Miles Morales has become the favorite Spider-Man for a generation of fans introduced to the character through Spider-Versestories. Powers and a supporting ensemble of his own set Miles apart from his predecessor, Peter Parker, but the two share one fundamental thing (aside from the moniker and wall-crawling ways, of course): the systematic losses of loved ones, mentors, and allies.
Like Parker, who has endured a deluge of tragedy since the formative death of Uncle Ben inspired his crime-fighting career, Morales can’t quite catch an extended break between emotionally brutal deaths. Since Brian Michael Bendis introduced the world to him in Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles has learned that, unfortunately, losses like these come with superhero territory. From family members informing origin stories to cosmic heroes whose deaths shocked audiences and Miles alike, dive into each death in Miles Morales’ comics canon below.
Peter Parker Had to Die to Make Room for a New Ultimate Spider-Man
The First of a Few Key Deaths That Gave Birth to Miles Morales: Spider-Man
Peter Parker’s origin story is solely tied to his Uncle Ben’s murder. Bendis echoed this in Miles Morales’ backstory through a two-hander of tragedies, starting with Parker himself. After anchoring the Ultimate Spider-Man comic book series for years, issue #160 had Parker meet his fate at the hands of Norman Osborne’s Sinister Six, concluding the title’s run and making way for a new Spider-Man.
The issue didn’t feature Miles directly, but Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #4 (the fourth installment of the new Miles-centric run) revealed Miles was among the crowd who witnessed Parker’s death in real-time. Later issues established that Parker, before dying but after Miles stumbled into superpowers, had encountered Miles. The combined glimpses and closeness — literal and figurative — to his death served as an integral inspiration to launch Miles towards inheriting the Spider-Man mantle.
With Great Uncles Come Great Deaths in Spider-Man Stories
Miles Morales' Origin Also Includes the Loss of a Beloved Uncle, With A Twist
The Ultimate Comics initiative’s penchant for holding mirrors up to Marvel’s most well-known tales didn’t start with Miles Morales, but his stories serve as the most shining example of just how well these kinds of stories can work. Case in point: Aaron Davis. Like Uncle Ben, Miles and his Uncle Aaron shared a strong kinship—no one understood them quite like their uncle. But Aaron was far from the beacon of virtue that Ben was, at least when it came to Aaron’s secret identity.
Just as Miles’ new double life as Spider-Man was in full swing, Aaron’s death sent that stability crashing down. Revealed as the villainous Prowler, Aaron was confirmed as in direct opposition to Miles’ crime-fighting. In Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #12, after Aaron learned the truth about his nephew’s identity, he pursues him to try and convince him to join The Prowler’s criminal enterprise. During the tense encounter, Aaron’s vibro-shock gauntlets malfunctioned—with grave results. Unlike Ben’s oft-repeated words of wisdom, which set Peter’s Spider-Man’s moral compass, Aaron left Miles with haunting ambiguity: «You’re just like me,» a complicated kernel offered to the susceptible new hero from their bad-guy uncle.
Rio Morales' Death is One of Miles' Most Shocking Losses
The Final Foundational Death of Ultimate Spider-Man's First Year
By the time Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #22 hit the shelves, Miles was wrapping up his first year as Spider-Man. He was a more poised and capable hero than ever, but he wasn’t prepared for the loss of his mother. After Venom took Brooklyn General Hospital by siege in pursuit of Miles, Rio (Miles’ mom) got caught in the crossfire. A bullet fired by the police at the scene struck Rio. Miles managed to defeat Venom, but it didn’t matter. He cradled Rio as she died in his arms, hearing her shocking confession: that she had known his secret all along.
Her support of Miles in death came with a crushing caveat: don’t tell Dad. The loss caused Miles to retire his Spider-Man persona for a full year. Her charge, however, urging Miles’ secrecy informed a new spin on Spider-Man’s secret identity trope that would serve as the backdrop for many of his stories, especially once he returned to the Spidey mantle.
The Hulk's Unexpected Death in Civil War II Upped the Hero vs. Hero Ante
Spider-Man Had a Front-Row Seat on Team Tony Stark
Bruce Banner’s death at the start of Civil War II set the tone for the entire event. The precognitive crime-stopping storyline saw Hawkeye kill the Jade Giant preemptively, acting on a future vision in which Banner would run amok as the Hulk again. Miles Morales wasn’t directly involved in the encounter that took Banner’s life, but Spider-Man #8 brought him into its proverbial blast radius. In the issue, Tony Stark sought counsel from Miles, Ms. Marvel and Nova aboard the Triskelion, ultimately exposing the younger heroes to the grief of losing one of the most powerful heroes and his co-founding Avenger.
Civil War II was a fall from grace compared to its predecessor. The sequel event was widely criticized among fans and critics for its muddled plot and confusing moral messaging. Regardless of how one might feel, though, Banner’s death left an undeniable mark on Miles. Witnessing Tony’s pain up close — an idol of Miles’ — informed his decision-making moving forward. He became Team Tony in the conflict and further established his standing in the larger moral hierarchy of Marvel Comics.
Black Widow's Death Established Earth-616 Superhero Stakes
Secret Empire Thrust Miles Into a Highly Lethal Battlefield
Civil War II pitted half of Marvel’s heroes against Miles Morales. A Ulysses vision showed Miles standing over a fallen Captain America, sparking a manhunt to arrest him. That trauma was still fresh when Secret Empire revealed Captain America as Hydra’s leader. During the battle at the Capitol, the prophecy came true—but not as expected.
When Hydra’s Steve Rogers swung a killing blow at Miles, Natasha Romanoff stepped in and took the hit, dying instantly. Miles stood over Rogers’ body as foretold, but because of Black Widow’s sacrifice, not his own violence. The loss nearly shattered Miles’ moral compass. Enraged, he attacked Rogers until Wasp stopped him from crossing the line that Natasha died to protect.
Spider-Man Undoing Kamala Khan Ended Their Friendship
Miles Had Mephisto Reverse Ms Marvel's Death
After breaking away from the Avengers and looking for a fresh start, Miles Morales found something new in The Champions. Alongside Kamala Khan, Miles helped shape a team that aimed to do things differently. The group took on major threats, from Monsters Unleashed to Inhumans vs. X-Men, quickly establishing themselves as a real force in the superhero world. But when Kamala and Viv were killed in a battle with Zzzax in Dubai, the grief-stricken team disbanded.
Miles, helpless, became the perfect target for Mephisto. Disguised in civilian form, the Marvel Comics devil offered Miles something he couldn’t refuse—the chance to turn back time and prevent Viv and Kamala Khan’s deaths. Getting a Zzzax encounter mulligan, Kamala and Viv survived, albeit with a new, Faustian cost. Mephisto undoes the rescue of a girl from the original battle in exchange for Viv and Ms. Marvel. Riddled with guilt, Miles comes clean to Kamala about the bargain and its cost, but it’s not met with gratitude. Heartbroken, Kamala effectively ends their friendship.
Miles Morales' Lost His Uncle Aaron, Again
The Prowler, No More
When Miles moved to Earth-616 after Secret Wars, Aaron Davis came back to life—and this time, he was trying to go straight. The reformed Prowler was finally becoming the uncle Miles had always wanted, making their rebuilt relationship one of the few bright spots in Miles’ new reality.
That made Aaron’s second death even more devastating. During a fight with the villain Ultimatum, Aaron threw himself between Miles and a killing blow, dying to save his nephew. Unlike his first death, where Aaron left Miles with ominous last words, this time, he died a hero. Miles lost not just his uncle again, but their second chance at a future they’d been building towards together.
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