REVIEW: ‘Spider-Man Noir’ Issue 1

Spider-Man Noir Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics and written by Erik Larsen, art by Andrea Broccardo, colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, and letters by Joe Sabino.

Spider-Man moves into 1939, as a brand new case brings Gwen Stacy into his life.

This issue continues the mythos of this historical webslinger. Spider-Man: Noir issue 1 travels forward, introducing new storylines using many familiar faces. There are flickers of the past, brilliantly catching readers up to what happened between the series. It’s been a long time since Spider-Man Noir, a version of Peter Parker that got his powers in the 1930s, has been on his own instead of an ensemble of Spiders. But the momentum is always looking into the current. Gwen Stacy strolls into Peter’s office, and she creates a mysterious murder case for him to help with. The pacing is smooth and the plot is easy to follow.

Spider-Man Noir Issue 1 begins with a fight that instantly creates energy and highlights the significant change between this Spidey and almost every other version of himself across the Multiverse. He uses guns, charging into battle with two pistols blazing. Larsen knows when to energize the book with action and when to turn it into an investigation.

Having Peter Parker as a private investigator fits the noir genre perfectly. And what works perfectly is that the fight at the beginning of the issue was not mindless or just a cold open, as it links directly to the end of the comic, with a fantastic twist.

What’s fascinating about Spider-Man Noir Issue 1 is that it reads like a classic Peter Parker story, just several decades earlier. Peter may be a trustee eye, but he’s certainly not successful. He’s struggling just as much with rent money and romance as he is in the central universe. This makes him a lucky underdog who can still be relatable despite the setting.

The other figures in the issue are all instantly recognizable. The introduction of Gwen adds a freshness and innocence to the story. Gwen translates beautifully into the Noir setting. She’s kind and polite, with a father who is deeply entwined in the underworld.

The dialogue is varied and fantastic. With technology advancing in the 1930s, there are numerous pop culture references to films and other events that occurred during that time. But Larsen does more than make references. He lets the characters have natural conversations, like regular people would about shows and movies.

The narration and the conversations Peter has feel authentic to a detective story, exploring crime scenes with a serious tone. But then, as Spider-Man, there are ludicrous quips and hilarious conversations that lighten the tone immensely.

The art is phenomenal, immersing us in the dark, crime-ridden world of pre-war New York City. Spider-Man’s costume is superbly recreated. Is it over the top? Sure. But it’s a lot of fun too. The fedora and the long flowing coat add a terrific movement to his silhouette, mixing seriousness with silliness. The first fight is fluid and fantastic, with Peter flipping into action, spraying bullets everywhere. He may move like a spider, but he has elements that are unique to him.

The super heroics in this series are chaotic and unexpected, but there’s an excellent contrast with a relatively normal world around them. The buildings, cars, and workplaces are all reminiscent of the time period.

The colors are impressive, creating a gloomy atmosphere that fits the setting. The spider suit isn’t the only dark color in the issue – everything is dulled. There is a predominance of brown and gray in the panels, with a rusty red being the most vibrant color. There are occasionally bright lights, from flashlights and in the morgue, but they illuminate the area without making the page more vibrant.

The lettering in the word balloons is easy to read, but the captions can be more difficult to read. The font emulates that of a typewriter, with bold words underlined. It’s these bold words that could be difficult to read for some.

Spider-Man Noir Issue 1 is a brilliant revisiting of the world. While the plot may appear simple in nature, its depth comes from the dialogue and the story’s details. This is an alternate reality that still hasn’t really been explored, with so many adaptations to behold. The fact that it reads so much like a regular Spider-Man story, with the themes and faces that make the character so engaging, makes this first issue approachable for everyone.

Spider-Man Noir Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.