Since Stan Lee and Steve Ditko first created Spider-Man more than six decades ago, the character has been one of the most enduring superheroes in popular culture. From comics to animated series and a slew of live-action films (as well as 2018’s animated, Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), Peter Parker and his alter-ego have been showcased in various forms. In Disney+‘s “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” creator Jeff Trammell has put a new and refreshing spin on Spider-Man’s origin story. The 10-episode debut season is beautifully nostalgic, while still capturing the essence of being a teenager in the 2020s.
“Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” opens in Queens, New York. Peter (Hudson Thames reprising his role from “What If…?”) rushes to his first day of school orientation with his aunt May (Kari Wahlgren). Peter is eager to begin his first year at the acclaimed Midtown High School, but things don’t go according to plan. Upon his arrival, he sees students being attacked by a murderous monster seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Though the creature is eventually subdued, amid the chaos, a radioactive spider bites Peter. The painful bite gives the 15-year-old unimaginable powers and abilities.
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 bestie, Nico Minoru (Grace Song), his crush, Pearl Pangan (Cathy Ang) and popular quarterback Lonnie Lincoln (Eugene Byrd), is proving to be way more challenging than expected. He has also fully embraced his newfound and highly secretive role as Spider-Man. Peter spends every spare moment flinging across NYC in a makeshift costume and fighting crime. Yet, he constantly flakes on Nico, who is becoming increasingly frustrated. Also, when Pearl and Lonnie start going out, Peter must reconcile his feelings for Pearl while trying to maintain a friendship with Lonnie, who is navigating some personal challenges behind the scenes.
In addition to depicting Peter and his friends as they experience the typical teenage tropes of friendship, belonging, love and self-actualization, the series highlights the perils 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 is heightened when Oscorp CEO Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo) takes a personal interest in him. However, Peter soon realizes the businessman has alternative reasons for taking him under his wing. As “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” continues, Peter grapples with wanting to make Osborn proud while holding fast to his personal morals and values. Peter’s confusion about who Osborn is versus how the man portrays himself creates a compelling tension across the show.
Osborn isn’t overtly evil. However, there are plenty of big bads in “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.” 110th Street gang leader, Big Don (Ettore “Big E” Ewen), is wreaking havoc in 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 both major villains in the Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” films, which jumpstarted the superhero genre. However, with Trammell putting his unique spin on the characters in this alternative universe, they feel modern, different and unexpected.
The series’ animation, led by Leo Romero and Polygon Pictures, combines 2D and 3D techniques. Still, Romero and his team give the show a retro feel similar to ’90s animation and illustrations seen in vintage comic books. Though this style is very different from what modern-day audiences have grown accustomed to, it gives the series a classic design that fits the narrative and enables “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” to stand with “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” and The CW’s “The Spectacular Spider-Man” as a respected, well-loved entry in the Spider-Verse. Appearances from several beloved characters, including Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin (Vincent D’Onofrio) — who will, as of March 4, be in the spotlight themselves in Disney+’s live-action series “Daredevil: Born Again” — add another level of delight to the show.
Full of popular Marvel characters, a stellar voice cast and numerous Easter eggs, “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” captures everything fans have always loved about Spidey while delivering a fresh take on the teen superhero’s beginnings. Moreover, though Peter’s story anchors this narrative, Trammell and his writing team, led by Charlie Neuner, expand the stories beyond Peter and his immediate circle and into the multiverse. Intriguing, fun and timeless, the series is a love letter to those who’ve always rocked with the wall-crawler while welcoming new viewers into the fold.
The first two episodes of “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” premiere Jan. 29 on Disney+ with new episodes dropping weekly on Wednesdays.
