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I can’t think of a better eulogy for Stan Lee than this weekend’s ‘SpiderMan: Into the SpiderVerse.’ It’s a visual masterpiece, seamlessly blending the nuances of comic book visual storytelling with the kinetic energy of cutting edge 3D animation and sound design. Bright, vibrant and bold, it stands in my opinion as the best Spider-Man movie ever made, live-action or animated. And this is no exaggeration. It perfectly honors Stan Lee’s legacy as the movie has captured the true essence of what the character means to so many fans, and has expanded on this to include new possibilities and directions without feeling forced or fake. Everything just fits.
Miles Morales is front and center as our hero, but this movie is so much more than his origin story as he takes on the mantle of Spider-Man. In fact, the filmmakers have created a layered, multi-faceted story that not only honors the traditional Spider-Man’s path but has ensured that all the Spider-people we know and love haven’t been forgotten, playing a part in initiating Miles into their lonely club of crimefighters. And that they’ll be around for quite some time.
And what a fitting way to end this year. Stan Lee’s influence on our pop culture is without question, and it’s serendipitous that the movie is releasing a few weeks after his passing. Hundreds of creatives, inspired by his and Ditko’s storytelling have poured their hearts into this project, a true love letter to the characters and their creators. It stands as a testament to a lifetime spent telling good stories, where the struggles are relatable, regardless of super powers. And, maybe, being a hero is more about the character of a person than the enhanced abilities they possess. Real heroes with real world problems. Now, what happens when these heroes from multiple dimensions collide in New York? The question is answered in one of the most fun adventures I’ve had at the movies in quite some time.
Into the Spider-Verse is an absolute must for fans, and it does an amazing job of honoring the past and prepping our beloved web-head(s) for the future. Spider-Man is a timeless character, and this movie not only continues the legacy but helps promote it unlike any Spider-movie before it. It’s a Spider-Man for all of us, without forgetting any of us. Just like Stan intended.
