Spider-Noir’s organic webbing is causing chaos, but this war was settled years ago

Spider-Noir delivers a fresh take on the beloved superhero IP, and while fans are loving the new series so far, one detail has sparked a debate: Nicolas Cage’s The Spider having organic webbing. 

Separate from the MCU, Spider-Noir is made for MGM+ and Prime Video, and is set in an alternate dimension within Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. It is, however, inspired by a Marvel Comics property, adapting the Spider-Man Noir character.

Alongside the superhero action, the series stays true to its roots, blending plenty of film noir tropes and even offering up two viewing options: colour or black-and-white. 

But while fans are loving the show’s moody visuals and Cage’s performance, some fans have complained about Spidey’s organic webbing. 

This refers to the mutant ability allowing the character to shoot webs directly from his own wrists, meaning there’s no need for mechanical web-shooters. 

The great webbing debate

For a lot of Spider-Man’s history, mechanical web-shooters have been the default, and this is one of the reasons why some Marvel fans aren’t too happy that Cage’s Ben Reilly has organic web abilities. 

However, other fans have clapped back at the complaints, saying that this makes way more sense given the show’s timeframe (Spider-Noir is set in the 1930s). 

“I saw people complaining about Spider-Noir having Organic webs. I think organic webs are fine because this show is set in the past where he won’t have resources to make webshooters,” said one on Reddit. 

Another agreed, “To be fair, web shooters, as they function in media, in modern day are not much more plausible.”

A third added, “Right? I’m always pointing out the ridiculousness of my favorite super hero: You get super strength and a spider sense. Could hop from roof to roof or something like Tobey did originally, just like literally could have thought of anything.

“But I guess he remembered the spider bite and that inspired him to (checks notes) swing from NY rooftops like mf Tarzan?!?! Lmfaoo.”

Back on the topic of Spider-Noir, one fan said, “The little Nick holes in the wrist have a horror element. Matches with what was seen previously.”

Not everyone agrees with this, however, with one writing, “I mean, to be clear, I don’t actually care that much about this, but the original Spider-Man Noir didn’t web swing at all. He had webs but they’re like weird voodoo nets. He didn’t use them for travel.”

Another asked, “Why would web slingers be considered unrealistic tech in a 1930s setting but not a 2026 setting? Because we have computers in 2026? Ok but we still don’t have human supporting spiderwebs. It’s fictional tech, essentially magic, in either era.”

As the debate rages on, we can turn to the comics for answers. 

So, does Spider-Noir have organic webbing in the comics?

That’s the thing: Spider-Man Noir actually has had organic webbing in the comics since his very first appearance.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by arris_quinones (@arrisq) 

Introduced in Spider-Man: Noir #1 back in 2009, the character’s powers come from a mystical spider bite rather than the more science-based origins associated with many versions of Peter Parker. 

Unlike the mainstream Spider-Man, who famously relies on wrist-mounted devices, Noir is able to produce dark organic webs directly from his wrists.

But there is one important difference: Spider-Man Noir didn’t really swing across New York in the traditional sense. His webs were often described as sprays or nets, and he relied far more on climbing, stealth, and old-fashioned detective work.

The live-action series appears to have tweaked this slightly, with Cage’s version using his webbing in a much more familiar Spider-Man fashion. That’s likely one reason some fans thought the show had changed the character’s abilities.

As said by one Redditor, “I could’ve sworn this version had organic webs in the comics,” to which another replied, “He does, he just can’t swing with them. Like others have said in here, his webs are more like a net.”

But the organic webbing itself isn’t new at all. If anything, it’s one of the more comic-accurate elements of the adaptation, even if the exact way Spider-Noir uses those powers has been edited slightly. 

For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page.

Featured image credit: Prime Video