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| Spoilers Ahead for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Far From Home and we should also add Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame and possibly a few other Marvel movies. |
Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse):
The perspective of Miles Morales helps us to see clearly the childlike perspective on heroism, power and responsibility that always comes across so strongly in Spider-Man stories. As we glimpse an older Peter Parker (or rather various older Peter Parkers and a few other Spider-allies) serving as mentors to a younger hero, who will become the Spider-Man for a new generation, we see clearly the wonder and fear that is always so striking through the eyes of a child, alive and well in Miles Morales. Not only do we first view a veteran Spider-Man through the lens of this child, but also the playful comic book style of the whole movie invites us to take on the eyes of the child, as the entire story unfolds. Furthermore, we also can also recognize the significance of his relationships with his parents and other mentor figures. The family dynamic between Miles, his father and mother, and his uncle is especially poignant in the character development of this young boy who is simply striving to be authentically who he is, until he is entrusted with great power, which carries with it a great responsibility. While his relationship with his father is certainly not perfect, nonetheless the fatherly love and affirmation he receives still becomes a source of much needed strength for young Miles. Meanwhile, his father's own perspective on that central moral of Spider-Man is also quite striking, as his background and activity in law enforcement lead him to conclude, "With great ability comes great accountability." While this little misquote offered us a humorous little moment between father and son, it also elucidates how incredibly pertinent this central moral is to the concerns of many people in our current era in history, who are rightly calling for accountability of those in power (especially since a democratic government designed with checks and balances built in seems to presume that this should be the norm - but, I digress).
Although apparently the lesson and it's link to Spider-Man is public knowledge, Miles does not have an Uncle Ben to teach it to him. Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that the uncle to whom Miles looks up is a very different sort of mentor than Ben Parker was to Peter. He fills a similar role, as his death becomes a kind of turning point in Miles's origin story. The story unfolds in such a way that we first meet Uncle Aaron through the eyes of Miles, who cares little about the poor choices that his uncle has made, but simply looks on his uncle with love. Later, when we learn that he has been serving Kingpin as the Prowler, it enables us to see this faceless villain through the eyes of a loving nephew. The realization of his uncle's private life is a moment of pain and heartbreak for Miles, but he still looks on him with compassion and expects his uncle to look on him with the same kind of compassion, as revealed when he removes his mask, prompting Uncle Aaron to do the same. The death of Uncle Aaron is striking because it is marked, not only by grief and a lesson of responsibility, but also by the compassion and mercy with which Miles looks on this faceless villain with the eyes of a child and sees not his crimes, but his beloved uncle.
Finally, the notion of a multiverse can open up some fascinating opportunities for interesting story-lines in the world of science fiction. The more recent Spider-Man story to hit the big screen invoked the notion of a multiverse in a very different way, which explores one possible implication it can carry with it, as we will discuss below.
Peter Parker (Spider-Man: Far From Home):
This next chapter in the story of this new incarnation of Peter Parker takes us to very interesting new places. Of course, that comment applies both literally and figuratively, as the whole element of Parker being on a European vacation shows us Venice, Prague and London. But, it is interesting to note how all that has taken place in his journey with the Avengers (Infinity War and Endgame) has brought him to a new phase in his process of growing from childhood into emerging adulthood. I have already discussed how this new version of the story explores the themes of power and responsibility in a very different way, given the obvious motivation to not simply keep rehashing what has been done before in previous versions. So, while I still would be very happy if, at some point, they chose to pay explicit credence to the literal phrase "with great power comes great responsibility," passed on to him by his Uncle Ben, they are still finding some very interesting ways to explore this theme indirectly. One of the things they have done very well, by choosing a younger actor and having the character actually be still in High School thus far, is allowing us to see how the childlike perspective on these themes of power and responsibility is so important. We definitely see the childlike wonder alive in him, while also mixed with a bit of that childlike fear, as Stark first recruits him in Captain America: Civil War and he desires to be a great hero like the Avengers who have come before him. In Spider-Man: Homecoming this wonder was manifest in his desire not to be treated like a child, but to be entrusted with larger tasks, ultimately resulting in his eventual decision to choose the humbler path and seek to be a more local hero, who simply strives to keep his own neighborhood safe. We saw the struggle within him between the wonder that drives him to grandiosity and the innate sense of prioritizing the relationships that are important to him. Both of these things can be described as part of the perspective that we are given when we seek to see through the eyes of the a child. But, this desire to keep those who he cares about safe and the wonder which drives him to want to be a great hero come together and cause him to come to Stark's assistance again, when New York is again attacked by aliens (Avengers: Infinity War), even to the point of following them into space on their own ship.
Now, having been to the great beyond of space, having officially been dubbed an Avenger, having battled alongside alien allies as well as against alien foes, having essentially died, then having fought in the epic battle to finally defeat the alien menace Thanos, after being oddly brought back to life, and finally having lost his mentor in said battle, it is fair to say that young Parker has been rather weathered by the most extreme sort of life experiences that most would agree would cause a child to have lost their innocence. So, it is no surprise that Spider-Man: Far From Home is largely about young Parker being overwhelmed at taking on the responsibility involved in being a "grown-up" Avenger. In fact, it is a fitting follow-up to Homecoming, in which he was longing to be trusted with the kind of responsibility of being a true Avenger, like Stark. Now, with Stark gone, he feels the pressure of being expected to be "the next Iron Man," or so he believes. The weight of that responsibility weighs heavily upon him, and he even learns the hard way the responsibility that this kind of power entails, when he accidentally orders a drone strike on his peers.
