After a recent rewatch of Across the Spider-Verse, a seemingly minor detail sparked a significant question: Was Miguel O’Hara’s post-credit scene destination in Into the Spider-Verse – Earth-67 – more than just a gag? It’s widely noted that the Miguel we encounter in Across the Spider-Verse is a far cry from the almost comical figure in the previous film’s after-credits scene. This observation leads to a compelling theory about his character and motivations, particularly concerning his family within the Spider-Verse.
The Two Faces of Miguel: From Jovial to Brooding
In Into the Spider-Verse, Miguel’s brief appearance is lighthearted. He banters easily with Lyla and even engages in a pointing meme with the 1967 cartoon Spider-Man. However, Across the Spider-Verse presents a starkly different Miguel – brooding, burdened, and quick-tempered. While some continuity exists – his impatience with silliness is evident in both films – the shift is dramatic. One might attribute this to his increased role as an antagonist and the heavier narrative weight he carries in the sequel. Yet, a closer look at his first multiverse jump provides another layer of interpretation.
Earth-67: A Seemingly Random Destination?
Lyla explicitly states that Miguel was “the first person to make an autonomous multiverse jump” in Into the Spider-Verse. When asked about his destination, Miguel replies, “Let’s start at the beginning, one last time. Earth-67.” This is clearly a nod to the classic 1967 Spider-Man cartoon, fitting the scene’s comedic tone. However, revisiting Across the Spider-Verse, Miguel’s flashback to his alternate dimension family adds a surprising dimension to this seemingly throwaway line.
Miguel O'Hara's Flashback Family in 2D Cartoon Style
The flashback depicting Miguel with his family is rendered in a 2D, cartoonish style, mirroring the aesthetic of the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon and Miguel’s own transformation in the Into post-credits scene. While this stylistic choice could be purely artistic – a visual shorthand for memory and nostalgia – it also raises a fascinating possibility: Could Miguel have chosen Earth-67 because it was a universe where a version of his family existed, or perhaps, tragically, where they were lost?
A Search for Family Across the Spider-Verse?
Considering Miguel was already monitoring the multiverse when he made his first jump, it’s not far-fetched to imagine that finding a version of his lost family was a primary motivation. The Earth-67 destination, initially perceived as random humor, could be a deeply personal and even desperate choice. This interpretation adds significant depth to Miguel’s character arc.
The Miguel in Into the Spider-Verse‘s post-credits scene, embarking on his first multiverse jump, might have been driven by a flicker of hope – the hope of reunion, of fixing his past. Across the Spider-Verse, then, portrays the aftermath of this hope dashed. His failure, or perhaps the harsh realities he encountered in his search for a “Pverse Family,” could be the catalyst for his disillusionment, his rigid adherence to the “canon,” and his obsessive determination to control the Spider-Verse at any cost.
In conclusion, while seemingly a minor detail, the Earth-67 connection, when viewed through the lens of Miguel’s family flashback, offers a richer understanding of his character. It suggests that his first multiverse jump wasn’t just a random adventure but potentially the start of a heartbreaking quest for family, the fallout of which shapes the complex and conflicted Miguel O’Hara we see in Across the Spider-Verse. This subtly implied backstory deepens the tragedy of his character and provides a compelling undercurrent to his actions throughout the film.
