Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse more than swung to new heights — a real feat given the near-universal acclaim that followed 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the first film in the planned trilogy from Sony Pictures Animation. Bitten by a radioactive spider from another universe, Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) takes up the mantle of Spider-Man after Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), kills Peter Parker (Chris Pine). With the help of other Spider-People from other universes, including Gwen Stacey/Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld), Miles stops Fisk from using his multiverse-rending collider.
In Across the Spider-Verse, Miles deals with the fallout from his previous adventure. Not only did Miles inadvertently create The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), a villain capable of opening interdimensional portals and messing with the multiverse, but he’s also shouldering the loneliness that comes with being Spider-Man. Sure, he’s beloved by Brooklynites, but losing his Spider-pal Gwen and Spidey-mentor Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) has been hard on Miles. It’s worse than a typical superhero loneliness in some ways; Miles knows there are people out there who understand what he’s going through, but he’s unable to reach them. And all of it is especially hard for Miles Morales to navigate, especially when it comes to missing Gwen Stacey.
Across The Spider-Verse: Miles And Gwen’s Relationship
The Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse marks the big-screen debut of both Miles Morales’ Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy’s Spider-Woman (or Ghost-Spider, depending on who you ask). When Miles first meets Gwen at school, she goes by an (unconvincing) alias. When they first bump into each other, Miles is still adjusting to his Spidey-powers; after his fingers get stuck in Gwen’s hair, she shaves the side of her head. Clearly, Gwen won’t be forgetting Miles anytime soon — and the feeling is mutual.
Miles is clearly struck by Gwen, even more so when she reveals herself to be a Spider-Person, too. “My Spider-Sense told me to head to Visions Academy,” Gwen explains later. “Wasn't sure why until I met you.” In her universe, Gwen is the one and only Spider-Woman; her best friend, Peter Parker, is a power-less teen. After Peter’s death, Gwen swore off friendships and became something of a loner. Miles is able to chip away at the walls she’s put up and, after they save the multiverse, Gwen agrees that they’re friends.
The opening of Across the Spider-Verse focuses on Gwen. She’s back in her own universe, but she misses her fellow Spider-People, especially Miles. Gwen’s dad, Captain Stacy, is leading the search for Spider-Woman, who he believes killed Peter Parker — Gwen’s best friend. The loss of Peter, who transformed himself into an unrecognizable monster in order to be “special” like Gwen, and her father’s drive to destroy Spider-Woman isolates Gwen further. Even being part of a band, the Mary Janes, doesn’t help Gwen feel the confidence or joy she felt with Miles and the rest of the Spider-crew.
After Captain Stacy “catches” Spider-Woman during a fight with a version of Vulture from another universe, Gwen removes her mask — but her father doesn’t budge, putting his mission above his daughter. In fact, he won’t listen to Gwen at all, especially not when she tries to explain what happened to Peter. In the end, Gwen Stacy decides to walk away from her dad — and her entire universe — and joins up with Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), Jess Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), and tons of other Spider-People who are intent on keeping the multiverse whole.
While the gig with Miguel and Jess allows Gwen to traverse the multiverse, she’s not able to visit Miles. It’s not immediately apparent why, but, when Gwen does appear in Miles’ universe, she can’t help but swing by for a minute. The two reconnect, swinging through Miles’ New York while they catch up. Hanging upside down and looking out over the skyline, the two share a moment that leans into romantic territory — Miles even considers reaching for Gwen’s hand. Throughout the rest of their adventure, Miles seems a bit jealous of the extremely cool Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya), who Gwen’s grown close to during her time with Miguel’s group.
Who Is Miles Morales’ Main Love Interest?
While Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales remain pals in Across the Spider-Verse, the film certainly portrays Miles as smitten — very much in that teenage crush kind of way. But it’s also more than that; Gwen is one of the few people who knows the whole of Miles’ identity and life, and it’s hard not to feel close to someone in that position, even if you are separated by the rules of the multiverse. Still, it’s not unreasonable to assume that Miles and Gwen’s relationship will turn more decidedly romantic in the final installment of the trilogy.
