‘Spider-Noir’ Breaks Spider-Man’s Rules with a Willingness to Kill

As fans eagerly anticipate Prime Video’s latest superhero series, a pressing question arises: does ‘Spider-Noir’ kill? For those familiar with Peter Parker’s struggle with his no-kill code, the answer presented in this show is both refreshing and surprising.

Set in a completely different universe, ‘Spider-Noir’ makes no apologies for its darker tone. This series features a Spider-Man variant unafraid to kill or threaten violence, with themes of murder, torture, extortion, and suicide references, setting it apart from nearly every other Spider-Man project ever created.

Known simply as “The Spider,” this version of the character aligns with pulp heroes from the Depression era, such as The Phantom or The Shadow. Nicolas Cage portrays Ben Reilly, a hardened detective with a cynical outlook and a penchant for taking down Nazis. This name change signifies a departure from the friendly neighborhood hero fans have come to know.

In the original comic book material, Spider-Man Noir is known for his gun usage, and this live-action adaptation embraces that aspect fully. The character’s willingness to cross lines that Peter Parker would never consider is integral to both his identity and the show’s premise.

The trailers for ‘Spider-Noir’ immediately convey a tone distinct from recent Marvel adaptations. Rather than the typical bright superhero spectacle, the series dives deep into detective fiction, organized crime, and psychological trauma, showcasing Ben Reilly as he investigates murders and confronts gangsters in a rain-soaked 1930s Manhattan.

While the tone is genuinely humorous with several laugh-out-loud moments, it also carries a darker edge reminiscent of ‘The Penguin,’ making it stand out among other Spider-Man iterations.

‘Spider-Noir’ is charting new territory for the Spider-Man franchise, marking its most mature series yet with a historic TV-14 rating. This rating represents the most mature classification a Spider-Man project has ever received on television.

This is the first Spider-Man series to achieve such a rating, as previous iterations have remained within family-friendly boundaries. The trailer hints at Reilly’s darker side, showing him beating up enemies in a bar before getting “plastered,” suggesting a more unhinged character than seen in past Spider-Man stories.

While the series stops short of a TV-MA rating, unlike other recent adult superhero shows like ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and ‘The Boys’, teasers have revealed a moody, thrilling detective narrative that intertwines psychological themes with superhero action.

The darker, more grounded tone works to the show’s advantage, providing a fresh identity through its noir-style setting. It feels gritty and serious, yet retains the essence of a flawed hero striving to do what is right.

Ben Reilly, portrayed by Cage, is a private investigator in New York during the height of the Depression, grappling with the loss of his wife five years prior. With the assistance of his capable aide Janet and ace reporter Robbie Robertson, he navigates a struggling business until a nightclub singer hires him for a job that leads him into the seedy underbelly controlled by the infamous Silvermane.

Once known as “The Spider,” Reilly has distanced himself from his heroic past following a personal tragedy. The series chronicles his reluctant return to the world he believed he had left behind.

Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with the series currently boasting a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have lauded the show’s stylized visuals, character dialogue, and Cage’s performance as Ben Reilly.

Described as a sharp and often humorous binge-worthy series, it is anchored by Cage’s fearless portrayal of The Spider.

‘Spider-Noir’ illustrates that there is much more to Spider-Man than the MCU version fans are accustomed to. This show serves as a compelling testament to the potential for Spider-Man stories that don’t cater exclusively to the family audience.

Rather than a mere spinoff, the upcoming series reimagines the Spider-Man mythos, with Prime Video offering two different versions: one in classic black-and-white noir style and another in a Technicolor-inspired “True Hue” format.

Co-showrunner Oren Uziel explained that the creative team was given the freedom to explore the story that excited them most, leading to an intentionally aged-up and morally complex version of Ben Reilly.

With eight episodes in the first season of ‘Spider-Noir’, each approximately 42 minutes long, viewers can binge the entire season in just over five and a half hours. For a franchise that has long safeguarded its hero’s moral code, this could significantly shift the conversation surrounding Spider-Man narratives.

If you’ve begun watching ‘Spider-Noir’, we’d love to hear your thoughts on whether Ben Reilly’s willingness to kill enhances his character as Spider-Man or if crossing that line costs him something irretrievable.