Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse is a rare type of sequel. It manages to be as good, if not better, than its predecessor (the Oscar winner Into the Spider-Verse), drawing on what some would say is already perfection in every way imaginable to create an experience that is both familiar and new.

Most impressive, Through the Spider-Verse manages to exceed as a sequel which is the first of two parts, (a the third movie is confirmed for a 2024 version). Countless times, we’ve seen the sequels to “Part 1” feel like filler, setting the stage for all the more exciting action to come in the next one. But Through the Spider-Verse sidesteps that pitfall, delivering an emotionally resonant story that deserves its place as a worthy middle chapter.

It’s not fair to compare every sequel to something like The Empire Strikes Backbut Through the Spider-Verse is certainly that for this franchise.

Through the Spider-Verse picks things up with Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) sometime after their first fling. Miles has settled into his role as Spider-Man, but he’s still rusty and struggling to balance his personal and superhero life. Gwen struggles with the same double act that sparked a rift between her and her father, a police captain.

When that balance implodes, Gwen eventually returns to the Multiverse, where she’s recruited by Miguel O’Hara (aka Spider-Man 2099, voiced by Oscar Isaac) and Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (Issa Rae) to help rectify the des errors that appear in the various universes following the Kingpin Collider.

A great development in Through the Spider-Verse is that Gwen’s story gets as much spotlight as Miles’. Spider-Man may be in the title, but this story is just as much about Gwen. The duo’s blossoming connection across the multiverse is an anchor in this story. It unfolds organically in a beautiful portrayal of the coming-of-age genre, animated against a backdrop of animated landscapes that you’ll instantly want to hang on your wall.

Through the Spider-Verse builds on the foundation laid in the first film with a more complex layer of mythology within the multiverse – and a whole lot more Spider-People. He is not afraid to take risks or to hesitate to lean on the experimental. It’s the Everything everywhere all at once superhero movies.

It’s also a film that’s built with so much thought, not just in its style and performance, but also in the care that goes into its source material and the legacy of a character like Spider-Man. Yes, it’s full of Easter eggs and cameos that fans will love, but it’s not weighed down by those elements and doesn’t rely on them to build hype. Through the Spider-Verse is a memorable film, entirely of his own making.

A lots of reviews there will tell you how dazzling beauty Through the Spider-Verse the animation is, or how perfectly the soundtrack complements the visuals, or how lively and witty its humor is. All of this is true.

But what really struck me about this film is how intimately it is able to resonate with such a large audience.

At one point, a scene between Miles and his father reminded me so much of an exchange I had with my own father that I felt genuinely emotional. Now, I’m not a biracial teenager from Brooklyn harboring secret superpowers but, in that moment, I felt seen. And there is innumerable moments like this.

Spider-Man has always been a relatable hero by design. He is everyone. He’s your friendly neighborhood superhero. But it’s the spider worms films that really pushed the message that anyone can be a hero and crafted an emotionally resonant story to convey that message. In this way, they became films capable of speaking to anyone who sits down at the cinema.

The only flaw I can find in it Through the Spider-Verse is the intermediate film syndrome mentioned above. Sometimes it feels like half of a whole, but that’s by design. And when the result is such a perfectly made film, who cares? That doesn’t make it any less interesting to watch.

Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse is everything a sequel should be. It builds on the original in a bold and beautiful way, then leaves you wanting more.

Beyond the Spider-Verse can’t come soon enough.

Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse: The Verdict

Benefits: All.

The inconvenients: Let it end.

Watch it if you liked: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The LEGO Movie, all at once.

Spider-Man: Through the Spider-Verse Australian cinema releases on June 1.