Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man review: "Freeing this creative series from MCU canon is the secret to its success"

"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can…" So says the lyrics of the theme song of the beloved 1967 cartoon series Spider-Man, which then became the official anthem of our favorite web-slinging hero to this day. It makes sense then that a sample of the classic tune is the first thing you hear during the intro to new Marvel show Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, nodding to Spidey's long and much beloved on-screen history.

Things are swiftly switched up though as some neat disc scratching launches the song into a full rap, which can only be described as a certified bop. Trust me, you won't be pressing that 'skip intro' button on any episode of this new series – new theme 'Neighbor Like Me', by The Math Club featuring Relaye and Melo Makes Music, has more than earned that respect. Blending the old with the new in a fun way, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man's energetic theme is the perfect indicator of what this series is. And the best news? It only gets better from here on in.

With great freedom, comes great responsibility

Depicting Peter Parker's early days as Spider-Man, the show follows the teenager as he finds his feet both at school and on the streets fighting crime. Crucially this tale isn't MCU canon; instead, the events take place on an alternate timeline. Although some fans may still long to see how Tom Holland's web-slinger developed his superpowers, freeing Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man from the constraints of the Sacred Timeline gives it significant freedom. However, with great freedom, comes great responsibility.

Thankfully, showrunner Jeff Trammell more than proves that he is the right man for this job, crafting a series that Spider-Man creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko would be proud of. Taking full advantage of the fact that this show isn't part of the MCU canon, Trammell reimagines key events from Peter's story, putting a fresh spin on familiar beats whilst paying homage to what has come before.

Arguably the best example of this is that here Tony Stark isn't Peter's mentor, instead Norman Osborn is. 'But Norman Osborn is classic Spider-Man villain Green Goblin', I hear you cry. Well, fellow web-heads, here Osborn takes Peter under his wing, essentially becoming Peter's "guy in the chair" on his Spidey adventures – to borrow a term from the MCU's Ned. Hell, we even see a shot-for-shot remix of a classic Tony Stark scene from Civil War, but instead it's Norman Osborn in his place.

It's certainly unexpected, but is a smart move from Trammell who cleverly subverts our expectations, with the evolving relationship between Peter and Norman easily being a stand-out. All eyes will certainly be on the pair as let's just say that Norman's investment in Peter might not ultimately be in the young hero's best interests, making their alliance a fascinating one to follow as Norman's motivations are explored like never before.

This new take on Norman Osborn allows voice actor Colman Domingo, who recently received an Oscar nomination for his performance in brilliant prison drama Sing Sing, to really flex his muscles, making the Oscorp billionaire a charming presence we can't help but admire, despite knowing the character's comic book history. Given that we usually see Norman depicted as a monstrous cackling villain, it's refreshing to see this interpretation, although Domingo does bring in some crucial edge to serve as a reminder that Osborn might not be a good guy after all.

Working it out on the remix

That's just one of the many ways that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man remixes both MCU and Marvel Comics lore, ensuring that it has something new to offer viewers, serving as a much needed breath of fresh air at a time where audiences might be feeling the effects of superhero fatigue.

Fans will enjoy the nods to MCU history that are scattered throughout the show, from the remixed shot-for-shot scene we mentioned earlier to references to key events such as the ratification of the Sokovia Accords. It's also great to hear some familiar voices, most prominently Charlie Cox as Daredevil who returns here to bring to life an alternate version of Matt Murdock. His dynamic action scenes will only make you more excited for upcoming Marvel show Daredevil: Born Again, which can't come quickly enough now that Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has reignited that superhero spark.

In fact, the show is chock-a-block full with characters from the comics, as alternate versions of Doctor Strange and Iron Man pop up, whilst deeper cuts like Speed Demon and Unicorn also appear – Trammell really said 'you want cameos, we've got them'! Crucially though while the show's cast list is absolutely stacked, the cameos never really feel like they are there just for the sake of it and it's a joy to see characters that are rarely depicted on-screen be brought to life here.

Showrunner Trammell remembers though that the beating heart of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man isn't the cameos nor is it just Peter, but the friends and family that surround him. Peter's crush Pearl (Cathy Ang), Norman's son Harry Osborn (Zeno Robinson), and our hero's ever loving Aunt May (Kari Wahlgreen) are all brilliant members of a fantastic supporting cast, forming an important part of Peter's support network.

Taking big swings

However, it is Peter's friends Nico (Grace Song) and Lonnie (Eugene Byrd) who will ultimately steal audiences' hearts. Not only do both voice actors give impressive performances, but the characters have lovingly crafted storylines that allow them to really grow over the season. As Nico and Peter's friendship hits various obstacles, she learns how to open herself up to others, exposing her vulnerabilities even though every bone in her body is telling her not to. Meanwhile Lonnie feels forced to make difficult choices wanting to do the best he can for his struggling family, which sets the Midtown star football player on a whole new journey that leads to him colliding with Peter in unexpected ways. It's Lonnie's tale that is by far the most emotional in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

The star of the show though is the web-slinger himself, with voice actor Hudson Thames perfectly capturing both awkward Peter and brave Spidey. Of course, that's not exactly a surprise given that he reprises the role from Marvel's What If…?, but it's still great to see Thames be given more room to explore the many nuances of Peter Parker. From the opening scene alone it's easy to understand why Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes ever – if not the most popular period – with Peter instantly winning us over with his charisma, dorkiness, and humble heroics. The most rewarding aspect of Trammell's take on Spidey here though is seeing him at the start of his superhero journey and how those around him help mold our web-slinger into the hero we all know and love. Although cliche, there really is no 'I' in 'team'.

Seeing Spidey swing through New York City really does never get old, especially when it is dynamically animated as it is in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Opting for a stripped back, comic book aesthetic, the show really does look like comic pages if they moved, with the series often using effects such as split screens to help emphasize that vibe. For the most part the bright, colorful, and cartoonish visuals work, instantly grabbing the eye whilst suiting the show's overall fresh feel. However, during more emotional scenes the animation lets the side down, with the simplicity being unable to capture the deep feelings the characters should be conveying. At times it just feels a little stiff, unable to match the complexity of the story.

The animation style is one of many big swings Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man takes and it's arguably the only one that slightly falters. One of the best superhero shows we have seen from Marvel, Trammell and co. have not only given us a fresh take on Spider-Man, but one that does justice to the character that is truly worth your time. As the credits roll on a thrilling finale, you'll be glad to learn that a second season is already in the works as, trust me, you'll be wanting more.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is out now on Disney Plus with the first two episodes. Don't miss a beat with our handy Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man release schedule.

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