The Spider-Verse is wild, messy, and full of webs. It began as a massive Marvel crossover that brought together Spider-powered heroes from alternate realities to fight a universal threat — the Inheritors. Along the way, it proved there’s more than one Spider-Man.
The variant concept took off in comics and later exploded on screen through the animated films. Here’s a look at the heroes in the Spider-Verse.
Peter Parker
Peter Parker debuted in “Amazing Fantasy” No. 15 (August 1962), created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He was a scrawny, brilliant teen bitten by a radioactive spider. Parker remains the emotional anchor of the Spider-Man universe, and his classic rogues gallery still shapes every Spider-Verse retelling.
Miles Morales
Miles Morales first appeared in “Ultimate Fallout” No. 4 in August 2011. After the Ultimate Peter Parker’s death, Morales — a biracial teen of Black and Puerto Rican heritage — was bitten by an altered “Oz” spider and took up the mantle. He became the face of a new generation, starring in “Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man” and helping merge the Ultimate and main Marvel universes after 2015. He later headlined the animated hit “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
Spider-Gwen (Gwen Stacy)
Spider-Gwen made her debut in “Edge of Spider-Verse” No. 2 in September 2014. In her world, Gwen Stacy — who was Peter Parker’s tragic love interest in mainstream continuity — gets bitten by the spider instead. Her version became a sensation, spawning solo comics, crossover events and a major role in the “Spider-Verse” films.
Spider-Man Noir
Spider-Man Noir first appeared in 2009’s “Spider-Man: Noir” No. 1. Writer David Hine reimagined Peter Parker in a gritty, Great Depression-era setting. Like the original, this Peter was bitten by a spider, but his world is darker and more violent. He wears a trench coat, goggles, and a black suit, embodying the hard-boiled detective aesthetic. Nicolas Cage voiced him in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”
Peni Parker and SP//dr
Peni Parker and her mech suit, SP//dr, debuted in “Edge of Spider-Verse” No. 5 (October 2014). She comes from a futuristic world where the spider connection bonds with both a child and a machine. Her partnership with SP//dr mirrors the responsibility and loss that define every Spider-Man origin — told through circuits and cybernetics.
Spider-Ham (Peter Porker)
Spider-Ham first appeared in “Marvel Tails” No. 1 (1983). He’s a comedic, anthropomorphic pig who parodies Spider-Man while still fighting crime in his own universe. Despite his cartoonish look, Spider-Ham — also known as Peter Porker — remains bizarrely effective. He even headlined his own series, “Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham.”
Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara)
Miguel O’Hara debuted in 1992’s “Spider-Man 2099” No. 1 as part of Marvel’s 2099 imprint. A geneticist in a dystopian future, O’Hara accidentally rewrites his DNA with spider genes, gaining incredible powers. As Spider-Man 2099, he blends science, rebellion and tech-fueled justice, becoming one of the most recognizable future variants.
Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly)
Ben Reilly first appeared in “The Amazing Spider-Man” No. 149 (1975) as a clone of Peter Parker. He gained prominence during the 1990s “Clone Saga,” when he adopted the Scarlet Spider identity and temporarily replaced Parker as the main Spider hero.
Peter B. Parker
Peter B. Parker, introduced to mass audiences in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” is a weary, middle-aged version of the hero. Divorced and disillusioned, he represents the cost of wearing the mask too long. His arc across the “Spider-Verse” films shows how even the most broken Spider-Man can find redemption.
Which Spider-Verse character is your favorite? Comment below!
