A Journey of Self-Discovery

By Cindy Wang

In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the use of comic-book-like graphics and multiple color schemes accentuate the emotions and thoughts of the young, Black, male protagonist, Miles Morales as he struggles to discover and establish his own identity in a “new” world in which he must put on the mask of Spider-Man. The visual styles of the film specifically cater to providing audiences with an emotional connection to Miles by painting him as a relatable character. The use of comics-inspired visuals create scenes in which viewers can experience the thoughts of the beloved protagonist; these visuals give an insight into the turbulent emotions that Miles struggles with. For example, the creative use of line art on characters emphasizes the range of each character’s emotions, humanizing them, despite the fact that they’re animated. A more direct example of the film’s use of comic-book style is when Miles walks through the hallways of his school. This scene happens the day after Miles is bitten by the radioactive spider and as Miles progresses down the hall, the film pops up with blocks of yellow text that capture Miles’ internal monologue. The yellow boxes of text quickly become a barrage as Miles grows increasingly frantic, confused as to what’s happening to him – why is he sweating so much, why can he hear conversations from far away, why are his hands so sticky. As a teenager struggling to fit in at a new school, Miles is already trying to figure out who he is, so the first signs of his spider-senses add another complicated layer to his identity conflict.

Beyond the stunning art and animation, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also cleverly utilizes color schemes to highlight Miles’ discovery of his true, authentic self. Though both static and fast-moving scenes use vibrant colors, particularly bright flashes of cyan and magenta, the film also relies on darker tones for more serious situations. When the original Spider-Man of Miles’ universe is defeated by Green Goblin and Kingpin, the film utilizes dark shadows and a more subdued pallet to create a somber tone, because Peter Parker’s death represents the loss of a symbol of hope. Miles is now seemingly alone, with no one else he can relate to and seek help from. This furthers his difficulty in discovering who he is and who he can be. However, during the final battle between Miles and Kingpin, as the multiverse is collapsing, Miles finally understands himself and embraces his identity. This particular scene reaches visual overload, with so much happening on screen that everything becomes a blur of shapes, colors, and movement. This intense visual barrage allows viewers to become submerged in both Miles’ experience and his overwhelming feelings of love, desperation, and resolve. Yet, Miles’ leap of faith is what enables him to embrace his true self. Though he is Spider-Man, he is also a son and a friend. Overall, the beautiful blend of comic-book style visuals and color schemes tell a beautiful story about Miles’ journey to self-discovery and acceptance.