Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a hard-working school kid in the wrong place at the right time. Bitten by a spider, Miles begins to develop strange abilities. But the world already has a Spider-Man… for now.

It’s not hyperbole to describe this as a modern classic. Directed by Bob Perschietti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman, every single frame of Into the Spider-Verse is beautiful and fizzes and sparks with wit and invention. So much so that you see something new every time you watch. This time, I realised Miles doesn’t get an internal monologue (and the accompanying text boxes) until he’s bitten. He becomes a comic book character and his reality changes to fit it. There’s a beat like that once every minute in this remarkable movie and they’re often very funny. Kimiko Glenn’s Peni Parker moves like an anime character. Hailee Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy flows through her action scenes like a ballerina. Jake Johnson’s delightfully schlubby Peter B. Parker is only graceful when he’s moving and Chris Pine’s Spidey has just a dash of ennui to him.  Every character, every choice works. I especially love how Mahershala Ali’s Uncle Aaron gets terrifying, discordant music based on animal calls when he’s working as The Prowler. It combines with the fluid motion and Miles’ perception to contrast with his gentle, compassionate civilian side.

The script and performances are just as good as the design. This is a hero’s journey that adopts every possible iteration of itself as a real artefact. Like Miles it finds community and reassurances in the way they’re all starting from the same place. The repeated motif of everyone’s origin being expressed the same way speals to that and leads to some moments of surprising emotion. ‘It’s a leap of faith’ becomes the motif for Miles and Peter’s friendship and both men do their best, despite, because in fact, of being scared. The iconic moment where Miles finally makes his first leap is made all the more powerful when you realise, he’s broken windows because he was still holding, still scared, and did it anyway.

This was one of Stan Lee’s final cameos and his moment here, and the line ‘Anyone can wear the mask’ really sets the tone.

Verdict: At a time where it’s all too easy to be enormously frustrated by Marvel, this is an example of just how good they can be when they, and their heroes, get out of their own way. A stone cold classic. Go watch it. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart