With the Marvel Cinematic Universe teasing just how chaotic the Multiverse can become with Spider-Man: No Way Home, here are Miles Morales and his crew in yet another multiversal Spider-Man adventure. In contrast to MCU’s crossover film, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse teases yet another meeting of Spider-Man characters.
Whereas Into The Spider-Verse indoctrinates Miles Morales as his own version of Spider-Man, out pops Spider-Man 2099 and drags Miles Morales to help him with a problem with the future. With regards to specifically what, Spider-Man 2099 leaves much to chance. However, eagle-eyed fans may be able to spot certain crucial details in the trailer.
10 Is Another Another Universe A No Way Home Reference?
The Across The Spider-Verse trailer became such a surprise for fans, especially considering its release taking place just weeks before No Way Home debuts in cinemas. Not to mention, Across The Spider-Verse also keeps up with its predecessor’s storyline involving the Spider-Verse multiverse, which is something similar to the theme of No Way Home.
Funnily enough, Across The Spider-Verse seems to reference this from the very beginning. The trailer begins with a setting comics bubble, which says “In Another Another Universe,” emphasizing the first “Another.” This may imply that while No Way Home might invite heroes and villains from “another” universe, Across The Spider-Verse happens in “another” instance of that “another universe.”
9 Cute Callbacks To Into The Spider-Verse
When Spider-Gwen arrives and snoops into Miles’s room, she sees quite a lot of small tidbits that seem to call back to elements in the original Into The Spider-Verse. This is already hinted at in the opening sequence, where a copy of “True Life Tales Of Spider-Man” floats near Miles Morales. In reality, “True Life Tales” is the in-universe version of the Spider-Man comics from Miles’ perspective, with the issue floating near him reflecting the plot of the first film.
Afterward, the trailer continues to reference other parts of the previous film. A good example is Spider-Gwen seeing a sketch of hers in Miles’ sketchbook that reflects the same hairstyle she got after his webbing got some of her hair. There even is a ticket to Brooklyn Central, which fans would remember was where Kingpin’s lair was in the previous film.
8 Spider-Gwen Wears A Nifty Gadget
Across The Spider-Verse opens with Spider-Gwen surprising a chilling Miles Morales. Somehow, she’s managed to access his universe from her own despite their previous adventure having seemingly closed all access to neighboring universes. She doesn’t specify the nature of her visit, it’s clear that she wants Miles to go somewhere with her.
While fans are free to speculate on the nature of her mission, eagle-eyed fans can spot a weird bracelet gadget on Spider-Gwen’s left wrist. Given the nature of Across The Spider-Verse, it’s safe to assume that Spider-Gwen got access to a time-traveling device. Moreover, since Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) is a technological genius, it’s safe to assume he’s given this to her at some point.
7 Hexagon Portal Jumps Reference Major Films
When Spider-Gwen travels to see Miles, she’s seen to look at him from orange hexagonal portals. Miles is also seen being thrown across universes through these portals, which thrusts him into the world of Spider-Man 2099. While this hexagonal portal has quite a nifty animation style, it may actually reference major MCU films.
At its core, fans might remember that these hexagonal portals also appeared in space-themed films such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Captain Marvel. Aside from the nifty callback, fans who want to take this to the next level might see the portal as an implication that Across The Spider-Verse may be taking place in the MCU, albeit in its own network of universes.
6 The Web Of Life And Destiny
Aside from the nifty Easter Egg in the form of the hexagonal dimension tunnels, there’s a tiny detail spider-fans should spot throughout Miles’ traversal across timelines. If fans pause the trailer as Miles is being thrown through the hexagons, they might notice the appearance of the “multiverse” behind him.
And unlike other depictions of the multiverse, Across The Spider-Verse’s multiverse has web-like lines that connect its various parts. This seems to be a callback to the Web of Life and Destiny, a concept in the Spider-Man comics that embodies a gateway to all timelines. It’s situated in Earth-001 and is only accessible to various members of the Spider-Man family.
5 That New Spider-Suit
It’s Spider-Man tradition for Spider-People to have different costumes depending on their appearances. In the context of the MCU, it’s Tom Holland that received multiple iterations of his suit, as though a callback and recognition of his status as the protege of Iron Man, also another costume-switching Avenger. However, it seems Miles Morales will take on this new tradition, as he seems to get a new suit in the trailer.
This is a welcome change, considering that this new outfit seems to move away from the previous Spider-Suit that reflected Miles’s artistic self more than anything. This new Spider-Suit seemed sleeker and more organized, as though representing Miles being more comfortable with his status as a superhero.
4 Enter Earth-928, Miguel O’Hara
When Miles Morales ends up in a completely different world after his journey through the hexagons, he’s quickly grabbed by another Spider-Man zipping across the futuristic landscape. Fans will immediately recognize this as Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099. Interestingly, his wrist device flashes “928” before it transports himself and Miles into a new world, implying this is a time-travel device.
The “928” in his device may refer to Earth-928 or Spider-Man 2099’s original home. In this reality, humanity wins a worldwide war against mutant-kind. Miguel O’Hara, already a talented genius, succeeds in replicating the Spider-Man formula. Aside from having Spider-Man’s original powers, he gets enhanced healing. Whereas Peter Parker needs a web-shooter, O’Hara can naturally release webbing from his forearms. Moreover, O’Hara has fangs that secrete paralyzing venom and he has access to natural talons.
3 That Spider-Man India Tease
Before O’Hara’s device sends him and Miles into another world, various words stylistically flash on the screen. Parts of these stylized words are written in Hindi. At its core, some might assume these display texts are purely artistic. However, some may think that Miles and O’Hara arrived in futuristic India prior to going to Earth-928.
Going further, if they’re truly in India prior to traveling again, this detour might imply the appearance of other Spider-People from different countries. India, in particular, has Spider-Man India.
2 Multiple Logos Tease More Spider-People
True to what made Into The Spider-Verse a hit, the trailer for Across The Spider-Verse remains consistent with its extremely stylistic approach. As such, it’s natural for various artistic flashes to appear throughout the screen. However, eagle-eyed fans might want to pay attention to the logos that flashed specifically at the end of the first trailer.
When paused, the logos seem to hint at other Spider-People such as Silk. This theory makes sense, given that other Spider-People were already teased prior to the trailer. These include Japanese Spider-Man teased by co-writer Phil Lord, as well as the casting of Issa Rae as Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew.
1 Part One Might Hint At A Tragedy
The fact that Across The Spider-Verse is a multi-part story implies that whatever threat Spider-Man 2099 is trying to stop isn’t just a one-off villain that Miles and the gang could eliminate. Based on an MCU fan’s recollection of any multi-part story, then Across The Spider-Verse Part One implies a potential bad ending that could lead into the other film.
Given the grander context of Across The Spider-Verse, it makes sense for deeper elements of the Spider-Man mythos to be in play here. For instance, capitalizing on the “web-like multiverse” element means Part Two could feature more bizarre Spider-People, such as Master Weaver or even Madame Web that could traverse the multiverse freely.
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse will be released in October 2022 in the United States.