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 Virgin cover ofSpider-Man: Noir #1 (February 2009) byPatrick Zircher | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Spider-Man: Noir #1 (February 2009) |
| Created by |
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| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Peter Benjamin Parker |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Place of origin | Earth-90214 (also called "Earth-Noir") |
| Team affiliations | Web Warriors |
| Abilities | Proportionate strength, speed and agility of a spider; organic webbing generation; skilled marksman and expert hand-to-hand combatant. |
Spider-Man Noir (Peter Parker), often referred to asSpider-Noir,Spider-Man, or simplyNoir, is asuperhero appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Part of theMarvel Noir universe (Earth-90214), thisalternate version ofSpider-Man is anoir-themed take on the character and emerges in a version of New York during theGreat Depression.
While investigating a smuggling ring, Peter Parker is bitten by what seems to be a highly venomous spider housed inside a spider-god idol. Falling unconscious, Parker has a vision of the spider-god promising him power. He then awakes inside a cocoon and emerges from it, now possessing super-human abilities similar to a spider. As the feared vigilante "the Spider-Man," Parker wages a one-man war against the criminal underworld in New York City, partly to avenge the death of his uncleBen Parker at the hands of the cannibalAdrian Toomes and his mentorBen Urich at the hands of the city's major crime lord,Norman Osborn. After Osborn's defeat, Spider-Man Noir continues his vigilante life for years and opposes the forces ofNazi Germany even before the United States entersWorld War II. In contrast to the Peter Parker of mainstream Marvel continuity, Spider-Man Noir initially uses brutal and lethal force against his enemies and later struggles with the moral implications of this.
Since his conception, Spider-Man Noir has appeared in numerous media adaptations. The character's first appearance in other media was in the 2010 video gameSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions where he was voiced byChristopher Daniel Barnes. In the animated seriesUltimate Spider-Man, he was voiced by actorMilo Ventimiglia.Nicolas Cage voiced the character in the animated filmSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), and he made a brief non-speaking appearance at the end of that film's sequel,Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).
Aspects of the animated incarnation of the character were later incorporated into the comic book version. Cage will also portray the character in the live-action television seriesSpider-Noir.
In 2009, Marvel Comics created a line ofMarvel Noir comics. Taking place in an alternate universe, these stories reinterpreted familiar Marvel Characters to better reflect ahardboiled-crime noir atmosphere, with most of the adventures taking place in the United States during theGreat Depression era. The Marvel Noir version ofPeter Parker, was created by writersDavid Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky, and artistsCarmine Di Giandomenico (who drew his first stories) andMarko Djurdjević (who designed his costume). Though he was not called "Spider-Man Noir" in the stories themselves, Marvel creators and comic fans use this nickname to distinguish him from the mainstream version of Spider-Man.
The Marvel Noir version of Peter Parker first appeared in the four-issue mini-seriesSpider-Man: Noir #1 in 2009.[1] The character became popular enough to quickly earn a sequel mini-series later that same year, entitledSpider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Face and produced by the same creative team. This version of Spider-Man Noir was the first to add a fedora hat to his costume.
Spider-Man Noir appeared as a playable character in the 2010 video gameSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, a narrative where different Spider-Men across the multiverse joined forces against a common threat. The character was portrayed by actorChristopher Daniel Barnes, who had voiced the character of Peter Parker in the 1994 animatedSpider-Man series. This video game marked the first time Spider-Man Noir was depicted as being able to swing travel on web-lines (up to that point in his stories, he only created webbing to ensnare enemies or their weapons).
The character went on to appear in the 2014 story eventSpider-Verse, written byDan Slott. After this, the hero featured in several multiverse crossover comics such asSecret Wars, the secondSpider-Verse series, andWeb Warriors. A version of the character appeared in season three of the animated seriesUltimate Spider-Man in 2015, voiced byMilo Ventimiglia.
