May 26, 2026 10:00pm IST
Spider-Noir First Impressions: Nicolas Cage’s Superhero Series Nails Noir Visuals, Builds Intrigue
It’s been eight years since Nicolas Cage first voiced Spider-Man Noir in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Now, he finally has his own series on Prime Video, Spider-Noir, set in 1930s New York, and with the option to view it in black and white or color. And if that isn’t an exciting prospect already, Spider-Noir is a take on the webslinger that hasn’t been seen before, as he grapples with age alongside his other nemeses.
Cage is Ben Reilly, once a superhero the city dubbed “The Spider.” He decided to hang up his mask after the untimely death of his fiancée, Ruby (Amanda Schull) and is now a decent, if not well-paid, private investigator who can’t even afford to pay his secretary, the wise and resourceful Janet (Karen Rodriguez). His best friend is investigative journalist Robbie Robertson (Lamorne Morris), who loves a good scoop even if getting it puts his life at risk.
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When a case with several threads leads to the Irish mob boss Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson), Reilly must dust off his old superhero persona, face off against other super-powered beings and rescue a damsel in distress with secrets of her own (a breathtaking Li Jun Li).
“Spider-Noir” gets the look and feel of its black-and-white inspirations beautifully right. There are both storytelling and visual nods to classic tropes, like a detective chasing a lead down a dark alleyway at night while rain falls, someone brandishing a hidden gun at another, a stunning female jazz singer performing at the bar as our hero watches, transfixed. Even the writing has the old-school, wry and deadpan quality to its humor, where a throwaway jibe sounds like a work of art. The action is a nod to the films of old.
But then, there’s the option to switch to color. And suddenly, everything else remains, but the scene comes alive in a gorgeous, warm palette. Lamorne Morris’ orange coat looks stunning. The action feels more comic-book-like. And the production design is truly appreciated. It might be a touch more immersive than its noir counterpart.
Nicolas Cage, on the other hand, even if not showing his true colors in the first two episodes just yet, sells with great conviction, Reilly as the beaten-down superhero. He feigns indifference with his “With no power comes no responsibility” spiel, yet cannot help but care, even as age catches up with his webslinging. But it’s the supporting cast, chiefly Rodriguez’s Janet, Morris’ Robertson and Jack Huston’s Flint Marko, that make an impression.
“Spider-Noir” is an interesting take on one of the most beloved superhero characters of all time. Whether in greyscale or color, watching Spidey swing through New York streets, and use his webbed powers to beat up the bad guys remains enthralling. And as the eight-episode series drops on May 27, 2026, on Prime Video, the first two episodes have definitely piqued intrigue.
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