Key Highlights:
- The official Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 prequel comic follows Peter Parker, Miles Morales and Mary Jane Watson after the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
- The story introduces Tarantula and The Hood while exploring Peter’s mortgage, Miles’ college plans and MJ’s struggling journalism career.
- The comic also features technology connected to the Tinkerer, an improved Spider-Lure and references to other characters from Marvel’s Spider-Man continuity.
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The official prequel comic for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reveals what Peter Parker, Miles Morales and Mary Jane Watson have been doing since Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, bringing the three characters together against a new threat before the sequel’s October 20, 2023, release on PS5.
Released for Free Comic Book Day on May 6, the 32-page comic was written by Christos Gage, who previously worked on Insomniac’s Spider-Man games, with interior artwork credited to Ig Guara and Todd Nauck.
Rather than focusing on Venom or Kraven the Hunter, the story introduces Tarantula and The Hood while examining the personal responsibilities facing Peter, Miles and MJ.
In Insomniac’s official announcement, narrative director Jon Paquette explained that the team wanted a story in which all three characters worked together against a villain whose seemingly supernatural abilities they did not understand.
The comic also provides additional context for the character conflicts Insomniac has since discussed in its pre-release story trailers.
What Happens in the Spider-Man 2 Prequel Comic?
The story begins with MJ appearing on J. Jonah Jameson’s Just the Facts podcast to promote her book, Perilous: A Journey Into War-Torn Symkaria.
The book follows her experiences reporting on the conflict in Symkaria, where Peter accompanied her during the events surrounding Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Unfortunately, sales have been disappointing, and MJ’s appearance on the podcast quickly develops into an argument with Jameson over her work and his approach to journalism.
Their discussion is interrupted when Peter and Miles crash through a nearby window while fighting Tarantula.
The villain, whose costume features a mechanical exoskeleton with additional arms, has previously encountered Insomniac’s Peter Parker in Spider-Geddon #0.
That connection establishes continuity with an earlier Marvel comic, although it does not confirm that the upcoming game’s story will explore the multiverse.
After defeating Tarantula, Peter, Miles and MJ regroup at Aunt May’s former home in Forest Hills, Queens.
Peter’s move into the property also provided an early clue that Queens could become a playable location in the sequel, although Insomniac has since confirmed the borough’s inclusion.
Their conversation reveals several personal difficulties that extend beyond their responsibilities as superheroes.
Peter is struggling with the mortgage on Aunt May’s house. May borrowed against the property to support F.E.A.S.T., leaving Peter with a financial burden he cannot easily escape.
MJ’s book has failed to achieve the sales she hoped for, and her future at the Daily Bugle remains uncertain.
Miles is approaching the end of his education at Brooklyn Visions Academy and has yet to settle on his future. His interests in science and music leave him considering different paths as he prepares for college.
The three also discuss MJ’s Spider-Lures, distraction gadgets originally developed by Peter that have now been modified by Miles.
While Peter’s original devices emitted sounds to distract enemies, Miles has developed a version capable of producing a disruptive sonic frequency.
That improvement becomes important when the trio encounter a new criminal operation.
The Hood and the Tinkerer’s Technology
Peter, Miles and MJ become involved in a robbery investigation after encountering criminals who appear capable of turning invisible.
Their unusual abilities initially raise questions about whether the group is using magic.
The investigation eventually reveals that the criminals are working for Parker Robbins, better known as The Hood, who is attempting to acquire an ancient mystical artefact known as the Lifeline Tablet.
Although The Hood possesses genuine supernatural abilities in Marvel’s main comic-book continuity, his apparent powers in this prequel rely on stolen technology.
The criminals are using equipment derived from programmable matter technology associated with the Underground and the Tinkerer, the organisation and antagonist from Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
This connection gives the new threat a direct relationship with the previous game’s events rather than introducing an entirely unrelated criminal organisation.
MJ contributes to the investigation through her journalism skills, while Peter and Miles pursue the thieves and examine their equipment.
Miles’ modified Spider-Lure proves especially useful because its sonic frequency can interfere with the cloaking technology and disorient its users.
The comic also references the Foreigner, an assassin from Marvel Comics whose name appears during the investigation into the Lifeline Tablet.
However, the Foreigner does not physically appear in the story, and the reference does not establish his involvement in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
The investigation eventually leads the Spider-Men to The Hood, who intends to use the Lifeline Tablet to save his dying mother.
His motivation introduces a different conflict from the criminal activities initially associated with his organisation.
When the tablet fails to provide the miracle he wants, his mother explains that spending her remaining time with him matters more than obtaining a supernatural cure.
Peter and Miles allow them a final moment together before the authorities intervene.
The encounter reinforces one of the comic’s central ideas: even superheroes with extraordinary abilities cannot solve every personal problem through force or technology.
How the Prequel Connects to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Although Tarantula and The Hood provide the comic’s main action, the personal circumstances of Peter, Miles and MJ establish its clearest connection to the upcoming game.
Peter’s financial difficulties are particularly important because they make his responsibilities more immediate than simply protecting New York.
His mortgage stems from Aunt May’s support for F.E.A.S.T., connecting her legacy in the original game to the life Peter is now trying to build.
Miles faces a different problem. His approaching college application requires him to consider a future beyond Brooklyn Visions Academy, even as his role as Spider-Man demands increasing amounts of time.
MJ is also trying to establish her professional future while maintaining her relationship with Peter and continuing to help both Spider-Men.
These storylines are not limited to the comic.
During Insomniac’s July 2023 story-trailer breakdown, senior narrative director Jon Paquette confirmed that Peter is struggling with payments on Aunt May’s house, Miles is postponing his college entrance essay, and MJ’s job is under threat following J. Jonah Jameson’s return to the Daily Bugle.
Those comments independently establish that the comic’s personal conflicts are intended to continue into the sequel.
What interests me most is how the prequel connects three different kinds of responsibility. Peter is trying to preserve his family’s home, Miles must make decisions about his future, and MJ is fighting to sustain her career. None of those problems can be resolved simply by defeating a supervillain.
The comic also concludes with Jameson acquiring the Daily Bugle, establishing another change that will affect MJ’s working life.
Its treatment of The Hood reflects the same broader theme. His attempt to save his mother ultimately fails, leaving him to confront a personal loss that his apparent powers cannot prevent.
While the prequel introduces new characters and references earlier Marvel stories, its strongest contribution is explaining the circumstances Peter, Miles and MJ will bring into Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
The complete issue, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 (2023) #1, is available to read for free through Marvel.
Later update: The released Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 develops all three personal storylines established in the prequel, with several consequences extending beyond their original circumstances.
Peter briefly becomes a teacher at Brooklyn Visions Academy but loses his job after leaving to confront Sandman. He subsequently joins Harry Osborn’s Emily-May Foundation, an environmental research organisation named in honour of Harry’s mother and Aunt May. By the game’s conclusion, Peter chooses to devote more attention to rebuilding the foundation and his personal life, allowing Miles to take greater responsibility for protecting New York.
Miles continues struggling with his college application while confronting his unresolved feelings towards Martin Li, the man responsible for his father’s death. He eventually completes his essay, providing a direct resolution to one of the problems introduced before the game’s release.
MJ’s difficulties at the Daily Bugle also develop into a major personal decision. Following the events of the campaign, she leaves the newspaper to establish her own podcast and moves in with Peter.
Her investigative role also expands into several playable sequences featuring improved stealth and combat mechanics. Our breakdown of MJ’s missions in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 examines how Insomniac developed those sections for the sequel.
