The new Disney Plus animated spider-man really has a face (critic)
His comic book aesthetics allow him to stand out, but do we really want to hear this story again?
Six decades after Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spider-manthe weaver never ceases to inspire the studios. This is yet another animated variation of the character of Marvel Comics who arrives on Disney Plus, in a brand new cartoon launched today. What interest?
History, we all know it: it is that of the clumsy Peter Parker, bitten by a spider who will give him powers. Small twist, this peter there is not quite that of Tobey Maguire or Tom Holland. It is (still) another Peter, coming from an alternative chronology. Freshly landed in his new New York high school, the young Peter will attend a cosmic event: a portal opens and Doctor Strange continues a vicious extraterrestrial symbiote! While the superhero captures the creature, it lets a strange spider pass in the portal … which will bite Peter by the neck. Here he has become Spider-man !
It is a story that we are read in a loop on television from the very first cartoon dating back to the 60’s, and which Your faithful servant Spider-Man In 2025, even in its credits. A heritage that the little news prefers to assume, to better vibrate the nostalgic rope, by focusing on a particularly cool retro comic animation.
Directed by Leo Romero and Polygon Pictures, it combines 2D and 3D Cel-Shading techniques, to give a vintage patina to the series, mixing a very effective comic staging with a contemporary look. We would almost be in a form of pop art at the Roy Lichtenstein. Thus the animation captures the essence of the original comic strips, all creating its clean, dynamic, modern aesthetic. Frankly, it’s delightful so much it’s beautiful.
But if we take full view, the background remains a little dreary. Difficult not to make the comparison with the brilliant X-Men ’97 From last year, which used the warm atmosphere of its retro animation to explore sharp themes, those who have always been intrinsically part of the history of X-Men. That of Spider-Man is much more neutral (we were enough rehabilitated on the reflection on the responsibility which comes with power) and confines to theOrigin Story ordinary.
Fortunately, Hudson Thames puts conviction in the (vocal) role of Peter Parker, facing the very charismatic Colman Domingo (in the role of Norman Osborn). The dialogues are fun, the intrigues rhythmic and there are enough Marvel cameos to please fans.
This Faithful servant does not only have a face. But the cartoon still remains far from the narrative madness of the other animated saga Spider-manthe huge franchise Into the Spider-Verwhich has transformed the genre to the cinema for the years to come, while this new television version is rather watching towards the past.
Your faithful servant Spider-Man, season 1 in 10 episodes to see until February 10 on Disney Plus.