Miles Morales is the star of the Spider-Verse movies, but his story started on a few comic pages in 2011. Here is the first Miles Morales comic, why it matters to collectors, and exactly what to read next.
The First Miles Morales Comic: Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011)
In 2011, Marvel's Ultimate universe — a separate, modern take on its heroes — did something huge: it killed its Peter Parker in the Death of Spider-Man storyline. Ultimate Fallout was the six-issue follow-up showing how the world reacted.
At the end of issue #4, a new masked Spider-Man stops a villain. Nobody knows who he is yet. That kid is Miles Morales. It was only a few pages, but it became one of the most important comic debuts of the 2010s.
Why Ultimate Fallout #4 is a key issue
- First appearance of a character who now leads movies, games and his own comics.
- Several covers and later printings exist. The first printing is the one collectors want most.
- High-grade slabbed copies are popular. Buying one? Read our CGC grading guide first.
Who Is Miles Morales?
Miles is a teenager from Brooklyn with a Black father and a Puerto Rican mother. He is bitten by a genetically altered spider taken from Oscorp by his uncle, Aaron Davis (the criminal known as the Prowler). He gets powers like Peter Parker's, plus two of his own:
- Venom Strike: an electric shock through his hands.
- Camouflage: he can turn invisible by blending into his surroundings.
The heart of his story is the same as Peter's — great power, great responsibility — told through a new kid trying to live up to a hero he barely knew.
Miles Morales Reading Order (Beginner Path)
| # | Comic | Year | Why read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ultimate Fallout #4 | 2011 | His first appearance (a few pages) |
| 2 | Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (Bendis & Pichelli) | 2011–2013 | His full origin and first year as Spider-Man |
| 3 | Spider-Men (5 issues) | 2012 | Miles meets the main-universe Peter Parker |
| 4 | Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man | 2014 | The Ultimate universe's final chapter for Miles |
| 5 | Secret Wars (Hickman) | 2015 | The event that moves Miles into the main Marvel universe |
| 6 | Spider-Man (Bendis & Pichelli) | 2016–2018 | Miles in the main Marvel universe, with the Avengers |
| 7 | Miles Morales: Spider-Man (Saladin Ahmed) | 2018–2022 | The easiest modern starting point |
Short on time? Read #2, then #7. That gives you his origin and his best modern run without confusing crossovers. Want it all in one book? Try the Miles Morales: Spider-Man Omnibus.
Miles on Screen: Into, Across and Beyond the Spider-Verse
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018): won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and made Miles a household name.
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): ends on a cliffhanger.
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse: the finale, scheduled for June 2027. For the comics behind it, see The Comic Origin of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Miles also stars in the PlayStation games Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (2023).
FAQ
What was the first Miles Morales comic?
Ultimate Fallout #4, on sale in August 2011 (cover date October 2011).
Who created Miles Morales?
Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli.
When did Miles Morales get his own comic?
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #1 launched in September 2011, a month after his debut.
How did Miles Morales join the main Marvel universe?
Through the 2015 Secret Wars event. When the multiverse was rebuilt, Miles and his family ended up in the main Marvel universe.
Where should I start reading Miles Morales?
Start with Ultimate Comics Spider-Man (2011) for his origin, or Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2018) for an easy modern jump-on point.
When does Beyond the Spider-Verse come out?
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is scheduled for June 2027.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man Vol. 1
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man Ultimate Collection Book 1
Spider-Man: Miles Morales Vol. 1