bizarre shape with the nose and ears of a pig but the capabilities of a spider.
6. Spider-Man Noir
Personally, the only reason we are totally rooting for this movie is due to the return of Noir. As an investigative journalist who lived with Ben and May during the great depression, Spider-Man Noir is unlike any other version of the original hero. While all the rest are more or less similar to Peter Parker, in the sense of being kiddish, humorous and jovial, Noir is pretty much on the similar grounds as Batman. Struck by tragedy as a child, Noir receives his powers from an antique statue of a spider, when one from the hoard creeps up and bites him. Noir was not appreciated for half the things he did since he is that version which comes from a time, way before the War, from an extremely conservative society.
It will be interesting to watch these characters as an ensemble for the first time in a movie which, for the first time, depicts Spider-Man as a black boy. This super-merger is set to hit theatres on December 14, 2018, and will be starring Kimiko Glenn as Peni Parker, Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man Noir, and John Mulaney as Spider-Ham. The movie is being executive produced by Stan Lee along with Brian Michael Bendis and Will Allegra.