This article contains major spoilers for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is finally in theaters, exploring the multiverse even further than ever before. While its 2018 predecessor introduced the concept of different universes, the sequel goes to new lengths to establish the ever-expanding Spider-Verse by actually having its main character, Miles Morales, explore several of these realities.
Across the Spider-Verse visits eight different universes, each of which is distinct in its animation style, characters, and history. Moreover, several other recognizable universes are seen through archive footage of previous films. Many of these alternate realities are also very important in Marvel Comics, signaling major things to come for the future of the Spider-Verse franchise.
Updated on September 15, 2023 by Jordan Iacobucci: After enjoying a record-breaking theatrical run, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is finally available to stream, allowing viewers to experience its thrills, shocks, and excitement from the comfort of home. With the animated film's home release, audiences find even more sly references to alternate universes beyond those of Miles Morales and his friends.
Spider-Gwen's Universe (Earth-65)
The first world visited in Across the Spider-Verse is Earth-65, the home of Gwen Stacy, also known as Ghost Spider, Spider-Gwen, or Spider-Woman. The film's opening action sequence takes place in Gwen's timeline, as she, Jessica Drew, and Miguel O'Hara team up to stop a version of the Vulture from a different universe from unleashing destruction on the innocent people of New York City.
In Across the Spider-Verse, Earth-65 is presented in the style of a pastel painting, very much keeping in line with the character of Spider-Gwen. In this timeline, Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider and given superpowers. Peter Parker, Gwen's best friend, accidentally turned himself into the Lizard while trying to replicate these powers, leading to his death. This pain and tragedy, however, still turned Gwen Stacy into one of the strongest Spider-Man variants in the Spider-Verse.
Miles Morales's Universe (Earth-1610)
Earth-1610 is Miles Morales's homeworld in Across the Spider-Verse, acting as the setting for most of the film's first act. As audiences catch up with the protagonist in his own timeline, Miles Morales attempts to leave Peter Parker's shadow by being the best Spider-Man he can be, despite the effect it has on his family life. Miles ultimately leaves Earth-1610 behind to follow Gwen Stacy through a portal into the Spider-Verse.
Earth-1610 is actually a very important universe in Marvel Comics, where it is also called the Ultimate Universe. In the Spider-Verse franchise, the Peter Parker of Earth-1610 died during a battle with the Green Goblin after being distracted by the arrival of Miles Morales, whom he sensed had similar spider powers. After Peter's death, Miles took up the mantle of Spider-Man, using his powers to defend the city from villains like Kingpin, the Armadillo, and the Spot.
The Venomverse (Earth-688)
During the Spot's excursions through the multiverse, he lands in a very familiar-looking convenience store. There, it is revealed that he has traveled to Earth-688, the setting for Venom and the other films in the Venomverse. After a brief conversation with an unimpressed Mrs. Chen, the store owner, the Spot disappears through one of his portals, stealing a pack of gum in the process.
Several different antiheroes populate Earth-688, including Venom, an alien symbiote that bonded with reporter Eddie Brock after landing on Earth, Morbius the Living Vampire, and Kraven the Hunter. This reality has also seen the arrival of several terrifying supervillains in recent years, including Carnage, Riot, and the Vulture, a displaced variant from Earth-616. A version of Spider-Man also exists in this universe, though no film has yet depicted the superhero in person.
The LEGO Universe (Earth-131222)
As the Spot continues his journey through the multiverse to gather energy, he enters a new universe comprised entirely of LEGO, designated Earth-131222. The Spider-Man of this universe spots the villain and alerts Miguel O'Hara to his presence, revealing himself as one of the top members of the Spider Society.
The events that occur on Earth-131222 are depicted in stop-motion, proving reminiscent of producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller's previous collaboration on one of the best animated movies ever, The LEGO Movie. Very little is known about this universe, except that it includes a variant of Spider-Man as well as J. Jonah Jameson, played by J.K. Simmons, as appears to be the case in almost every universe.
