Prime Video's Newest Superhero Show Is One of Its Best Comic Book Series

Despite a seemingly endless stream of think pieces, the superhero genre continues to thrive on screens big and small. 2026 is the best proof of this: not only will theaters see an onslaught of capes and cowls with Supergirl, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Doomsday, but Prime Video has been delivering plenty of subversive superhero television with The Boys and Invincible. Last week, the streamer dropped its newest comic book series, and it's proven to be one of the best adaptations that Prime Video's tackled in recent years.

That series is none other than Spider-Noir. Created by Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, Spider-Noir follows Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage), a jaded private investigator who's also his world's Spider-Man — or rather, "The Spider." A mysterious tragedy causes Ben to hang up his webs, but when he encounters the lovely yet mysterious Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), he winds up becoming the Spider once again. Spider-Noir is quickly becoming a hit for Prime Video, as it's currently sitting at #2 on the Top 10 TV list according to FlixPatrol. What helps Spider-Noir stand out in the sea of superhero adaptations is its unique aesthetic and the way that it approaches the Spider-Man mythos.

'Spider-Noir' Features Unique Takes on Spider-Man's Friends and Foes

What makes Spider-Noir stand out in a sea of superhero shows is that it fully leans into its noir elements. Nearly every character operates in shades of gray, especially Ben and Cat. The duo winds up entangled in a metaphorical web of romantic tension and double crosses, especially when Cat's lover, Flint Marko (Jack Huston), enters the picture. The end result shows that Spider-Noir owes as much to classic noir movies like The Maltese Falcon as it does to the original Spider-Man: Noir miniseries by David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky. When discussing Spider-Noir with Vanity Fair, Cage revealed that noir legend Humphrey Bogart was a major inspiration for his performance as Ben Reilly:

"For me, this character was 70 percent Bogart, and 30 percent Bugs Bunny...I was basically Mel Blanc doing Bogart, with that sarcastic sense of humor. But it’s a hundred percent me."

Cage's strange, jittery movements make him stand out from the other live-action actors who've taken up the Spider-Man mantle, and that's not even getting into the fact that this is a Spider-Man who swears, smokes, and drinks. It's not the only time that a unique take on the Spider-Man mythos is deployed throughout Spider-Noir; the superpowered villains, including Marko (who longtime Spider-Man fans know as the Sandman) and Tombstone (Abraham Popoola), have to deal with the fact that their powers are killing them. Ben also has an ally in Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris), a crusading journalist who helps Ben in his journey to take down Silvermane. Since Robbie's been a father figure to Peter Parker in modern Marvel continuity, this is just another example of how Spider-Noir takes familiar Spider-Man characters and presents them in a new light.

One Aspect of 'Spider-Noir' Makes It Worth Re-Watching

The standout element of Spider-Noir is that audiences can watch it in two different formats. "Authentic Black & White" presents the series in a black-and-white style that feels right at home with the noir movies that inspired it, while "True-Hue Full Color" delivers bright, vibrant colors that wouldn't feel out of place in a comic book. Having both versions available encourages a rewatch, especially if you want to see how certain superpowers look in color or get the full "noir experience" with the black-and-white edition. Whatever version audiences choose to watch, it's clear that people like what they see, as Spider-Noir boasts an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its style and performances.

With Spider-Noir serving as a bona fide success, it should also provide Sony with a roadmap for approaching the Spider-Man franchise. Sony struck a deal with Prime Video to create more Spider-Man-based TV shows, which hopefully means audiences will get more Spider-Men and Spider-Women instead of movies focused on Spider-Man's villains. It's also a reminder that Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are arguably the best thing to happen to the Spider-Man franchise, as they understand what makes the character tick while taking him in new directions.

Whether you believe the superhero genre is tapped out or you can't get enough of masked avengers, Spider-Noir is worth a watch. It's proof that in the right hands, iconic characters still have plenty of stories left to tell.