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There’s something about Spider-Man that has made him one of the most universally beloved superheroes in comics, movies, and television. The collaboration between Marvel and Sony has given fans some of the best on-screen portrayals of the character, including Nicolas Cage’s turn as Spider-Man Noir. This applies to the Oscar-winning role in Spider-Verse movies And now, in the new live-action Spider-Noir TV series. Except this time, he’s a different version of Spidey.
That’s part of the reason this story works so well – newcomers don’t need to do any homework, and comic book fans learn about Ben Reilly and his secret identity as The Spider. The first show is running Prime Video Coming May 27, Spider-Noir’s eight-episode first season won’t be an original story or an action-packed superhero story. In this story lies a clever, entertaining and moody mystery that pays homage to the noir genre in the best way. It’s so rare for Cage to star in a TV show — and this is only his second time — that it feels like you should automatically tune in out of curiosity, and you should.
When the show starts, The Spider is in retirement. Cage’s Ben is a sarcastic and wise-cracking private investigator who is a natural suspicious, sarcastic and problem-solver. He meets the intriguing Cat Hardy (Lee Joon Lee) and soon becomes embroiled in the criminal underworld of 1930s New York, a place where gangsters, politicians, and the general public used to make every word, job, and dollar count. Ben has people in his corner who help him know when to stay in the shadows and when to jump into the fight: his assistant Janet (Karen Rodriguez) and his journalist friend Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris).
Ben Reilly isn’t sure he wants to be a hero.
At the top of the mob food chain is Silverman (played by Brendan Gleeson), who likes to hire loyal henchmen to do his bidding. I can’t spoil who appears as a villain, but they all play a role in the larger story here. It’s not just Silvermane’s activities that have Ben wrestling with whether he should be The Spider or stick to the investigative work he’s become accustomed to. But as he tries to figure it out, Spider-Noir elegantly fulfills his duty to the genre through murder, kidnapping, duplicity, and a lot of brooding.
Aesthetically, this series does not disappoint. The team behind it decided to offer viewers two ways to watch, either “True-Hue Full Color” or “Authentic Black & White,” and you may find yourself doing what I did and switching methods in each episode. The black-and-white broadcast feels like a deluxe edition that immerses you in the time period while simultaneously paying homage to the Marvel comic books. Diagonal camera shots, lighting at the right angle, and crisp close-ups create stunning images that mimic what you would see depicted on the page. There is a nightclub scene where the stage light casts a halo effect on the singer, potentially emphasizing the character’s morals (or not).
This doesn’t mean you should skip the True Hue experience. If you do, you’ll miss the colours, craftsmanship and detail in all the fashion, architecture and sights of the day. From Cat and Robie’s outfits, to the Art Deco backgrounds, Sandman’s textured skin and The Spider’s suit, everything you see has been taken care of. Pay attention, and you’ll notice things like a billboard for an actual movie from 1933.
See what I’m saying? Watch this show in both visual formats as a treat.
Cage seems to be relishing his role, embodying the era with a vocal cadence similar to Humphrey Bogart (who is said to be the inspiration for the show) and playing Spidey and Ben with the physicality he’s known for. Its hero has his senses intact, but he’s also somewhat goofy, vulnerable and calculating, and it’s fun to watch Cage embody this iteration of Spider-Noir. Lee (known for her roles in Babylon and… Sinners) gives Cat the nuance needed to show that she’s a character who plays chess, not checkers, while Rodriguez is fun as Janet, who’s easily a favorite as Ben’s secretary and, at times, protector.
While this has the trappings of a crime drama, it’s not all serious; Audiences will appreciate the sharp humor and goofier parts. Spider-Noir will also please film buffs who recognize how films like The Lady from Shanghai and L.A. Confidential influenced the series’ narrative and tone. However, there are still the web-slinging, acrobatics, and even a falling scene that have become part of Spidey’s cinematic signature. It swings in the right direction with elements of romance, action, suspense and an origin story in its own Spider-Man multiverse.
