Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse teased that a multiverse of various Spider-People thriving in their own worlds existed. While Miles Morales only got a taste of this, the upcoming sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, takes the concept to the next level. In fact, every version of Spider-Man in every medium exists and has powers of their own that are just as alike as they are different. But as Miles will learn, there’s more to this group than meets the eye.
In the trailer for Across the Spider-Verse, Miles and Gwen venture to what appears to be a pocket reality where a multiverse of spider-themed heroes converge and interact. For now, there’s no telling why they are together, but it could be because a later threat is coming that would take all of their ingenuity to stop. But because of the stakes, it’s likely they won’t let anyone waver in their convictions, which could make them fast enemies. However, this mindset and their offensive stance against Gwen and Miles call back to another council from Marvel Comics that’s just as, if not more, dangerous.
What Was Marvel’s Council Of Reeds?
One of the brightest minds in the Marvel Universe was Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Over the years, his efforts have allowed his family to explore the far reaches of the known and unknown multiverse and interact with various versions of themselves and their friend.s However, they’ve also encountered deadly enemies like Annihilus and Galactus. Nevertheless, Reed and his family’s thirst for adventure has pushed science and technology to new heights. But what Reed didn’t know was that a multiverse of his variants banded together to form a Council of Reeds determined to solve the endless problems of the multiverse.
While Reed was fascinated by the idea of working with other versions of his mind, the council’s actions left him questioning his variants’ validity and moral stance. A huge surprise came from the realization that each Reed had abandoned their family in some capacity and captured and lobotomized their versions of Doctor Doom. Reed found it hard to accept such a barbaric solution but ultimately decided not to join the group because he could never cut himself off from his family. In the end, Reed’s choices further proved that the Council of Reeds might not be as noble as they appear.
How Across the Spider-Verse Could Adapt the Council of Reeds
A council of Spider-People seems like a shock because the unification of Spider-Men has happened before but not to the extent of Across the Spider-Verse. Not much is known about why they’ve met up, but it’s clear, at least for Spider-Man 2099, that things are worse than ever. One part of the trailer even sees Miles and Gwen fighting off their variants as they try to escape the council. While they may not be as forward-thinking as the Council of Reeds, it’s clear that their convictions and desire to preserve the greater good would lead them to act more villainous than usual.
The Council of Reeds is a dangerous collective that should never get taken lightly, as they think five steps ahead of their enemy and have cut out the only people keeping them grounded. That said, it’s unlikely that this new council of Spider-People is as content with drastic measures, but the fact that they banded together so fast to stop Miles proved that they could take orders from someone far more dangerous than themselves. They may not solve every problem in the multiverse, but the one problem all the Spider-People are fighting to stop is enough to make them foes rather than friends.
