By Ben Wright (@Iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Spider-Noir follows private investigator Ben Reilly as he gets pulled into a dark web of corruption, crime, and violence across a stylised 1930s New York. Blending classic detective noir with superhero storytelling, the series follows Ben balancing his work as a troubled investigator while secretly operating as the mysterious vigilante known only as The Spider.
One of the most interesting things about Spider-Noir straight away is the choice to let viewers watch the series either in full black and white or in the “True Hue” colour version. For me, though, there was never really a debate. The black and white version was always going to be the way to watch it. I love classic film noir, and honestly, the atmosphere just feels stronger that way. I did watch back the first and final episodes in colour out of curiosity and, while it still looked good and kept its own style, the black and white version just feels like how the show was meant to be seen. The shadows pop more, the mood hits harder, and the whole thing feels far more unique. I almost wish they had fully committed to releasing it that way only. Still, if black and white is something that usually puts people off, I would rather they watch the colour version than miss the show completely.
What relieved me most, though, was that the noir influence is not just surface-level. This is not one of those shows where they throw a black-and-white filter over everything and call it a day. The series fully leans into the noir genre. The heavy shadows, cigarette smoke drifting through scenes, morally messy characters, and grimy city streets all feel pulled straight out of classic detective films. Even the themes fit perfectly with noir storytelling, guilt, corruption, obsession, and people trying to outrun their past. There were honestly points where it felt more like an old-school detective thriller than a superhero show, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I ended up flying through the episodes way quicker than I expected as well. The pacing is really strong throughout, and the show never feels like it loses momentum. It opens with the full superhero side of things straight away, too, which I appreciated. You are not sitting there waiting until the final episode for Ben to finally become The Spider. The suit, the powers, and the action are there from the first episode. But at the same time, the series never forgets the detective side of the character either. There are still loads of time spent with Ben working a case as a private investigator, and honestly, some of those quieter scenes ended up being just as gripping as the action sequences.
Nicolas Cage is absolutely brilliant here. And honestly, thank god the show lets Cage fully lean into the strange energy he naturally brings to roles. They do not water him down or try to make him feel like a standard superhero lead. He is intense, a little eccentric, sometimes funny without even trying to be, and it all works perfectly for this version of the character. The performance never tips too far into parody, either, which was important. He just feels different from most comic-book protagonists, and that gives the whole show its own identity.
Lamorne Morris and Karen Rodriguez are both really strong in the supporting cast, too and help round out the investigative side of the story nicely. Li Jun Li absolutely nails that classic noir femme-fatale energy as well, bringing mystery and confidence to the role without ever just feeling like a plot device. And honestly, if Brendan Gleeson is playing your villain, you are already in pretty safe hands. He brings exactly the kind of intimidating presence the show needed.
This show just looks cool. Simple as that. The black and white presentation gives everything this grimy, smoky atmosphere that suits the world perfectly, and the visual style feels confident the whole way through. Even switching back and checking certain scenes in colour, I still thought most of the effects looked solid. But visually, the black and white version is absolutely where the show shines most.
Spider-Noir is a stylish, moody, and genuinely refreshing take on superhero storytelling that properly commits to its noir influences instead of just borrowing the aesthetic. With a gripping detective story, a fantastic Nicolas Cage performance, and a world dripping with atmosphere, this ended up being one of the most unique comic-book shows in quite a while.
X-Geeks 