The Interconnection Between 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' and 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2'

The Big Picture

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 includes an exciting main plot with Kraven the Hunter and a new take on Venom, but its side content is equally captivating.

Side missions in the game showcase well-known adversaries like Mysterio and offer a sneak peek of upcoming characters such as Chameleon and a young Cletus Kasady before he becomes Carnage.

An unexpected side mission within the game directly ties in with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, introducing a character who didn't make it into the films.

An Editor's Note cautions that spoilers for 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' lie ahead. Fans of PlayStation will be pleasantly surprised to discover that the newly released web-slinging game, 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2,' incorporates a significant connection to Sony's other beloved "Spider-Sequel" of 2023, 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.' Serving as a sequel to both 'Marvel's Spider-Man' and 'Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales,' 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' boasts a compelling main storyline. This highly successful sequel showcases the intense introduction of Kraven the Hunter (played by Jim Pirri), depicting Peter Parker (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) grappling with the alien Symbiote and presenting a chilling, fresh depiction of Venom (portrayed by Tony Todd).

While the main plot captivates with its gripping narrative and unexpected twists, one of the standout aspects of 'Marvel's Spider-Man 2' resides in its abundant side content. Numerous side missions feature the iconic duo of Peter Parker and Miles Morales (portrayed by Nadji Jeter) engaging with their most iconic adversaries, including the recently reformed Mysterio (voiced by Noshir Dalal). These additional quests also introduce characters who may play a role in future installments, such as the infamously enigmatic Chameleon and a version of Cletus Kasady (portrayed by Chad Doreck) before he transforms into Carnage – setting the stage for an exciting future.

Though one of the most surprising and unexpected side missions in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, it features a direct and explicit connection to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The adventure begins with the introduction of a mysterious Spider-Bot.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Peter Parker and Miles Morales Meet a Cut 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' Character

Coming to theaters on June 2, 2023, this highly anticipated film is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. The talented cast includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, and Jake Johnson. With its captivating blend of animation, superhero elements, action, and adventure, this movie is set to be a must-see.

During Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Peter stumbles upon an unusual Spider-Bot signal originating from a nearby skyscraper. What's intriguing is that this signal doesn't belong to Peter or Miles' Spider-Bots, leaving them clueless about the source of these seemingly counterfeit robots. Ganke Lee, the Spider-Men's trusted ally, adds to the mystique by revealing that the signal is from an outsider in their confidential Spider-Man network, and similar signals are appearing throughout New York City.

The city is now scattered with several dozen of these Spider-Bots, all skillfully crafted to resemble other Spider-Men from different universes. For instance, there are Spider-Bots modeled after Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Man Noir, and Spider-Gwen, each with an uncanny resemblance. Some even mimic the iconic villains in Spidey's rogues' gallery, like Shocker, Rhino, and Mister Negative. As Peter and Miles continue to unearth more Spider-Bots, Ganke inches closer to unraveling the mystery behind their origin, which appears to trace back millions of miles away.

Image via PlayStation

After collecting all the Spider-Bots in the city, Peter and Miles discover a decrypted message that originates from these robots. The message leads them to an address located in a seemingly ordinary alleyway. Suddenly, Peter and/or Miles (depending on the chosen Spider-Man character) are astonished when a massive, vibrant portal materializes in the alley. Fans familiar with the critically acclaimed animated Spider-Verse films will immediately recognize this portal as the exact same one depicted in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It is the very portal that Miguel O'Hara and his team of interdimensional Spider-defenders employ to preserve the integrity of the multiverse.

On the opposite side of the portal, instead of a character from the films, a surprising culprit has emerged as the one responsible for the missing Spider-Bots. This individual, known as Delilah, was not seen before and was originally intended to be in the film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Delilah, portrayed in a slower animation style like the animated films, was meant to be a bartender for extradimensional supervillains in the Spider-Verse according to the concept art book "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: The Art of the Movie". However, her appearance in the sequel was cut and she now takes on a key side quest role in Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

Despite encountering this mysterious bartender, Peter, Miles, and Ganke are left in the dark regarding her identity, origins, and intentions for their universe. She simply takes possession of the Spider-Bots and mentions Miguel O'Hara before permanently closing the portal. Confused by this event, the trio chooses not to dwell on it too much as they have more pressing concerns in their own dimension, including the impending threats of Kraven, Venom, and other villains.

The 'Spider-Verse' Movies Feature Plenty of Easter Eggs for 'Marvel's Spider-Man'

Image via PlayStation

The creative team responsible for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse seem to strongly admire PlayStation and Insomniac's Spider-Man games. Both films cleverly incorporate numerous references and Easter Eggs relating to the game series. In Into the Spider-Verse, May (Lily Tomlin) unveils the hidden base belonging to her nephew (Chris Pine) to Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson). Among the collection of suits within the base lies the renowned Advanced Suit from Marvel's Spider-Man game.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse includes additional references to the game series, starting with Miles' roommate Ganke (Peter Sohn) engaging in gameplay of the initial Spider-Man game. Later in the movie, we are introduced to the multiversal Spider society, where we catch a glimpse of a cameo appearance by Peter Parker from Marvel's Spider-Man, accompanied by a voiceover cameo by game actor Yuri Lowenthal.

Who is Delilah in Marvel Comics?

Delilah made her debut in Marvel Comics in 1996 with The Amazing Spider-Man #414 (Vol. 1), establishing herself as a lesser-known member of Spidey's ensemble of supervillains. Even in the comic, Delilah's origins remain a complete mystery. She possesses superpowers such as augmented strength and rapid healing abilities, along with advanced weaponry. However, the source of these deadly assassin's skills and equipment remains largely unknown. Starting off as a contract killer for the New York-based crime lord, The Rose, Delilah frequently collaborated with other mercenaries like The Black Tarantula in her quest to thwart Spider-Man.

The inclusion of Delilah in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 could potentially be a playful Easter Egg, or it may serve as a subtle indication that we'll eventually witness the character's appearance on the silver screen with the release of Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.