In the highly acclaimed Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, one standout character, Hobie Brown, alias Spider-Punk, emerged as a captivating figure voiced by Daniel Kaluuya. His anti-establishment stance and rebellious attitude resonate strongly, notably marked by his memorable introduction with the line “I hate the A.M.! I hate the P.M!”
Fans keenly observed a small yet significant detail about Hobie’s character: his blue shoelaces. These details spurred speculation about the potential symbolism behind this specific choice in the context of the punk ideology he represents.
The punk culture from the late ’70s and early ’80s fostered various counterculture movements, and one distinctive aspect was the significance of bootlace colors. The “shoelace code” conveyed different messages within the punk community, serving as a symbol of affiliations or beliefs. For instance, certain colors denoted solidarity with specific causes or groups—yellow for anti-racism, purple for LGBTQ+ support, and red for affiliations with extremist groups.
In the case of blue shoelaces, the tradition holds that they signify a person who has reportedly killed a police officer. This symbolic gesture is often associated with anti-law enforcement sentiments and is historically linked to solidarity with communities historically targeted by police persecution.
While it’s never explicitly confirmed in the movie, fans speculate that Hobie’s backstory might align with this symbolism, as he mentions a police captain’s death as part of his own history, akin to other Spider-People whose narratives involve police-related tragedies.
However, the extent or truth behind the implications of Hobie’s blue shoelaces remains speculative. There’s conjecture that his incorporation of this symbolism into his attire might suggest a tragic yet necessary event from his past, possibly involving his father’s death. The exact nature of this event might be explored further in the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, slated for a late 2024 release.
Considering the sensitive nature of such implications, it remains uncertain if the character’s backstory will explicitly confirm or deny the speculations. Sony Pictures might tread cautiously to avoid explicitly stating that one of its popular characters is a cop-killer, leaving this aspect possibly relegated to the realm of convincing fan theories rather than explicit on-screen portrayal.