Spider-Man: Peter Parker and Miles Morales

Spider-Man: Peter Parker and Miles Morales

Spider-Man is a Marvel superhero known as the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man in both comics and movies. Behind the mask is Peter Benjamin Parker, raised by Aunt May and Uncle Ben in Queens, New York City. Peter, a young Caucasian man with brown hair, hazel eyes, and a lean build, was designed to look and feel like an ordinary person — relatable, humble, and grounded in reality.
In 2018, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse introduced a new hero: Miles Morales. He is the son of an African-American father and an Afro-Puerto Rican mother, raised in Brooklyn, New York. Miles, a young Afro-Latino teen with brown skin, curly black hair, and dark brown eyes, became Marvel’s first Afro-Latino Spider-Man. His arrival marked a major shift toward diversity and inclusion in superhero media.
Spider-Man represents the idea that “with great power comes great responsibility.” He symbolizes the ordinary person who chooses to do what’s right despite hardship. This is clearly shown in Peter Parker, who refuses to kill his uncle’s murderer, instead using his powers responsibly — an act that defines his integrity and humanity(Sovar 2023)

Peter Parker
Peter Parker was created as a relatable, everyday character who balances real-world struggles with superhero responsibilities. He represents working-class youth navigating responsibility, identity, and ethical dilemmas. His story captures the tension between personal ambition and civic duty, best summarized by the phrase “with great power comes great responsibility.”
As a New Yorker, Peter symbolizes modern urban life — balancing anonymity, diversity, and constant pressure. Over time, his legacy has evolved beyond his identity as a white, middle-class man, opening the door for more diverse interpretations of heroism. This shows how Spider-Man’s message of responsibility and resilience transcends race, gender, and generation.
Peter is optimistic, intelligent, respectful, and kind. Despite his powers, he remains humble and relatable, often facing everyday challenges like balancing school, work, and relationships. His strong moral values, captured in the phrase “with great power comes great responsibility,” highlight his deep sense of duty and compassion. Ultimately, Peter Parker represents the idea that true heroism comes from empathy, integrity, and the courage to do what is right. (Lillejord 2022)
Miles Morales
Miles Morales became a cultural phenomenon with the 2018 release of Into the Spider-Verse, which grossed over $400 million and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. He was not introduced out of necessity but in response to audiences demanding more diverse representation in media (Hola 2024). Unlike Peter, whose story reflected mid-20th-century white, middle-class struggles, Miles represents a new generation shaped by multiculturalism, community, and social awareness. His success redefined who can be a hero, breaking away from the notion that only white men fit that role.
Miles is intelligent, creative, and empathetic. As an Afro-Latino teen from Brooklyn, he takes pride in his cultural roots while balancing school, family expectations, and his secret identity. His creativity in art and music reflects his individuality and self-expression. Though he doubts himself at times, Miles’s strong moral compass and compassion drive him to protect others. His character shows that heroism comes from resilience, empathy, and staying true to who you are.

Comparison of Peter Parker and Miles Morales
While both heroes share the same name, they differ in powers, personality, and cultural meaning. Peter has traditional spider-like abilities, while Miles possesses bio-electric “venom blasts” and the power to turn invisible. These powers reflect their different identities and experiences.
Peter embodies the traditional American hero — independent, self-reliant, and morally upright. His story reflects values from a mid-century society focused on individual responsibility. Miles, on the other hand, represents a modern, multicultural generation that values community, diversity, and cultural pride. His story highlights racial identity, belonging, and self-discovery in a diverse society.
While Peter’s struggles are mostly personal — balancing school, work, and heroism — Miles faces both personal and social challenges. He must navigate life as a biracial teenager and superhero in a world still learning to embrace diversity. Stereotypically, Peter represents the traditional white male hero, while Miles redefines that image into one that reflects modern inclusion and shared identity.

Social and Cultural Impact
The introduction of Miles Morales had a major cultural impact. It gave Black and Latino audiences a sense of pride and visibility in mainstream media, allowing children to see heroes who look like them. Representation like this fosters inclusion and empowers people of color to feel seen and valued. Miles’s story also showed audiences that heroism is universal — not limited by race or background.
However, his debut in 2011 also sparked backlash from some fans who accused Marvel of promoting “forced diversity” or trying to replace Peter Parker. Despite this criticism, Miles’s popularity grew quickly among younger and more diverse audiences. He became a cultural icon symbolizing progress, inclusivity, and modern identity.
Miles’s success encouraged broader diversity across superhero media and challenged stereotypes about who can be a hero. His story promotes acceptance and equality, proving that representation in pop culture can inspire real social change. By bringing Miles to the forefront, Marvel acknowledged the importance of reflecting the world’s diversity — a step that continues to influence future generations of storytelling.

Conclusion
The evolution from Peter Parker to Miles Morales marks a major shift in how media defines who can be a hero. Peter once represented the traditional white, middle-class ideal of heroism, while Miles brings multicultural identity and diversity to the centre of the Spider-Man story. His rise from the margins of visibility to the forefront of popular culture reflects a broader social movement toward inclusion and representation. This change shows that modern media is expanding its definition of heroism to include people of all races and backgrounds, proving that anyone can wear the mask.
Bibliography
Peter Sanderson, Michael A.Martin. 2025. Encyclopedia Britannica. 10 11. Accessed 10 29, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spider-Man-comic-book-character.
Sovar, Josip. 2023. Comic Basics. June 27. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.comicbasics.com/what-happened-to-uncle-ben-did-sandman-kill-him/.
hola. 2024. Hola Cultura. February 27. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://holacultura.com/miles-morales-the-impact-and-evolution-of-a-marvel-afro-latino-phenomenon/.
Lillejord, Kacie. 2022. Screen Rant. August 23. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://screenrant.com/spider-man-mcu-peter-parker-best-traits-examples/.
AI was used in certain parts, to fix the word count and grammar.