Miles to Go

Abstract

In this chapter, three critical scholars of literature, literacy, multimodality, and identity trace various iterations of Miles Morales in the decade-plus since his debut. No longer confined to serialized comic books, Miles has, as of this writing, appeared in two prose novels; several popular and well-received animated films; video games; standalone graphic novels; televised cartoon programs; a picturebook; and in the form of toys, apparel, and other licensed merchandise. The character has been written and illustrated by hundreds of creators, with various backgrounds and intentions, across these media. Each is sedimented with meaning. Throughout the chapter, we examine Miles' transmedial development, specifically through the lens of his hybrid and intersecting biracial/bicultural identities, foregrounding representations of Puerto Rican identity in particular.