Insomniac Games has a lot of narrative threads it could follow into Marvel’s Spider-Man2. Doctor Otto Octavius was incarcerated at the end of Marvel’s Spider-Man but demonstrated that he is still feeling nefarious; meanwhile, Peter Parker has moved into his late aunt’s home and is seemingly prepared to start a life with Mary Jane Watson. Marvel’s Spider-Man also ended with Peter agreeing to mentor Miles Morales as a new Spider-Man, and a post-credits sequence teased the reveal of the alien symbiote as it bonds with Harry Osborn.
The only details known about Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at this point are that both Peter and Miles will be playable, Kraven will appear in some capacity, and the alien symbiote will bond with a host to become Venom. However, there has been no indication of stories that will center on Miles in particular. Miles was important in Marvel’s Spider-Man, but it clearly centered Peter, and it appears the sequel will also have little time to develop Miles compared to other characters or antagonists.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Establishes a Clear Narrative for Peter Parker
Marvel’s Spider-Man was always centered on Peter. The fact that a powerless Miles was playable in stealth sequences was kept secret before Marvel’s Spider-Man released, but Mary Jane also had a number of similar sequences. Instead, the focal point of Marvel’s Spider-Man was Peter’s relationship with Otto, and how Otto becoming a supervillain would tarnish that relationship. Peter is a university graduate who works as Otto’s underpaid research assistant, while players also learn about Aunt May’s job at the FEAST shelter.
Marvel’s Spider-Man introduces Norman Osborn as a rival to Otto, and Norman’s son Harry is depicted as a childhood friend of Peter’s. While Peter is told Harry traveled to Europe, it is learned that Harry is actually terminally ill, with Norman attempting to treat him in a hidden laboratory.
This is one of Marvel’s Spider-Man’s most intriguing narrative threads, particularly considering Norman has somehow procured an alien symbiote he believes can cure Harry’s disorder. This may result in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 introducing Harry as cured for a while before the symbiosis becomes parasitic. However Insomniac chooses to develop this narrative, it hinges on Peter’s relationship with the Osborns. Thus, in terms of what is known about the story at this point, Miles is only as relevant as he was in the first Marvel’s Spider-Man installment.
Miles Morales’ Narrative is Open-Ended for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
In the beginning of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Miles has already mastered his own authentic means of web-swinging and combat. Miles had been training under Peter’s tutelage for a year between the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and that entire year of mentorship is glossed over to have gameplay controls be as satisfying as they were in Insomniac’s original outing.
But Miles is still unsure of himself as Harlem’s lone Spider-Man, especially in Peter’s absence, and struggles to come into his own until he learns how to harness his unique abilities. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales then retreads familiar narrative beats with Miles’ uncle, Aaron Davis, also known as the Prowler. Further, Miles’ narrative follows his childhood friendship with Phin Mason as she attempts to overthrow Roxxon Energy while it gentrifies Harlem.
All of this is neatly concluded by the end of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, as Miles becomes a confident protector of Harlem and independent as his own Spider-Man. Because the spin-off installment leaves no loose threads for the character, it is difficult to estimate what Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 will have in store for him.
This could mean either one of two things: Miles may have an intimate story that would spoil massive plot points and therefore has not been discussed, or his narrative importance does not have as much significance in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales has its own post-credits sequence that offers an extended look at Harry suspended in a fluid tank with the symbiote, and Doctor Curtis Connors is revealed to be there.
This does not directly suggest that the Lizard will appear in any formal capacity as an antagonist, and it also does not suggest that he will be an antagonist to Miles. Instead, how Insomniac chooses to proceed with Miles is completely open-ended.
Miles Could Receive Another Spin-off Following Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Insomniac made the appropriate choice to feature Miles in his own spin-off installment to develop his character before the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This way, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 did not need to balance Miles’ self-discovery alongside Peter’s narrative.
But if Miles does not have as impactful a narrative as Peter, it would seem redundant or wasteful to have Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 feature both Spider-Men. It is always possible that Insomniac may have another spin-off installment that follows the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, but Insomniac should make the effort to have both Spider-Men share equal narrative significance in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Even if Miles is just given his own antagonist to pursue while Peter seeks another, it will offer some independence to the character that could lead to emotional moments. These moments should also involve Rio Morales and Ganke Lee after they were developed in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, creating connective tissue between all three games instead of ignoring the events of Miles’ solo outing.
Each game’s narrative should be interconnected, and each character who has been developed thus far deserves to have space in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Whether Miles is afforded a larger narrative through line or not, if he is billed as a primary protagonist or deuteragonist, he needs something to do.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is scheduled to release in 2023 for PS5.