“With Great Power”: the Existentialist Spider-Man in Into the Spider-Verse

Writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s newest release, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an action-packed, deliciously aesthetic addition to the Marvel film canon. More than just a piece of visual art, the film offers many existentialist themes hidden within its playful presentation. Among the most obvious in a film that is based upon the classic Marvel line “With great power comes great responsibility” is the existentialist theme of radical freedom and the situated nature of that freedom—the responsibility and commitment that power necessitates. Particular to this film, however, are even more distinctly existentialist topics—the acceptance of reality as it is, and the consequent need to respond agentially, the Kierkegaardian leap of faith, and the notion that “anyone could wear the mask” (SV): that is, everyone has an amazing power, as well as the responsibility to wield it in a free, situated commitment (“Existentialism” 9).  

Spider-Verse is a classic bildungsroman that follows the journey of Miles Morales, a charismatic kid from Brooklyn. He has an inner “spark,” of which his father says later in the movie, “It’s yours. Whatever you choose to do with it, you will be great” (SV emphasis added). Morales is plagued with the fear of the power he receives from the radioactive spider-bite, and deals with feelings of inadequacy and a culturally conditioned distaste for abnormality, seeking to follow the herd. “Am I the weird kid, now?” he questions in panic, as people start noticing his strange behaviour at school (SV). He chooses to leave his shoes untied as a certain act of defiance against mediocrity, clearly seeking to develop some type of unique identity. Yet, when he is presented with just such an opportunity to become truly great—to become an ubermensch— Morales is hesitant, as he tries to dismiss his weird, radioactive bodily changes, insisting, “It’s just puberty. I’m a normal kid!” (SV emphasis added). Soon he meets the other Spider-people from alternate dimensions, making a Spidey squad of seven web-slingers. In learning from this new community, as well as being confronted with the seemingly insurmountable task to stop a supervillain, he realizes the absurdity of his reality and the responsibility given him with these new powers. However, he is still paralyzed by fear and a feeling of inadequacy: “I’m just tired of letting everyone down” he bemoans halfway through the film (SV). In this can be seen the problem of a man presented with his own potential for greatness—for will to power—being thwarted by a socially impressed feeling of fear: he experiences the crushing weight of commitment before fully embracing the power and freedom offered him as Spider-Man.