In the past two decades multiple superhero films have been released, some of the most notable revolving around the web-slinger known as Spider-Man. When one takes into consideration the number of compelling storylines and interesting characters, along with the iconic rogues gallery, it is no wonder why there has been already seven Spider-Man films. The most recent one, that being Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, was widely anticipated by many. Unlike previous Spider-Man movies, which follow Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man and fighting crime, Spider-Verse is about a teenager named Miles Morales who, after gaining powers akin to Spider-Man, battles the crime lord Kingpin with the assistance of Spider-Men from alternate universes. Once the film was released, it received many positive reviews, with plenty of individuals stating it is the best Spider-Man film that has been released.

        What makes Spider-Verse such an amazing movie is how distinct it is from the other Spider-Man films. So far, there have been six previous films which are about Peter Parker managing his time as a hero with his personal life, so it is not unreasonable to say a few folks are tired of watching the same story told in different ways. However as previously mentioned, Spider-Verse provides a new spin by following a new Spiderman, that being Miles Morales, as well as five others who are from alternate universes. This enables the movie to be refreshing to audiences who are used to the typical Spider-Man film; it doesn’t get more atypical than a anthropomorphic pig who, along with having the abilities that are usually associated with Spider-Man, utilizing cartoon physics at the drop of a hat. Naturally, with there being a new main character in Miles, there are going to be more supporting characters and antagonists. The reason why the new supporting cast, which mainly comprise of Miles’ family, is that they allow for the audience to see different sides of Miles. With Miles’ parents, audiences are shown Miles’ intelligence and hardworking nature while Miles interactions with his uncle display a more fun and creative aspect of his personality. As for the villains, the ones who are presented during the film are ones the average person are unfamiliar with. Longtime villains who have been Spider-Man’s foes for decades, namely Kingpin and the Prowler, are given the exposure they deserve. Usually, all these new characters would overwhelm those involved with the film-making process, weighing down the overall product with poor characterization. Thankfully, Spider-Verse avoids this through strong character interaction, audiences are shown how character’s traits when they engage each other. Because of this, the additional characters, including different interpretations of well-known ones, are what make Spider-Verse unique in comparison to its forebears.

        Another noteworthy feature of Spider-Verse is that it is an almost literal comic book movie. What separates this film from other animated superhero movies is its resemblance to comic books. In order to invoke the feeling of watching a comic, Spider-Verse is riddled with multiple comic book characteristics: panels, speech balloons and thought bubbles. Furthermore, the comic book imagery is enhanced by the large variety of colors present throughout the film. Scenes which contain a certain tone are usually accompanied by colors that best reflect it. The same thing can be said about the Spider-Verse’ soundtrack, as its quality and utilization during the film is similar to the color scheme; it improves the overall product through appropriate use. The character designs Spider-Verse have are also a highlight due to how unique each character is. No two characters look alike, with any similarities being overshadowed by their differences. As a result of how excellent the animation is, the other aspects of the film are enriched. Spider-Verse’ already impressive premise and plot greatly benefit from the animation, since the presentation of the story is done in a manner that will grab the audience’s attention. It can be argued the animation Spider-Verse has is its strongest point; not only is it well animated and unique, it also strengthens the other qualities of the film.

        While it may be a bit of a stretch to refer to Spider-Verse as the best Spider-Man film of all time, there are plenty of good reasons why this claim is plausible. Spider-Verse is easily the most distinguishable Spider-Man film; there are so many attributes that make stand out in comparison to the others. Without the outstanding animation, in addition to the interesting and emotional story that has a premise refreshing for those who are somewhat familiar with Spider-Man, this movie would’ve been seen as just alright. Thankfully this is not the case, and there is no doubt that Spider-Verse will be remembered as a great film in the following years.