I think we need to accept that the creation of Miles Morales was always intended as a replacement for Peter Parker. Since his inception Marvel has been struggling to find where exactly Miles Morales fits. This has led to him being recognized as Spider-Man by some -- but many has also fallen into the "Not My Spider-Man camp." However, I still think there is a case to be made for him being a great Spider-Man.
I like Miles Morales as a character. I have a giant card stock poster above my desk that I had custom matted. I think that Miles has an interesting backstory, cool parents, and an ever evolving powe rset, in addition to his stock set of the usual Spider-Man Powers. In addition, I think Marvel's Spider-Man Miles Morales is a top tier Spider-Man Game. The simple fact of the matter tho is that he was intended to exist in the same cannon as Peter.
The Ultimate Universe
Introduced in the pages of Marvel Comics Ultimate Universe, he made his first appearance on the last pages of Ultimate Fallout #4, an event meant to close out the the run that universe's Peter Parker, who was tragically killed by The Green Goblin. Miles is dressed in a Spider-Man Halloween costume, finally removing the mask on the last panel -- burdened by the guilt of in-action seeing Spider-Man killed in action.
The parallels to the original Spider-Man mythos here are pretty obvious-- mirroring Peter's inaction to stop the man who would later be revealed to be Uncle Ben's killer. Unlike in 2018's Into the Spider Verse where Miles' witnesses Peter's death first hand, in the comics, he is revealed to be a bystander -- too scared to act, only recently having acquired his powers. Miles feels the weight of responsibility of being his universes' only Spider-Man.
Now officially on his own as hero, Miles would tackle many villains during his original Ultimate Comics run. Most of these villains however were simply repurposed Spider-Man rogues, now lving in a world without a Peter Parker. Sandman, Hammerhead, Carange, and Rhino all faced up against Miles Morales in his iconic red and black tights.
While there have also been stand-outs like Rabble and Lady Swarm -- Miles is very much treated like an exstention of Peter Parker -- which is sorta the problem, they were never intended to exsist in the same cannon with so many connecting threads. Many of Miles' most compelling villains exsist in other mediums outside of comics, such as Across the Spider-Verse's The Spot or Marvels Spider-Man: Miles Morales' The Tinkerer. The one common is thread is The Prowler, who remains one of Miles' top tier villains, crossing over from comics, films and video games.
Secret Wars
Marvel Comics Secret Wars event would see the Ultimate Universe unravel, only to have Miles sent into universe 616 -- where Peter and Miles would meet. He would float around between The Avengers to the teen-Centric Champions -- a hero with no real home or purpose -- with the mention of him being from another universe rarely mentioned in cannon. The Maker, a multiverse version of Reed Richards -- and Miles are the only chracters who remember that they are from a different universe.
Characters like Miles are often referred to Legacy characters -- chracters who share a similar moniker to another hero, like that of the other members of the Bat-Family who are not Batman. The difference is that these heroes in most cases are not intended to replace the hero they are based from, they are made to exist in tandem with them. In a post Secret Wars universe, Miles in brought on part of The Avengers , being added to the roster with other Younger heroes -- Like Kamala Khans's Ms. Marvel and and Jane Foster's Mighty Thor. Later , Miles would join the Champions, antoher off-shoot team. He largely feels like he is a hero that Marvel just doesn't know where to ultimately have him swing too.
The Spider-Verse
To get around this --Miles is the given the ultimate plot armor-- The Multiverse. This was a direct result of 2015's Spider Verse storyline -- introducing an endless number of Spider-Men. I think its a cool idea on its face -- with one provisor -- these chracters don't go around calling each other Spider-Man.
The Spider-Verse story arc, introduced in Marvel's NOW! line, would pave the way for the Spider-Verse as we know it -- with many of these characters, such as Spider-Man 2099's Miguel O'Hara, and Hobie Brown's Spider-Punk Spinning off into their own books. While each of these chracters are loosely connected to other Spider-Man chracters, Miles Morales is very attached to Peter Parker. Part of the this issue is that many of these chracters have as gimmick, in addition to the usual Spider-Powers. However, most of them are not fleshed out enough to carry a solo series on their own, because in most cases they don't have an oringal rogues gallery or enough supporting characters. As a result many of the runs of the other series in question are made in limited format or have been cancelled all together. Once again, each of these chracters are given a separate moniker because it makes no sense for two chracters, both named Spider-Man, to call each other Spider-Man.
The Sony Films
Which brings us to the Spider-Verse Films, Across the Spider-Verse might be favorite Spider-Man film of all time, or at the very least neck and neck with Spider-Man 2. The latter of the two films introduced the idea of Cannon Events, and the idea that certain multiversal anomaly needed to for lack of a better term, stay in their lane. The idea that Miles was the original anomaly was a direct commentary on people who dent see Miles as a worthy Spider-Man.
The Insomniac Universe
A new version of Miles Morlaes was introduced in 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man. Much like in the animated films, Jefferson Davis is a cop. Miles father is subsequently killed by the villain Mister Negative. Miles' grief over his dad is a big part of the story in Spider-Man -- and subsequently makes Martin Lee more of a Miles Morales villain especially by part 2.
Of all of the iterations of Miles, I think this one works the best, because its not reliant on the creation or understanding of a multi-verse.
Spider-Man 2
In the sequel's opening hours -- Peter is saved by Miles on countless occasions. Miles rescues Peter from being buried alive by a vengeful Sandman and is able to absorb a direct lightewning blast. Later on in the story, Miles is also instrumental in bringing Peter back from brink after being completely taken over by the influence of the alien suit. The events of the game also see Peter, understandably so, very emotionally traumatized facing the onslaught of Venom.
Spider-Man 2 sees Peter taking a much deserved break after being posessed by a homical alien life form. The add to the confusion, Insominiac's Narrative Directer and Lead Writer stated that Miles will be the "main" Spider-Man going forward. While many could see this as Peter being pushed out -- its also at odds with end -credits scene, following apparent team up between Norman Osbourne and Dr. Octopus
Let's remember Peter quitting or talking a break isnt something new -- comics Peter Parker does it all the time. And with the games end credit scene teasing a final chapter -- I don't think that Peter Parker is neccearily going anywhere , but it also shows that no matter who running the show Marvel still doesn't have any idea what they are going to do with Miles Morales. They could start by giving him a different name. There are only two really viable options -- move Miles (or Peter) to a different city, making them the "only" Spider-Man or give Miles a moniker that isn't already taken.
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