It may have taken decades to officially codify, but the idea of the Spider-Verse was almost inevitable. It's practically part of the very fabric of Spider-Man - almost literally, thanks to his costume.
See, there's a parable about Spider-Man that his mask makes him relatable to a wide audience. As eerie as its big glassy eyes may be, it's said that readers often find it easy to put themselves in Spidey's shoes thanks to the anonymous nature of Steve Ditko's legendary costume design.