In 2018, Spider-Man Noir was seemingly killed in theSpider-Geddon storyline, then appeared in December of that year in the theatrical movieSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Voiced by Nicolas Cage, the film version uses stereotypical 1930s dialogue and wears a slightly altered costume. Following the movie, Spider-Man Noir was resurrected inSpider-Verse vol. 3 #5 in 2020, his appearance, personality, and dialogue now similar to his movie counterpart. An ongoingSpider-Man Noir monthly comic book series began months later the same year, written byMargaret Stohl and with interior art by Juan Ferreyra.
On Earth-90214 in the winter of 1932, during theGreat Depression, New York City is plagued by many criminal gangs.Daily Bugle photojournalistBen Urich, known to some criminals as "the Spider," attends a public oration on the struggle of the common citizen byMay Parker inCentral Park and befriends her nephew Peter Parker. Unable to attend university due to lack of money, Peter shares that his Uncle Ben, who fought inWorld War I as a pilot, was recently murdered by criminals working for Norman Osborn, an industrialist believed to be the crime lord calledGoblin.[1] Peter recalls his Uncle Ben's words regarding the futility and unjust nature of World War I: "If those in power can't be trusted, it's the responsibility of the people to remove them." Peter works for Urich and in December 1932, he ventures to a warehouse of stolen antiques. One artifact — a spider idol — breaks open and releases a horde of spiders. One bites Peter, causing him to pass out and dream of a spider-god who claims it will give Peter power. The young man awakes in a black web cocoon and frees himself, discovering he now has spider-like powers.[2]
Donning a mask, Peter confronts Norman Osborn and is shocked to discover Urich present. The photojournalist has been blackmailing Osborn with his information on the mob boss's activities in exchange for the Goblin fueling his drug habit. Inspired by Peter's determination to fight the Goblin no matter what, Urich decides to expose Osborn's crimes but is murdered. He was color-blinded by an accident withOscorp. Meanwhile, Peter creates a costume using elements of his uncle'sWorld War I-era airman uniform, becoming "the Spider-Man."[2] Urich's former loverFelicia Hardy, owner of the Black Cat club, aids Peter's war on Osborn's criminal syndicate.[3]
In January 1933, the Spider-Man killsVulture to save his Aunt May, but the woman declares him just as bad for shooting an unarmed man he could have overpowered and captured instead. After Osborn's gang is largely defeated, Spider-Man has the opportunity to kill the Goblin but decides true justice means the man must stand trial and the truth become public record.Kraven the Hunter, one of Osborn's other cronies who is dying, then attacks the Goblin, killing him.[4] As winter turns to spring,Franklin D. Roosevelt is now President, Hitler rises in power in Europe, May Parker continues being an activist for the common people, and Spider-Man Noir continues fighting crime and corruption.[4]
Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without a Face takes place roughly eight months afterSpider-Man Noir. In September 1933, Peter continues to operate as a photojournalist and helps at May Parker's soup kitchen along with his friendMary Jane Watson. Meanwhile, the maskedCrime Master rises as the city's new crime boss. Peter develops a relationship with Felicia Hardy, but she insists she is not his girlfriend. Peter and his friendJoseph "Robbie" Robertson, a struggling reporter, investigate theEllis Island lab ofOtto Octavius and his assistantCurt Connors, who are conducting experiments in mind control for the US government. That night,Flint "Sandman" Marko delivers several people to Octavius's lab. Secretly working with theFriends of New Germany, Octavius intends to prove that "inferior" people can be controlled with brain surgery.[5] Spider-Man tracks the Crime Master and is almost beaten to death by Marko, who is shot dead by police while the Crime Master escapes. Discovering she is connected to Spider-Man, the Crime Master attacks and disfigures Felicia Hardy, nearly killing her. Learning that Crime Master is delivering people of color to Octavius, Spider-Man goes to the lab on Ellis Island and finds Robbie, only to find the man has already undergone surgery on thefrontal lobe, leaving him without memory or free will.[6]
