Spider-Verses: A Playlist for Every Spider-Man in 'Into the Spider-Verse'

Well, plus Spider-Women and a Spider-Pig

BY Bradley Zorgdrager Published Feb 26, 2019

Promotional consideration provided by Sony Pictures

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse isn't a musical, but music is important to it. The fact that main character Miles Morales is into hip-hop music and culture shapes at least one key plot point; if he wasn't into tagging, he wouldn't have been in the right place at the right time to get bitten by a spider. It got us thinking about what the other Spider-Beings listen to. 
 
It goes without saying that this article will include plot points, so consider that warning before you wade into this spoiler-verse. If you've yet to see it, you can get it digitally now and on Blu-ray/DVD March 19.
 
Miles Morales of E-1610
 


As a hip-hop fan, Miles' taste propelled the movie's soundtrack. He listens to the first single ("Sunflower" by Post Malone and Swae Lee) multiple times throughout the film, but simply selecting tracks off the soundtrack would be a cop-out. Seeing as he's the main character of the film and his taste in music is established, we don't even need to really delve into his comic history to explain what he listens to.
 
Kendrick Lamar – "u"
Miles starts out Into the Spider-Verse doubting himself, as he goes from public to private school, and it somehow gets worse after he gets his spider powers. Fortunately, by the end of the movie he's a little bit more "i," the empowering counterpart to this bouncy bummer.
 
Run DMC – "Mary, Mary"
Uncle Aaron puts this track on while tagging with Miles. Sure, the kid gets bitten and gains his powers during this escapade, but that's not why this song becomes special to him. After his uncle, then dressed as alter-ego the Prowler, gets shots shot to death by the Kingpin, this song serves as a reminder of the good times he had with his favourite relative.
 
Chance the Rapper – "Blessings (Reprise)"
A poster for Chance's Coloring Book adorns Miles' dorm wall — sort of. The number on the MC's hat levels up from a 3 to a 4, since this is an alternate universe. Initially we were going to select Acid Rap track "Everything's Good (Good Ass Outro)," which thanks the rapper's father, but Spotify doesn't have that mixtape so we're going with "Blessings (Reprise)." The song is still plenty grateful, it it can now extend beyond his dad to include his newfound Spider-Friends and the powers that connected them.
 
The Weeknd – "True Colors"
Another alternate universe reference, there's a billboard featuring an album by Abel Tesfaye that plays off the artwork of Starboy and the name of Kiss Land. Gwen Stacy shows her "True Colors" to Morales when he learns she's not just another cute classmate, but a Spider-Person.
 
Childish Gambino – "This Is America"
Donald Glover has long on the fan-community wish list to play Spider-Man, even before Miles Morales was introduced in August 2011. Since then he's voiced that character in an animated Ultimate Spider-Man series and portrayed his Uncle Aaron in both 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming and this film. Miles is Afro-Latino, and although Spider-Verse didn't breach the race issue, the comics have. It's all too appropriate that Gambino is the soundtrack for our hero's struggles with that given Glover's importance in the push for a non-white Spider-Man.



Click Next to read about Peter B. Parker, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Noir, Peni Parker and Spider-Ham.



Peter B. Parker of E-616



This is the original Spider-Man — the one Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced back in 1962's Amazing Fantasy #15. In Into the Spider-Verse, every Spider-Being gets a monologue to explain their origin story and this Parker reveals he's been on super hero duty for 22 years, putting him at 38 years old. Some things in his life are gone — Aunt May's dead and his marriage to Mary Jane Watson has ended — while others are growing larger, mainly his disillusionment and bulging belly. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
 
His soundtrack rewinds to one of the best scenes for self-loathing: post-punk.
 
New Order – "Leave Me Alone"
Being left alone is precisely what Peter wants from Miles Morales when the kid asks for training with his powers. The older Spider-Man doesn't even want help accomplishing missions, suggesting his younger comrade stand look-out when they head to Alchemex together — begrudgingly, on Parker's part.
 
The Smiths – "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now"
This song perfectly captures the cynicism of this burnt-out not-so-super hero. Sure, he gives Miles a couple tips — disinfect the mask and use baby powder to avoid chafing — but they're dripping with more sarcasm than his cheeseburger is with grease.
 
Joy Division – "A Means to an End"
This divorcee is down and depressed, with part of his aforementioned flashback dedicated to him crying in a shower before he drops a fact about how seahorses mate for life and how unbelievable he finds that.
 
Morrissey – "(I'm) The End of the Family Line"
M.J. wanted kids, but Peter got scared — a huge factor in their separation. The topic of this song is evident from the title and would trigger that oh-so-cathartic pang of regret.
 
