“Everyone keeps telling me how my story is supposed to go. Nah. I’m-a do my own thing.”
In recent years the label of DEI started out as a great mission to add more diverse characters to media. Breaking away from the spotlighted characters usually portrayed. Different races, body types and retcons were published, filmed or presented before the world. Not all of them were popular or loved by people that had a close relationship with certain franchises. Yet there’s an example of a character that did.
What’s DEI?
So first things first we have to define what DEI really is and what was the original intent behind it. Diversity, equity and inclusion were the original ideas behind the moniker that came to cause divisive reactions. Each of the words aimed to show stories from viewpoints that were rarely seen.
Their definitions were varied, diversity looks to acknowledge how the many walks of life (religion, race, sex, etc…) experience society and interact with it. Equity, aims to distribute to people based on their needs. It usually is confused for equality, which is focused on the idea of distributing to people exactly the same without taking into account the needs.
The last letter stands for inclusion, the idea is that everyone is welcome into society. Their opinion and ideas matter and could be better to help society. Sometimes a “B” and “J” is added. Belonging is fairly the same to inclusion except it differs into establishing an infrastructure for welcoming people. Justice looks to eliminate the “systemic” problems that may plague the current system.
Why the Stigma?
People have a different reaction to these representations. While on one side, people appreciated the display of more varied characters and sexualities. A lot of people started to see insults to franchises they have a lot of love for. The ideas that their favorite characters in gaming, literature or comics could just be replaced was nothing if not frustrating.
Anyone can wear the mask
So who’s the character that was made during this divisive times? Miles Morales is a character that sprung from Childish Gambino appearing in Spider-Man pajamas in Anthropology 101. The artist that saw the image for himself got the idea that it would be a great idea to have a black spider-man. At the same time the Ultimate Universe was lacking a Spider-Man since Peter’s Parker had just faced his demise. So in 2011, Miles Morales appeared in Ultimate Fallout #4.
The character was then received with mixed reactions while approved by Stan Lee, some fans loved the new take on the character and what it could bring to the “Spider” persona. On the other hand a lot of them were angry at the fact that there was someone else wearing the spider suit, instead of the titular Peter Parker who had died not that long ago in this particular comic continuity. Despite this people kept reading the series and Miles started garnering a following.
You can imagine the surprise that a lot of people faced when the Ultimate End started printing. The series was clearly leading to the end of the alternate timeline and therefore the erasure of the versions of characters. Secret Wars was then the end to the marvel multiverse, the universe’s faced erasure and counterparts met each other. Eventually you see Molecule Man, Spider-Man (616) and Spider-Man (Miles Morales). It’s only due to a burger for Molecule Man saves Miles and is taken to the main timeline.
What happened to Miles?
Miles became a part of the main Marvel timeline and then the magic started to happen slowly but surely. So as the third main Spider-Man Miles had some big shoes to fit, specially in the main timeline. Some of the heavier critics of the character claimed that he was just a “political correctness” choice. Another criticism was the fact that Miles faced only Peter’s villains and had very little character development for himself;in short, he lacked an identity.
Despite all of the criticism and other comments about the character he eventually started to get his own image. Miles appeared in different comics and tv shows, but his biggest appearance came in the animated movie “Into the Spider-Verse”. Where Miles finally got the main screen instead of being in the shadow of Peter Parker in the comics.
Miles also was hinted at in Insomniac’s: “Marvel’s Spider-Man” , though being a recurrent playable character throughout the game. He mainly shows up as a depowered version, except in the last scene of the game where he’s seen sticking to a roof alongside the titular character Peter Parker.
His next main appearance was in a follow up stand alone video game. Again, under the development of Insomniac we got the “Marvel’s Spider Man: Miles Morales”. This game focused on his character development, his story and his villain. The last one being the most important one (at least for me), while Rhino (the classical Spider-Man villain) does show up. The central antagonist is Phin Mason, his childhood best friend who after losing her older brother, turns to villainous acts to get her revenge. Under the moniker of “The Tinkerer” is stopped by Miles.
The important aspect of The Tinkerer, is that it’s an old Marvel villain that has long been forgotten. Remade into a Miles villain, and tying her to his story was the beginning of forging a whole new path for Miles. A great tie in for the character was the second animated movie “Across the Spider Verse”, where we see further development for Miles and new aspects of his character.
Even in the comics Miles has show development, during the events of Blood Hunt Miles faces vampirism and a world ending threat. He becomes a vampire and is treated by T’Challa himself. Here we see not only the development of Miles as a character but a unique take on him as a “spider person”. Currently Miles, in order to get rid of the vampirism and with a new suit has to face the king of Wakanda himself. Kwaku Anansi himself, shows up in order to guide his new spider warrior.
I’m-a do my own thing.
Miles has come a long way, the character that faced harsh criticism for being just a DEI creation or being a “political correctness” design. He has cemented himself as a Spider-Man in the consciousness of society. Through a focus more on him, his story and gaining new villains for himself away from Peter’s Rouge gallery we have seen an increment in the reception of Miles. A whole different power set and alternative costume design have truly made the character what it is. If you’re interested in Mile’s story read the comics at a local comic book shop or the Marvel Unlimited app.
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