With Peter Parker gone, someone new has to take up the challenge. Spoiler ahead.
We knew well in advance that the Marvel Ultimate Universe Peter Parker would be killed, and the six-book line Ultimate Fallout has been dealing with the aftermath of that tragedy with lots of characters getting all emotional and blaming each other for things. It’s been one of the biggest superhero wakes in comicbook history.
Marvel also announced earlier that we would get to see Parker’s replacement as Spider-Man during Ultimate Fallout, and now we know that we will get to see the character who will soon be the new Spider-Man for the first time in the upcoming issue, Ultimate Fallout #4.
USA Today, however, was given the reveal to announce early. As these things happen, major plot points are never still a surprise when the issue hits the stores.
The character, known as Miles Morales, will be introduced to readers this issue, but will not become Spider-Man officially until the new Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1, which comes out in September after Ultimate Fallout is over.
Morales is a multi-racial (Black and Hispanic) teenager. In reference to the character’s race, Michael Bendis, the line’s lead writer told USA Today, “It’s certainly long overdue. Even though there’s some amazing African-American and minority characters bouncing around in all the superhero universes, it’s still crazy lopsided.”
Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso added, “What you have is a Spider-Man for the 21st century who’s reflective of our culture and diversity. We think that readers will fall in love with Miles Morales the same way they fell in love with Peter Parker.”
And Sara Pichelli, the artist for the new line, said, “Maybe sooner or later a black or gay – or both – hero will be considered something absolutely normal.”
Frankly, I believed it already was, and I wouldn’t have thought it strange if they had let the race of the character go without focusing on it, but I guess either the Marvel people or whoever was asking the questions over at USA Today doesn’t get it yet.
However, what I would like to see most is the character introduced to the new Marvel film canon. Perhaps the new Spider-Man trilogy could even end with this transfer of power, while leading into a trilogy which features the new character. Of course, that is probably asking too much.
