Spider-Man is a superhero whose name is undeniably etched into every comic book fan’s Mount Rushmore of heroes. Like DC Comics’ Batman, his involvement in projects—whether live-action movies, fighting games, or animated series—typically ensures they will be too big to fail. Disney+ series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man arrives as fans recover from previous years’ superhero fatigue. Like Peter Parker, the show faces an uphill battle of enticing lapsed fans, emboldening diehards, and finding its own identity. While the show does not entirely reinvent Spider-Man’s mythos by presenting a journey unlike what fans have seen before, it delivers the small-scale Spider-Man story fans have long pined for.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a year-one remix that trims the fat of well-trodden origin story beats while sprinkling in the expansive world-building of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Set in an alternate universe, the series follows a young Peter Parker (Hudson Thames) as he balances being a freshman at Midtown High while moonlighting as the webbed hero. Rather than have Parker dive headfirst into other heroes’ conflicts and echoing the spectacle of phase three MCU in the background of the show, YFNS instead has him preventing petty crimes in his homemade super suit, gazing wistfully at his childhood crush, and attempting not to get crushed by the throes of high school life. By his side are titular allies like Aunt May (Kari Wahlgren), his bestie and The Runaways standout Nico Minoru (Grace Song), and his new surrogate Tony Stark-esque father figure, Norman Osborne (Colman Domingo).
Despite the decision to have Thames reprise his role as the webhead from his first appearance in Marvel’s What If…?, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man‘s iteration does not entirely succeed in establishing a unique identity as Spider-Man or Peter Parker in its premiere episodes. Instead, he comes across as an amalgamation of Tobey Maguire’s Parker, a cover act of Andrew Garfield, and (especially) Tom Holland’s portrayal of the character. This is not to say that Thames’ Peter is not an endearing scamp worth rooting for, but his early Spider-Man’s success rate of quips and sass take the brunt of his heroic growing pains.
It’s never a good sign when an animated series’ opening theme is more visually striking than the show that follows, but that’s unfortunately the case with YFNS. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man meshes the artistry of a 1950s cartoon with the cel-shaded 3D animated coating of X-Men ’97. While the show’s opening theme features vibrant kaleidoscopic colors and custom title cards that pay homage to comic book cover art, the remainder of the show’s visuals—particularly its action sequences—are lackluster in comparison.
In theory, YFNS‘s attempts at harkening back to comic book panels are a novel idea that the Spider-Verse films have proven are a winning visual combo. In practice, rather than looking like an internal element to the show’s identity, its implementation of pop-out comic panels doesn’t quite go beyond being a half-hearted visual gimmick. Its cel-shaded aesthetic takes a while to warm up to during quieter moments, which play like a feature-length video game cutscene. However, its early action sequences lack the weight or excitement to match its stakes.
Like its hero, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man stumbles out of the gate; it’s not clear yet if its grand adventure will live up to the visual spectacle of its contemporaries. The story takes creative steps to diverge from a familiar narrative despite being weighed down by referential content and Easter eggs that could potentially undermine it. Hopefully, the remainder of the 10-episode animated series will find its footing visually and narratively.
The first two episodes of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are streaming on Disney+. Subsequent episodes will be released in batches, with episodes 3-5 premiering February 5; episodes 6-8 releasing February 12; and its final two episodes releasing February 19.
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