The glasses from Stark that he is given are an interesting symbol, as they give him the chance to see the world through the eyes of Stark, in a sense. Yet, he is uncertain whether he wants them. He wants to go back to seeing through his own eyes, the eyes of a child. He has not lost his desire to prioritize relationships, to simply be a friend (and hopefully a boyfriend to M.J.) and to enjoy vacation with his friends. So, as he gets what he wanted - the responsibility of being a true "grown-up" Avenger, like Stark - his response includes both wonder and fear.
In fact, while Homecoming focused more on his wonder, and how he felt this wonder was being restrained, Far From Home focuses more on his fear. When we look at heroism through the eyes of a child, we will see both wonder and fear. A child is lost in wonder at the power and the prospect of using that power to help others. But, a child is also often inclined to fear, in face of the responsibility that this power brings with it. Ultimately, Parker still longs for greatness, but he still wants to live a normal life. This normal life is not just a convenient place of retreat. It also stands for the relationships that he innately knows deserve priority. The painful process of maturation will enable learning to carry this prioritization of relationship together with the responsibility of all that has been entrusted to him.
It is precisely this struggle within Parker that Quentin Beck is able to manipulate. He situates himself in Parker's life, and sets himself up as a sort of new mentor in replacement of Stark. This leads young Parker to decide that Beck is better suited to be the "next Iron Man," so that he can go back to try and live the normal life he is seeking, at least during vacation. Essentially, he gives Beck exactly what he was looking for, by handing over the glasses from Stark. But, this leads us to the very interesting question of what sort of lenses Beck views the world through. As he makes clear, he believes that the truth is something he can control, implying that truth is merely a matter of perception. This is essentially a form of relativism, but like the illusions that Beck uses to hide the truth, it is merely a smoke-screen. Whether intentionally or not, Beck offers us a striking illustration of the fact that relativism is truly just another form or deception, it is an illusion meant to hide a truth that many don't want us to see. Somehow, the eyes of a child have the capacity to see through this smokescreen. Consider the (perhaps disappointing) twist that even the notion that there is a multiverse was all a part of Beck's deception (at least as far as we know right now, at this point in the story). The notion of a multiverse implies that there are many realities, perhaps symbolically many truths. Beck's deception hinged on this notion, as Mysterio was presented as a hero from another dimension within the multiverse. We might ask, "Why not try to make the story slightly less fantastical, and potentially more believable?" There may be significance to the fact that Beck and his allies chose to go with a story that hinged on a multiverse. It can be partly explained by Beck's dying words, as he tells Peter that people will believe anything. But, the especially striking thing is the reason he gives for why people will believe anything: because we have to believe something, we are made to believe. Wow. This is striking.
Those who offer us the illusory smokescreen that is relativism and shove it down children's throats, including in schools and especially in many universities, don't want us to see and believe the truth. Still, they acknowledge that we are made to believe something. So, they propose this ironically absolute creed that there is no absolute truth, but instead everything depends on one's perception. They present this with the audacity of a claim to authority that insists that this certainly is the only truth that must be believed and professed, because to profess an absolute truth (besides the absolute truth that they are proposing) is said to be judgmental and non-inclusive, as it may contradict "someone else's truth." Notice the evidence of how youth are fed this notion, as M.J. disregards Brad's concerns about Peter, by invoking the claim that the notion of absolute truth is fading from our world. As if playing a game that has been taught to her, in order that the officials do not believe that she is out of bounds, she is using this as an obvious smokescreen to hide the truth that they understandably don't want their classmates to know, namely that Peter really is Spider-Man.
When we reject this illusory lens of relativism and begin to view the world through the eyes of a child, we instinctively know that there is truth. The desire to know that truth, even to journey to the great beyond to find it, expresses itself in wonder. As we come to know this truth, we will discover that, at times, it can be scary. But, it is the truth that will set us free. The illusion of relativism seeks to manipulate our fear and stifle our wonder, so that we choose the convenient and comfortable path that ends our quest for the truth. We are to simply live and let live and not worry about what is true. If we are to not allow that childlike wonder to die within us, we must keep seeking the truth.
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| Speaking of uncovering lies in the Marvel Universe |
Consider the final piece of deception that is revealed in the after-the-credits scene, namely that Nick Fury had sent the Skrull Talos to impersonate him. Let's set aside for a moment the fascinating questions this opens up about how much Fury and/or S.H.I.E.L.D. have been working with the Skrulls since Captain Marvel, how many other deceptions were already in place, and what this will bring in the future. But, the notion of concluding a movie which dealt heavily with deceptions and illusions, meant to conceal truths, with an interesting new reminder that even some of those who apparently do so to serve good ends are willing to use this kind of deception is very significant. The notion that deception and concealing of truths is not just what the "bad guys" do is very culturally relevant, as we live in an era that seems ever more inclined toward demanding accountability and transparency of those in authority over us. And this is with good reason. Granted, this involves a much bigger discussion, which includes complicated questions about what is the responsible management of sensitive information. Regardless, it is indeed a good thing that people are apparently more driven to not be too easily satisfied, but to keep seeking the truth.
May we not be too easily satisfied with the illusory smokescreens that seek to manipulate our fears and stifle the natural, innate wonder that drives us to seek the truth.
Keep seeking the Truth. He is seeking you.
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