Miles Morales: The impact and evolution of a Marvel Afro Latino phenomenon
By hola | Published | No Comments
Despite their popularity with audiences, African American and Latino superheroes have been seen yet underutilized. But one figure whose popularity and audience appeal have earned him a role in today’s popular culture is Miles Morales, also known as the second iteration of “Spiderman.”
A character created for Marvel’s Ultimate imprint, Miles was the first Afro Latino hero in the brand’s history. Created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Picelli, Miles debuted in 2011 with the comic: “Ultimate Fallout #4.”
Marvel’s addition of Miles Morales was not by force of habit, but the result of a multicultural audience that has been craving diverse content and characters for years. It was an introduction that was risky yet provided visibility to Latinos of the African diaspora.
There was a risk of dividing the fanbase over the choice of a Black Spiderman. Critics felt the selection of an Afro Latino was a form of pandering and an attempt to fill two diversity quotas at once. However, others believed the arrival of Miles Morales was a breath of fresh air when it came to the topic of representation.
Given this controversy, how can we understand the impact of the character within modern culture? College professor Jorge Santos shines a light on these developments for us in the interview below.
(photo courtesy of the professor)
The Texas native works at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he teaches multi-ethnic literature. A self-proclaimed nerd, Santos says he has always loved comic and graphic novels dating back to his childhood. Today, he writes about comics, graphic novels and films. Interestingly, he does this all while watching horror movies. Sounds like a pretty fun job for the go-to comics guy.
Recently, I sat down with Dr. J to talk about Miles Morales and the character’s impact on society, as well as the growing acceptance of diversity within popular culture. Read the interview below to understand Professor Santos’ analysis of the new age of the Afro-Latino web slinger.
Do you think representation for people of color (POC) in comics has improved for superheroes, or do we still have a long way to go?
Both. Representation has improved, beginning with characters like Wonder Woman and Black Panther. The immigrant tale is a significant part of superhero concepts. Growing up, I related to these characters despite them being predominantly white. In the ’70s, there was even an issue that inspired Spider-Man because African Americans in New York assumed he was Black. That helped the character of Miles Morales come to be.
Relatability is key. Moving on, what impact has Spider-Man had on U.S. Latinos in terms of the youth and community? What changes have you observed over the years?
The biggest impact is fostering a conversation about Afro Latinos, a topic often overlooked. The movies handle these discussions well, depicting nuances in Latino identity. The comics also explore complex issues, like Miles confronting human traffickers preying on undocumented children.
That’s deep. Shifting to the recent movie, the incorporation of Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man 2099 character, was cool. How do you feel about Miguel O’Hara’s impact, especially looking back?
I’ve been aware of Miguel, and it was exciting to see him in the movie. Initially, I had mixed feelings, questioning why he had to be a future Spider-Man and only half Latino. However, I now appreciate Miguel’s character and the complexity he brings to the story. He wasn’t your typical antagonist. Miguel is motivated by preserving all life. He’s motivated by good. He’s the antagonist because he opposes the protagonist’s (Miles) wishes. We can probably see that he’s wrong, right? He’s willing to trade lives no matter the cost. It kind of goes back to like Captain America, but he’s motivated by good, right. So it’s just interesting that these movies can be so emotionally complex without relying on a classic villain to do it.
Absolutely, he is emotionally complex. Moving on, Miles Morales is becoming a well known figure. How do you perceive Miles’s impact on contemporary pop culture?
Miles’ impact is evident in the success of the movies, setting a new standard for animation aesthetics. The “Miles effect” is seen in other projects, allowing for unique styles. Miles is crossing over to Sony’s PS5 game, showcasing his continued popularity.
Comics provide a real-time glimpse of fan reactions. The ongoing popularity of Miles is something to explore.
Definitely. We’re in the Miles era. Looking back will help us understand its cultural impact. Marvel has been engaging with fans since the ’60s, and now we have platforms like Twitter for direct interactions.
Miles Morales and his impact are still unfolding. “Across the Spider-Verse” showcases his role in expanding the Spider-Man universe with diverse characters. Miles isn’t just a singular star; he’s paving the way for new characters like the Indian Spider-Man, Spider-Man Miguel O’Hara, and a black pregnant lady in the last movie (“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” released in 2023).
This diversity is crucial. I hope Miles heralds a new era, not just a one-off success. Ironheart, which followed Miles, didn’t resonate much, feeling forced in the comics. Comic readers can discern pandering. It’s a delicate balance. Characters like Miss Marvel and America Chavez succeeded, showing that authentic storytelling matters.
Agreed. Fans can be fickle about fan service, demanding it only when they ask. The question of authenticity is crucial. Mainstream comic publishers’ treatment of young people of color (POC) heroes varies. Some writers genuinely expand the canon with textured, non-stereotypical stories, while others may exploit diversity for profit.
Authenticity is a complex matter. Some writers use the opportunity to tell rich, non-stereotypical stories, while others may exploit diversity for profit. It’s a mixed bag.
