Honestly, sneakerheads are a fickle bunch. When the first leaks of the Jordan 1 Next Chapter hit the internet back in early 2023, the comment sections were a disaster zone. People called them "clown shoes." They complained about the mismatched circles on the collar. They begged Nike to just "give us a normal Chicago retro and stop playing."
Fast forward to 2026, and the vibe has shifted. Big time.
What looked chaotic in low-res spy shots turned out to be one of the most technically ambitious releases Jordan Brand has ever attempted. This isn't just another Spider-Man shoe; it is a literal piece of "Across the Spider-Verse" animation you can wear on your feet. If the 2018 "Origin Story" was a safe, dot-textured nod to Miles Morales, the Next Chapter is a full-blown dive into the multiverse.
The Design That Nobody Got at First
Most Air Jordan 1s are simple. You get two, maybe three colors of leather, and you’re done. But the Jordan 1 Next Chapter (officially the Air Jordan 1 High OG "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse") is a headache for the factory workers who had to make it.
Look closely at the red overlays. It’s not just "red." It is a patchwork of textures. You have:
- Lustrous leather that catches the light like a comic book gloss.
- Gritty suede that feels like a sidewalk in Brooklyn.
- Marbled graphics on the eyestays that look like Ben-Day dots—those tiny little ink circles from old-school printing.
The concept was "multiverse glitching." Basically, the shoe looks like it's being pulled into three different dimensions at once. One part of the heel looks like a standard AJ1, while the collar feels like it was ripped out of a 1960s Marvel panel.
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Jordan 1 Next Chapter: Better Than the Origin Story?
This is the big debate at every sneaker convention. The "Origin Story" from 2018 is currently sitting at a massive resale premium, mostly because it looks almost exactly like a Chicago 1 with an icy sole. It's the "safe" choice.
But the Jordan 1 Next Chapter is the "artist's" choice.
While the first shoe was just a Chicago 1 with some 3M dots, the Next Chapter actually uses its design to tell a story. The semi-translucent red outsole and the "glitched" aesthetic mirror the visual style of the movie perfectly. Plus, let's talk about the glow. Under blacklight, these things go crazy. The iridescent finishes and the hidden textures pop in a way that makes the 2018 pair look kind of boring by comparison.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Materials
A common complaint when these dropped was that the quality felt "off."
Here is the truth: it wasn't poor quality; it was intentional distressing. To capture the "rift in space and time" vibe, Nike used leather with a patina-like treatment and suedes that aren't perfectly uniform. If your pair looks a little weathered or the colors seem to shift under different lighting, that’s exactly what the designers (led by the team at Jordan Brand in collaboration with Sony Pictures) were aiming for.
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It’s meant to look like Miles Morales has been jumping through portals in them.
The Numbers: Scarcity and 2026 Value
Back in May 2023, rumors swirled that there were only about 72,000 to 73,000 pairs of adult sizes produced. In the world of Jordan 1s, that is actually a pretty tight run. For context, some "general releases" see hundreds of thousands of pairs.
Because of that limited stock, the Jordan 1 Next Chapter has held its ground in a shaky resale market. While the 2026 sneaker market has cooled off significantly from the "hype" years of 2020-2022, this pair remains a staple for collectors. Why? Because it’s a cross-generational hit. It’s a Jordan 1, a movie collectible, and a Marvel piece all in one.
Current market vibes:
- Deadstock pairs: Still commanding a healthy premium over the $200 retail price.
- Used pairs: Selling surprisingly well because the distressed materials hide "wear" better than a crisp white leather shoe.
- The "Glow" Factor: Pairs with particularly strong iridescent swooshes are fetching more on apps like GOAT and StockX.
How to Style These Without Looking Like a Costume
You don't want to walk around looking like you're heading to a Comic-Con basement. Since the shoe is so busy, the rest of your outfit needs to chill out.
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Skip the Spider-Man graphic tees. Instead, go with a pair of faded black denim or some heavy-duty charcoal work pants. The red on these is loud—University Red loud—so let the shoes be the centerpiece. A simple grey hoodie or a black bomber jacket balances the "chaos" of the glitched patterns perfectly.
Sorta like Miles in the movie—he wears his Jordans with everyday street clothes, not a spandex suit (well, most of the time).
Actionable Insights for Collectors
If you're looking to pick up a pair today, keep these three things in mind to avoid getting burned:
- Check the Collar Print: The circular Ben-Day dot patterns on the ankle flaps should be crisp but slightly irregular in their "glitch" effect. Fakes often get the spacing too perfect or the colors too dull.
- The Swoosh Test: The black Swoosh has a very specific iridescence. It should have a subtle "oil slick" shimmer when you tilt it under a bright light. If it's just flat matte black, stay away.
- Outsole Oxidation: Since these have semi-translucent red outsoles, they will eventually "cloud up" or turn a bit yellowish-orange over time. This is a natural chemical process. If you find a "brand new" pair in 2026 that looks absolutely pristine and bright ice-clear, be suspicious—even kept in a box, a three-year-old shoe will show some slight aging.
The Jordan 1 Next Chapter is a rare example of Nike taking a massive risk on a legendary silhouette. It didn't please the purists, but it created something that feels like a time capsule of a specific moment in animation history. Whether you’re a Miles Morales fan or just a "sneakerhead" who appreciates a weird design, these are worth the shelf space.
If you already own a pair, stop babying them. The distressed leather actually looks better with a few scuffs, and that multiverse story only gets better when the shoes actually look like they’ve seen some action.