Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: The "What If?" We Actually Wanted

Why does Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man do What If? better than the actual What If? series? Seriously. This is the kind of alternate take on Spider-Man fans have been asking for, and for once, we actually got it.

A Lifelong Spidey Fan’s Perspective

Out of the Not Always Black and White Podcast team, I’m the biggest Spider-Man fan—no contest. While I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Spidey fan out there, he’s been my number one hero for years. That said, I haven’t exactly loved recent adaptations of the web-slinger.

Ultimate Spider-Man started off weak and probably ended the same way. Then Marvel’s Spider-Man (the one with Spider-Gwen and Miles Morales) came out, and while I debated watching it, it never fully captured my interest.

The Curse of Spider-Man TV Shows

Let’s face it—Spider-Man shows have had terrible luck. We Spidey fans have yet to get a truly complete animated story:

• 90s Spider-Man? CANCELLED.

• Spider-Man Unlimited? CANCELLED.

• MTV’s Spider-Man: The New Animated Series? CANCELLED.

• Spectacular Spider-Man? CANCELLED—arguably the worst loss of them all. (Thanks, Sony and Disney.)

2025 Brings a New Hope

Then, in 2025, we finally got a fresh, newly animated Spider-Man series. Originally planned as a prequel to Homecoming, the creators later admitted they pivoted from that idea because it restricted creative possibilities.

What’s the Premise?

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man explores a “What If?” scenario where Peter Parker never attended Midtown High. Throughout the show, hints suggest that it still exists within the MCU timeline—just in an alternate version.

I won’t go into heavy spoilers yet, since the first season is still unfolding, but I will split my reviews into segments. This first one? Let’s call it THE PROLOGUE.

Episode 1: Amazing Fantasy

We’re introduced to Peter as he starts his freshman year at Midtown High—until life takes a drastic turn. A portal opens, and Doctor Strange emerges, locked in battle with what appears to be a symbiote-like creature. Amidst the chaos, a spider crawls through the portal and lands on Peter’s neck. A fresh twist on his origin story, reminiscent of Miles Morales’ transformation in Into the Spider-Verse. (Personally, I believe this Strange is from another universe.)

With his fate altered, Peter befriends Nico and develops a crush on Pearl Pangan—hopefully not another love-interest-turned-villain. We’re also reintroduced to Harry Osborn and meet a new friend, Mr. Lincoln—whose name will instantly click with hardcore Spider-Man fans.

The episode concludes on a Civil War-esque note, setting up Peter’s future conflicts.

Episode 2: The Parker Luck

Peter’s new path leads him to an internship at Oscorp, where we meet additional characters and get some subtle nods to the wider Marvel universe—like a certain ‘green’ figure from the comics. Norman Osborn makes only a brief appearance, but I’ll dive deeper into his role in my next review.

The show introduces likable, relatable characters, particularly Peter’s school friends. This version of Peter is dorkier than Tom Holland’s portrayal but retains the charm and heart that define him. Meanwhile, Lincoln’s storyline sets him up as a potential season villain—though it could go either way. (And for those wondering—no, Lincoln was never white in the comics or any media.)

Voice Acting & Animation: A Mixed Bag?

The voice acting is solid across the board. No weak performances—even AI Miles Morales from TikTok delivers. Peter is voiced by Hudson Thames, who also played him in What If?’s Marvel Zombies episode.

The animation, however, is divisive. The art style attempts to emulate classic comic book aesthetics, which some fans love while others find off-putting. I’ll admit—it takes time to get used to. Some character designs look rough, especially one major figure in Act 1. That said, the animation is smooth, colorful, and fluid, especially during Spidey’s web-swinging sequences, which are beautifully executed.

Final Thoughts (For Now)

While some familiar characters are absent, the new additions bring much-needed freshness to MCU Spider-Man’s world. The show also serves as a great introduction to potential new faces in Spider-Man 4.

If you haven’t started watching yet, Amazing Fantasy (Ep. 1) and The Parker Luck (Ep. 2) are now streaming on Disney+.