As theSpider-Versefilms have revealed, there is a near-endless supply of unique takes on the concept of Spider-Man. That’s true of most comic book heroes, but Spidey is especially varied. One of his most striking iterations, the monochromatic 30s-inspired Spider-Man Noir, is heading for his own solo series on Amazon Prime, so it’s time to learn what he’s all about.
Spider-Man remainsone of the most popular superheroesof all time. It was only a matter of time before creators would reach into the deep well of similar Spider-People to bring more wall crawlers to the screen. Noir isn’t the strangest version of the character, but he is one of the most entertaining.
RELATED:Spider-Man Noir Live-Action Series In Development At Amazon
When did Spider-Man Noir first appear?
In 2006, French magazine editor Fabrice Sapolsky came to Marvel writer David Hine with an idea. He pitched a version of Spider-Man inspired by the pulp novels of the 1930s. Hine loved the idea, so much so that he refined it over the following three years and expanded it to multiple other characters. The result was 2009’s Marvel Noir line, which gave Spider-Man, the X-Men, Daredevil, Wolverine, Luke Cage,and the Punisher hardboiled makeovers. The first, best, and most popular outing is stillSpider-Man Noir, the first issue of which premiered in February 2009.
Spider-Man: Noir (just known as Spider-Man in his universe) is Peter Parker, a college-age New Yorker living through the Great Depression. His uncle Ben, a former World War I pilot, was recently murdered by a group of goons under the heel oflocal businessman Norman Osborn, who has ties to a crime boss called Goblin. Parker gets a version of his late uncle’s traditional “power and responsibility” speech before signing on to work for Ben Urich at the Daily Bugle. While investigating a warehouse full of stolen relics, Parker finds a mystical idol tied to a spider god. It shatters, releasing countless spiders, one of whom immediately bites him. Parker passes out and meets the arachnid deity who offers him power. When he wakes up in a cocoon of webs, he becomes 1932’s Spider-Man.
Does Spider-Man Noir have the same powers?
30s Peter Parker wields most of the same abilities as his modern incarnation, with a few slight alterations. Most notably, while modern Parker invents and wields a pair of web shooters, Noir has organic spinnerets in his wrists. In addition, he doesn’t often use his webs in the same way early on. He isn’t often seen swinging through the city in his original run. Instead, he mostly shoots webs to trap foes in a large net. Beyond that, he has the same basic suite of superpowers. He’s strong and fast, he can climb on walls, and he’s got every Spider-Person’ssecret weapon, the spider-sense. Though his powers are similar, his equipment is unique.
Spider-Man Noir doesn’t wear a traditional superhero suit. Instead, he dons contemporary clothes with kevlar armor and an appropriate mask. He’s decked out in a fashionable trench coat, turtleneck, trousers, and boots. His mask includes the aviation goggles his uncle wore in the war. He frequently adds a fedora, which was the style at the time. The other big deviation in equipment Spider-Man Noir brings to battle is his fascination with firearms. While modern Spidey is dependent on fists, webs, and tech, Noir has no trouble pulling a gun on his foes. Hestill prefers not to kill, but he’s far more morally gray than the typical Spider-Person.
Where has Spider-Man Noir been seen before?
Outside the comics, most fans met Earth-90214’s Peter Parker in 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. It’s the character’s first and only big-screen appearance to date. Parker is portrayed by Nicolas Cage, instantly imbuing him with the public interest. For his part, Cage grants Parker the transatlantic accent made famous by performers like Humphrey Bogart. He’s the oldest of the Spider-People who appear to aid Miles Morales in his quest. He’s skilled in hand-to-hand combat, preferring a style that more closely resembles boxing than the typical acrobatic moves. He’s one of the most compelling characters in the film. It’s clear that the fan reaction to his appearance earned the character a solo project.
Noir pops up in a few episodes ofUltimate Spider-Manand a version of the character appears inAvengers Assemble, but his big showcase was the2010 gameSpider-Man Shattered Dimensions. In many ways, the game preemptedSpider-verse’sapproach to the franchise. The game was split into four sections, each with its own playable Spider-Man. Noir’s chapters were in the typical black-and-white look and featured stealth-based gameplay. This brought the character to the attention of tons of new fans, ensuring the popularity would continue to grow with later versions.
Spider-Man Noir combines everything fans love about the iconic superhero with the resurgent genreof hardboiled crime fiction. His appearances in fun crossover projects have made him popular, but his upcoming solo series will make him an icon.
