Many fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hoped the introduction of Spider-Man into Marvel’s series of films would mean a chance for Ulitmate Spider-Man’s Miles Morales to make his way onto the big screen; especially after he was made the new official Spider-Man this past summer after the Secret Wars shake up at Marvel Comics. While that didn’t end up being the case for the official Marvel films, it did inspire D.C. filmmaker Ivan Kander to bring Miles to life.

Spider-Man Lives: A Miles Morales Story acts as an origin story, based on the original Ultimate Spider-Man storyline that introduced the character in 2011. Set after the tragic death of Peter Parker, New York City is in a state of shock and vulnerability that criminals see as a great opportunity. Little do they know that another young teenager has been bitten by a radioactive spider. While Miles’ powers may not be exactly the same as Peter’s, he has to decide if he is willing to follow in Parker’s footsteps and become the hero the city needs him to be.

The film is a high-quality product, and a testament to the talents on display. Kander’s script perfectly captures the personality of Morales, as well as his inner dilemma about taking on the Spider-Man mantle. It was interesting to see a lesser-known villain like Kangaroo get a respectable representation, and I have to give a kudos to the Misfits of Mayhem stunt crew for their work during the big fight sequence at the end. Demitirus Stephens also does an excellent job of bringing Morales to life in his performance. We’ll have to keep an eye out for more from Kander and friends in the future.

Be sure to check out Kander’s YouTube page for Bard Tales Productions, and let us know what you think of the film in the comments below!

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HT – EW

Featured Image – Bard Tales Productions/Lucky 9 Studios