If you’re familiar with America’s favorite web-slinging superhero in his signature spider suit, you’ll love the animated masterpiece that is the 2018 chart-topper: Spider-Man Into The Spider-Verse.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse follows the protagonist, Miles Morales, as he discovers an arsenal of arachnid-like abilities he gained after being bitten by a radioactive spider. As Miles gracelessly figures out his new powers, he meets the OG comic-book icon, Peter Parker, as he helps him on his quest to become the next Spider-Man.

The duo soon realizes there are others just like them, and join their league to defeat the evil Kingpin, a colossus madman who uses portals to create an intergalactic rift in time that could cause the end of the world.

Miles Morales became the first ever Afro-Latino superhero to hit theaters and made millions doing so. Because of the movie’s wide success, Miles became an icon to a whole new generation of Marvel fans.

Children of color all around the world took a liking to Miles for his smart, witty humor and his passionate generosity. For the first time in many of these children’s lives, they had a superhero to look up to that looked like themselves.

More mature Marvel fans can dive deeper into the life of the web-shooting super spider in the comics, which thoroughly explores different aspects of his life, including some of the more disparaging ones.

In the Miles Morales comics, racism is explored through his character in an intricate way that reads as authentic and realistic.

This genuine portrayal of such heavy topics through the lens of such a beloved character allows Miles to become a symbol for much more than just a superhero. Miles is able to become a face for an under-represented community, while also spreading the message that everyone is unique and deserves a second chance.

Miles is much more than just a comic character or a face to plaster on merchandise. His character represents a significant social shift in media and kids’ entertainment. More children see themselves and their heritage being depicted on screen, while also being able to acknowledge and understand issues that have been plaguing our society for so long. 

If you have the time today, you can enjoy this animated masterpiece on Disney Plus, Spectrum TV, Prime Video, Vudu, ROW8, Redbox, or Apple TV.

The sequel, SpiderMan: Across the SpiderVerse, comes out in theaters on June 2, 2023.