This article is filed under: Discrimination, Diversity, Legal, Leadership, Minorities, Role models

The world may have uttered a gasp when superhero Peter Parker breathed his last as Spider-Man – but many diehard fans may have to gasp again with the shock of his resurrection.

The new Spider-Man is revealed as Miles Morales, a half-black, half-Latino teenager in the latest Ultimate Comics Fallout #4 that has just hit the streets.

Miles represents a major shift in the fantasy world of costumed superheroes – a non-white hero with a 21st century grounding.

Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Axel Alonso promised readers a more ethnically diverse comic landscape when he took over at that fabled bastion of crime and punishment that publishes Captain America. the X-Men and Iron Man.

“When the opportunity arose to create a new Spider-Man, we knew it had to be a character that represents the diversity — in background and experience — of the twenty-first century,” Alonso says announcing his new hero.

“Miles is a character who not only follows in the tradition of relatable characters like Peter Parker, but also shows why he’s a new, unique kind of Spider-Man — and worthy of that name.”

“The superhero genre has been dominated by caucasian superheroes from Superman to Batman. When Spider-Man peels back that mask, there will be a whole new demographic kids who we’ll be reaching on a new spiritual level.”

In his first adventure Miles Morales defeats the Kangeroo, then climbing high on a skyscraper, he unmasks for the first time to reveal who he is.

“Going into this we knew we wanted to make a statement about the 21st century. I’m mixed race. My mom is from England, my dad is from Mexico,” said Alonso.

“I remember what it was like to grow up mixed race. This is more prevalent in the United States and it speaks to our rich cultural heritage.”

Artist Sara Pichelli, who draws the new Spider-Man, said: “Maybe sooner or later a black or gay, or both, hero will be considered something absolutely normal.”