5) Movies: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Let me just start off by saying that I know I already did this movie for the music review, but the film has just won an Oscar for Best Animated AND I recently rewatched it, and I would literally think less of myself if I didn't write about this movie.

Spider-Man has always been the most meaningful superhero to me since as long as I could remember. Literally, besides a drink being dropped on me as a child, my first memories are at the theater watching the OG Spider-Man film back in 2002.

What I love most about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse are the main themes of the movie, the most prominent being that literally ANYONE could be Spider-Man.

These ideas weren't new, necessarily, but the fact that groups of people put so much effort into a film to inceptionize to children and adults alike that everyone was capable of putting on the mask, it is honestly inspiring.

Stan Lee talked about one of his favorite aspects of Spider-Man being the fact that he has a full body suit on. Sure, we all know Peter Parker is a white guy, but Spider-Man could be anybody. And, back when Peter Parker was created, his human essences was meant to paint the average ordinary guy vibe. He was teenager, who struggled talking to girls, worried about money, and just never could catch a break. 

As a kid I always related to Spider-Man. I STILL can barely talk to girls, worry about money, and just about can never catch a break. I felt the most related to Spider-Man because, unlike all the other heroes, his powers didn't really help him. If anything, they complicated matters further for him. He couldn't profit off his powers, yet he always has this itching thing in the back of his head that says with great power comes great responsibility. 

Growing up, I didn't know representation was something I necessarily cared about at all, but in recent years with Luke Cage, Black Panther, and now Miles Morales Spider-Man, I'm touched. Miles Morales is way more me than Peter Parker in the sense that we are both mixed who live in a primarily Black and Hispanic neighborhood. Miles has the same problems Peter has. He's struggling to make friends at school, can't talk to a girl to save his life, and, most importantly, can't catch a break. Miles is the TRUE modern day Peter Parker.

Another thing that makes Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse so great is that it is the most Spider-Man-y movie that could exist. It is chock full of references to the original Spider-Man films, cartoons, memes, what have you. But, most importantly, they highlight what makes Spider-Man one of the best heroes there is. Its the fact that, despite not having things going for him in his personal life, and usually being overpowered by many of his lethal villains, no matter what Spider-Man has gone through, he always, ALWAYS, gets back up.

The most valuable lesson I think any kid could have that Spider-Man has always instilled in me is the idea that no matter how much things are stacked against you, you can always get back up and try your best. And while this is a great lesson Spider-Man has taught us for years, I think using that lesson for Miles Morales, a kid of color who may not have certain opportunities everyone else has (Miles is in a school of smarts from winning a lottery), is the most effective thing that can happen. 

Up until a certain point, the most African American's and Hispanics get in media, especially television and film, are usually some form of gangster, or gangster with a heart of gold, or poor people living in the ghetto and its all sad and Precious-like. 

Not only are we representing people, and most importantly kids, of color on the big screen in heroic larger than life roles for them to emulate, but they did it with Spider-Man. Literally the most recognizable Marvel character probably of all time and they introduced a valid legacy character that everyone accepts as THE heir to the Spider-name and that is bonkers for me to wrap my head around.

This is a long blog, and I could make it a lot longer, but I just need to highlight the fact that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is probably the best representation of Spider-Man, not only as a character, but as an idea and symbol to everyone.