The Cure – "Friday I'm In Love"
Peter's cynicism is chipped away for the duration of the film and, through his relationship with Miles, he realizes he would love to be a mentor to a kid. The film's conclusion find him bringing flowers to his ex-wife, presumably ready to be what she wants. We'll just pretend it's Friday.



Click Next to read about Spider-Gwen, Spider-Noir, Peni Parker and Spider-Ham.
Click Previous to read about Miles Morales.




Spider-Gwen of E-65


 
Gwen Stacy's musical taste is less up to speculation than most, as "Face It Tiger" by her band the Mary Janes has been brought to life by Married with Sea Monsters. Given that the track now appears on the Marvel YouTube channel, we're taking it as canon. She may not ooze riot grrrl in Into the Spider-Verse — after all, what kind of punk would be caught dead in a preppy school uniform — but catch her behind the kit and there's no mistaking what she's into.
 
The Distillers – "The Hunger"
In this universe, Stacy was bit by a spider, but a power-hungry Peter Parker attempts to strike back at his bullies by turning himself into the Lizard. Unfortunately, complications lead to him dying in her arms, so this song about not wanting someone to go pulls on the heroine's heartstrings.
 
Death From Above – "Do It!"
Spider-Gwen lures the Vulture via rooftop graffiti in 2015's issue #001 of her eponymous series, including a taunt of "DEATH FROM A BUTT." Though this song says, "You're my friend," the majority of it is about pushing someone away, which Stacy suggests she wants when she declares she doesn't want friends.
 
Bikini Kill – "Outta Me"
Relationships end with a messy push-and-pull of emotions, but for Stacy and Miles Morales that confusion was there at the start. They meet in the middle of his crush and her detachment for a great friendship, though apparently the sequel film will follow the comics' lead and pair them together romantically.
 
Black Flag – "The Swinging Man"
Spider-Woman ain't a man, but she proves she can do anything a man (or spider) can do. Swinging is just one of her powers, and this off-kilter shredder is the perfect soundtrack to that when taken at face value; just don't read into the depressing subtext.
 
Sleater-Kinney – "Anonymous"
Of course a masked super hero wants to stay anonymous and, at times, be like everyone else, plus there's reference to a spider that makes this jam even more perfect.



Click Next to read about Spider-Noir, Peni Parker and Spider-Ham.
Click Previous to read about Miles Morales and Peter B. Parker.




Spider-Noir of E-90214
 


This Peter Parker lives during the Great Depression, with his Edge of Spider-Verse appearance taking place the day before World War II starts, and the storyline takes after the darker times. His Uncle Ben doesn't just die, but gets eaten alive by circus-freak-turned-henchman Adrian Toomes (the Vulture), unbeknownst to his nephew, who thinks his father figure was torn apart by dogs. In stark contrast to the morals of most Spider-Beings, the gun-toting Spider-Noir later takes the cannibal's life to save Aunt May.
 
It's only appropriate that the soundtrack is both socially conscious and dour, and since neither punk nor emo existed back then, he finds himself listening to the blues, jazz and a bit of country.
 
Ethel Waters – "Waiting at the End of the Road"
Life can be a trudge, especially back in those times, but it's worth wading through to see someone you love in the afterlife — if you believe in that sort of thing. Though Spider-Noir insists he's a man of science after gaining his powers in Spider-Man Noir #003, the hope he might see his Uncle Ben again might be enough for him to put his need for proof aside for just over three minutes.
 
Duke Ellington – "Mood Indigo"
Though Parker becomes romantically entangled with local speakeasy owner Felicia Hardy, she rejects his advances to do anything during the daylight in 2009's Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Face #001, no doubt making him "bluer than blue can be."
 
Louis Armstrong – "Body and Soul"
This one ain't just speculation. It actually says, "The melancholy sound of Louis Armstrong's 'Body and Soul' drifts on the night air," as Parker checks in on Hardy in 2010's Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Face #002.
 
The Carter Family – "No Depression in Heaven"
The 1936 idealistic anti-Depression twanger represents the morals Peter's family instilled within him: pretty basic stuff like the right to a living wage and hatred for corporations taking advantage of workers.
 
Billie Holiday – "Strange Fruit"
The Eyes Without a Face storyline finds Spider-Noir unearthing a plot to turn black folks, abducted by the Crime Master, into zombified slaves via illegal neurological experiments. This protest of racism lines right up with Parker's ideals.



Click Next to read about Peni Parker and Spider-Ham.
Click Previous to read about Miles Morales, Peter B. Parker, Spider-Gwen and Spider-Noir.




