Thomas Storai 
“Spider-Noir is a wonderful tribute to the noir genre. With layered villains and a deep dive into the Spider’s PTSD, it offers a fresh, mature take on Spider-Man in live action.”
After becoming a fan-favorite in the Spider-Verse animated films, Spider-Noir is making the jump to live-action with a series on Prime Video. Nicolas Cage reprises his role as the titular character, and he is joined by Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson. The series is available in authentic black-and-white and in “true-hue” color, giving audiences the choice to see it the way they want. It premieres May 27 on Prime Video.
A NEW TAKE ON THE SPIDER HERO
Spider-Noir is set in 1930s New York and offers a new take on the beloved hero than we have seen in live-action. We’ve seen three takes on Peter Parker in cinemas; they all brought something to the table, but this series, we get to experience Ben Reilly’s story. It’s actually quite refreshing to see this take because it does things really differently. Ben (a.ka. The Spider) is a broken man who works as a private detective. Like every Spider person, there’s a canon moment where they lose a precious loved one. The story takes place after that.
So we see an aging detective who’s reluctant to continue as the masked superhero. He comes with tons of PTSD because of this loss and because of his past, too. As the story progresses and the layers are peeled away, it becomes a compelling exploration of character. What does the mask mean to him? Does he really want to continue being the Spider? This series is as much a story about Ben Reilly as it is about his superhero persona. Because it’s a different take on the character, you need an origin story. That part is approached differently, as the story starts with him already being The Spider. Thus, it keeps things interesting.
A MATURE STORY
All of that unfolds in a noir setting. It’s an unapologetically mature story that sends the Spider on a crime-detective mission. In this series, our hero faces quite a few villains. Silvermane is the crime boss running the city’s underworld with an iron fist. In fact, it’s the first time the character has appeared in live action. He needs some muscle to keep the city in check, and for that, he assembles an impressive rogue gallery composed of Flint Marko/Sandman, Lonnie Lincoln/Tombstone, and Dirk Leydon/Megawatt. As much as I love superhero stories, villains are often one-dimensional, whereas these are layered characters with stories of their own.
CAST
Nicolas Cage delivered a great voice work as The Spider in the Spider-Verse films. Obviously, with a live-action series where he is the lead, he can do so much more. Cage delivers a flamboyantly pulpy performance that’s right for the character. The way he delivers his sarcastic one-liners is priceless. He reminds us that he’s an actor of many talents. This is actually Cage’s first television role, and he totally nails it. He owns the character. The rest of the cast is phenomenal, too. Brendan Gleeson as the mob boss Silvermane delivers a thrilling performance. He really plays it like a proper villain from a film noir – ruthless and brutal. Li Jun Li is delightful as Cat Hardy, the seductive nightclub singer. Finally, Lamorne Morris and Karen Rodriguez are two other highlights of the series as Ben Reilly’s friends. They bring a little bit of playfulness and humor.
VISUALS
There are two ways to experience Spider-Noir in authentic black and white, how it was intended to be, or in “true-hue” color. So, which one is best? The series pays homage to the classic film noir movies of the 1940s and 1950s, which were traditionally in black and white. Its visual style, transitions, cinematography, and even its 1930s New York setting are all deliberate nods to the genre. Watching it in black and white, therefore, enhances the experience, immersing you more deeply in its noir atmosphere. There are even characters smoking cigarettes. It’s a classic element of these films and something you don’t see much these days. It may seem like a little detail, but that’s part of the DNA of this genre.
On top of that, it’s not every day we get a superhero series that is entirely in black and white; it’s refreshing to get something different from the usual. The black-and-white version also helps hide some of the visual effects, which aren’t always up to the quality you would expect from a production like this. Obviously, if black and white isn’t your jam, you can still watch it in “true-hue” color, though it loses some of its charm.
OPENING CREDITS & SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack is composed by Kris Bowers and Michael Dean Parsons. It’s a score that fits the crime drama and the series’ dark atmosphere. It immerses the audience into its world. Truly, this series has opening credits. It’s a stylish credit that’s the perfect mix of film noir and comic inspiration. The song is ‘Saving Grace’ by KIRBY, it’s the right fit for the sequence. It has an old, pulpy vibe, a bit like James Bond songs, while still feeling modern. Undoubtedly, it’s an opening credits you won’t want to skip. After all, series with opening credits are always superior.
VERDICT
Spider-Noir is a wonderful tribute to the noir genre. With layered villains and a deep dive into the Spider’s PTSD, it offers a fresh, mature take on Spider-Man in live action. The series is meant to be seen in black and white to fully experience its noir aesthetic and immerse viewers in its universe. Nicolas Cage delivers a flamboyantly pulpy performance, fully owning the character.
Spider-Noir premieres May 27 on Prime Video.
Collectables and Anime Editor for Future Of The Force.
Star Wars expert and Japan connoisseur.
