One of the coolest moments in “Across the Spider-Verse” involves a guest appearance by Peter Parker as Spider-Man, shedding light on why Miguel O’Hara strongly believes that Miles Morales‘ father has to meet his end.
Miguel O’Hara is firmly convinced that Miles Morales’ father’s death is necessary, and a significant appearance by another Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” helps to provide some insight into this. Due to the vast number of Spider-Man versions across various forms of media, the Spider-Man universe has expanded into what’s now known as a Spider-Man multiverse. The Spider-Verse movies celebrate this concept by bringing together diverse iterations of characters like Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and many other Spider-People from comics, movies, animated shows, and even video games.
The different Spider-Man variants in “Across the Spider-Verse” showcase the impressive capabilities of animated filmmaking, blending various animation styles and even including appearances by live-action characters. Particularly captivating were the sequences involving the Spider-Society, which delved into the extensive lore of Spider-Man. Every frame was filled with hidden references or appearances that nod to Spider-Man’s past. Among these appearances was a cameo by Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Peter, whose backstory might offer insight into why Miguel’s stance shifts against Miles.
Explanation of Spider-Man 2099’s Shift Against Miles in the “Across The Spider-Verse” Cameo Theory
The Spider-Man from Insomniac’s Spider-Man game makes a brief appearance in “Across the Spider-Verse.” This version of Spider-Man is seen alongside two other Spider-Man video game cameos, including a pixelated Green Goblin from an Atari Spider-Man game. The voice actor for Peter Parker in Insomniac’s Spider-Man game, Yuri Lowenthal, reprises his role in the movie. Beyond just being a fun addition that further expands the Spider-Verse, the cameo of Insomniac Spider-Man in “Across the Spider-Verse” offers some insight into why Miguel O’Hara is so convinced that Miles Morales’ father must meet his demise. In Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Miles’ father perishes, and this event is consistent with the version of Peter Parker in the movie, thus supporting Miguel’s theory about established events.
In Insomniac’s Spider-Man game, Miles Morales takes up the mantle of Spider-Man, although his origin story diverges from the Ultimate Comics or the “Into the Spider-Verse” narrative. Nevertheless, the Peter Parker from Insomniac’s universe is acquainted with and friends with Miles Morales, whose father died while on duty. This occurrence serves as just one instance of Miles’ father’s demise, contributing to Miguel O’Hara’s conviction that fixed events within the canon cannot and should not be altered. The notion remains that a police captain closely tied to Spider-Man will inevitably meet his end, regardless of the universe or the specific Spider-Man involved. However, it is worth noting that “Across the Spider-Verse” does not acknowledge the fact that Insomniac’s Peter Parker has fought alongside Miles Morales.
How “Across The Spider-Verse” Skillfully Avoids Mentioning This Game’s Plot Element
Insomniac’s Peter Parker serves as both a mentor and a partner to Miles Morales, who was the protagonist in his own game and is set to return in Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2. Given this, it would have been logical for this rendition of Spider-Man to support or aid Miles, similar to how other Spider-People did within the Spider Society. Across the Spider-Verse takes care not to spotlight any Spider-Man version that would already know about a Spider-Man like Miles Morales in their own world. This approach prevents overcomplicating the worldbuilding of the movie.
The plot of Across the Spider-Verse, including Spider-Man 2099‘s elaborate scheme, hinges on the uniqueness of Miles Morales. His powers originated from a spider in another universe. This thematic connection between Miles being exceptional yet also an anomaly, as seen from Miguel’s perspective, would lose its impact if the film referenced other versions of Miles Morales. Moreover, incorporating a storyline from a Spider-Man game that might not be familiar to all viewers could be risky.
The movie doesn’t explicitly state that there’s only one Spider-Man named Miles Morales across the multiverse. However, it maintains its focus on the character audiences became acquainted with in “Into the Spider-Verse,” avoiding allusions to alternate versions of him. The sole exception occurs in the conclusion of “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” where Miles Morales from Earth 42 is revealed.