Peni Parker of E-14512
 


This Japanese kid is just 14 years old when she takes over as pilot of SP//dr from her deceased dad, but she doesn't crack under pressure. Her composure might have something to do with the fact that she listens to her favourite tunes while fighting, jamming a song called "Love Is Just a Crime" by Cult Summer (ft. Gloss) while fighting Mysterio in 2014's Edge of Spider-Verse #005. The mech in this film is significantly rounder and more robust than the comic version, but that doesn't change the spirit of the driver.
 
Seeing as Peni Parker is from the future, her streaming service probably even bests Spotify's algorithms and some of her music might not even exist yet, but we're going to do our best to nail some of her picks.
 
Haru Nemuri – "kick in the world"
This song is so much more than just J-pop, starting with some upbeat rapping before detouring to an epic rock dirge. Given Peni's Japanese heritage, there's a good chance she grew up on a more straight-up version of the sound, so this is a nice bridge from where her tastes were and are: rock. Don't believe us, especially given her theme song in the film? Check out last year's Edge of Spider-Geddon #002, in which you can see a guitar and punk rock posters on her wall.
 
My Chemical Romance – "Give 'Em Hell Kid"
Singer Gerard Way invented this take on Spider-Man, so we've got to tip our hat to him. This song makes mention of missing someone, as Peni does her father, and a firing squad, which SP//dr manages to be all by itself — of web, that is.
 
Xenia Pax – "Kick in the Door"
No Spider-Being's theme song was more sweated about online than Peni's — "Want It Here" by Xenia Pax" — but given that tune ain't on Spotify we're opting another kick-er: "Kick in the Door." The lyrics, about taking what you want, sum up the SP//dr approach to a fight: direct and devastating.
 
One Ok Rock – "Stand Out Fit In"
An anthem to individuality and not fitting in is perfect for Peni, who tells Addy Brock in her Spider-Geddeon prequel she shouldn't let the other students see them talking, lest it ruin the eventual VEN#m pilot's cred.
 
Babymetal – "Ijime, Dame, Zettai (No More Bullying)"
Superheroes stand up for those who are bullied, making this song perfect fuel for battle. Once again exhibiting Peni's disparate tastes colliding, this time the explosion (of metallized J-pop) is much more volatile.



Click Next to read about Spider-Ham.
Click Previous to read about Miles Morales, Peter B. Parker, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Noir and Peni Parker.




Spider-Ham of E-8311
 


Aside from the OG Peter Parker, the hilariously named Peter Porker is actually the longest-running of the Spider-Beings in this film, debuting in 1983's Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. His introduction to heavy metal came four years later on issue 14 of his bi-monthly series, in which he was sent on assignment to cover an Ozzy Ostrich concert. Like many eventual metalheads, Porker's first impression of the aggressive music wasn't exactly positive — "I didn't think it was going to be this bad" — but we're pretty sure the concluding handshake with the Ozztrich piqued an interest and respect that only grew overtime.
 
There are also nods to metal all around his character. He refers to things as "hardcore" and "speed metal" in 2014's Edge of Spider-Verse #005, his universe's Venom is named Pork Grind, and he exhibits a little black humour in 2015's Spider-Gwen #002 when eating a corndog but pointing out it'd only be cannibalism if he ate a fellow cartoon hog, like Porky the Pig.
 
Dethklok – "Face Fisted"
Like the aforementioned Looney Tune, Spider-Ham possesses the ability to take a brutal beating and shake it off, which is why he loves "Face Fisted" by fellow cartoons Dethklok, with lyrics like "So strong, my face is. You punch, break fingers." Plus it shows off his humour!
 
Cannibal Corpse – "Hammer Smashed Face"
Of course he can also give out the beatings too, which he does in this film's climactic final battle when he busts out a massive wooden mallet and crushes Scorpion's skull. One of death metal's biggest songs, "Hammer Smashed Face" by Cannibal Corpse, is about exactly that and comes with a bonus animal connection via its inclusion in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
 
Black Sabbath – "War Pigs"
Yes, Porker's first taste of metal was via Ozzy, whose band summed up the pig's life in the title of this song, just with an "s" at the end; Spider-Ham was the only swine on Battleworld during the 2015-16 Secret Wars arc.
 
Amputated – "Slam Pig"
Porker politely asks if animals speak in this world, so he doesn't freak out Miles Morales' roommate, suggesting he can speak like his species. This British brutal death metal band gets as close as you can to a hog without sticking your snout in the mud.
 
Job for a Cowboy – "Entombment of a Machine"
Another band that shares Porker's first language by approximating the sounds that spill from a boar's maw, these deathcore trailblazers popularized the pig squeal and metal vocals were never quite the same.



Click Previous to read about Miles Morales, Peter B. Parker, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Noir and Peni Parker.

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