Gwen Stacy's intriguing remarks on Spider-Man 2099 aka Miguel O'Hara's seemingly vampiric characteristics in Spider-Verse 2 have stirred up speculation. So, what are the actualities surrounding Spider-Man 2099's abilities, and how do they harmonize with their comic book counterparts?
Hailee Steinfeld's Spider-Woman makes an insightful parallel, equating Miguel to a 'Blue Panther,' underscoring his exceptional talons. Nevertheless, the intrigue amplifies when Gwen, in a TV Spot, portrays him as a "ninja vampire Spider-Man," a description that especially enthralls those less familiar with the comic books.
After this, we witness Miguel attempting to pierce Jorma Taccone's Vulture with his decidedly vampire-like fangs.
The film integrates many Spider-Man versions from the comic universe, with Miguel as one such distinctive rendition adorned with his particular powers and narrative.
From Alchemax to Arachnid: The journey of Miguel O'Hara, Spider-Man 2099
In comic books, Miguel O'Hara carves out a unique path as an engineer at Alchemax. His odyssey takes a disturbing turn when he stumbles upon the corporation's ghastly genetic experiments on humans.
O'Hara decides to sever his ties with the company, but a clandestine move by the company, involving a potentially addictive drug, forces him to remain tethered.
Driven to desperation and the brink of self-destruction, O'Hara turns to the very genetic technology that appalled him.
He employs this radical method, transforming fifty percent of his DNA into a mirror image of a spider's genetic code. The transformation yields him abilities akin to a spider, including extraordinary strength proportionates to his size, superhuman agility, enhanced speed, rapid reflexes, and astounding stamina, reminiscent of the abilities possessed by the original Spider-Man.
Most strikingly, this change manifests in the form of his distinctive talons and fangs, trademarks that lead to his metamorphosis into the Spider-Man of 2099.
Contrary to Gwen Stacy's vampire comparison, O'Hara doesn't possess a vampiric thirst for blood. Instead, his fangs generate a non-toxic, paralyzing venom, likely the weapon he sought to employ against Medieval Vulture in Across the Spider-Verse.
However, O'Hara's tale deviates from comic lore in several significant ways. Unlike his comic counterpart, he cannot produce organic webbing, and he compensates for this by using hard-light webbing, which, while still originating from his forearms as in the comics, can be steered and controlled in direction.
The mysterious green injection: Unraveling the consequences for Miguel O'Hara's powers in Spider-Verse 2
In the enigmatic depths of his home dimension's Spider Society headquarters, Miguel O'Hara captivates audiences as he administers a mysterious green fluid into his neck.
This perplexing act raises the question: Could Miguel's powers be sustained by regular injections of this substance, deviating from the one-time transformation depicted in the comics?
The injection scene has garnered significant attention from viewers, indicating that it will likely play a pivotal role in the sequel. Will Miguel face the dilemma of running out of injections? Or could Miles and Gwen's Spider-Squad disrupt his supply, leading to the source of his erratic and aggressive behavior?
Although there are alterations from the original comics, Miguel's origin story seems to remain faithful. Rather than gaining his powers from a spider bite, he took matters into his own hands, attempting to manipulate the genetics of previous Spider-People—a revelation confirmed by merchandise associated with the film.
Thus, while Miguel O'Hara is not a vampire in the literal sense, that doesn't discount the possibility of him hunting for Miles.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently captivating audiences in theaters worldwide.