Octavius and Crime Master come to blows and the latter is killed. FBI agentJean de Wolfe arrives and Octavius is arrested. Spider-Man is told Felicia, still recovering from serious injuries and her face now scarred, does not want to see him again. A month later, the government decides to deport Octavius rather than put him on trial publicly and risk he will reveal state secrets. The scientist arrives in Germany only to be humiliated when he realizes theNazis andHeinrich Himmler believe his congenital disability makes him inferior and his work useless. As time passes, Felicia recovers from her injuries, but wears a mask to cover her scars.[7]
TheSpider-Verse storyline featured Spider heroes from various alternate realities being hunted by the vampiric Inheritors. The comic tie-inEdge of Spider-Verse #1 returns to Earth-90214 where it is now August, 1939. Peter has been operating as the Spider-Man for six years and finally attended university classes, while his girlfriend Mary Jane spent three years in Spain fighting with theAbraham Lincoln International Brigade.Wilson Fisk is a rising power in crime and sends illusionistMysterio to kill the Spider-Man. Peter is then recruited bySuperior Spider-Man to join a group of Spiders fighting against the Inheritors.[8] Following an adventure in theSecret Wars crossover, Spider-Man Noir joins a team of six Spiders called theWeb Warriors that regularly meets to combats threats to other dimensions, particularly those that no longer have a Spider hero of their own.[9]
The inter-dimensional Web of Life and Destiny becomes unstable due to the technology the Web Warriors use to travel between worlds. This causes some realities to bleed into each other and Spider-Man Noir's world to suffer time anomalies. Eventually, the team rights it and new teammate Octavia Otto helps create a better method of traveling between worlds that will not destabilize the Web.[10]
One night in 1940, Spider-Man Noir investigates a weapons sale betweenHerman Schultz and the Nazis. He fights alongside Felicia Hardy, now on speaking terms with him and operating as the masked vigilante White Widow. Spider-UK arrives and requests Spider-Man Noir on an important mission.[11] The Web Warriors try to stop the Inheritors from using cloning technology to resurrect, but are too late. Spider-Man Noir attempts to kill the Inheritor calledMorlun with a grenade, sacrificing himself in the process. The Inheritor survives and drains Spider-Man Noir's remaining life-force, killing him.[12]
Later, Spider-Gwen travels to the Marvel Noir Earth to inform May Parker, Mary Jane, and Felicia Hardy how their version of Peter heroically died. Grieving, May is furious to find out her nephew was a vigilante, "a broken man," but Mary Jane and Felicia thank Gwen for giving them closure.[13]
InSpider-Verse volume 3 #5 (2020), it is revealed that following his death inSpider-Geddon, Spider-Man Noir was resurrected in a web-cocoon on his native Earth-90214, having had a vision of the spider-god telling him his "service" was not finished. Now slightly more introspective and glib, this Peter Parker officially starts working as a private investigator, adopting a slightly new look and a more stereotypical 1930s dialect (similar to his film incarnation fromSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse).Miles Morales appears and teams-up with Spider-Man Noir to retrieve the spider-god's idol from the Nazis so it can be used to repair the trans-dimensional Web of Life and Destiny. The two succeed in getting the idol back, but Miles warns that taking it away from the Marvel Noir Earth may also remove the spider-god's protection, meaning Parker's next death will be permanent. Spider-Man Noir says he is fine with this as death is supposed to be permanent for everyone and he neither wants nor deserves special treatment.[14]
