Saving the world isn’t nearly as hard as missing your best friend, but doing both is impossible.
Title: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Streaming service: TBD (recent theatrical release)
Format: Computer-animated film
Genre(s): Action-adventure
Release date: 2023
Rating: PG
Starring: Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy
Plot summary: Though his parents are worried about his school attendance and college prospects, Miles Morales has bigger things on his mind: like saving the world as Spider-Man and missing his friend and crush, Gwen. Which is why he’s initially thrilled when Gwen pops back into Miles’ universe a year after she’d returned to her own.
The truth is that Gwen’s got to do some reconnaissance for a secret society of Spider-People responsible for protecting the very delicate threads of the multiverse. And Gwen’s sworn to the society’s leader, Miguel O’Hara, that she won’t divulge anything. But when Miles inevitably finds out – and realizes that Miguel has a very different idea of what it takes to be a superhero – he sets out on his own to save the people he loves.
About the creators: The three directors on this project had all previously worked on animated shows and films, in directing, producing, or storyboarding capacities. Recognizable prior projects include Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra (my favorites!) for Joaquim Dos Santos, Cloudy with Chance of Meatballs for Justin K. Thompson, and Soul for Kemp Powers (Sony Pictures Animation, n.d.).
Critical review: With a 140-minute run time, Across the Spider-Verse is the longest animated film made by a major American studio and yet it never feels like a slog. The film is rich with vibrant colors and the variety in art styles as the characters travel through the multiverse keeps the film visually interesting. But it’s not just pretty to look at; there’s a meaningful story about breaking out of tired narratives, too. I loved that Miles’ mom tells him to never let anyone tell him he doesn’t belong somewhere he wants to be, and that Miles has to heed her advice when he’s been excluded from the Spider Society because he’s a “mistake,” who doesn’t follow the canon. The film is an excellent allegory, challenging the repetitive and reductive stories we tell about young Black men and prompting us to imagine better futures.
Related programming ideas: As a film known for its iconic art, Across the Spider-Verse could be a great tie-in to a drawing or animation workshop.
Brief trailer: Saving the world isn’t nearly as hard as missing your best friend, but doing both is impossible. That’s why Miles Morales is so relieved to be reunited with Gwen. But when he realizes that she and other Spider-People know something about the multiverse that he doesn’t, he starts to question everything.
Actual trailer:
Potential challenges: In the past, there has been pushback from white comics distributors regarding the inclusion of Black superheroes, such as the Black Panther (Tang & Williams, 2018). I had also seen that the live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid encountered a lot of hate from fans who did not believe Ariel can or should be portrayed by a Black actress. While I don’t expect any formal challenges for Spider-Verse in libraries, I sadly do expect some racist complaints.
Reason for inclusion: The first film in the Spider-Verse franchise, released in 2018, was so groundbreaking in its time that including the sequel was pretty much a no-brainer. The look, story, and characters of Across the Spider-Verse make it a refreshing treat for longtime superhero fans, but it remains accessible and interesting to people who are newer to the genre. The look of the film itself is sure to be inspirational to aspiring artists, and the character of Miles Morales (as well as some new characters introduced) may be both a mirror and a window for young teens of color.
Check this out: Venues across the country are hosting a touring production of the first movie live in concert -- the orchestra will play the score live as you enjoy the movie. Are they coming to a city near you? https://spiderverseinconcert.com/
References:
Sony Pictures Animation. (n.d.). Joaquim Dos Santos: Director. https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/our-team/filmmakers/joaquim-dos-santos
Sony Pictures Animation. (n.d.). Justin K. Thompson: Director. https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/our-team/filmmakers/justin-k-thompson
Sony Pictures Animation. (n.d.). Kemp Powers: Director. https://www.sonypicturesanimation.com/index.php/our-team/filmmakers/kemp-powers
Tang, T. & Williams, C. (2018, November 15). Stan Lee battled real-world racism by creating first black superheroes. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/4664741/stan-lee-racism-black-superheroes/
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