Marvel unveils new, multiracial Spiderman
New Spiderman Miles Morales, a half-Latino, half-African-American teenager (image from Marvel Comics)
Story from The Takeaway. For more, listen to the audio above.
The story of Peter Parker, Spiderman’s alter ego, has come to an end. “[His] journey has always been one about atoning — about redemption,” explains Marvel Comics’ editor-in-chief, Axel Alonso. “He failed to save his Uncle Ben, and no matter what he does, […] he’s never able to atone for that.” Peter finally finds peace when he beats the Green Goblin, but dies in the process. Alonso says ultimately, all storylines were leading to that death, and the only way to keep Spiderman alive, is to have someone new step into those red and blue tights.
Miles Morales fits the part, and although the change from Peter to Miles is significant, he maintains much of what made Spiderman a relatable hero. Alonso says that the “dorky” character is still “a skinny kid who is looking to find his place in the world — who’s been given a great power, and realizes that with it comes great responsibility.”
The new multicultural Spiderman is in keeping with Marvel’s traditions, according to Alonso. He points out that Black Panther, who joined forces with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, is the oldest black superhero, and first appeared in the Marvel Universe in 1966.
It is a thrill for the editor-in-chief to know that children like his own son Tito will be able to see themselves in the superhero in a way they weren’t able to before. Alonso believes this is particularly important for the Latino community, since there are no Latino superheroes today that are household names. To introduce a Latino superhero using “arguably the most globally recognized” name is a soaring leap forward.
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