Miles Morales Is NOT Spider-Man (BUT, There Is A Catch!)

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off immediately Miles Morales is not Spider-Man.

Not while Peter Parker is still alive, still active, and still swinging across New York. FULL STOP.

Yeah, I said it.

And before the Miles stans rush to the comments with “but Spider-Verse proved…” let’s be real for a second.

Miles is an incredible character. He’s charismatic, his design is one of the cleanest in Marvel history, and his power set adds some unique spice to the Spider-mythos. His movies are great, and his comics have cultivated a loyal following. Nobody’s denying that.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth, Spider-Man is Peter Parker. Period.

Peter Parker is the template, the blueprint, the core of what Spider-Man means.

The tragedy of Uncle Ben. The endless struggle to balance personal life and responsibility. The decades of pain, sacrifice, and perseverance that made “With great power comes great responsibility” more than just a catchphrase… it became the spine of Marvel Comics.

Everything Miles is, everything he represents, exists because Peter built the house. Miles is an heir apparent, yes, but an heir doesn’t get the crown while the king is still on the throne.

Here’s where Marvel dropped the ball.

Instead of letting Miles forge his own identity… becoming something like Arachnid, Shadow-Spider, or literally any other heroic mantle, they slapped “Spider-Man” on him at the same time Peter Parker was still active.

That’s not legacy. That’s not respect. That’s laziness and brand dilution.

Suddenly, Spider-Man isn’t the guy… he’s one of several.

And once you make Spider-Man just a name anyone can wear, you strip away the uniqueness that made Peter resonate with generations of fans.

And let’s not act like Marvel hasn’t played this card before.

We’ve seen multiple Captain Americas, multiple Thors, multiple Wolverines.

Nine times out of ten, they go back to the original because the original works.

Fans don’t line up to buy “Thor (But Not Really).” They want the Odinson. They don’t want “the other Wolverine.” They want Logan.

And in Spider-Man’s case? They want Peter Parker. Miles doesn’t need to be Spider-Man to matter, but Marvel clearly thinks otherwise.

Here’s the odd controversy though. Miles does actually deserve the mantle, just like Wally West deserves the mantle of ‘The Flash’ over in DC, but only when Peter is gone.

Whether it is because he is retired. Dead. Or across the multiverse chasing Mephisto or whatever insane nonsense Marvel cooks up.

That would feel earned. That would feel like true legacy.

It’s the same way Dick Grayson became Batman when Bruce was presumed dead.

That’s how you respect the character and his history.

But while Peter Parker is still breathing, still cracking jokes mid swing, and still putting his life on the line every night? Sorry. There is only one Spider-Man. His name is Peter Benjamin Parker. FULL STOP