Talking to Comic Book Resources, writer Brian Michael Bendis has talked about the significance of Miles Morales receiving Peter Parker's web-shooters from his Aunt May in today's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #14. This is obviously a major development in the development the character who took the mantle of 'Spider-Man' after Peter died at the hands of the Green Goblin in Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #160. The writer also comments on the introduction of 'Maria Hill' in the Ultimate Universe and teases Miles' upcoming battles with Venom and other well-known villains. The full interview can be read by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.
On What It Means For Miles Morales To Be Given The Web-Shooters From May Parker:
This is a cool moment for Miles. It's like being handed Excalibur because he's not just getting web-shooters, he's getting Peter's web-shooters. It's funny, a lot of people wanted this to happen in 'Spider-Men.' I got letters saying, 'Just have him hand over the web-shooters.' It's funny because I thought about it and went, 'Peter needs his web-shooters.' Just because you meet someone you like doesn't mean you give them your car. How is he supposed to get home? So it didn't seem appropriate for the Marvel Universe Peter to hand over his web-shooters, but it did let Aunt May see Peter with Miles," Bendis continued. "She was focused on Peter, but Miles was there too. So there's Aunt May looking at Miles a little differently and thinking, 'My Peter would want him to have these.'
On How They Will Continue To Differentiate Miles Morales From Peter Parker:
This whole idea came years ago from Mark Bagley. Once we passed our first story line in 'Ultimate Spider-Man' he said, 'I've done 'Amazing Spider-Man' for years before I was on this book and this character is a different person. He's skinnier and younger. He's got a different energy level. So he'll look different when he does things like swing or walk up a wall. Plus for my own sanity, and so I'm not drawing the same thing over and over again, I'll be using different camera angles than what you're used to seeing in 'Amazing Spider-Man.' So if you really look at those first 40 issues of 'Ultimate Spider-Man' you'll see Bagley always came up with a new way to draw Spider-Man and it was pretty cool. We're going to use that philosophy with Miles. He's a different person with a different physicality.
On How Miles Morales Will Manage Without Web-Fluid Cartridges:
Peter was a scientific genius and he invented the web fluid and all that. Miles is a very nice guy and very smart, but he doesn't have Peter's scientific acumen. So even though he's handed the web-shooters, a couple cartridges of web-fluid, and the formula it's not going to be easy for Miles and his friend Ganke to make web fluid. So I'm going to have a whole lot of fun with that. It's going to cost them a lot of their allowance money just to make web fluid. So webs are going to be relatively expensive for Miles. He's going to have to think about how he uses them. Peter kind of used them a little more frivolously. That's not going to be the case for Miles, which I think will be a lot of fun.
On Introducing Maria Hill To The Ultimate Universe:
I was thrilled to discover that Ultimate Maria Hill had not been introduced yet, and I was amazed that I hadn't introduced her before. So she comes in and she's an ex- S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who is now a homicide detective. We're going to find out why she's no longer part of the organization and her investigation into the Prowler's death brings a lot of danger close to home for Miles.
On Bringing Back Classic Villains Like Venom And Miles Morales' First Love Interest:
We're debuting a new Venom story line for Miles, and issue #16.1 is our big prelude to that story. So in the grand tradition of a Point One it's certainly an excellent hopping on point. It sets up everything about Miles and big mysteries about what's going on with Venom and stuff like that. If you've been following 'Ultimate Spider-Man' this whole time and know the whole Venom story you're good to go and here's a new chapter in it. And if you don't know anything you're just like Miles, so you're in good hands. Now that Miles has set up what his status quo will be, we can start bringing in some new elements, some brand new villains, and some classic Spider-Man villains for him to discover. We thought Venom was a perfect place to start. So while Miles and Ganke try to figure out web fluid there's going to be a lot for Miles to deal with. And we'll have Miles' first love interest coming very soon. Sara made me wait until she came back to the book to debut her.