Score: 7/10
Marvel’s latest animated outing, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, swings into action with its first two episodes, presenting a fresh take on Peter Parker’s early days. While the show doesn’t quite hit the highs of previous Spider-Man adaptations, it offers an engaging, albeit uneven, start.
The Good
One of the highlights of this new series is its world-building. Rather than rehashing the classic origin story, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man introduces interesting deviations from the usual Spidey lore. A significant change is the involvement of Norman Osborn in Peter’s life from the outset—replacing Tony Stark’s mentor role from the MCU. The fact that Osborn already knows Peter’s secret identity by the end of Episode 2 adds a unique twist, setting up intriguing dynamics for the future.
The supporting cast is a strong point, with characters like Nico Minoru (Runaways fans, rejoice!), Amadeus Cho, and a Wakandan scientist-in-training named Asha adding diversity and depth to Peter’s circle. These aren’t your typical Spider-Man side characters, which helps the show feel fresh. Norman Osborn, voiced by Colman Domingo, steals the show with a powerful presence, making him one of the most compelling characters so far.
The Not-So-Good
The biggest divide comes in the animation style. While some will appreciate its mix of 2D and 3D elements, others (myself included) find the low frame rate and overuse of CG distracting. Some scenes, especially wide shots of the school, appear choppy and cheap, which is disappointing for a high-profile Marvel production.
Another issue is Peter Parker himself. While some may enjoy his more confident and socially adjusted take, it feels like a departure from the usual awkward, struggling Peter we’ve come to know. He’s still figuring things out as Spider-Man, but he lacks that underdog quality that makes him so endearing. His interactions with his classmates feel more relaxed than previous versions of the character, which may be a plus for some but falls a little flat for others.
Story & Setup
The introduction of the multiverse as a core component raises some concerns. Rather than a traditional radioactive spider bite, Peter is bitten by a spider from another dimension, linking the story to Doctor Strange’s magic. While Into the Spider-Verse handled multiversal storytelling masterfully, this show’s use of it feels a bit more forced. It’s unclear if this will play a major role moving forward, but the multiverse has been a divisive theme in recent Marvel projects.
However, there are promising elements to build on. The inclusion of Doctor Connors (gender-swapped and now working in energy research instead of biology) hints at changes to classic villains. A mechanical version of The Lizard, perhaps? Also, with Daredevil and Kingpin confirmed to appear, the series could become a deeper exploration of Marvel’s street-level heroes.
Final Thoughts
At its core, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a show designed for a younger audience, and viewing it through that lens makes its creative choices easier to appreciate. It’s a fun, Saturday morning cartoon-style take on Spider-Man that prioritizes character introductions over deep storytelling—for now.
While it may not be groundbreaking, the potential for future episodes is there. If the series can refine its animation and provide Peter Parker with a stronger character arc, it could grow into a solid addition to the Spider-Man legacy.
Verdict: A promising, if somewhat uneven, start with cool new characters, but animation issues and an overly confident Peter Parker hold it back.
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