‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ the sequel to 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse‘, takes place a year after Miles Morales (voiced again by Shameik Moore), a Brooklyn teen and newly-minted Spider-Man, received his powers and fought alongside five dimensionally-displaced Spider-people. The film follows Miles as he tries to balance his academic duties and extracurricular hero work while dealing with his parents’ suspicions about his double life. On top of all this, he’s forced to take on the Spot, who plans to evolve into a ‘transdimensional super-being’ that poses a serious threat to the multiverse.
In her own universe, Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Miles’s friend and quasi-romantic interest from the first film, joins the Spider Society, a task force of multiverse-jumping heroes. In missions led by the brooding Spider-Man 2099, Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), they pursue anomalies trapped in the wrong universe. When Gwen and Miles reconnect, and Miles discovers the Spider Society, he realises he may be the real threat to the Spider-Verse.
‘Across the Spider-Verse’ accomplishes the difficult goal of creating a sequel that not only reproduces the fun of the first film, but also expands the multiverse concept, the main characters, and the stakes without overinflating them, or the addition of shameless fan service. The Spider Society gives plenty of chances for the film to showcase an engaging mix of humour, sight gags, and animation styles. The stunning action sequences suit the delightful chaos of the big-screen format.
This doesn’t even count the work of the impressive voice cast. Issa Rae brings an endearing tough-love vibe to her pregnant, afroed, motorcycle-riding Spider-Woman Jessica Drew. And Isaac, who gave an excellent performance Disney+’s ‘Moon Knight‘, is well-cast as the slightly unhinged and WAY too serious Batman-esque Spider-Man 2099. Every Spider-Man we encounter, no matter how brief, is brilliantly realised and a welcome addition to the plot. With a distinctive colour-streaked style, the voice cast delivers an almost immersive comic book experience.
No spoilers intended, but Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ends with a cliffhanger — the decision being made several years ago to slice the sequel in two. Even though we knew this going in, the ending nonetheless felt merciless. However, Across the Spider-Verse is never dull or cautious with its characters and humour, indicating that while Into the Spider-Verse began a new era in animation, Across the Spider-Verse shows that ‘the one and only Spider-Man’s adventures were far from a one-off. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ is everything the MCU is missing, and we totally can’t wait to see what happens next.
By the way, here’s a disclaimer, since the Spider-Verse films fail to do so: If you, or ANYONE you know has EPILEPSY, either don’t go see this, or be REALLY FUCKING CAREFUL if you choose to go. You will be a mouth-foaming, sputtering mess of a human before the halfway point.
