Let's Get Reel

You would think that Spider-Man stories have run their course after countless movies and shows, but somehow they keep defying expectations.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was originally supposed to tell the store of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man leading up to his appearance in Captain America Civil War. This idea was scrapped once they realized how short that would be. It was the best decision they could’ve made.

This was such a breath of fresh air that it’s crazy Marvel isn’t promoting this more. God knows they need a homerun right now. I don’t think anyone was expecting too much from this, but it might just be one of the best Spider-Man iterations we’ve ever gotten.

A Refreshing Take on Spider-Man and the MCU

This show is different than other Spider-Man stories. It takes place in an altered MCU timeline where classic Spider-Man characters like Norman Osborn exist. It’s practically a glorified What If… ? episode in the best way possible. Catching all the ways they’ve merged these two worlds is half the fun.

It’s such a different take on the character but they manage to keep it familiar. The writers understand who Peter Parker is and give him exactly the story you’d want. It’s how we get there that’s changed. The show reimagines a lot of the characters like Norman and Harry Osborn, Dr. Connors, and Scorpion without losing who they are. It’s refreshing while maintaining a classic Spider-Man story at its core.

The writing is great. You care about all of these characters and their relationships. It’s Peter’s friendship with Nico and Harry that provides the heartbeat for the show. I just want to keep hanging out with them. Similarly, Spider-Man’s partnership with Norman Osborn drives the story in a darker way. It’s consistently engaging as we slowly learn Norman’s true motivations.

While the finale episode feels a little out of place, the others find ways to further the story in surprising and interesting ways. They deliver what they need while always coming back to the themes of friendship and responsibility. It keeps the writing tight and effective. It may not be quite as good as X-Men 97, but it comes close.

The biggest complaint I’ve heard is the animation. You get used to it very quickly and will come to love the comic-inspired editing. The only problem I have with it is how empty the city looks. There’s either nobody around or background characters are completely still. It’s not a big problem, but definitely something that kept taking me out of the story.

The Verdict

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is another homerun for Marvel Animation. With a refreshing world and well-written story, I can already feel myself wanting to come back. Season 2 can’t get here soon enough.