Spider-Noir
Ben Reilly, a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York, is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city's one and only superhero.
Creator: Oren Uziel
Cast: Nicolas Cage · Lamorne Morris · Li Jun Li
When I first sat down to watch Spider-Noir, I’m not gonna lie to you—I was watching with bated breath, barely knowing what to type. Look, I’ll be the first to admit that the entire MGM / Amazon Studios slate isn’t always my thing although some recent films were pretty good. These days, I’m not loyal to any one streamer; I just get excited for specific, event-level shows on specific platforms. Whether it’s X-Men ’97 on Disney+ or the new Little House on the Prairie adaptation over on Netflix, I go where the quality is. And thankfully, I had my Amazon Prime membership locked and loaded for this one, because Spider-Noir is an absolute knockout.
I was hyped for this series from the very first preview for a ton of reasons. First off, I am a massive, unapologetic fan of Nicolas Cage’s filmography. The man is a comic book fan—he’s given us Ghost Rider, he finally got to don the cape as Superman on screen in The Flash, and now he’s bringing his legendary energy to the Spider-Verse. Combine that with the sheer intrigue of a gritty noir aesthetic, and I was completely hooked.
But what really blew my mind was the duality of how they presented this thing: Authentic Black & White vs. True-Hue Full Color.
Now, let me preface this by saying I caught the official word from Marvel on the “correct” way to binge these eight episodes, and it is a total game-changer. If you want the ultimate experience, you’ve gotta watch it like this:
- Episodes 1–3: Keep it in Black & White to fully soak in that gritty, authentic 1930s atmosphere.
- Episodes 4–5: Flip the switch to Color to let those vibrant visuals pop.
- Episode 6: Go right back to Black & White. This is where we dive into Ben’s past, and the monochrome style hammers home the emotional weight.
- Episodes 7–8: Finish it out in glorious Color. Trust me, it gives you the absolute best visuals for the high-octane action, super powers, and the massive final battles.
Did you enjoy Spider-Noir?
My Thoughts: A Masterclass in the Spider-Verse
I think this series was incredibly well done. In fact, I’ve already binged the entire thing three times through because I was just that hooked and entertained. It is easily one of my favorite recent shows in a long, long time—the kind of series I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and would absolutely recommend.
Nicolas Cage delivers a go-for-broke performance as Ben Reilly (aka The Spider) that is equal parts 70% Humphrey Bogart and 30% Bugs Bunny. He effortlessly glides between heavy melodrama, laugh-out-loud slapstick, and brutal fisticuffs. He completely commands the screen and nails the weariness of a hero who tried to walk away.
But what really elevates this show from a cool superhero gimmick to a phenomenal drama is the ensemble cast. The dynamic between Ben, Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris), and his smartalecky assistant Janet (Karen Rodriguez) is absolute gold. The fact that Robbie and Janet both know he’s The Spider sets up the best banter in the series. The constant comedic digs they throw at Ben are hilarious, and their chemistry is so strong that every time they’re on screen, you just find yourself wanting more of their story.
On top of the incredible writing, the series has already locked down a massive 11 Emmy Nominations, proving it’s a technical masterpiece. We’re talking nods for Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Special Visual Effects, and Best Stunt Coordination, etc.
This isn’t your standard, MCU-style “save the world” spectacle. It’s a mature, gritty crime drama and psychological thriller with deeply personal stakes. It subverts everything we know about Spidey lore, dropping the ultimate tagline:
“With no power, comes no responsibility.”
It turns out Prohibition-Era New York is a dangerous place when mob bosses like Silvermane (a brilliantly brutal Brendan Gleeson) and a crew of enhanced rogues—like Sandman and Tombstone—come knocking. Whether you’re here for the body horror, the detective sleuthing, or just Nic Cage being an absolute legend, Spider-Noir is hands-down the best-looking Marvel-like streaming series (Sony) in years. If you haven’t watched it yet, fix that immediately. Honestly we could do with more of this type and level of storytelling for future superhero content where it simply stands alone with no ties to any other property.
Season 1 Trailers
Spider-Noir is available as both a full-color series as well as a traditional black & white. Trailers for both versions of the show are watchable below.
What is The Spider's REAL Name?
