Now we move from the DC Universe into the Marvel universe. In our last WATC(H) review we saw Nicolas Cage providing his voice for Superman. In this animated feature, we see him transitioning to another iconic super hero, a Spider-Man, ahem, of sorts. 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse (2018) caused a big stir when it came out because of its highly creative animation, all-star cast of characters, stellar soundtrack, new storyline, and its foray into the then just emerging trend of the multiverse. 

Of all of the films Nicolas Cage has been involved in during his illustrious career, this is the one that scored the highest (thusfar) in the IMDB ranking system at 8.4 / 10. So rather than grown, when I saw that I would have to watch yet another animated feature, I was happily looking forward to it. It helped that I had seen it before, have always loved Spiderman and knew that Nic would be playing a bizarre cameo character here (as he always tends to). 

The World According to Spider Man Noir

If you know anything about the multiverse, you know that there are an infinite number of the universes that contain a version of a character with an infinite number of variations in character traits, life circumstances, and storyline outcomes. This film, much like the other Marvel series Loki or the Dr. Strange films, deals in dimensionality. Over the decades, Spiderman was so popular as a comic book series it has inspired a variety of spinoff versions which made this idea not only possible but highly compelling. The producers had a lot of content to work from.

Rather than unfold a summary of everything that happens to Miles Morales (the lovable main character in this animated film) I recommend you actually watch the film instead. It’s worth your 2 hours if you are even remotely interested in super heroes at this point. 

Since this blog is about Nicolas Cage I’m going to focus my telling lens on his character, Spider-Man Noir. Spider-Man Noir (Nicolas Cage) is a version of Spider Man who existed in a similar dimension / history to ours but in the 1930s-1940s. Because he’s Noir, he appears sans colors in black and white, outfitted in a trenchcoat with raised collar, a fedora style hat, and circular glasses / goggles. His voice carries a Humphry Bogart / James Cagney lilt to it where he speaks real fast, narrating his thoughts for the audience, and never mincing words or caring too much for the feelings of others. Spider-Man Noir hates the Nazis “a lot” and combats them within his world and timeline. But one day while drinking his favorite egg cream sodas and contemplating the darker meanings of life (no doubt) Spider-Man Noir is sucked out of his dimension and into “ours” (or rather Miles Morales dimension) along with a variety of other versions of Spider Man. 

At the time that Spider Man Noir enters Miles Morales dimension, a lot of things have already happened. Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is starting to use and understand his new powers (after receiving a radioactive bite from a Spider). The Peter Parker / Spiderman (Chris Pine) from this dimension has already died at the hands of Wilson Fisk / Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) as he was trying to prevent Fisk from opening this multiverse portal. And an out-of-shape and jaded version of Spider Man, Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) has arrived and taken point on trying to understand and override Fisk’s “collider” machine so that all the other spider men can return to their own respective dimensions. 

Spider Man Noir is a late-comer to the party along with Peter Porker / Spider Ham (John Mulaney), Spider Gwen (Hailey Steinfeld) and Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn) but as we know Marvel loves a good “team-up” so all of their combined assistance is needed to take on Kingpin’s menagerie of super villains that includes: Green Goblin, The Prowler, the Scorpion, Tombstone, and Doc Ock (a female version of Dr. Octopus played wonderfully by Kathryn Hahn).

Because most of the Spider Man characters do not belong in this universe they have been pulled into they “glitch” (which causes physical discomfort as their bodies are in a sense being rejected by the host) which adds urgency to Miles Morales mission AND makes him the de facto Spider Man who should be tasked with overriding the Collider and destroying it after sending them all to their homes. But because he hasn’t learned to control his powers quite yet, Miles is seen as “too young” and inexperienced for the mission. Peter B. Parker Spider Man decides he will do it (which means his imminent demise) and spare the kid from the challenge he is not up for (so he webs him up in his school dorm room so the rest of the Spider Men / Women can take on Fisk unencumbered.) 

Like with all true hero origin stories, this Spider Man is not going to be different. Miles Morales finds his unique voice, calling, suit, and control of powers, and comes to the rescue. Since Miles can turn invisible and use electrical shocks to overcome his enemies, he uses this to help the Spider Men / Women return to their homes. He also defeats Fisk and builds bridges with his policeman father figure. 

Spider Man Noir goes home with a Rubik’s cube (and much love in his heart for his fellow Spiderpeople).

Perfect Cameo

In a film that features a talking super hero pig (played by the always awesome John Mulaney) and an moon-eyed anime girl who loves her techrobot powered by a sentient spider, Spider Man Noir is the perfect balance as a “hard edged” Nazi killer who doesn’t quite fit into this brightly colored world. He is from a different time and place and schema and that works wonderfully here. 

It’s kind of the perfect role for Nicolas Cage and I’m glad he chose to take it on. 

That’s saying something because there have been way too many animated features I have been sadly forced to watch on this journey (The Ant Bully, Astro Boy, The Croods, Teen Titans Go!). Many of those I’d happily leave off of my list and never need have watched. Hearing Cage voice his hero Bogart into a noirish Spiderman is just too good to pass up. I’m kind of a little bummed he doesn’t return for the sequel (which I have not yet seen). 

It’s also the perfectly bizarre role for Cage because it lets his quirky humorous side come out as well. The whole bit with Noir’s interest in the Rubik’s cube is great. Handling the cube while sprawled on Aunt May’s couch he asks Spider Ham, “Is it purple?” No. “Blue?” No. A character who lives in black and white world would be interested in the many-hued squares of Rubik’s cube and that’s exactly why the humor hits so well. 

We may not get a ton of life lessons from Noir / Cage in this one (it’s still an animated film) other than his “surprise attack!” where he keeps knocking Morales down with his pugilist sneak attacks to simulate what real fighting will be like, BUT that’s OK, too. Sometimes Cage just needs to be in a popular film to reminds us all that he can do whatever the movie requires, and sometimes his unique version of reality fits well into a diverse one like the Spiderverse.

First for Nicolas Cage character as Spider-Man Noir

• Playing a noirish detective / super hero
• Appearing in black and white
• Glitching because he is in the wrong dimension

Recurrences

• In a film where he masters the Rubik’s Cube (Snowden)
• In a trench coat and a fedora, in gangster style clothes (The Cotton Club)
• Sucker punching a minor (Kick Ass)
• Pretending to be a waiter to infiltrate a crime ring (The Trust)
• In an animated film with a Stan Lee cameo (Teen Titans Go! To the Movies)
• Appearing in a Marvel comic adaptation (Ghost Rider 1 & 2)

Quotable

“Hey, fellas”

“Wherever I go, the wind follows. And the wind, smells like rain.” 

“In my universe it’s, 1933, and I’m a private eye. I like to drink egg creams and I like to fight Nazis. A lot!” 

“Sometimes I let matches burn down to my fingertips. Just to feel something. Anything.” 

“It’s kinda a long story. Well maybe not that long.”

“OK, little fella, Kingpin’s gonna send a lotta mugs after you and I’m talkin’ hard boys. Real biscuit boxers. Can you fight them all off at once?”

“Can you close off your feelings so you don’t get kibbled by the moral ambiguity of your violent actions?!?”

“This is a pretty hardcore origin story.” 

“We don’t pick the ballroom, we just dance.”

“Is that all you got? Are you gonna fight, or you just bumpin gums? Ya hard boiled turtle slapper.” 

“I, uh, love you all. I’m taking this cube thing with me. I don’t understand it. But I will.”