It’s true that other iterations of Miles Morales have had several love interests. In various runs of Marvel's comics, Miles has been interested in, or linked to, Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, as well as Katie Bishop, an alternate version of the character who takes up the Hawkeye mantle in the mainline comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). During a team-up with Tiana Toomes/Starling, Miles removes his mask, sharing his identity with Starling, who kisses Miles and then flies off.
In the Insomniac hit Marvel’sSpider-Man: Miles Morales, the titular hero doesn’t have a clear love interest yet, but many fans are pulling for Miles to end up with Hailey Cooper, a Deaf street artist from East Harlem who safeguards Miles’ secret. So, do Miles and Gwen ever end up together in any Marvel games or comics?
Why Do People Ship Miles And Gwen?
Yes, but it’s certainly not as well-developed as the budding romance the Spider-Verse films have teased. In the comics, Miles and Gwen meet during the “Spider-Verse” event, but they aren’t romantically involved. Later, Miles and Gwen meet up again on Gwen’s Earth and end up on another universe-traversing journey.
The webslingers wind up on Earth-8, a universe in which alternate versions of Miles and Gwen have been married (with kids) for two decades. Seeing this version of events pushes Gwen and Miles closer. In the end, though, the two decide to part ways. And who can blame them? The rules of the Spider-Verse make long-distance relationships of this sort rather tricky.
What Are Canon Events? The Dangers Of Gwen Stacy And Spider-Man, Explained
The rules of the multiverse also complicate things for Miles and Gwen in the Spider-Verse films. Both Mumbattan’s Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-Man (Karan Soni) and Miles’ mom, Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Velez), point out the clear romantic tension between the two friends. Clearly, it’s not just fans who see the spark between Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. So, will Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy end up together? It might not be a good idea — in the words of Gwen herself.
While enjoying an upside-down version of the New York City skyline, Miles and Gwen catch up on their lives — and the loneliness that’s defined them. Gwen reveals that every other version of her in every other universe she’s visited with Miguel’s crew is involved with Spider-Man. At first, Miles feels a flicker of hope; after all, he’s his universe’s (now) one and only Spider-Man. But there’s a catch: because of Gwen Stacy’s relationship with Spider-Man, she dies. Hearing this, Miles pulls away from Gwen, afraid of hurting her.
Are the pair destined to be Spider-Verse’s version of star-crossed lovers? It’s not clear. Across the Spider-Verse reveals some shocking truths about Miles: he was bitten by a spider from Earth-42; that universe doesn’t have a Spider-Man, because that spider bit Miles instead. Miguel blames Miles for this turn of events, suggesting that Miles himself is something of a glitch in the multiverse. Tired of being told who he is and what he’s capable of, Miles starts to doubt Miguel’s mission, especially when the Spider-leader explains the nature of so-called Canon Events.
According to Miguel, every Spider-Man must experience a series of core, life-defining moments — or Canon Events. Uncle Ben’s death — or, in Miles’ case, the loss of his Uncle Aaron — is one such moment. Another? The death of a police captain who’s close to Spider-Man. In most versions of the story, that’s Captain Stacy, but, for Miles, that likely means his newly promoted father is fated to die. Miguel wants to stop Miles from saving his dad, convinced that changing a Canon Event will cause every reality across the Spider-Verse to crumble. Miles is determined to prove him wrong.
Given what Gwen shared with Miles, the death of Gwen Stacy is something of a Canon Event — or at least a clear pattern. If Miles and Gwen got together, that might decide her fate. On the other hand, if Miles is really a “glitch” in the multiverse — his very existence as a Spider-Person an alleged impossibility — then maybe he’s capable of changing what’s been written. While the fact remains that it’s hard for a person from one universe to exist in another without glitching, maybe Miles and Gwen can find a way to make things work in this incredibly tangled web.