Tv review: FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN
FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN is a series that I wasn't excited about. In simple terms, I didn't like the animation style and I wasn't happy it would once more be taking Peter Parker back to high school. I think that Peter being put in high school is one of the single most frustrating thiongs they ever do with the character and just keeps happening. Peter Parker has best been in college or, god forbid, marriage but I doubt the last is ever happening outside of AU comics these days.
But i was wrong. No, surprisingly, I have very few notes on this new series of Spider-Man and have to say they managed to make a product that is not quite up to the standards of Spectacular Spider-Man or Spider-Man: The Animated Series but is solidly good. Go watch it if you have the time and experience the fun as well as well-designed storytelling. Now, if you're still here after that and want to here about some small complaints (as well as what I liked) then I shall do so.
The premise is that Spider-Man is meant to go to Midtown High for geniuses just like in the MCU but Doctor Strange fighting with a Venom symbiote results in him being forced to go to an ordinary high school. This is part of what I feel is a fairly comprehesive critique of Spider-Man in the Marvel movies that is a running theme throughout the show. For example, in the MCU, Peter is mentored by Iron Man but in the show, Peter is found by Norman Osborn.
Much of this show is about how Peter can't work with a billionaire, shouldn't go to a school for geniuses, and also shouldn't be dealing with big Avengers-scale threats when he could be fighting crime locally. This is actually a running theme in the MCU movies but they don't handle it very well and a lot of the fans (like myself) don't see a reason why he can't do both.
There's some people who dislike the race-lifting of Norman Osborn or other nonsense but it's to match the voice actor who does an incredible job. It's an alternate universe, deal with it. But if I had to make an observation, I really like the show creators deciding to use a bunch of lesser known Marvel characters: There's Amadeus Cho, Finesse, Wave, Tombstone, Nico Minoru, and some baddies like the Unicorn.
I think my favorite part of the story is the reimagining of the origin of Tombstone. Lonnie Lincoln was always portrayed as a bully and thug in traditional media but this is more a high school version of Anakin Skywalker's fall. A handsome, smart, and athletic kid with a bright future who lives in a terrible neighborhood that is full of gangs preying on people like his brother. He makes a decision that warps his understanding of where his responsibilities lie. I really liked it as it contrasted with Peter's story.
In conclusion, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a fantastic series and I think you'll really enjoy it if you like Spider-Man. It gets that he's a hero of the people for the people from the people. It also interrogates what that means. The Dikto in 3D art style may throw people for a bit but I rapidly got used to it and even came to live it. The action is also great and writing crisp. Two thumbs up.
