Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse concludes with a dramatic cliffhanger that puts Miles Morales and the multiverse in serious danger. After his initial journey through the multiverse, Miles teamed up with various Spider-People to stop Kingpin from destroying reality. What initially seemed like a single mission for Miles escalates into a far greater challenge as The Spot and Spider-Man 2099 force him to choose between saving his loved ones and protecting the multiverse. This ending sets the stage for the sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, leaving audiences eager to see how Miles will face these challenges and the consequences of his choices.
Throughout the film, Miles comes to understand that Spider-People across the multiverse are connected by a series of events that shape each of their lives. However, Miles refuses to be bound by these cosmic expectations. Instead of accepting his fate, he actively challenges the Spider Society and seeks to avoid the personal tragedies that are normally part of a Spider-Person’s story. This decision leads him into danger when he escapes to the wrong universe while The Spot threatens the safety of his loved ones, showing that personal choices carry major consequences in the multiverse.
One of the most shocking moments occurs when Miles is captured on Earth-42 by a version of the Prowler who is also a Miles Morales variant. In this universe, Miles discovers that his uncle Aaron Davis is still alive. Despite pretending to be Aaron’s nephew, Aaron quickly realizes that this Miles is not from his original Earth-1610. He captures Miles and introduces him to the Earth-42 version of himself, who never became Spider-Man. Instead, this variant assumed the Prowler identity due to his circumstances and his close relationship with his uncle. This twist adds complexity to the story and sets up a moral and emotional conflict for Miles.
Spider‑Man Across the Spider‑Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)Miles Lands on Earth-42: Facing an Alternate Self and Unexpected Family Tragedy Challenges
Miles reaches Earth-42 after a desperate escape from Spider-Man 2099 and the Spider Society using advanced multiverse technology. While fleeing, he fights multiple Spider-People and uses a universe-jumping machine. However, he does not realize that the machine targets the DNA of the radioactive spider that bit him, which belongs to Earth-42 instead of Earth-1610. As a result, he lands in a universe that looks similar to his own but has major differences. In this reality, his father died instead of his uncle, his mother faces financial struggles, and this version of Miles became the Prowler rather than Spider-Man. These differences create a tense encounter between the two Miles variants.
The Earth-42 Miles Morales became the Prowler due to his father Jefferson Davis’ death and Aaron Davis’ influence. Unlike Earth-1610 Miles, this version lacked parental guidance and leaned on his uncle, which led him to take on vigilantism. Concept art and behind-the-scenes materials suggest that Earth-42 Miles’ actions are not entirely selfish or evil. He operates as a vigilante to protect and support his community, even if his methods are morally ambiguous. This sets up a compelling contrast between the two Miles variants, emphasizing their different approaches to heroism and justice.
The film hints at what happened to Jefferson Davis in Earth-42. Graffiti memorials on rooftops replace tributes to Aaron Davis with messages for Jefferson, suggesting that he died around the time Miles became the Prowler. The circumstances of his death remain unclear. It could have resulted from crime-fighting actions taken by Aaron, or even decisions made by Miles himself. This uncertainty adds emotional weight to the story and emphasizes the dangers that come with different realities.
Spider‑Man Across the Spider‑Verse (Sony Pictures Releasing)Miles’ Choices Against Destiny Trigger Pursuit and Set Up Multiversal High-Stakes Conflict
Miles’ defiance of destiny puts him in conflict with Spider-Man 2099 and the Spider Society. Miguel O’Hara, also known as Spider-Man 2099, believes that each Spider-Person must experience certain life events, including falling in love and losing a mentor or loved one. By trying to prevent these canon events, Miles threatens the stability of the multiverse. The Spot also continues to target Miles’ parents on Earth-1610. These parallel conflicts create high stakes and set up a multi-layered narrative for the next film.
Gwen Stacy plays a key role in attempting to save Miles from Earth-42 and The Spot. With guidance from Spider-Punk, she forms a team of Spider-People who have left the Spider Society. This team includes Peter B. Parker, Peni Parker, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man Noir, Pavitr Prabhakar, and Spider-Byte. Using multiversal technology, Gwen plans to travel to Earth-42, rescue Miles, and protect his family. This sequence emphasizes the importance of collaboration among Spider-People and prepares for the large-scale confrontations expected in Beyond the Spider-Verse.
The ending of Across the Spider-Verse highlights the tension between destiny and choice. The multiverse imposes canonical events on Spider-People, yet Miles’ actions show that individuals can challenge fate to protect what matters to them. The unresolved conflicts, including Miles versus his Earth-42 counterpart, Spider-Man 2099’s pursuit, and The Spot’s threat, ensure high anticipation for the next film. The story explores the complexity of heroism, moral responsibility, and the consequences of decisions, providing a clear thematic foundation for Beyond the Spider-Verse while leaving audiences eager to see the resolution of these multiversal challenges.
