With Spider-Man: Miles Morales having been out for several months now, many fans have likely finished the game’s main story. While it is certainly a strong narrative, there are plenty of other well-told Miles Morales stories out there, as the comics have provided some great arcs for the character over the last few years. As such, Spider-Man: Miles Morales fans in need of more content starring the young webslinger need look no further than the books that helped inspire his game.
While there are many great Miles Morales storylines, some should work particularly well for fans of the game. After all, Insomniac has made some changes to freshen up Miles’ story, and the comics could provide fans of the PlayStation series with a different look at the character. From The Prowler to Miles’ parents, the game’s supporting cast met very different fates when compared to the events of the comics. As such, here are the most interesting Miles Morales books to read after completing his game.
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In Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Prowler’s role is not too different from how it is in the comics — at least, in the beginning. Miles’ uncle Aaron Davis dons the suit at night, serving as an expert thief on the level of Black Cat. Dangerous and terrifying, The Prowler is one of Miles’ most iconic foes. Much like he does in the books, Aaron finds out that his nephew is Spider-Man, though from here, this is where things begin to change drastically.
In the books, Aaron begins to exploit Miles’ powers for his own game, forcing his nephew to help him commit crimes throughout New York City. Eventually, Miles refuses to help, an act which sees the two fight. The battle ultimately ends in a fatal explosion, killing Aaron as he tells Miles that he is just like him. A tragic story that paints Aaron as much more of a villain, Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ use of The Prowler is completely different.
Trying to protect Miles throughout the entire game, their eventual clash is non-fatal — and it even sees Uncle Aaron joining the side of good at the end of the game. With such a massive twist on the traditional story, it will be interesting to see what happens with The Prowler in a Spider-Man: Miles Morales DLC or Spider-Man sequel.
Continuing Miles Morales’ first solo run, Brian Michael Bendis’ use of Venom is particularly eventful. With the monstrous villain often proving to be too much for even Peter Parker, the young and inexperienced Miles struggles greatly against Venom. Failing to take down the Symbiote, the up-and-coming Spider-Man attempts to lead him away from a hospital — only to end up doing the opposite. A truly dangerous situation, Miles does his best, saving nearly everyone.
Unfortunately, Miles’ mom Rio does not make it out of the building alive. While attempting to shoot Venom, police officers accidentally kill Rio, with the nurse being collateral damage in the fight. A tragic death scene plays out next, with Miles’ retiring from the role of Spider-Man for a brief time after his mom’s death. For those that have only know Miles from the Marvel's Spider-Man games, this may be surprising, as it is Miles’ father Jefferson Davis that is the one to die in Insomniac’s story. Flipping the situation on its head, fans can experience a different but equally heartbreaking moment inside the books.
While some of Miles Morales’ best stories end in tragedy, others are more lighthearted and fun. The 2016 run of Spider-Man comics shows this clearly, as Miles goes on some more upbeat romps prior to the events of the Secret Wars crossover. One of the highlights is his relationship with an alternate universe Gwen Stacy, known by most fans as the superhero Spider-Gwen. While she eventually took on the name Ghost Spider, this version of Gwen quickly became popular with fans due to her unique storyline and stylish costume.
While it would be exciting to see Insomniac open the Spider-Verse in its games eventually, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 seems plenty busy with villains like The Lizard and Venom set to make their debut. As such, fans looking to see this pairing at its best should read Bendis’ work from 2016, as it shows the two coming together for the first time. One of the cutest relationships in recent comics, it is hard not to smile when seeing Miles and Gwen together.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales is available now on PS4 and PS5.
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