Phil Roberts 
Spider-Noir is the best streaming Marvel project ever committed to film. Period. With Nicolas Cage’s career-best performance, a sharp and witty screenplay, and bags of Spider-Man iconography, the show is nothing less than a triumph.
It’s time to return to the Spider-Verse. After his debut in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, one of the standout characters was Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir. The retro 1930s web-slinger quickly became a fan favorite and gained an instant cult following. With his popularity showing no signs of waning, Prime Video was quick to greenlight a standalone spin-off series. Titled Spider-Noir, the series is swinging onto the streamer next week in both gloriously retro black-and-white and true HD color. We were lucky enough to get an early look at the show in both formats and had a unique experience.
But with the star power of Nicolas Cage, a treasure trove of Spider-Man iconography, and a wonderfully rich sandbox to play in, can the showrunners stick the landing and deliver the ultimate Spider-Man adventure? Or is Spider-Noir another misfire from Marvel?
REVIEW
Fear not, Spidey fans, because Spider-Noir is the real deal. The series is phenomenal. With its mature theme, bold, intense, action-packed, and gritty narrative, the series is a blast from start to finish. The showrunners have handled the character’s origins with the utmost care to deliver a Spider-Man series as immersive as it is true to the source material, and leading the charge is Nicolas Cage. The actor lives and breathes this role. Cast as Ben Reilly, Cage slips into character and never looks back. His delivery, coupled with his comedic timing, has produced one of the best characters he has ever played and adds new levels to the character, unlike ever before.
Best viewed in the uber-immersive, sexy-stylized retro black-and-white format, the series is a wonderfully weighted and atmospheric ride that deserves its place at the pinnacle of the Spider-Verse. Yes, it’s that good. With Nic Cage leading the cast and a narrative richly layered with Spidey brilliance, this series is a triumph in every sense of the word.
THE SERIES
For those unfamiliar with the character, Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly, the one and only 1930s Spider-Man, who, after a crushing tragedy, hangs up his mask. Now a struggling private detective, Reilly finds himself on the trail of a criminal organization that threatens everyone in the city. So, despite his personal trauma, he slips back into costume to bring the criminals to justice.
From the opening moments of the very first episode, the commentary from Nicolas Cage sets the tone for the adventure we are about to enjoy. Like every great Spider-Man project, Cage’s Ben Reilly swings through the streets of New York, offering an insight into how he became Spider-Man. Talk of Multiverses and other wall-crawlers is addressed immediately, getting the speculation out of the way early. This affords the series a fresh sandbox to play in, and the rewards are well worth it.
NICOLAS CAGE
Despite the series being Nicolas Cage’s first-ever television role, he takes to the format like a true professional. Throughout his career, he has delivered some wonderfully memorable characters, but Ben Reilly is about to engulf them all. Cage lives, breathes, and embodies his Spider-Man, and throws everything into bringing him to life. His version of Reilly is loaded with quick one-liners, sarcastic comebacks, and more baggage than most interpretations of the wall-crawler, but his baggage makes him relatable. This is a Spider-Man we can cheer for, and we quickly flock to his banner.
For the most part, he is hesitant to slip back into costume, and it’s no wonder why. After all, every Spidey has its canon moment where they lose a loved one, but Reilly’s comes with a ton of PTSD. This tragedy is slowly revealed to us as the series progresses, but from the jump, we feel his pain and relate to his agony. But when his Spider-Sense starts tingling, great power…and all that jazz!
A PHENOMENAL CAST
Thankfully, Cage is helped by a sensational cast of supporting characters that are treated with the respect they deserve. Every single one of them is given time to flesh out their characters, adding some juicy meat to their bones. The result is a cast full of wonderfully rich, deep heroes and villains. Lamorne Morris optimizes this mandate from the writers as Robbie Robertson. In this universe, Robbie is Reilly’s closest confidant and friend, and serves as his inner conscience, constantly urging him to take a stand and slip back into costume, all the while trying to make a difference as a struggling new reporter.
Karen Rodriguez’s Janet is another shining light. Reilly’s longtime secretary, Janet, is the beating heart of his private investigation empire. Despite being owed a wealth of paychecks, she keeps the business afloat and flexes her muscles when the information superhighways stall. Like Cage, Rodriguez is rewarded with some of the show’s best lines, making her an integral part of Reilly’s inner circle, and her rapport with Cage never misses a beat.
