Spider-Man Noir (2020) Issue 1

Spider-Man Noir (2020) Issue #1

Written by Margaret Stohl

Art by Juan Ferreyra

Cover art by Dave Rapoza

I first encountered Spider-Man Noir during the Spider-verse comics event back in the Autumn of 2014. His first solo adventure I read was in Edge of the Spider-verse #1, in which our hero finds himself up against Mysterio.

I fell head over heels for this interpretation of Spider-Man. Admittedly, I'm not too well-read in the greater noir genre, but the imagery of a loner fighting for justice in the face of danger with nothing but his wits and his reflexes definitely resonates with me.

When I found out about the 2020 series for Spider-Man Noir, I immediately put it on my Must Read list.

First things first, the cover art is absolutely amazing. It readily draws the eye and teases the imagination. Chalk outlines, tough as nails pilot, performer in a swanky dress, Nazis performing what can only be a dastardly experiment, Spider-Man in a hat?! We're in for something very different than your average Spider-Man story.

We first see Peter Parker, a private detective, listening to the radio in his office. World War Two is on the horizon but the criminals of New York aren't taking a break any time soon. Peter leaps out the window to stop a couple of bank robbers, armed with his twin pistols and trusty web-slinging skills, and this sets the tone for what's shaping up to be a mysterious international adventure.

The broad strokes of what makes Spider-Man familiar are all here. We've got sweet and wise Aunt May, spunky Mary Jane, and even though Peter is a fast-quipping detective, there's still a hint of that socially awkward every-man we all love.

Overall, I'm very excited to continue reading, as Peter's latest case takes him abroad. The art perfectly captures the tone of the story, and the writing is a joy to read, with dialogue heavy on the 1930's street slang. I've loved this first issue, and I hope I feel the same about the rest of the series.