The race issue has come up in comics many times, this and recently 
a Muslim Batman being appointed by Bats in France. Its good to see characters 
re-invented ( if done well ), it draws new readers and makes you remember 
why you love the character...I am curious about this series now...

As a black girl (who is half white/ half black) here is my perspective:
 
I think Marvel isn't doing this so much for PC purposes but more as a result of them wanting to probably try get more people to buy the comic book. Doing controversial things tend to rake in the money. And lets face it, this is probably as controversial as you can get in the comic world because America isn't even close to putting racism in the past.
 
I think that I would have preferred Marvel to just make an entirely new black character (and female at that) and try to popularize it rather  than just replace a previous character. To me, replacing Peter Parker is sort of a cop out because you know it won't be permanent. The main Marvel reality will still be Peter Parker and Miles Morales probably won't ever be known beyond this comic book and most definitely will never be seen in any film or animated tv show. 
 
It just seems like such a waste. I want a permanent character and not a temporary one. Why couldn't they just do something along the lines of Batman Beyond? 
 
Like i said before, this reeks of Marvel trying to find any way they can to get people to buy their comics.

Race doesn't matter when a super hero of character is first created, but I hated when they change a characters race after its been created for example Nick Fury or Perry White in the new Superman film.

It doesn't matter whatsoever. As long as they don't favor him over Peter Parker. His character still lives on! The real Spiderman has to stay intact. 

not really a problem here. All we're gonna have is another Thunderstrike story. Peter Parker will come back from the dead with no reason whatsoever as to how he came back and take back his mantle as Spider-Man. Then Miles will become someone like the Arachnid or whatever

@crmidnight: Check your PMs.

You just have to remember it's the Ultimate U first of all NOTHING is how it should be. Anytime you change a race/gender of a character it takes awhile to adjust. I think it's easier for newer readers than those who followed for yrs and yrs. As long as they stay true to the character and don't try to actually replace the original I think it works. Peter will eventually come back some how in the next yr or so anyway.
 
I wish I would have kept with Ult. Spidey after Ultimatum. I just started to lose interest after awhile. I'm tempted to go back and grab some trades and catch up to the "Death of Spider-Man"

What are u talking about Crow? He is still American.

Whats funny is that people dont realize that because this is perceived as gimmicky is particularly the reason its so important that decisions like this be made. And with the buzz of the new movie surrounding Spider-Man, the timing could not be better.

There are like.. what... 5 or 6 comics/issues released every month in the 616 that feature Peter Parker? People who have a problem with a multi-racial Spider-man can go buy one of those books. 
I mean, Ultimate Spider-man isn't even the real Spider-man!!!  If people are truly bothered by Miles Morales, then that just illustrates their bigotry. This is an alternate universe we're talking about here folks. :/

Well written article. As for the character...I haven't read Ultimate Spider-Man in years, but hopefully it works out.

I for one LOVE when they do stuff like this... It reminds Me what an ignorant/devisive/racist world we STILL live in... &TBBH ComicVine shouldnt even DRAW ATTENTION to the race of the CHARACTER... But to the CHARACTER of the Hero..  But hey.. Thatd be toomuch to ask for in the world we live in wouldnt it?

I don't think it has anything to do with the race of the character, but the actual character itself. If Peter was black or asian or whatever other race they want him to be, then I think there would be less people against the idea.

Well, it's the Ultimate Universe so I have to work up a running start to Care about it, And it's Bendis so that run needs to be downhill with a strong tailwind.  
I don't see the big deal myself, wouldn't have minded if they did it to the 616 Parker just to put him out of his misery, but then I'm more interested in a good story and great art, then someone trying to be edgy and fill an Affirmative Action quota.  I think I would have been more impressed with it if they hadn't pushed the race card so much and might even have added the book to the pull list.  Now it's not, a New Take on Spider Man, it's just, "Look, He's not White!".....*shrug*
 
~Rex

Why the hell not, I literally don't care what they do with characters (even my absolute favourites), it's far worse to let things stagnate than to please the basement dwellers. Change is good, besides no doubt a wizards will magic Peter back by the end of the year. Now Mignola, he's got some balls and will hopefully stick to his guns.

In the past couple of weeks I've heard rants on Miles Morales. How it's unacceptable that Marvel is "mutilating" Spider-Man. And most readers say it's good that Marvel is being progressive and politically correct but they should stick with the original concept. But there is no original concept. Spider-Man wears a mask. He can be anyone. But the sad part of this all is. Spider-Man can't apparently be black. And if he is black. He's gonna be branded as the "Black Spider-Man". I thought we were better than this. I thought we were above this. I am no fan of characters where ethnicity, sexual preference, religion, gender preference is used as a gimmick to propel the story. But i do feel in this day and age. We need diversity. Because our society is made up of diversity. Especially in the superhero comics we need diversity because people look up to these icons. They inspire us and are a reflection of ourselves. So we wish to see a reflection of ourselves in them. On that note. I'd love to see an arabian / muslim superhero (no stereotype Al-Quada Muslim) and i'd love to see a male2female pre-op transgender. Who tries to find her way in life and make the world a better place (and no stereo type over the top drag queen)

That's the thing though.  I just want a Good Character.  This change might have gotten me to look at the book, but all the media coverage shaking trees about the race and then the replies by the folks making the books and the various back and forth, has just made me go "meh".  I don't see folks just trying to get a good comic here.  It's more like they're going for Pro Wrestling style Heat.  It feels to much like a gimmick especially with the early sneak peeks and such.
 
I'm all for Diversity.  Huge fan of many a "not my demographic" characters and they're in my collection.  Not because of that Diversity, but because they are just GREAT characters.  No Gimmick Needed.
 
~Rex

Marvel is just jumping on the diversity band-wagon (diversity isn't a band-wagon it should be something that comes naturally as we are a people of many ethnicity and color is beautiful) that has become a weak, overfilled, creaky burden that was created to make this world we live in more PC, its evident in the fact that they are making him Black and Hispanic ...cover all your bases Marvel, cover all your bases (which are belong to us)

To be fair, Ultimate Spider-Man was a boring copy of 616 Spider-Man (with feminine qualities). I can see why people were hoping Spider-Man's replacement was Kitty Pryde or Mary Jane. Five issues into the series I had kind of hoped my mailman had died. The rest of the comics I gave to my sister.

No, it doesn't.  Now let's be done with it and move on. 
To be honest, when I first opened up the comic and saw this new character I thought it was the black Ben Reilly that was introduced waaay back in the Ultimate Carnage days, but he looked like he was too skinny.  Then I saw online that his name was Miles Morales instead.  Oh well, should be interesting, eagerly awaiting the first issue.

@sinful: Thanks. Glad you enjoyed. And welcome to the site!

To Fox News the race of the character matters, funny how they were so invested in the character, also, not sure they are aware this is an alternate reality version of Spidey, not the real deal 616 version, who is still a fictional character... Any doubt Fox News was a racist channel was put to bed by the arrival of Miles, which kinda makes his impact on the real world legit, 

Excuse me, but how did Ultimate Spiderman die?