When you think of superheroes, you might think of the light at the end of the tunnel. In recent years, that has come to change. Spider-Noir is a big contributor to this as well.
We no longer live in a world where the idealist can survive on a spark of hope alone. The seemingly precious thing about superheroes has always been that they are relatable despite their differences.
Anyone can be a hero, whether you have a cape or a mask or not. This is why Spider-Man has always been somebody you can rely on. Your favourite superhero did something stupid? Don't worry, at least there's Peter Parker in his crippling misery, living his daily life just like the rest of us. Well, in this case, Ben Reilly.
Spider-Noir Reminds You to Let the Dark Side Win Sometimes
© Amazon Prime Video
The world is pretty tough these days. It's one battle after another, be it internal or political. It isn't easy. Superheroes have always offered children and grown adults a spark to keep going forward, but here's the thing: we're not superheroes. We don't have powers. We won't magically wake up one day and be able to lift an entire car with one hand.
The more you grow, the more you understand that. The same people who love Iron Man will also love The Boys or To Be Hero X, not because it has a good story or because the action sequences are cool, but because their struggles go beyond a superpowered villain.
A constant that remains is Spider-Man, or rather, here, Spider-Noir. He's relatable to everyone, and that is exactly how Stan Lee made him too. Nicolas Cage's Spider-Noir is dark. It's gritty and it dives into the side of fiction that often people shy away from.
Wanting to cater to a mass audience leads to something almost being out of touch with reality, especially when it comes to superheroes. This is why people loved Moon Knight and why Daredevil works so well. The characters are real, raw, and flawed.
© Marvel Studios
It's the same reason why people who grew tired of My Hero Academia came to love My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Embracing the darkness is a risk, yes, but one that often leads to good things.
The most clichéd example would be Anakin Skywalker. Despite being a villain, he is so well-written that people love him. You don't need to redeem the antagonists to make them likeable. Johan Liebert, Il Dottore, Hannibal Lecter, Homelander, and so many other villains work because they are inherently bad.
Logan, Batman, Daredevil, Moon Knight, and so many other iconic superheroes work because they aren't afraid of the dark. Everybody loves a good old detective story. Spider-Noir is exactly that. Ben Reilly is a person who is doing good both in the day and at night.
Characters with questionable moralities work because the world isn't black and white. That doesn't mean we'll stop loving Superman or Captain America. In fact, it only increases their value.
Balance and equilibrium are needed when there is so much negativity around. This is why every Batman needs his Superman and Nightwing. Maybe that's exactly why every one of us needs a Spider-Man and a Spider-Noir to our real selves.