There have been loads of Spider-Man variations over the years. Not just different artists or costume changes, but different characters. Spider-Man 2099. Ultimate Spider-Man. Spider-Gwen. Spider-Ham. Ben Reilly. (Sorry, I had to go there.)
With the recent release of Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, mainstream America finally got to see them all too! If you missed it, no worries. The award-winning animated film hits digital download on February 26 and Blu-ray/DVD on March 19. I for one, cannot wait to see it again.
As a comic fan, I loved just about everything in this film. The animation is slick and so incredibly unique, I can’t even describe it. The story is rich and highly entertaining. And the characters, many of whom I did know but a few new ones to me (including young punk Miles Morales!), were so likable. Or to put it succinctly, you’ve never seen a Spider-Man movie quite like this.
Like all good Blu-ray/DVDs, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse features oodles of extras. That’s 90 minutes of special features, I’ll have you know. Like what? Well, like lots more Spider-Ham for starters. Who doesn’t love them some Peter Porker? Take a peak:
Bonus Materials Include:
- We Are Spider-Man: A deep dive into the diversity of the characters and aspirational core that any person from any gender or cultural background can wear the mask.
- Spider-Verse: A New Dimension: With a stunning visual style and state of the art animation designed to take the viewer into the pages of a comic, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is not only a love letter to comic books but a groundbreaking take on the super hero genre. Hear from the artists and filmmakers who pushed the boundaries of the art form as they discuss their journey.
- The Ultimate Comics Cast: A showcase of all of the fan favorite characters featured in the Spider-Verse and the spectacular cast who were chosen to bring them to life.
- A Tribute to Stan Lee & Steve Ditko: Celebrate the amazing legacy and powerful spirit of the creators of Spider-Man.
- The Spider-Verse Super-Fan Easter Egg Challenge: The Spider-Verse is loaded with Easter Eggs, from cameos to comics references. Fans are challenged to find them all!
- Designing Cinematic Comics Characters: A breakdown of all aspects of the character design including costume, movement in animation, and distinct powers for each character.
- Heroes & Hams: Meet the amazing Spider-people of the Spider-Verse.
- Scorpions and Scoundrels: Explore the classic villains who wreak havoc on the Spider-Verse.
- Alternate Universe Mode: In this all-new viewing experience, discover alternate scenes, plotlines, characters, and more with the filmmakers as your guide.
- 2 Lyric Videos
- “Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee
- “Familia” by Nicki Minaj & Anuel AA (feat. Bantu)
- All-New Original Short “Spider-Ham: Caught In a Ham” It’s another normal day for Peter Porker, a.k.a. the Spectacular Spider-Ham, fighting bad guys and loving hot dogs, until a mysterious portal starts messing with the very fabric of his cartoon reality.
While the live-action Spidey has had his share of movies and reboots, this animated take is a completely fresh approach. That’s because it’s about completely different people behind the mask. Grossing over $350 million worldwide, you better believe Sony’s already at work on a sequel.
I caught a slew of Easter Eggs in my first viewing of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but I know I most likely missed dozens more. For any comic book fan, this one’s absolutely worth a viewing or two. If you just love Marvel movies, give it a try too. It’s just an all-around fun entertaining film. Trust me, these guys know how to spin a good tale.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Digital Download February 26 | Blu-ray & DVD on March 19