Five years after the release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the long-awaited sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, is finally in theaters. Going bigger and bolder than the original movie, Across the Spider-Verse includes far more Spider-Man variants than have ever been featured in a single movie before.
Several Spider-Man variants stand out as especially important in Across the Spider-Verse, possibly piquing viewers’ interest. Fresh off their appearance in a massive Hollywood film, several of these Spider-Man variants can be explored further in their Marvel Comics debuts.
Spoilers ahead for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
10 Mayday Parker
In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, May “Mayday” Parker is the infant daughter of Peter B. Parker and Mary Jane Watson-Parker. Already exhibiting spider powers, Mayday is a rambunctious child, climbing walls and swinging from webs as her father desperately tries to keep up.
Mayday Parker first appears in 1997’s What If…? #105, which reversed one of the most controversial Spider-Man stories in Marvel Comics. With a creative team featuring Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Matt Webb, and Chris Eliopoulos, Mayday Parker became Spider-Girl, even inheriting her own comic book several years later.
9 Spider-Byte
Amandla Stenberg has a brief appearance in Across the Spider-Verse as a new character, Margo Kess, aka Spider-Byte. Margo uses a holographic avatar to do her work as Spider-Byte, including running the Spider Society’s teleportation room from home. Eventually, she joins Spider-Gwen’s rebel team to help Miles Morales.
Spider-Byte made her first appearance in Marvel Comics in 2018’s Vault of Spiders #1, created by Jed MacKay, Scott Koblish, Andres Mossa, and Travis Lanham. This Spider-Geddon tie-in comic introduced several other key Spider-Man variants from across the multiverse in addition to Spider-Byte as the Spider-Verse was once again hurled into chaos.
8 Scarlet Spider
Ben Reilly, aka the Scarlet Spider, finally makes his big screen debut in Across the Spider-Verse. Voiced by Andy Samberg, the Scarlet Spider is constantly brooding over his dark past – doing so loudly enough for everyone to hear. In the film, he ends up joining Miguel O’Hara’s strike force to stop Miles from altering the Spider-Verse Canon.
Ben Reilly has a complicated history in Marvel Comics. The character technically made his first appearance in 1975’s Amazing Spider-Man #149under the guidance of Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Mike Esposito, Janice Cohen, and Annette Kawecki. In this comic, he is merely introduced as Peter Parker’s clone, though much later stories would flesh out the character, giving him a name, superhero alter-ego, and backstory.
7 Spider-Man India
Deadpool star Karan Soni stars as Pavitr Prabhakar, aka Spider-Man India, one of the strongest Spider-Men in Across the Spider-Verse. Pavitr teams up with Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen in an attempt to stop the Spot after he jumps to different universes. However, Spider-Man India’s Canon is altered by this battle, leaving the fate of his world in jeopardy.
Pavitr Prabhakar first appeared in the debut issue of his own comic book, Spider-Man: India #1, in 2005. The character was created by Jeevan Kang, who wrote, penciled, and inked the comic book’s first issue alongside other creators Suresh Seetharaman, Sharad Devarajan, and Dave Sharpe. Spider-Man India would play key roles in future storylines, including the Spider-Verse crossover event almost a decade later.
6 Spider-Punk
Daniel Kaluuya voices Hobie Brown, aka Spider-Punk, in Across the Spider-Verse. Spider-Punk is a maverick who despises authority, rebelling against every rule in the book – including his own. As chaotic as Hobie can be, he also has a terrific sense of morality, becoming one of the first Spider-Man variants to speak out against Spider-Man 2099’s oppressive system.
Spider-Punk’s first appearance came in the form of a brief cameo in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 3) #10by Dan Slott, Olivier Coipel, Wade von Grawbadger, Justin Ponsor, Chris Eliopoulos. He was introduced as a Spider-Man variant gathered by the Superior Spider-Man for the coming war against the Inheritors and was later fleshed out during the Edge of Spider-Verse comic tie-in.
5 Spider-Woman
Jessica Drew, also known as Spider-Woman, appears in Across the Spider-Verse, voiced by Issa Rae. Spider-Woman is shown to be pregnant during the film’s events, though this doesn’t stop her from leaping into action at any given moment. This strength and fortitude are part of what makes Spider-Woman one of Spider-Man 2099’s most trusted collaborators.
Jessica Drew’s Spider-Woman has been a major Marvel character ever since her first appearance in 1976’s Marvel Spotlight #32from writer Archie Goodwin, penciler Sal Buscema, inker Jom Mooney, colorist Janice Cohen, and letterer Irving Watanabe. The issue introduced this brand-new superhero to the Marvel Universe, paving the way for her future role as an Avenger.
4 Spider-Man
Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker is the closest thing that Across the Spider-Verse has to the original Spider-Man from Marvel Comics. However, the film also features plenty of multiversal versions of the classic character who started it all.
Spider-Man’s history in Marvel Comics can be traced all the way back to 1962 with Amazing Fantasy #15 by writer Stan Lee, illustrator Steve Ditko, colorist Stan Goldberg, and letterer Artie Simek. This seminal comic details Spider-Man’s origin and the death of his Uncle Ben, introducing the world to one of the greatest superheroes of all time.
3 Miguel O’Hara
In Across the Spider-Verse, Oscar Isaac voices Miguel O’Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099. O’Hara is a tortured individual whose tragic past led him to create the multiversal Spider Society to defend the Web of Life and Destiny. In the film, his tactics proved quite oppressive, leading him into conflict with Miles Morales.
After a brief preview in a separate comic, Miguel O’Hara’s first real appearance in Marvel Comics was in Spider-Man 2099 #1, which came out in 1992. Writer Peter David, penciler Rick Leonardi, inker Al Williamson, colorist Steve Buccellato, and letterer Rick Parker brought the character to life, kicking off Spider-Man 2099’s many adventures in Marvel Comics.
2 Spider-Gwen
Hailee Steinfeld returns to voice Gwen Stacy, also known as Spider-Gwen and Spider-Woman, in Across the Spider-Verse. One of Miguel O’Hara’s newest recruits, Gwen, questions her loyalties during the course of the film, as she is forced to choose between protecting the Spider-Verse and helping her friend, Miles Morales.
Spider-Gwen first appears in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 as a part of the 2014 Spider-Verse crossover event. Writer Jason Latour, artist Robbi Rodriguez, colorist Rico Renzi, and letterer Clayton Cowles detail her origin in this issue, quickly setting Spider-Gwen up to be one of the best Spider-Man variants in Spider-Verse.
1 Miles Morales
Shameik Moore once again voices Miles Morales, the Spider-Man of Earth-1610, in Across the Spider-Verse. After taking over as Spider-Man following Peter Parker’s death, Miles has had frequent adventures throughout the multiverse, which have placed him in stark opposition to Miguel O’Hara and the other members of the Spider Society.
Miles Morales first appeared in the iconic Marvel Comics Ultimate Spider-Man #4 issue in 2011. Put together by a massive creative team that included writers Brian Michael Bendis, Jonathan Hickman, and Nick Spencer, as well as a host of artists like Sara Pichelli, Salvador Larroca, Clayton Crain, Justin Ponsor, Cory Petit, and more; this issue came as a part of the “Death of Spider-Man” arc. Set in the Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610, Marvel Comics would never be the same after this seminal issue introduces Miles Morales to the world for the first time.