After the breathless success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Sony seems to be throwing everything at its Spider-Man properties, with varying degrees of success. The latest entry, Spider-Noir, is a charming black-and-white comedy that struggles to find its footing among a sea of familiar tropes.

The show follows Ben Reilly, a brooding vigilante from another universe who tries to keep his superhero identity hidden while dealing with personal demons. However, the character's arc feels like an extended version of Spider-Man clichés, and the humor is often cringe-inducing rather than clever.

While Cage's performance brings some energy, it’s clear that the show is more about aesthetics than substance. The visuals are a standout – especially in black-and-white – but the story feels like a mishmash of half-baked ideas and failed attempts at innovation. It's a reminder that not all multiverses need to be complex to be compelling.

Ultimately, Spider-Noir is an interesting experiment, but one that fails to live up to the promise of its predecessors. Perhaps Sony should take a step back and focus on building more cohesive stories before trying to stretch their Spider-Man universe too thin.