In 1939, a month after his team-up with Miles Morales, people are starting to realize the Spider-Man is alive and back in action. Peter has re-established ties with Aunt May and Mary Jane Watson, who are both grateful that "a miracle" brought him back from death. Both support his life as a vigilante, but May advises he act more honorably than his instincts sometimes tell him to. As the new series opens, J. Jonah Jameson helps Peter gain access to police crime scenes so the young private eye can investigate a murder and in exchange provide theDaily Bugle with the exclusive story. Peter's investigation into the death of Holly Babson, a waitress at the Black Cat club, leads him to fly to Europe alongside Holly's sister and museum curator, Huma Bergmann, to look more into a cicada gemstone that Holly was holding on to when she died. The two are eventually accompanied by Harry Charles, a pilot who is secretly part of theDora Milaje namedHu-Ri, andCheckpoint Red, a guide in Istanbul to help them on their journey to Babylon sent byTony Stark. Throughout their travels, they are pursued by the Nazis and their powerful new weaponElectro. As they approach the temple where the cicada gemstone originated, Huma double-crosses them and reveals that she is the goddessInanna, who lured them into Babylon and allied with the Nazis. She combines the cicada stone with the M'Kraan crystal to open a portal to the Underworld, which brings back some of Spider-Man's deceased enemies in the process. During the fight, Peter receives a vision from the spider-godEreshkigal, who turns out to be Inanna's sister and took on the form of Holly Babson. With her help, Spider-Man destroys the cicada stone and the M'Kraan crystal, defeating Inanna and his undead foes in the process. He later returns to New York where Jameson credits Huma for stopping the Nazis in Babylon.[15]
This incarnation ofSpider-Man from Earth-90214 has the same basic powers as his classic counterpart: enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, resiliency, and agility proportionate to that of a spider. While the mainstream Spider-Man uses mechanical web-shooters, Spider-Man Noir has the power to shoot organic webbing from his wrists. In his original two mini-series, Spider-Man Noir does not create web-lines, his dark webbing always manifesting as a spray or net.[16] After his resurrection, his web control is fine enough that he regularly creates web-lines to swing on and web-based projectiles to stun opponents.[17] Through his association with club owner Felicia Hardy, his vigilante activities, his associates at theDaily Bugle, and his occupation as a private investigator, he has a network of contacts throughout the city and several informants in the gangs.[18]
In contrast to the mainstream Peter Parker, this Spider-Man's costume is mainly normal clothing of the era matched with a mask. The outfit includeskevlar armor, making it resistant to bullets and explosions. The "costume" part of his outfit includes a mask made with the headgear and the aviator glasses used by his uncle during theGreat War.[2] AfterSpider-Geddon, Spider-Man Noir adopts a more traditional version of the Spider-Man mask colored black and white, though he keeps the goggles rather than relying on built-in lenses. He also begins wearing a fedora with his mask and a new gun belt decorated by a spider-symbol.
Spider-Man Noir regularly uses .45 caliber pistols. He is a skilled marksman, adept in the use of various firearms such as revolvers and thetommy gun. He is willing to kill enemies in certain cases, but largely prefers to only injure criminals. Despite his superhuman abilities, Spider-Man Noir still relies on wearing glasses as Peter Parker.[19]
| Title | Years covered | Material collected | Format | Pages | Released | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Noir: The Complete Collection | 2008-2018 | Spider-Man Noir #1-4, Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without A Face #1-4, Edge of Spider-Verse (2014) #1, Spider-Geddon: Spider-Man Noir Video Comic, material from Spider-Verse Team-Up | TPB | 264 | 28 May 2019 | 978-1302919580 |
| 22 Jul 2025 | 978-1302962876 | |||||
| Spider-Man: Noir | 2008 | Spider-Man Noir #1-4 | HC | 112 | 10 Jun 2009 | 978-0785139447 |
| TPB | 23 Sep 2009 | 978-0785129233 | ||||
| Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without A Face | 2010 | Spider-Man Noir: Eyes Without A Face #1-4 | HC | 112 | 15 Jun 2010 | 978-0785144441 |
| TPB | 15 Dec 2010 | 978-0785144502 | ||||
| Spider-Man Noir: Twilight In Babylon | 2020 | Spider-Man Noir (vol. 2) #1–5 | TPB | 112 | 12 Jan 2021 | 978-1302924379 |
An alternate universe variant ofHomer Simpson, inspired by Spider-Man Noir, appears inThe Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XXXI", voiced byDan Castellaneta.[33]
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