By Brianna Alleva
Finally, a new way to tell a Comic Book story. Based on the alternate-universe clone Spider-Man, the Scarlet Spider: Ben Reilly, this noir series tells the story of Ben working with his past to continue saving people, ultimately.
Admittedly, it did take me some time to build up to watching this series because, whenever I hear DC or Marvel, I feel like the stories have been told over and over again in relatively the same ways.
Spider-Noir figures out a way to be inventive: the Black-and-White (Film Noir) version or the full-color version. I went with the Film Noir to get the experience as the filmmakers intended.
The style was perfect for the dark tones of the Scarlet Spider story and its morally ambiguous characters and villains. The shadows and the pessimistic tones enhanced all the characters.
This Spider-Man story is not one a child may like, but it appeals to the film buff who is excited to see it play out in this unique way.
Advertise on Streaming: Spider-Noir
Audience Demographics for CTV Ads
- Adults ages 25–54, especially viewers 35–54
- Marvel and superhero fans seeking darker, mature content
- Crime drama and mystery enthusiasts who enjoy noir storytelling
- Streaming-first viewers who regularly watch premium original series
- Fans of action, comic-book adaptations, and nostalgic pop culture content
Typical Advertisements for Streaming Spider-Noir
- Streaming services and movie releases
- Automotive brands and SUVs
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- Insurance and financial services
- Video games, technology, and electronics brands
Where to Stream: Spider-Noir
- Amazon Prime (with subscription)
Nicolas Cage was an interesting choice for the “hero” character, but in 1930s New York City, he fit in as a disgruntled detective trying to fight his superhero ways.
The villains or the antiheros of the show: Silvermane, Tombstone, and Sandman being the main ones, played like old timey gangsters and at times almost understandable and pitiable.
The femme fatale, Cat Hardy, or the Black Cat in Spider-Man comics, was well played and mysterious enough to keep me entertained. Most of the time, I could not tell whether she was on Ben’s side, and I think that was perfect.
Spider-Noir makes it possible to have new versions of DC/Marvel stories, even today, which is a hard feat.
Marvel stories don’t really change filming styles. The only one that was outside the box was WandaVision, which was not a direct comic book adaptation but a combination of stories. Marvel movies have been the same for years, with no real reason to change, since they’ve been making tons of money.
DC heroes, however, tend to be darker, I am thinking of Batman, really. The Dark Knight trilogy was a serious trilogy that made its impact on society by exposing its greed and corruption.
So, when Spider-Man, a Marvel character, started to gain popularity in recent years, it was because of the quirky childlike acting of Tom Holland. Spider-Man has also branched off to different versions of the “same thing,” think Spider-Man Across the Universe with Miles Morales.
Ultimately, if any character were going to try to go darker and more artistic, it would be Spider-Man. He already has popularity, so audiences are interested in seeing how the well-known storylines and characters will be portrayed.
My only hope is that this sparks a trend of taking traditional comic book heroes and bending the rules so viewers have something new to experience.
If any genre could do it without losing audiences, it would be the superhero genre.