The Super Network

🎶🎵 Spider-Man, Spider-Man. Does whatever a spider can. Spins a web, any size. Catches thieves just like flies. Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man! 🎶🎵

Since 1962, our friendly neighborhood wallcrawler, Spider-Man, has embodied the truest form of authentic, self-sacrificing heroism, while being the literal symbol for comic books as an artform. His adventures have galvanized and captivated many generations of readers, reaching across the globe and numerous platforms. Comics, films, video games, cartoons, novels and more. If it wasn’t on record by now, the spectacular web-head is an influential part of artistic history and one of the greatest superheroes of all-time. Because of this, and his astronomical popularity, there’s been many creations in his image over the years, adding to the legacy of the character. At this point, there’s hundreds of variations of Spider-Man, spanning across mutliple universes and media.

So, in 2011, marvel comics writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli conceptualized the first African-American/Puerto Rican Spider-Man; Miles Morales. (Inspired by President Barack Obama and actor/writer/artist Donald Glover) At the time, the idea of a biracial web-slinger was a bold and daring take on the character. It was met with positive curiosity as well as negative gatekeeping and prejudice, with those believing the idea was merely a publicity stunt in political correctness. Yet, because of fantastic stories, cultural significance, and great characterization, Miles became an undeniable star. One that connected with plenty of readers and implicitly built upon the idea that anyone could truly be a Spider-Man regardless of background and ethnicity. The expanding ideal broadening beyond the original slinger, Peter Parker.

Miles was never a means to replace the original but to craft his own path in the universe. And for over a decade, he has, appearing in multiple comics, animated shows, and video games. All of this leading up to his first animated feature film, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018), which was a masterful, elaborate success with an insightful story, multi-dimensional excitement, and varying fluidity that won an Academy Award. Well deserved. Now, after nearly five years of excrutiating patience, the long-awaited sequel, Spider-Man Across the Spiderverse (2023) has arrived with a colossal bang, and the webhead will never be the same. Again.

Directed by the trio of Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, and Kemp Powers, this stirring continuation of Miles Morales’ story as well as other Spider-characters across the multiverse is vigorously pulse-pounding, consistently funny, and musically absorbing, with injections of darkness, real-life consequences, and a myriad of easter eggs. This sequel ups the ante narratively and reaches beyond its predecessor on every level, thematically and aesthetically, marking another rousing achievement in cinematic animation. Let’s talk about it.

As the story goes; About a year after taking the mantle of Spider-Man in Brooklyn, New York, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) has been balancing private school, familial responsibility, and helping the city. As the young man struggles to make sense of his circumstances, future and purpose, an old friend returns to his universe, Ghost-Spider aka Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), who reveals she’s a part of an elite group of Spider-people from alternate dimensions who are trying to restore natural order to the multiverse. At first, Miles is intrigued with working with other spider-heroes, yet when he clashes with the leader of the group, Spider-man 2099 aka Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaacs), the tenacious teen finds himself in a massive fight to save those closest to him in his own world.

First of all, let’s talk about this animation. By far, the best collection of talented artists put together on a project, and all that innovative work paid off irrevocably. 2-D/3-D, traditional, hand-drawn, impressionist water-colors, this project has many varieties of animation. And while it’s difficult to describe or discern between every style and technique that’s used, it’s all blended together in such a rich tapestry of visual splendor you just don’t want to pick it apart. The near-countless colors, hues, tints, brushes, shades, strokes, and textures on display are vibrantly eye-popping and majestically vivid, drawing you into every single meticulous detail of it. I don’t believe I’m reaching when I state that about 90% of this feature could easily be photographed, framed, and put on a wall. It’s a transformative canvas in every facet, molding a surrealistic feast for the pupils, mind, body, and soul.

Next up is the resounding score and soundtrack, which honestly felt like a warm blanket being draped over the ears. Sensationally crafted by composer Daniel Pemberton, a smorgasbord of instrumentation and associated motifs. Accompanying this is the heavy bass, rhythmic beats of the soundtrack, comprised by trap artist Metro Boomin’, who brought on multiple artists for collaborations like Don Toliver, James Blake, Offset, Wizkid, 21 Savage, A$AP Rocky and Nas. Combined, both of these engulfing works of music accentuates each shot, sequence, section, and character theme of the story, making them memorable and encompassing. The whole shebang is hugely epic when it needs to be, quiet when it needs to be, and even captured the cultural flavor of Brooklyn. It’s rare to come across a project that makes you want to listen to its score and soundtrack again right after the credits roll. Hell, I’m listening to it right now as I write this review. It’s that goddamn good.

Next up, let’s talk about the many Spideys that appear in this story.  Actually no, I’m not going to spoil any of that because it would defeat the purpose. But generally speaking, there’s TONS! It’s spiders, spiders, spiders galore man! And whether you’re an obsessive, enthusiastic, or regular fan, you’ll definitely see your favorites here in some capacity. Either way, even as a casual Spider-man fan, I certainly gasped and nerdgasmed plenty of times seeing so many past and present spideys on the big screen. Freaking Marvelous.

Because of this, there’s plenty of ground to cover in this feature and the phenomenal voice cast was able to hit all the right notes fiercely and emotionally. Shamiek Moore portrays Miles with such a wholesome level of exuberance, levity, and determination, it’s stellar. Also Hailee Stenfeld handles the self-awareness, thoughtfulness, and personality of Gwen swimmingly. And Oscar Isaacs continues to showcase his brilliant versatility, making O’Hara an intelligent, honest, and slightly unhinged force to be reckoned with. There’s more performances here but I’ll leave that up to you to discover, because there’s plenty. Especially in a story that’s tonally and significantly darker than the previous film. This time around, we cover not only Miles and Gwen’s courageous stories, (And their building connection to each other) but a fascinating examination on the greater mythology of the character and what it means to be under the mask, as each variation of the wallcrawler is plagued in trauma, death, and obligation. Each of these connective themes and more are refreshingly explored thanks to an exceptionally superb script by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and David Callaham. This film just accomplishes so much it’s borderline sickening. To adding further legitimacy and exposure to past, present, and future Spideys, to setting up the upcoming third part of this trilogy, Beyond the Spider-Verse (2024) as THE major event next year, to connecting and solidifying EVERYTHING Spidey-related throughout the entire multiverse. Much like Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), this is a beautiful culmination of Spidey-lore dropped into the most breathtaking presentation ever executed.

With great power, comes great comic adaptations! Or in this case, a perfect one. As this was, with gusto. A momentously groundbreaking, sublimely transcendent, unparalleled vision of dazzling art, told with compelling devotion and unrestrained creativity. Another example of the true power of cinema and animation. Which of course, does whatever a spider can. Nuff Said.

Rating: 

Review written by Marcus Wilturner