Although Marvel has been partnered with Adidas since 2015, their sneakers inspired by the comic books and films have been largely overshadowed by Air Jordans that have toed the line in their connection to Spider-Man.
Both the Air Jordan 1 “Origin Story” from 2018 and the Air Jordan 1 “Next Chapter” from earlier this year invoke Miles Morales’ choice of footwear in the two animated films, but they aren’t technically licensed merchandise. Subtle visual cues connect the kicks to the flicks, but you won’t see any relevant logos, names, or other overt appeals to Spider-Man anywhere on the shoes. That privilege is still reserved for Adidas, and the company may just be making its best use of it yet with a pair of the Ultra 4D Advanced on the horizon.
Featuring a black, 3D-printed midsole and a red Primeknit upper, the sneaker takes inspiration from the Symbiote Suit while connecting the two components. Black tendrils appear to climb up from the lattice structure of the midsole with printing on the red and blue overlays, suggesting The Symbiote is the process of consuming the shoe from the ground up. On the tongue, you’ll also find Spider-Man’s logo surrounded by a web motif.
The Adidas Ultra 4D “Spider-Man 2” will release Oct. 20 through Adidas’ app, website, select stores, and select additional retailers to coincide with the launch date for the video game of the same name. Apparel such as sweatshirts and compression tights will also go on sale, while Adidas products will appear in the video game. The Ultraboost J and Adizero 12.0 football cleat will also be included in the collection, although images of either have yet to be revealed. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but the 4D Ultra typically retails for $220.