Spider-Man/Peter Parker is back to his roots in a series that hints at bigger things on the horizon thanks to reimagined Marvel characters.
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Over the past decade, Spider-Man has seen himself leap from his humble New York City roots to multiverse adventures spanning live-action and animation. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s been a while since we’ve seen Peter swing his way through streets closer to home. In Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, the feeling that there is a wider universe out there is still there, but the animated series firmly puts the focus on Peter’s early high school days and as a rookie Spider-Man. The result makes for a fresh take on Spidey lore with ten episodes that tell part of a young hero’s story while also looking to the future of what can be.
NEW KID IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man begins as most Spider-Man origin stories; with a young, clumsy, and nerdy Peter Parker getting bitten by a radioactive spider and becoming the hero we all know. The show wisely skips Peter discovering his powers for the first time and moves the narrative to Spider-Man a few months into the job. He’s a little rusty and new to the scene with makeshift gear, but also one who has a solid grasp on his powers. Right off the bat, the series also makes major swings to Peter’s lore, such as how he gets his powers and who he interacts with.
Instead of staples like MJ Watson and Flash Thompson, we have Nico Minoru as Peter’s best friend (an interesting take given the contrast between her and Peter’s backgrounds), Pearl Pangan as Peter’s classmate and crush, and Lonnie Lincoln as the jock stereotype who proves to be more than just that as season one progresses.
Most notably, Norman Osborne serves as Peter’s mentor here, and the switch works well. There’s a real bond that develops between Peter and Norman and it’s interesting to see how the young hero’s morals and ethics develop as what Norman believes in does clash with Peter’s more altruistic side. Unlike Iron Man in the MCU, Norman Osborne is a mentor who may or may not have ulterior motives that takes the relationship to a new direction.
Expect to also see cameos and appearances from characters across the Marvel universe, some reworked from how you may know them from the comics and others who could use a bit more screentime than their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments. The story, while staying in NYC, also takes place in a similar timeline to the MCU, particularly during the Civil War era. Admittedly, this connection to a wider timeline doesn’t always pay off, especially when major moments are made somewhat insignificant to Peter’s story even though they should be a big deal.
THE PETER WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE
All these changes aren’t to say that we aren’t getting the Spider-Man we came for. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man knows who Spider-Man/Peter Parker is as a person and doesn’t shy away from his core characteristics, such as a young Peter Parker who is very smart but also fumbles when talking to girls and a Spider-Man who is armed with quips galore. The plot stays rooted in Spider-Man’s early days, his Ls included against a growing roster of villains.
The show also focuses on the community and characters that surround Peter, hence the name change of the original title of Freshman Year to the one we have now. We get a diverse selection of characters with their stories to tell, most notably with Lonnie, who gets a meaty arc in season one that tackles both his comic origins as well as the struggles of being a young black man in America.
This energy is also aided by its art and animation style where 3D cell-shaded animation meets comic book style inspired by the works of Steve Ditko. They even updated the ’60s theme with a modern coat of paint for a fun intro sequence and features comic paneling as a wink to the source material. However, it is noticeable that the animation can look questionable at times. From plain backgrounds, choppy movement, and scenes where the backgrounds are static and the characters are frozen in place, the animation isn’t the most polished.
For people who are worried that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man would drop the ball, there’s no need to agonize here. Yes, this is not exactly the Spider-Man story we know from the comics, but those changes add an interesting dynamic. And the show doesn’t forget the character at the story’s center. The series has a few misses, such as janky animation at times and a couple of supporting characters who come off as glorified cameos and one note. But still, what we get is a fun look at the early years of Spider-Man and Peter Parker.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man feels decidedly small stakes (aside from a couple of scenes we won’t spoil), but with the characters we meet and how the season ends (not to mention seasons 2 and 3 already greenlit), there’s a lot more to mine on what’s out there for Peter and company. Go give the show a shot for a take that’s equal parts familiar and new on our favorite webhead.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is now streaming on Disney+ with new episodes dropping each week.
Photos courtesy of Disney
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