The new Spider-Man show is pretty amazing
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ), streaming on Disney+, is an animated series worth your time.
Everyone knows that Spider-Man is the face of Marvel Comics, undoubtedly one of the most iconic superheroes ever. But just because the wall-crawler is popular does not mean every piece of media he appears in is good. His last animated series, Marvel’s Spider-Man (2017-2020), was a show I found mediocre at best. I disliked Peter Parker's characterization, the cast, the art style, and the animation. Five years later, a new animated series titled Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) has released its first season on Disney+. At first, I was skeptical of the strange art style and animation, but after finishing the first season, it has become one of my favorite series starring the web-slinger.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) was initially intended to be the origin story of Tom Holland’s version of the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, though, it takes place in an alternate reality. This is the best choice because it allows for more creative storytelling and the series to explore new ideas not seen in the films. For example, in the film Spider-Man Homecoming (2017), Mac Gargan appears in the post-credit scene, making fans believe he would return as the Scorpion in a future title. Unfortunately, he is not seen nor mentioned again in the sequel films. In contrast, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) completes Mac Gargan’s transformation into the Scorpion and is a primary antagonist through the first season. This illustrates how Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) capitalizes on the missed opportunities in the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy.
I also enjoyed the cast of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ). As aforementioned, I was not a fan of the cast in the last Spider-Man show. Peter Parker went to a prestigious school called Horizon High, which was filled with students who were so intelligent and tech-savvy that they felt like mini versions of Tony Stark— resulting in characters feeling one note and too similar. More importantly, this made Peter Parker feel significantly less remarkable and relatable, an aspect that made his character enjoyable in the comics.
Unlike the previous series, which surrounded Peter with other brilliant students, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) features a diverse and well-rounded cast, allowing for unique character dynamics and development. For example, Lonnie Lincoln initially appears as a stereotypical jock who excels at football, but the show quickly establishes his intelligence and care for his education. As the season progresses, Lonnie is forced to join a gang to protect his family, which leads to him getting kicked off the team, missing classes, and failing academically. The show makes the audience feel bad for Lonnie and hope for his escape.
By the end of the season, Lonnie willingly stays with the gang after forming a bond with members who call him “Tombstone.” I found this character and his story engaging because it conveys how drastically your life can change based on your priorities and decisions. I can’t wait to see more of Lonnie in later seasons and whether he goes down a villainous route, just like his comic book counterpart.
Another aspect of the show I enjoy is the heart and passion in the writing, particularly in emotional scenes and characters. For example, in the first episode, Spider-Man stops a young woman from robbing a pizza shop. But instead of bringing her to the police, he returns her to the shop owner, where she apologizes and explains that she has been struggling to find a job and desperately needs money. I love how this scene illustrates that while people can do bad things, that does not mean they are evil. Sometimes, people struggle in life, struggling for so long that they turn to desperate actions to get what they need. The world is not black and white; this series understands that well. Spider-Man decides to let her go as long as she does not commit more crimes, illustrating his empathy and sense of responsibility, which are deeply rooted in the original character.
Overall, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025- ) is a show that pleasantly surprised me. The story is well-developed and progresses naturally, featuring well-written characters I am interested in learning more about. The animation took some time to get used to, but it got the job done. The action scenes are thrilling to watch, with the fight scenes between Spider-Man and Scorpion being my personal favorites. The series has already been renewed for two more seasons, and I cannot wait to watch it again and continue to recommend it to all of you.