SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Spider-Man" #1, in stores now.

Real world issues and Marvel Comics have gone hand-in-hand for decades, stretching back to the days when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were laying the groundwork for the stories we read today. Throughout the years, Spider-Man in particular has dealt with issues facing his readers, ranging from being unable to pay the bills or maintain a romantic relationship, to losing a loved one, or dealing with a friend's addictions.

It should come as little surprise, then, that the star of Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli's "Spider-Man," Miles Morales, is stepping into Peter Parker's webbed booties when the Marvel Universe discovers the new Spidey isn't white.

REVIEW: Bendis & Pichelli's "Spider-Man" #1 Welcomes New & Old Readers Alike

"[S]tarting with the very next issue, we will see Miles' interesting relationship with the media, which will include -- now that his costume has ripped in front of people -- there's the first hint that this Spider-Man is a brown skinned young man," Bendis told CBR News while discussing the events of the new title's just-released first issue. "That will become a topic of discussion in the world; a topic of discussion Miles will not be thrilled about. It's not going to be a racial book, but a lot of people have asked how that aspect of him is going to affect the character, and this is the beginning of that.

"When you look at what's going on in our world," Bendis added, "it couldn't be more timely."

"Spider-Man" #1, by Bendis and Pichelli, is in stores now.