By Ezae Darby
In the comic-based movie, “Into The Spider-Verse,” a wise man once said, “Nah…ima do my own thing.” That man was Miles Morales, the main character donning the title of being Spider-Man. Critically acclaimed author, comic book artist, and editor Alex Segura also did his “own thing.” While it may not involve climbing walls and saving universes, his work has proved to be just as heroic for the fans who enjoy it.
Segura has published stories for Marvel, DC, and Archie Comics. His stories have brought life to iconic characters like Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. One of his latest works, “Spider Society #1”, is now available for fans everywhere to check out.
Segura spoke about superheroes and the importance of representation in comics, as well as the impact of social media on storytelling. Segura believes that Marvel has done a good job with representation of characters and events in their stories, in particular with the diverse cast of characters in “Spider Society #1.” The series can continue to highlight diverse voices and perspectives.
“When people think of Marvel, they think of it as the world outside your window,” said Segura. “I think the cool thing about Spider-Verse is that there’s really a character for everybody.”
Segura recalled reading Spider-Man 2099 and felt personally connected to a superhero for the first time after not seeing many Latinx characters represented. To Segura, this was just the start of assuring that everyone finds part of themselves represented in a superhero.
“One of my most powerful comic book memories was picking up ‘Spider-Man 2099 #1’ and realizing that Miguel O’Hara was Latino. We had never heard of this character. I’d never seen a character like me […] he had similarities to my culture and that sense of identification is very powerful. You can’t sum it up in a sentence,” said Segura.
Segura later talked about Spider-Man’s well-known struggle to balance personal life and superhero duties, a challenge that resonates with many of his readers as they juggle the different realms in their lives. He talked about how this duality speaks to the pressures people face today, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic. “It’s a huge thing for me. Everyone’s experienced it in their own way. Spider-Man was the first superhero who truly drew me in as a kid,” said Segura.
Despite these struggles, Spider-Man and other superheroes often embody themes of resilience and hope. Segura talked about how he aimed to capture these themes in “Spider Society #1,” especially given the current global challenges.
Segura has also appeared at Comic-Con for several years and deeply values his relationship with his fans. While the relationship between an artist and their fans can be strong, Segura finds it important for creators to stay true to their ideas, to “disconnect from the discourse” in order to avoid being overwhelmed by feedback.
“As creators, it’s really beholden on us to feel like we’re not crowdsourcing our work […] we understand that fans have strong opinions but these may not always make for great stories,” said Segura.
As a Comic-Con regular, Segura uses the internationally-known comic festival to connect with fans on a deeper level, sharing insight into his processes as an artist. In addition, it’s an opportunity to see the impact of his work firsthand.
“I love New York because I get to meet the fans, I get a non-stop barrage. It feels like sensory overload in the best way. I’ll see people I worked with twenty years ago. I’ll see family, I’ll see friends from the book world who write novels, I’ll see people that I didn’t even know were at Comic-Con,” said Segura.
To Segura, the best part about what he does is not just seeing the final product, but seeing the impact it has on all his readers.
“Once it’s out there, it’s not mine anymore. Once the work is done, I’ve done my part and the hope is that the more people that enjoy it,” Segura said. “I enjoyed working on the book and now it’s out of my hands. Now it’s your story to consume.”