Since Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-Man more than six decades ago, the character has been one of the most enduring superheroes in popular culture. From comic books to animated series to a slew of live-action films (as well as the Oscar-winning 2018 animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), Peter Parker and his alter ego have appeared in various forms. In Disney+’s “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” creator Jeff Trammell put a refreshing new spin on Spider-Man’s origin story. The 10-episode debut season is beautifully nostalgic, while also capturing the essence of being a teenager in the 2020s.
“Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” premieres in Queens, New York. Peter (Hudson Thames reprising his role from “What If…?”) rushes to attend his first day of school orientation with his Aunt May (Kari Wahlgren). Peter is eager to begin his freshman year at the acclaimed Midtown High School, but things don't go as planned. Upon his arrival, he sees the students being attacked by a murderous monster that seems to appear out of nowhere. Though the creature is eventually subdued, amidst the chaos, a radioactive spider bites Peter. The painful bite grants the 15-year-old unimaginable powers and abilities.
Stars: Hudson Thames, Kari Wahlgren, Grace Song
Several months after the incident at orientation, Peter settles into Bales High (Midtown was destroyed in the attack). However, balancing his friendships - which include his new best friend, Nico Minoru (Grace Song), his crush, Pearl Pangan (Cathy Ang), and popular quarterback Lonnie Lincoln (Eugene Byrd) - is proving far more challenging than expected.
He has also fully embraced his new, top-secret role as Spider-Man. Peter spends every free moment zipping around New York in a makeshift costume and fighting crime. However, he constantly stands up Nico, who is growing increasingly frustrated. Additionally, when Pearl and Lonnie begin dating, Peter must reconcile his feelings for Pearl while trying to maintain a friendship with Lonnie, who is going through some personal challenges behind the scenes.
In addition to portraying Peter and his friends as they experience the typical teenage tropes of friendship, belonging, love, and self-actualization, the series highlights the dangers of greed, power, and loyalty. Desperate for mentorship and a strong male figure to look up to, Peter begins interning at Oscorp, a multi-billion dollar engineering and science organization. His excitement grows when Oscorp CEO Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo) takes a personal interest in him. However, Peter soon realizes that the businessman has alternative reasons for taking him under his wing. As “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” continues, Peter struggles with wanting to make Osborn proud while holding on to his personal morals and values. Peter’s confusion over who Osborn is versus how he portrays himself creates compelling tension throughout the show.
Osborn isn’t overtly evil. There are plenty of villains in “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” though. 110th Street gang leader Big Don (Ettore “Big E” Ewen) is wreaking havoc on Harlem. Elsewhere, Oscorp defector Otto Octavius’ (Hugh Dancy) volatile gamma fusion designs are finding their way into the hands of some of the city’s most menacing criminals. Octavius’ designs are so powerful that they even give Spider-Man a run for his money. It’s worth noting that Osborn and Octavius were the two main villains in Tobey Maguire’s “Spider-Man” films, which pushed the superhero genre forward. However, with Trammell putting his unique spin on the characters in this alternate universe, they feel modern, different and unexpected.
The series’ animation, directed by Leo Romero and Polygon Pictures, blends 2D and 3D techniques. Still, Romero and his team give the show a retro feel similar to the '90s animation and artwork seen in vintage comics. While this style is very different from what today's audiences have grown accustomed to, it gives the series a classic design that fits the narrative and allows “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” to stand alongside “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” and The CW's “The Spectacular Spider-Man” as a respected and much-loved entry in the Spider-Verse. Appearances by several beloved characters, including Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio), who, beginning March 4, will take center stage in the Disney+ live-action series “Daredevil: Born Again,” add another level of delight to the show.
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