The End is a series of stories that show the final end tales of popular Marvel characters - or at least a version of them. In the case of Miles Morales: The End, Ahmed and artist Damion Scott will flash forward to a future where "Old Man Miles" is the mayor of a monster-devastated Brooklyn, fighting for the last scraps of humanity that hang on there.
But it's not all doom-and-gloom. Ahmed says he focused on Miles' positivity and relentless spirit as the guiding principles of his elder years. And that's not all he had to say, as Newsarama spoke with him ahead of Miles Morales: The End #1's January 8 release to find out what Miles is up against as he takes on not just adulthood and the future, but the last hope of mankind.
Newsarama: Saladin, Miles Morales is a teenager now - but he's an old man when he reaches The End. How does "Old Man Miles" (to borrow Marvel parlance) compare to young Miles? What qualities of his personality are elevated by experience?
Saladin Ahmed: It's easy to write a post apocalyptic hero who has become scarred and cynical. But this version of Miles Morales goes in the opposite direction and asks 'How do we keep hold of our optimism and our brightness in the darkest circumstances?' Miles is an essentially positive character and for me it was important to show him maintaining that positivity even against a grim backdrop.
Nrama: Given the time gap between Miles' current life and The End, there are certain to be countless formative events in that timeframe. Is there a particular moment or "future story" beat that drives this version of Miles' ending?
Ahmed: Miles becoming the Mayor of Brooklyn after monstrous creatures known only as Germs destroy Manhattan.
Nrama: The solicitation for the one-shot says Miles is the "last bastion of civilization" in the future. What's he up against here, in his final hour?
Ahmed: Miles will face monsters and monstrous people. And everything he's worked decades to protect will be threatened.
Nrama: You're working with Damion Scott on Miles Morales: The End #1 - and there may not be a better pairing of artist and character going right now. What does Damion bring to this book?
Ahmed: Damion's style is tailor-made for Miles and his reimagined Brooklyn. The mix of hip-hop and manga and super hero influences could not be better suited, and I straight-up gasped when I saw the pages.
Nrama: Without being too spoilery, what's your favorite thing he drew for this story?
Ahmed: Our villain, Captain Last!
Nrama: Peter Parker's mantra is "With great power must also come great responsibility" - and Miles has inherited that on some level, but he's very much his own Spider-Man. Is there a core personal philosophy that guides him in the present day through his elder years?
Ahmed: It would probably be something like "Protect each other and don't forget to have fun."
Nrama: Sometimes "The End" seems like an incoming tragedy - but sometimes it's more like a blaze of glory, or dare we suggest a happy ending. What takeaways about Miles Morales are you hoping to drive home by presenting an ending for him?
Ahmed: You'll have to read to find that one out!