The noir and superhero genres are both beloved, so it’s not a surprise that the two get combined from time to time. Although not even the first Marvel character to do private detective work on the small screen (thank you, Jessica Jones), Ben Reilly, aka The Spider, brings it fully back to the gumshoe era with MGM+ and Prime Video’s new show Spider-Noir.
Spider-Noir is a live-action series based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir, set in a new stand-alone universe different than the Spider-Verse version of the character. Nicolas Cage is back playing a new version of Reilly in the flesh as a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York who gets tangled in a dangerous web that ties back to his own tragic past.
Sony’s many attempts to expand the Spider-Man franchise since the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies have shown mixed results. They finally have an unlikely winner with Spider-Noir.
Even if you have superhero fatigue, Cage is perfectly cast as a private dick (who can also be a regular dick). The show may seem heightened compared to today’s more grounded detective stories, but that’s perfect for Cage’s large and sometimes erratic performance style.
Watching Ben Reilly investigate, you find him both kooky and somehow credible at the same time. It’s an enthralling combination for fans of good detective stories.
There are still the hallmarks of a Spider-Man story: the web slinging, the spidey senses, the super-powered rogues gallery. However, all the elements are neatly folded into noir archetypes so that the powers are almost a second thought.
The series is full of moral ambiguity and an air of despair that balances the more cartoonish elements it gets from the comic book world. The Reilly we meet has given up his hero days after his work led to the tragic death of the woman he loved.
Interestingly, viewers can choose whether to watch the show in color or in black and white, as it was filmed with both formats in mind. Having watched both formats, I will say they both have their strengths, so it really is up to personal preference.
For a more authentic chiaroscuro noir look, viewers will want to opt for the black-and-white episodes. The full-color versions highlight the lush costumes and colorful set details that immerse you in the era.
Although Cage is the star, the show thrives because of a strong supporting cast. Lamorne Morris brings his comedic chops as Robbie Robertson, a freelance reporter and friend to Ben who knows his hero identity. Robertson also surprisingly becomes the heart of the story, investigating a plot involving World War I POWs and serving as Ben’s reminder of the need to do good.
Powerhouse Brendan Gleeson elevates the role of Irish mobster Silvermane, who otherwise could come off as a caricature among his squad of goons. No noir is complete without a femme fatale, a role filled by Li Jun Li’s Cat Hardy, who drags Reilly deeper into conspiracy and intrigue.
Despite the character being created in 2009, the story manages to capture the anxieties of the Great Depression, which makes the show feel contemporary to much older films. There is also an update on Ben Reilly’s origin story that will fascinate and horrify with a perfect allegory for the war.
Spider-Noir might not be the show you expected or asked for coming from the superhero world. Yet it’s extremely watchable, with a solid mystery and compelling performances that keep you hooked.
If the powers in charge are smart, they’ll let Cage play this character as long as he wants.
Spider-Noir premieres on the MGM+ channel on May 25 and streams on Prime Video on May 27.