MILES MORALES

Rising star Reynolds draws on devastating real-life experiences to relate how the teenage Afro-Latinx superhero must discover a renewed balance of self even as he negotiates his immense responsibilities.

Puerto Rico, where Miles’ mother grew up, has experienced a very intense earthquake. Just as the family launches a community fundraiser to help, Spider-Man must attend to a mischievous new superpowered duo who elude his capture. Simultaneously, Miles and his best friend, Ganke, who’s Korean American, welcome a new friend when new female classmate and techie Kyle, who’s Black, joins the scene at Brooklyn Visions Academy, as her father has come to town to work for the mega-rich, ultrapowerful Harrison Snow. Yet just a few days later, Kyle’s father seems to have gone missing. Might there be a connection among it all: the mysterious disappearance of Kyle’s father, the new superpowered duo shaking things up, and the earthquakes threatening his mother’s beloved island? And will Miles ever be able to get a good night’s sleep? The graphic novel sensitively grants agency to those who can’t shoot webs from their wrists, as Miles’ friends’ skills, wisdom, and cunning all contribute to finding a solution. Leon’s panels equally deftly juggle humor, action, and emotional truth. At its heart, the story lifts up the real-world consequences of a series of natural disasters to the proud people of Puerto Rico, challenging us all to recognize our shared responsibility.

Big heart and enduring life lessons make this a cherished addition to a viral character’s legacy.