Spider-Verse is getting bigger all the time
Ultimate Spider-Man: “How many more Spider-People are there?”
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: “Save it for Comic-Con.”
Ultimate Spider-Man: “What’s Comic-Co [gets dragged off]”
Did you think Peter Parker was the only Spider-Man? My friend, you are part of a much bigger Spider-Verse. There are countless worlds with a different Spider-Man legend. And not all of them are nice.
There are some where he uses gadgets instead of superpowers, like an Arachnid Batman. Some worlds have a Spider-Man who is not Peter Parker. In fact, there’s one where Peter’s Aunt May got powers and fought crime as the Spectacular Spider-Ma’am. I’m not joking.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was originally billed as a buddy movie between two of them, but the latest trailer revealed that more will be appearing. Here are our predictions.
Our only criteria is that we will not include Spiders that have already been confirmed. So far that list is Spider-Man, The Ultimate Spider-Man, and Spider-Gwen.
Scene Select
#5 Spider-Verse: Peni Parker and SP//dr
SP//dr: “We’re called SP//dr and we protect the city. Like my father, a soldier who died in service of his people, we will be this, until terminal failure.”
Edge of Spider-Verse #5
The annoyingly named SP//dr is one of Marvel’s most recent creations. It is a giant robot piloted by a female version of Peter Parker. SP//dr was heavily inspired by the series Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Peni Parker was an average high school student whose father died. She was recruited by a government organization and learned that her father had been the pilot of the giant robot SP//dr. The only way to activate the robot was to synchronize with a radioactive spider, and only Peni had the right genes to do that.
Peni bonded with the spider and activated the robot. She became a hero like her late father and formed a partnership with her mentor, Daredevil.
Why This Spider?: SP//dr lacks the standard Spider-Man design and powers, but makes up for it by being a Giant Freaking Robot. It’s about as grandiose as you can get without bringing in the Japanese Spider-Man and his Megazord-inspiring robot.
#4 Spider-Punk
[An army of Symbiotes is charging Spider-Punk’s group]
Spider-Punk: (thinking): We don’t have the authority on our side, the cops, or the media. What we have are angry hearts, clenched fists, love and rage- (Aloud) “One! Two! ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!” And 15,000 watts of punk rock, from an army of amps set to eleven. (Cue power chords) Welcome to the Pit.”
– Spider-Verse #2
In a fascist world ruled by the Green Goblin, the resistance is led by Hobie Brown, the Spider-Punk. The Punk is a cross between Spider-Man, The Sex Pistols, and Jimi Hendrix. Shortly before Spider-Man encountered him, Spider-Punk led a final battle against the Goblin.
Spider-Punk destroyed an army of Symbiotes with three chords from an electric guitar. Then he used that axe to decapitate the Goblin.
Why this Spider?: I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t screw with a Spider-Man that can kill an army using music. Spider-Punk could easily appear as a generic punk rocker version of Spider-Man instead of the freedom fighter.
#3 Spider-Verse: Spider-Man: Reign
Spider-Man: “I’ll see you one day, MJ. Until then, I have responsibilities.”
Spider-Man: Reign
Spider-Punk isn’t the only Spider from a dystopia. Spider-Man: Reign is set in a totalitarian New York whose citizens have traded their freedom for security. Soldiers patrol the street and crack down on anyone who breaks the myriad laws. Superheroes have been outlawed and likely killed.
Where’s Spidey in all of this? Peter Parker retired years ago when his wife died of cancer while he was out fighting crime. How’d she get cancer? Listen, bud. He’s got radioactive blood, sweat and other bodily fluids.
Spider-Man wallows in despair until his former boss J. Jonah Jameson tracks him down and makes him see the horrors around him. Peter returns to his heroic roots and wages war against the government’s leader, Venom.
Why this Spider?: This bleak story shows the worst possible future for Spider-Man. Despite the odds and his failings, Spidey pushes himself to save people and find redemption. This Spider-Man is the perfect example of Uncle Ben’s catchphrase “with great power there must also come great responsibility.”
#2 Spider-Man: Noir
Spider-Man: “If those in power can’t be trusted, it’s the responsibility of the people to remove them.“
Spider-Man: Noir
Spider-Man: Noir was part of the Marvel: Noir imprint that replaced super powers with guns and pulp fiction elements. This version of Spider-Man was primarily based on classic pulp vigilantes like The Shadow and The Spider.
Peter Parker was raised by his aunt and uncle, who supported labor unions and had socialist leanings. While at a museum he was bitten by spider that had emerged from a broken vase. That night, Peter had a vision of a spider god that gave him superpowers.
Uncle Ben crossed a crime lord called the Goblin, who sent an assassin called The Vulture to kill and cannibalize the rabble rouser. Peter found the remains and swore vengeance. He crafted a black costume and hunted down the Goblin Gang.
Why this Spider?: This vengeful Spider-Man is a dark counterpoint to the normal Spider-Man and bears more than a faint resemblance to Batman. There’s plenty of heroic Spiders out there, but it’s rare to see an anti heroic Spider-Man.
#1 Spider-Verse: Spider-Man 2099
Miguel O’Hara: “His name was Spider-Man. One of the premier boys from the old Heroic Age ‘round the turn of the century… You want an ideal corporate raider? Imagine one that could scale walls, jump 50 feet. Strong, agile, that’s the direction we’re going.”
Spider-Man 2099 #1
Marvel published an imprint called Marvel 2099 in 1999. The focus was on futuristic cyberpunk heroes based on Marvel’s biggest stars. The first book in the series starred the Spider-Man of 2099.
Miguel O’Hara was a geneticist working for the evil corporation Alchemax. He was ordered to create the ultimate spy and took inspiration from the ancient hero Spider-Man. His greedy boss canceled his job partway through, claiming it was taking too long. Miguel threatened to expose Alchemax’s crimes, only for the boss to reveal he had slipped Miguel a lethally addictive drug.
Miguel used his research as a base to create a cure for the drug. It worked and gave him Spider powers as a fringe benefit. Miguel swore to bring down Alchemax and became the Spider-Man of 2099.
Why this Spider?: Spider-Man 2099 is fun. Spidey swings through a cyberpunk city, has a different powerset than the ordinary Spider-Man, and is proof that Spider-Man’s legacy will survive Peter Parker.
What alternate Spiders do you want to see in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Yes, even Spider-Ma’am. Leave a comment and let us know.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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