Summary
With the first season ofYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manfinished, fans have been introduced to many characters. In just ten episodes, Marvel Animation managed to balance out heroes, villains, supporting characters, and cameos that helped turn the series into a strong first step into a possible new animated Marvel Universe.
Several characters in the Marvel superhero show stand out more than others, whether they appeared throughout the entire first season or were featured in just one or two episodes. They deserve recognition for their narratives, designs, and the performances delivered by the voice actors.
11Unicorn
Marvel Animation Should Keep Using Obscure Villains
Rather than typical villains like Green Goblin or the Vulture, characters likeUnicornshine inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. The government is keeping heroes from acting without approval, leading to the rise of villains in New York City, including Unicorn, who is a lesser-known Iron Man villain given a reinvented take.
Even though she only appeared in one episode, Unicorn gave Spider-Man fans something different in terms of a threat with a helmet that fires laser beams. She’s able to overpower Spider-Man, but she also lets the power of her high-tech helmet get to her, resulting in a wild card villain that even other villains were afraid of.
10Otto Octavius
The Iconic Foe Still Has More Room To Grow In The Next Season
With an appearance that is lifted straight out of thefirst run of Spider-Man comics, Otto Octavius is a minor but important villain. He is the one behind the rise of high-tech supervillains in New York City, bringing the character back to his mad scientist style from the comics. He is also the one who helps penetrate the veil that hides Norman Osborn’s true and sinister nature.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manalso portrays Otto Octavius as a more devious and charismatic villain, from his chats with his assistant to relishing his police murder spree. The character hasn’t even become Doctor Octopus yet, which has fans excited to see how his true villainous alter ego is portrayed in a future season.
9Daredevil
Charlie Cox Is Still Perfect In The Role
WhileYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manis not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it is the start of a lived-in Marvel universe, withcharacters like Captain AmericaandDaredevilexisting. He briefly appears in only one episode, in which he and Spider-Man fight and it results in lots of playful banter between the two that feels much like the comics.
Fans of theDaredevillive-action series on Disney+ will recognize Charlie Cox’s voice. Thanks to the direction of the show, Charlie Cox gets to show off a more lively and quippy side of Daredevil that the MCU version doesn’t have. It sets up the friendship of Spider-Man and Daredevil for a later time, which could lead to the introduction of this world’s Kingpin.
8Doctor Strange
His Mystical Presence Helps Create Spider-Man
Similar to Otto,Doctor Strangehas a brief role, but a vital one, as he is technically responsible for Peter becoming Spider-Man in the very first episode. Doctor Strange has a strong introduction in the first episode, but when he reappears in the final episode, it leads to a show-stealing partnership with Spider-Man that feels natural.
The Mystical Avenger feels like a middle-ground between the comics and the movies, with his design coming straight out of the source material. Meanwhile, the music, performance, andeven the magic spells he usesin the show feel akin to Benedict Cumberbatch’s version of Strange.
7Pearl Pangan
Rather than being shunned by everyone at school, Peter Parker is befriended by Pearl Pangan because they used to be neighbors. She shows Peter respect, which results inPeter having feelings for her, and it results in Pearl just being a kind and lovable person throughout the series. There is no forced toxicity to manufacture drama because Peter respects being her platonic friend.
Pearl is also important in both the A and B plots, as she tries to help her boyfriend Lonnie in his struggles while unknowingly helping Spider-Man at certain points by talking to Peter Parker. In the comics, Pearl is the aquatic superhero known as Wave and, while there is no hint of that inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, there is potential for it in future seasons.
6Harry Osborn
A New Take That Shows The Downsides Of Being Rich And Famous
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manhas a radically different take on Harry Osborn as he uses his status as Norman Osborn’s son to become a social media influencer. However, throughout the first season, his character grows, and it’s shown that he’s more than just an internet celebrity; he’s a loner because of his upbringing, and he struggles to make real friends.
Harry is a deceptive character because, at first, it seems like he would be the most annoying character, but the morehe bonds with Peter Parkerand Spider-Man, the better he becomes. By the end, he is just as much of a friend as Nico and helps Peter become the true Spider-Man that fans know and love.
5Scorpion
The Darkest And Scariest Villain On The Show
Scorpionwas ripe for being in a new Spider-Man movie, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed to forget him.Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, on the other hand, not only took advantage of him but made him into a major part of the series. He is the villain that connects the A-plot with the B-plot, being a threat to both Spider-Man and Lonnie Lincoln.
Even when he’s simply Mac Gargan, he’s a sadistic gangster with a thirst for blood, accurately portrayinghow evil and twisted he isin the comics. When he becomes Scorpion, he brings about some of the most memorable action sequences because of the darker elements that come with the character, such as impalings and actual blood in a cartoon.
4Norman Osborn
Proof That Not All Mentors Are Good Ones
There are many sides of Norman Osborn in this portrayal of the character. At first, he comes off as an altruistic philanthropist trying to broaden everyone’s horizons and becomes Peter Parker’s mentor, even as Spider-Man. As nice as they may sound, it is still Norman Osborn and there are hints of his less desirable traits from the start, and they just grow throughout the season.
He’s charming and cunning, which allows him to manipulate others, but he also shows signs of being volatile with a superiority complex. As the season progresses, Norman gradually reveals his true colors and, while he may not don the green uniform, the series does effectively plant the seeds for what will eventually be the Green Goblin.
3Nico Minoru
The Runaway Hero Is Peter’s Best Friend
Peter Parker’s best friend inYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-ManisNico Minoru, providing a new dynamic for this series. She is a quirky and nerdy goth girl who is always behind Peter, even when she disagrees with him about certain things, like working for Norman Osborn.
There is a wholesomeness to her character whenever Nico interacts with Peter, even when she’s poking fun at him. They feel almost like siblings; always looking out for each other and, even though they have their occasional bouts of drama, she remains a loyal friend to him. The series also sets up more for her, which should excite viewers who know the character in the comics.
2Lonnie Lincoln
The Transformation Into Tombstone Is A Tragic One
Lonnie Lincolnis essentially the other star ofYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, with the other main plot being about him. He starts as a football star for Rockford T. Bales High School with a bright future, but anyone who knows the comics can guess that Lonnie Lincoln is destined for a darker path.
Throughout the first season, Lonnie Lincoln is forced to commit himself to being part of a gang to protect his family. Even though he does advance quickly and earns the name Tombstone, it is still tragic to witness. Lonnie is a genuinely nice and smart person, which helped when Scorpion and the 110th Street Gang went to war, but Season 2 will probably lead to Lonnie becoming a villain.