Spider-Man India's Universe (Earth-50101)
In the second act of Across the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales follows Gwen Stacy through a portal to Earth-50101, where she is hunting down the Spot. There, they run across Pavitr Prabhakar, aka Spider-Man India, one of the best Spider-Man variants introduced in Across the Spider-Verse.
The events on Earth-50101 take place in an alternate New York that appears to be combined with the Indian city of Mumbai to create Mumbhattan. In this timeline, the father of Pavitr's girlfriend was meant to die while saving a child from falling debris. However, the arrival of Miles and Gwen interrupted this "canon event," potentially dooming Earth-50101 to destruction.
Miguel O'Hara's Universe (Earth-928)
One of the final universes visited in Across the Spider-Verse is the homeworld of Miguel O'Hara, Earth-928. Miles and Gwen are summoned to O'Hara's Earth after interrupting a canon event, earning them a scolding from the leader of the Spider Society. It is also in this timeline that much of the film's third act takes place, as Miles learns the truth about the Spider-Verse and his place therein.
Earth-928 is a futuristic world that is home to the Miguel O'Hara of Marvel Comics. In Across the Spider-Verse, this world also serves as the headquarters of the multiverse Spider Society. As such, there are literally hundreds of different Spider-Man variants populating Earth-928 at any given moment, potentially making it one of the safest places in the entire multiverse.
Peter B. Parker's Universe (Earth-616B)
When all seems lost in the climactic final act of Across the Spider-Verse, Peter B. Parker returns to his true love, Mary Jane Watson. Bringing their young superpowered daughter Mayday along, Peter returns home and questions whether he did enough to help Miles or not--only for Spider-Gwen to arrive shortly thereafter with an army of Spider-Man variants intent on changing things for the better.
Audiences don't get to see much of Peter B. Parker's universe in Across the Spider-Verse, but it seems to closely resemble that of Earth-1610. However, as Beyond the Spider-Verse continues to explore the lives of its main Spider-Man variants, audiences may see Peter B. Parker's world again before the trilogy is concluded.
The Raimiverse (Earth-96283)
While many fans were hoping for a crossover between the live-action and animated Spider-Man variants in Across the Spider-Verse, the film did at least make reference to films like Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. The classic trio of superhero movies takes place on Earth-96283, a world that is briefly seen in Across the Spider-Verse.
When Miguel O'Hara and the other members of the Spider Society explain Canon events, Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man is featured mourning the death of Uncle Ben. The scene is ripped directly from 2002's Spider-Man and doesn't feature any new footage, but does lend some hope to viewers hoping to see Maguire's return in Beyond the Spider-Verse.
Andrew Garfield's Universe (Earth-120701)
Earth-120701 is the universe designation for The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel, starring Andrew Garfield. Although Garfield and his universe don't appear in any new footage during the events of Across the Spider-Verse, the film does include archival footage from the first Amazing Spider-Man movie.
When Miles Morales learns that every Spider-Man variant loses a police captain close to them, footage of Andrew Garfield's Spider-Man mourning the death of Captain George Stacy is prominently displayed. This shows that the Spider Society does indeed have knowledge of this Spider-Man variant, even if he isn't shown to be a member of their ranks just yet.
The Universe Without Spider-Man (Earth-42)
The final world visited in Across the Spider-Verse is a tragically dark one, designated Earth-42. It is on this Earth that Miles is captured by an evil version of himself who calls himself the Prowler. Across the Spider-Verse ends with Miles still stranded in this world without any means of escape.
The spider that bit Miles Morales in the first film originally hailed from Earth-42. Since that spider was meant to bite its world's Peter Parker, Earth-42 was left without a Spider-Man to defend it. As a result, New York City fell into corruption, with the Sinister Six Cartel taking over the island of Manhattan. As a result of these events, Captain Jefferson Davis-Morale was killed, causing his son, Miles Morales, to turn to a life of crime as the Prowler.