A new superhero hit the block Wednesday when Marvel Comics launched a revamped Spider-Man whose alter-ego is a mild-mannered half-black, half-Latino teen from New York. The new Spidey, one of the most enduring characters in comic books, is called Miles Morales and he lives in Brooklyn with his parents -- at least when he's not in his famous red and blue costume and battling world evil. The previous incarnation, Peter Parker, was white, an orphan and came from New York's borough of Queens. He was killed off in June during a fight with his nemesis Green Goblin. "When the opportunity arose to create a new Spider-Man, we knew it had to be a character that represents the diversity -- in background and experience -- of the twenty-first century," Axel Alonso, Marvel's chief editor, said in a statement. "Miles is a character who not only follows in the tradition of relatable characters like Peter Parker, but also shows why he’s a new, unique kind of Spider-Man -- and worthy of that name." Spider-Man is one of the most hallowed characters in superhero universe. In March, a copy of the inaugural 1962 comic book sold at auction for $1.1 million. Originally the comic sold to fans for just 12 cents.