Core Spider-Man Universe Characters Across Media
The Spider-Man universe includes multiple versions of Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, and supporting cast members who appear in films, animated series, and comics. Sony Pictures Entertainment controls the film rights and has produced the Spider-Man Universe (SSU) starting with Venom in 2018, followed by Morbius in 2022 and Venom: The Last Dance in 2024. The character of Peter Parker was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 in August 1962. Marvel Comics, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, publishes the core comics featuring these characters. For the latest box office data, see the Sony Pictures releases page Sony Pictures.
Miles Morales, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, first appeared in Ultimate Fallout #4 in August 2011. He became a central Spider-Man character in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) and its sequels. The voice actor for Miles Morales in the animated films is Shameik Moore. The SSU films have generated billions in global box office revenue, with Venom: The Last Dance earning over $1.3 billion worldwide as of late 2024. The franchise includes characters from the broader Marvel multiverse, such as variants of Spider-Man from other dimensions.
Key Heroes and Supporting Characters
Supporting Spider-Man universe characters include Mary Jane Watson, Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson, and Harry Osborn. Mary Jane Watson first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #42 in November 1966. J. Jonah Jameson, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, has been portrayed by actors including J.K. Simmons in the MCU Spider-Man films and in the SSU Venom movies. The Daily Bugle is a fictional New York City newspaper that serves as a central institution in Spider-Man stories. In the SSU, characters like Eddie Brock and Carnage drive the narrative of the Venom films.
The MCU version of Peter Parker, portrayed by Tom Holland, first appeared in Captain America: Civil War in 2016. Holland's Spider-Man is a high school student who interacts with the Avengers and other Marvel characters. The character's supporting cast in the MCU includes Ned Leeds, played by Jacob Batalon, and Michelle "MJ" Jones, played by Zendaya. The character has appeared in films including Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), which earned over $1.9 billion worldwide. The film integrated characters from the Sam Raimi and Amazing Spider-Man film series into the same universe.
Major Villains and Antagonists
Spider-Man universe villains include Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Venom, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter. Doctor Octopus, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #3 in July 1963. Alfred Molina portrayed Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 2 (2004) and reprised the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The Green Goblin, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 in March 1964. Willem Dafoe played the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man (2002) and returned in No Way Home.
Venom, a symbiote character, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 in May 1988. The character was created by Todd McFarlane and David Michelinie. Tom Hardy portrays Eddie Brock in the SSU Venom films, which are produced by