How do you stereotype yourself? In the spirit of honesty, I stereotype myself as a plucky Gen Z introvert with an affinity for cats. It’s nice to be placed in this box — I even hung up some posters.
What about superheroes? What are the stereotypes, how do you identify with them? If I had to guess, I’d probably say something akin to Superman — a strong man in tights with superhuman strength or abilities beyond our comprehension. But it’s hard to identify with a man who can lift a plane when you struggle to go upstairs without getting winded, right?
Enter Spider-Man. Debuting as a relatable and nerdy teenage white boy from Queens in the early 1960s, it’s easy to see why Spider-Man became such a figurehead in modern media. He’s funny but awkward. He can’t flirt to save his life, and he feels just as anxious as you or me. Still, he still rises to the occasion, and saves the day.
Northeastern Global News, along with other sources, point to this deeper “everyman” quality that the Spider-Man identity seems to come by oh-so-earnestly. I think they’re right, to a degree. However, a significant contributing factor that pushes Spider-Man from the title of superhero to a multicultural icon comes from the Sony-sized elephant in the room right now.
Spider-Man’s unfolding universe
In 2018, Sony released the 116-minute blockbuster Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (ITSV). The film introduces us to a rich world where our beloved Peter Parker has died, and a young teenage boy has to rise up and accept his fate as the new Spider-Man to save the multiverse.
Enter Miles Morales, an Afro-Latino web-slinger from Brooklyn on Earth-1610 who’s a drastic departure from the Spider-Man many of us have grown accustomed to. He isn’t the only one, as the film shows us a plethora of Spider-people that includes a spider-pig, a nazi fighting spider-detective and the ever-elusive Spider-Woman.
Suffice to say that this isn’t your dad’s Spider-Man story. The reinvention of Spider-Man is an integral part of the film’s core themes. But what does that mean for us in our universe?
When we first gazed upon ITSV in 2018, we were looking at a collaborative story that was created using the most collectivist form of media possible — animation. A group of specialized somebodies intentionally poured over each beautifully designed frame for hours to produce a visual masterpiece.
This collaborative effort became a cornerstone of who the new Spider-Man is — one that is no longer confined to the 2D likeness of Peter Parker created by Stan Lee. With the addition of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (ATSV) in 2023, the question of how we define our own story becomes another key theme posed by Miles Morales to the audience.
So I ask you again, how do you stereotype yourself? If we switched your racial identity, sexuality, gender and hairstyle, would you still be you? What central theme keeps you from being different from your peers? What makes you, you?
Questions like these have been explored time and time again, but in the superhero genre they become increasingly controversial. How many times have you seen the phrase “pandering” when a piece of media changes the race, gender or sexuality of a character?
FiveThirtyEight writer Walt Hickey pointed out in a 10-year-old article that comic books and “nerdy” spaces are largely targeted towards men. As a woman who occupies these spaces, I can say that this sentiment definitely still exists.
With great power comes great responsibility
I would argue that ITSV and ATSV challenge those familiar spaces for the enjoyment of the next generation of superhero fans. By fundamentally separating the identity of Spider-Man away from the tradition of Peter Parker that then moves into a wider range of ideals, values and easily recognizable characteristics, Spider-Man has become someone, something that anyone can aspire to. The power of that cannot be understated.
Now enter Pavitr Prabhakar, a Spider-Man hailing from Mumbattan on Earth-50101. Executing the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu and brought to life by voice actor Karan Soni, Pavitr exploded with popularity from the moment his character was teased online. As an Indian character that was intentionally crafted with deep cultural roots central to his position of Spider-Man, Pavitr has become an instant fan favourite, his theme song has been stuck in our heads for weeks.
It’s important to recognize the power the narrative a superhero gives to communities historically pigeonholed in the media. This ability to transcend traditional characterization is a powerful tool for any icon to possess, and with that power comes a special responsibility to ensure that everyone is included.
So I will ask you one final question: How do you stereotype yourself? What about Spider-Man? For many, he’s Peter Parker from Queens. But to others, he’s Miles Morales from Brooklyn or even Gwen Stacey’s Spider-Woman. And the best part is, we’re all right.