The new Miles Morales: Spider-Man series offers a new beginning for both readers and Miles himself. This is notable, given Marvel Comics‘ bad habit of restarting popular series with new #1 issues. Too often these “first issues” continue the stories of earlier series, with cumbersome continuity that goes unexplained. Thankfully, that is not the case with this new Miles Morales book.
Our story opens in Brooklyn, where Miles is trying to maintain a decent level of work-life balance. Of course being Spider-Man and a student, that means managing heroism, homework, family, and friends. However, Miles thinks he has enough time left to romantically pursue his new lab partner.
Unfortunately, despite scaling back helping policing the Spider-Verse, the new Spider-Man still has a knack for trouble seeking him out. Trouble, in this case, taking the form of a new supervillain with a grudge against Miles’ police officer father. This leaves him in the awkward position of trying to defend his dad, who still sees Miles as his little boy rather than a hero with great power.
New Miles Morales: Spider-Man a grounded fresh start
To describe the last few volumes of Miles Morales’ solo series as convoluted would be an understatement. They were not badly written, but they were a lot. Beyond a subplot where Miles became a vampire, he also held a role as the champion of the trickster spider god Anansi. This was on top of coping with his own clone, multiverse shenanigans, and his love life. This made it difficult for those who only knew Miles from Into the Spider-Verse to get invested in his adventures.
Thankfully, the 2026 Miles Morales: Spider-Man series is something else entirely. Bryan Edward Hill goes out of his way to make this first issue accessible to new readers. However, Hill does not ignore what came before in the process.
Instead, Hill acknowledges the past in passing, through Miles, before Miles declares his intent to focus on things in his home dimension and hometown. Naturally, his wish for a simpler life won’t come true. He IS a Spider, after all.
The artwork offers two distinct but equally compelling styles of visual. The main story is illustrated by Nico Leon with a high-energy, vibrant aesthetic that well-suits Miles’ anxious energy. Contrastingly, the flashback scenes centered around Jefferson Morales are rendered by Valentine De Landro with heavier inks and less-focused line work. This symbolically conveys the hazy nature of memory and the shadowy past that Miles’ father hoped to forget. Colorist Bryan Valenza does a fantastic job of further distinguishing these sequences with unique palettes.
All in all, Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1 is a near-perfect first issue. It is easily accessible to newcomers, but respectful of history and its main character. It features evocative art and a well-spun story composed of a perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama.
Grade: 9/10