Ownership and economic empowerment are essential. You are always going to need a striking image for folks to gravitate to.
True. Miles Morales’ design significance lies in the elimination of blue, focusing on the red and black combination. Visually, it’s striking, reminiscent of ’90s black Spider-Man suits. Symbolically, it represents accepting the uniqueness of Miles’ blackness. The flipped color scheme of Peter Parker’s suit shows individuality. The addition of Air Jordans adds cultural relevance, connecting with Black and urban audiences. The hoodie, especially with the hood up, subtly references Trayvon Martin and the Black Lives Matter movement.
He has Air Jordans too!
The Air Jordans are a clever touch. The visual cues… carry cultural significance, though the subtlety may be a missed opportunity to make a louder statement. Marvel characters living in real-world cities like New York necessitate cultural acknowledgment.
How do you perceive Miles Morales’ evolution in the comics, considering his debut in 2011 in “Ultimate Fallout” to the present day? What changes in personality and character development have you observed?
Miles Morales’ evolution since his debut in 2011 has been dynamic. His character development has showcased a journey of self-acceptance and embracing the responsibility of being Spider-Man. In the comics, his first ability to turn invisible reflects his initial reluctance to accept his newfound powers. Over time, Miles has become a powerhouse, blending individuality with ties to the Spider-Man canon. His progression mirrors an authentic coming-of-age narrative.
Is there a power dynamic?
Yeah, especially when people worry about kids being raised on superheroes. There’s a lot worse things than boys being raised to identify with and to look up to characters who solve problems in superhero fashion. There’s a lot worse role models out there for a young boy, you know?
So, we can pick it apart. However, as long as the individual reader is critical and conscious of what’s happening, the media literacy is there. I don’t think it’s an issue. The issue becomes when we don’t think about it critically.
Speaking of media literacy, I want to touch on something you mentioned earlier about Miles’ visual design. How do you think the representation of race and of Miles Morales as a character, addresses social issues? Particularly, racial profiling and systemic racism? How does it tackle these issues and what impact does it have?
That’s a big question. I think the fact that he’s there at all and so well received is a sort of answer to that question. It wasn’t that long ago that the notion of a Black Spider-Man was just unthinkable. As of now, he’s one of the most popular characters, not just in Marvel, but in pop culture.
However, the fact that we even have a Spider-Verse that allows for literally the multiverse of diversity. Characters from all different kinds of dimensions showcasing how much more diverse the brand has become. A character such as Miles Morales is not only introduced but embraced. As aforementioned, I would love for this to evolve into a continued presence in the mainstream media for these characters.
In the superhero genre, no one asks what Wonder Woman is doing to address violence against women. Answer: We have plenty of stories featuring women in the forefront. Women are leading these stories now, so you don’t have to think about it. I hope for that with Miles and other heroes in that caliber.
Maybe someday, there’ll be more characters that represent minority communities. It’s cool to see Black Panther, but how about more output? This occurs sporadically for a certain reason. I think that there is a level of pressure and stress that comes with representing an entire community. From someone in a community that isn’t always well represented, I definitely feel it.
The more characters in this realm, the better. For example, Moon Girl! She’s a black girl who is the smartest person on the planet. I don’t want to feel like every black or Latino superhero has to be capital M: Minority superhero. Just let them be human. The more you have, the more that can happen.
With this exposure, Miles Morales is going to lead people to other characters, especially younger readers. As a kid, I watched “Super Friends” and that led me to watching reruns of George Reeves’s “Superman” and the “Green Hornet.” You don’t just have one pathway. That’s gonna help people understand that there’s more than one kind of hero and story. That’s what I would love to see happen in the future.
Speaking of which, we’ve seen Miles Morales represented in the Spider-Verse movie, comics, video games, TV, etc. How do you feel the different mediums contribute to shaping the character and reaching different audiences?
They all do it in very interesting ways. In my opinion, the comics take the most risks and are the most daring in terms of storylines. However, they also have a built-in audience that has a certain expectation. For example, if you pick up a Spider-Man comic, there’s a certain baseline that you’re expecting. It’s like picking up a Batman comic, you know, certain things you’re expecting to see. So, they have a little more freedom, yet a little more constraint in that regard.
The movies are the most important medium in terms of shaping the larger cultural understanding of a character because they reach the broadest audience. “Into the Spider-Verse” did amazing things for Miles Morales and his popularity, reaching people who might never pick up a comic book, but will watch an animated film.
The video games serve as an interesting hybrid where they’re able to take the storytelling depth that you can get in a comic book and bring it to a broader audience. Basically, you’re getting the best of both worlds. However, due to video games having a broader audience it’s reaching people who may not read other material. So, I think each of these mediums has a unique contribution to shaping the character.
Absolutely. And it’s fascinating to see how a character can evolve and adapt. Professor, such a pleasure to have you here today. Thank you so much.
For sure! It was a pleasure to have me. Thank you for thinking of me. This was really fun.
*This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.
– Story by Ian Henry
– Copy edited by Crystal Lee
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