Reinvention in the world of superheroes is vital – after all, how many times can you tell the exact same origin story over and over for a new generation without changing at least a few details to fit our ever changing society. It’s with this in mind that we approach yet another animated series starring everyone’s favorite nerdy bug person, Spider-Man, as Marvel Studios attempts to create the latest in a long line of cartoon series to show just a) thrilling and b) horribly inconvenient, being a hero can actually be.
However, while a bunch of Peter Parker’s usual enemies will be present and correct, surely the greatest enemy he’s about to face is the question of whether we actually need another animated Spider-Man swinging around? I mean, even taking into account everything from Spider-Man ’67, Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man ’94, The Spectacular Spider-Man and a whole raft of others, there’s still the yet unresolved, cinematic Spider-Verse trilogy which focuses on Miles Morales, so what else is there that can possibly be said?
Well, that’s the thing about Spidey; he’s rarely lost for words…
By now we all know the pre-superhero life of Peter Parker probably as well as we know our own – blah blah blah dead uncle, blah blah blah raised by aunt, blah blah blah brainy nerd. However, as we once again explore the dynamic between Pete and his Aunt May, he’s heading towards the prestigious Midtown Academy for his first day after scoring admittance to the school of science. However, while some freshmen may find orientation or simply locating their classes the most stressful thing to have to deal with, surely a large portal suddenly opening up in the sky has to come a close second. Out of this whirling vortex tumbles what seems to be a dashing wizard in a red cape and a black goo creature with huge teeth and they immediately start brawling the second they touch terra firma. Now, while we recognise these two as Doctor Strange and an off-brand Venom symbiote from some other reality in the multi-verse, the students of Midtown have no clue and in the ensuing chaos, Pete saves the life of fellow newbie Nico Minoru before succumbing to the bite of a spider that also has managed to find it’s way through the multi dimensional rift.
Months later, the effects of that bite have made themselves apparent as Peter now has the ability, sticking power and proportional strength of an arachnid and has chosen you use these great powers with great responsibility by dressing up in a mask, goggles and sweats and becoming New York’s most cheerful vigilante. However, while he juggles the life of a superhero with trying to fit in at school, a famous, wealthy, entrepreneur has set his sights on the young Peter Parker in the hopes of helping him reach his full potential – oh no, not Tony Stark; that’s the MCU. No, in this universe, Peter’s about to be groomed for greatness by none other than Norman Osborn.
Spider-Man has probably had his origin story retold more than any other superhero character thanks to an animated history that stretches back over sixty years, so I’ll be honest with you, the promise of seeing yet another version of it wasn’t exactly high on my list of priorities. I say this with love, of course; after all, thanks to the numerous cartoons over the years, I’ve been a Spider-Man nut before I even knew what comics were and a fresh take of the character is always interesting to pick apart to see what this new version is trying to say. Judging by a solid, but rather slow first episode, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is hoping to say a lot.
The story is pure entry level Spidey with all the subtle shifts in the established lore you’d expect from this latest, modernised take. In fact more than anything else, YFNS-M uses the MCU Spider-Man films as it’s basic launching off point. Uncle Ben is already dead, Aunt May looks great for her age, Peter’s just starting at Midtown High and there’s no sign of the results of that fateful spider bite – but as the episode progresses, it soon deviates from the Tom Holland template (mostly) to swing on its own path. Thus the arachnid in question now comes from a dimensional portal opened up thanks to a shamelessly gratuitous cameo from Doctor Strange and what looks like a Venom variant; MJ, Ned, Flash and Liz have now been replaced by the likes of Nico, Harry Osborn, Lonnie Lincoln and Pearl and his Spidey costume looks a little more involved than just a hoodie and some funky goggles with his primitive web shooters connected by tubing to a tank connected to his belt. It proves to be quite a savvy approach which will feel familiar to fans of Homecoming but deviates at key point to become it’s own beast.
The animation style is interesting, taking the usual Marvel Animation CG look but making it look like a modern, 3D take on the art of original and legendary Spidey artist Steve Ditko, also which pretty much explains the presence of Doctor Strange as he also was a character created by the same visual genius. While it might not have the awesome punch of X-Men ’97, the style ends up being a perfect choice, not only honoring the past but giving the present a unique look that differentiates it from past animated series.
However, while the show makes a lot of smart choices that will no doubt come to fruition as the season continues (anyone familiar with the name Lonnie Lincoln will know he has a potential future to become the crime boss known as Tombstone) the episode doesn’t really come alive and show you what it’s potential can really be until the closing moments until it deals out a near-perfect closing scene. Essentially a shot for shot remake of Peter Parker’s introductory scene in Captain America: Civil War, we follow him as he enters his home with “Left Hand Free” by alt-J playing on the soundtrack. As he boasts to May that he’s found a brand new DVD player in a dumpster, we’re expecting him to be gobsmacked at the sight of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark, however, instead he finds Colman Domingo’s Norman Osborn waiting for him instead which opens up a whole new avenue that proves to be potential dynamite. If Stark could be considered a guardian angel in this scenario, Osborn is undoubtedly the devil and while there’d no evidence that the Green Goblin yet exists in this reality, the fact that Spider-Man’s greatest enemy is playing his benefactor proves to be a splendid dramatic hook.
Laying out the groundwork for the season cleanly and concisely, Amazing Fantasy keeps it’s cards close to its webbed chest until that final reveal and while time will tell if some of the other changes will work as well (the typical “woke” accusations have been flying about since the first trailer), this is one Spider-Man that could be a great addition to the neighborhood.
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We Have Issues 
Always amazing how far the Spiderman universe can go so many years after the days of the classic cartoon series from our childhoods. Thank you for your review.
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