Spider-Man: Miles Morales video game pays subtle yet touching tribute to World AIDS Day
Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Twitter/@Spidermanshots)
As Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales hits the stores, eagle-eyed players have noticed a subtle yet touching tribute to World AIDS day hidden in the game.
The new game for Playstation 4 and 5 follows web-slinging teen hero Miles Morales, who’s the very first Black character to don the Spidey costume.
The latest adventure in the Spider-Man universe is packed full of clever details that bring Marvel’s New York City to life – including one very important flash of red on a jacket lapel.
The refreshing little touch of an AIDS ribbon didn’t go unnoticed by gay video game director Simon Smith, who shared a screenshot with his followers on Twitter.
“Awesome to see a World AIDS Day red ribbon featured on the Miles Morales game title screen,” he said. “The game is set in NYC around Christmas so this makes sense as World AIDS Day is 1 December.”
Awesome to see a #WorldAIDSDay2020 red ribbon featured on the #MilesMorales game title screen ?
The game is set in NYC around Christmas so this makes sense as #WorldAIDSDay is 1st December.#PS5 #PlayStation5 #lgbt pic.twitter.com/AJJBUTCUxM
— Simon Smith (@SimonSmithMCR) November 25, 2020
It’s not the game’s only nod to inclusivity.
Miles’ Afro-Latino culture is placed the heart of the story, with the young Spider-Man often heard speaking Spanglish with his Puerto Rican mother. His Black heritage is also acknowledged through the prominent hip-hop music interwoven through the game.
He’s accompanied by a refreshingly diverse cast, including his best friend Ganke Lee, who is Korean, while other major characters like The Tinkerer and The Prowler are both Black. There’s also a deaf character introduced partway through the story.
And as a special treat to fans, the game’s creators have included several subtle Easter eggs paying tribute to the Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, who tragically died in August aged 43.
Observant fans noticed that one of the New York streets was named after him and a special dedication to the “noble king” was placed in the credits.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales features a dedication and tribute to Chadwick Boseman in its end credits ? pic.twitter.com/UH1PGxEdJx
— B/R Gaming (@BRGaming) November 13, 2020
