CBR Spider-Man NOIR

 

Time for another take on the classic Spider-Man origin story....
This time, it's through America in the 30s that we'll have a look at it.

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Comic title: Spider-Man noir
Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Story by David Hine & Fabrice Sapolsky

Published by Marvel Knights/Marvel noir
From 2009
Lineup Spider-man, Marvel noir
Format: Digest trade paperback collecting the mini-series SPIDER-MAN NOIR # 1-4.

In 2009, Marvel Comics launched yet another new imprint for an alternate Marvel Universe.

Published through Marvel Knights, called Marvel noir it was centered around more realistic stories around their famous characters.
In noir you won't find no powers or magic. And absolutely no traditional "super heroics".
The genre here is noir/thriller in the fashion of old 1930s polars.
Several titles were launched and by the end of the second year you had noir takes from Spider-man to Daredevil, Punisher and the X-Men.
The lineup proved to be quite popular and received a lot of praise.
Recently the line was even revived through another supplementary title called Deadpool Pulp.

I'll be reviewing Spider-man noir this time.
Coincidentally enough, Spidey is one of the few to actually wield powers in this universe.

"With great power, there must also come great responsibility — and when those in power abuse it, it’s the people’s responsibility to remove them."

In this story, Spider-man takes place in the New York City of 1933.
Four years have passed since the tragic Wall Street Crash. 
In this very realistic background, Aunt May is fighting for social rights of the workers.
Uncle Ben has been recently killed by the mob.
And the city is full of corruption.

With no one to turn to, the young Peter Parker is not your usual optimistic and cheerful Peter.
Pete knows mobsters killed his uncle. It's all because of The Goblin, the mysterious new boss that has taken control of the entire organized crime.

It's a corrupt city.
In the middle of the Great Depression, the Daily Bugle's Chief Editor J.J.Jameson wants to show the people the true face of misery running the streets.

For most of this comic book, the main character actually turns out to be the photograph/reporter
Ben Urich. After hearing a speech from Aunt May he takes on Peter as his apprentice for the Bugle.

What about Spider-man?
He finally shows up after the classic spider-bite.
Peter discovers Urich was actually gathering various informations as "The Spider". He follows up on a lead by himself.
During a robbery, he enters in contact with a mystical spider antique statue that grants him spider-like abilities.

...And it's about the only bit that gets a bit far fetched.
The rest of the story is about poverty, corruption, and easily the grittiest take on Spidey yet!

It's a dark era to be "Spider-man".
The prohibition is going on strong.
The plot reads like a pulp crime. It's pretty smartly thought and well written by the duo of
David Hine & Fabrice Sapolsky.
In perfect film noir style, it touches on blackmailing and corruption.

There's several familiar faces that pop in this new iteration of the wallcrawler, albeit under completely new takes.
Felicia Hardy runs a speakeasy by the name of Black Cat Club.
Norman Osborn turns out to be a more simpler realistic Green Goblin that previous versions.

Various others appear as well such as the Vulture - a cannibal, Ox, Fancy Dan, Montana, the Chameleon and even Kraven - here an animal trainer.

The art is handled by Carmine Di Giandomenico.
Simply stunning. Dark, detailed yet a bit cartoonified enough to work for a Spider-man comic.
Let's also not forget to mention Patrick Zircher's covers that give the book an unique tone.

Overall, it's a fantastic departure for the not-so-friendly neighborhood Spider-man.
You gotta admit it might not sound that great on paper - an edgier darker "pulp" Spider-man.
But you have to recognize, the creative team made it work.

The story is full of early XXth century imagery and socialist messages, appropriately enough.

My only complaint is more technical than anything else really.
The book is usually printed on a smaller "digest" format, along the rest of the Marvel noir line. And Marvel's digest books use quite a cheaper paper. Usually not much a problem for the affordable price they get, but for these "noir" comics, with the darker tones and dull coloring it gets difficult to "read the pictures" sometimes. The pages/panels don't stand out much and seem colorless.
I'd really recommend trying to get the Hardcover edition or searching for the earlier single issues instead.

Other than that? It's a must!

I give it:

  2.5 / 3 SpiderHams!