Rounding out the main protagonists is Li Jun Li as Cat Hardy. In this world, Hardy is a seductive nightclub singer with ties to the show’s villain, an underutilized Spider-Man legacy villain called Silvermane, played by Brendan Gleeson.
VILLAINS
If the wonderfully conceived team of heroes isn’t enough, showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot have doubled down, delivering wonderfully layered villains for Spidey to battle. Silvermane has been part of the Spider-Man fraternity for decades, but until now he has never appeared in a live-action setting. There is nobody better equipped to bring him to life than Brendan Gleeson. This version of Silvermane is ruthless, brutal, and a force to be reckoned with. In this era, he’s a ruthless gangster who uses his iron grip to rule the city’s underworld, and at his side is another Marvel fan-favorite, Lonnie Lincoln / Tombstone. Abraham Popoola brings this lethal version of Tombstone to life, and the duo makes for a chilling double act. These characters have never been so fearsome, and they bring much-needed gravity to the show.
But more villains are waiting in the wings, starting with Rhino and Electro. Both characters receive the respect they deserve and are given genuine story arcs. More than just token villains with goofy personas, they are brought to life with greater detail than ever before, making them feel more authentic. They will play major roles in the series as it unfolds, alongside the final villain of the piece, Flint Marko/Sandman, played by the impressive Jack Huston.
SANDMAN
Marko is the first rogue we meet in Spidery’s gallery in the series, and his interactions with Ben Reilly set the tone for the rest of the juicy showdowns. Indeed, an early action sequence pits Reilly against Marko in a spectacular clash. Huston’s rapport with Cage is glorious in these moments, with Reilly delivering sarcastic one-liners as he dodges punches left and right. It is quintessential Spider-Man, and fans will be in for a treat with these interactions. Despite being at odds, Marko’s tragedy holds a key to the bigger mystery, and soon Reilly begins to uncover the truth behind the emergence of these superpowered foes.
ATMOSPHERE
From here, we’ll set aside further exploration of the narrative to preserve its brilliance. There are no spoilers here. But we need to address the series’ atmosphere. The showrunners have gone above and beyond to present the series in both color and black-and-white formats. Allow me to offer this singular, most important piece of advice. DO NOT WATCH THIS SERIES IN COLOR. During my screening, we watched the first episode in black-and-white before switching to color for the rest of the show. Let me tell you, the series’ brilliance is captured perfectly in black-and-white. The retro 1930s setting comes to life without color and becomes a character in its own right. The shadows are darker, the streets feel grittier, and it becomes a timepiece of event cinema to be experienced.
The series may look vivid in color, but for the preservation of art and a far more enjoyable experience, watch it in black and white first; you won’t be disappointed. The glorious score by Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons completes the format’s aesthetic. Their work here is a throwback to the scores of yesteryear, keeping the show grounded and true to its time. Their music fits the 1930s vibe perfectly and only serves to elevate the adventure as it unfolds.
MATURE MARVEL
And finally, the showrunners’ decision to make the series for mature audiences is bold, but it pays off in spades here. The action, violence, and bloodletting are enveloped by the black-and-white theme, making it feel like a graphic novel come to life. It adds to the atmosphere and makes it the edgiest Marvel project in years. The Punisher has nothing on Ben Reilly here, because this is handled with the utmost care, striking the perfect balance. My only gripe with the show is the profanity throughout. I prefer the DC and Marvel universe to remain wholesome, despite the mature narratives they explore, but this is a minor niggle that doesn’t affect the show’s brilliance at all.
VERDICT
Overall, Spider-Noir is the best streaming Marvel project ever committed to film. Period. With Nicolas Cage’s career-best performance, a sharp and witty screenplay, and bags of Spider-Man iconography, the show is nothing less than a triumph. The series handles its characters and the sandbox they live in with the utmost care, making this the most compelling Spider-Man adventure to date. This is how Spider-Man projects should be handled. The characters feel authentic, the soundtrack is incredibly immersive, and the black-and-white atmosphere gives the show the hallmarks of a graphic novel brought to life. If you were hoping for the best wall-crawler adaptation since the classic animated series, you’ve come to the right place.
This series is a testament to the love and attention of a brilliant cast, a dedicated team of showrunners, and a universe brought to life with the utmost respect. With great power comes great responsibility, and this team delivered!
Welcome home, Spider-Man!
Spider-Noir is streaming as a binge series on Prime Video starting May 27.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
