DC Already Did Its Own Version Of Spider-Noir 12 Years Ago

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As a big Spider-Man fan, I have to say Prime Video’s Spider-Noir is seriously impressive. It’s quickly become one of the best things they’ve done with the character, especially for TV. What I really love is how confidently it breaks away from the usual Spider-Man vibe and storytelling. It feels totally fresh and different, and it’s awesome to see that people are really responding to a new take on this classic hero.

Much of the show’s appeal comes from its fresh take on Spider-Man. Instead of the usual teenage Peter Parker, Spider-Noir features Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly – a tired, morally gray private investigator with spider-like abilities, set in a dark and gritty 1930s New York. Its Art Deco style and detective-story format set it apart from most Marvel shows, particularly those about Spider-Man. However, while innovative for Marvel, DC and Warner Bros. experimented with similar concepts over a decade earlier with Gotham.

Premiering in 2014 on Fox, Gotham reimagined the Batman story as a gritty crime drama. It followed a young James Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he navigated a city overrun by crime, years before Bruce Wayne became Batman. Similar to Spider-Noir, the show took familiar superhero elements and transformed them into a realistic, 1930s-style thriller focused on gangsters and political corruption rather than traditional superhero action. With the recent popularity of Spider-Noir, it’s a good time to revisit Gotham, which remains a truly original and creative superhero series.

Spider-Noir Vs. Gotham: How They’re Similar & How They’re Different

Fans who enjoyed Spider-Noir will likely also appreciate Gotham. Both shows take well-known comic book stories and reimagine them as gritty, dark crime dramas inspired by classic noir films. Spider-Noir transforms Spider-Man into a tough, world-weary detective, while Gotham presents the Batman universe as a complex police story, showing the early years of Jim Gordon before he became commissioner.

Both shows are especially good at making famous villains into complex, emotionally resonant characters. In Spider-Noir, villains like Sandman and Tombstone are given believable motivations and psychological depth, making them feel more human than many live-action comic book villains. Gotham took a similar approach with Batman’s enemies. Characters like The Penguin and The Riddler develop gradually over five seasons, letting the audience see how Gotham City influenced them and turned them into the villains they become.

It’s hard to miss the strong visual connection between Spider-Noir and Gotham. Both draw heavily from the classic film noir style, featuring Art Deco buildings, shadowy lighting, and dramatic city scenes. While Gotham wasn’t specifically set in the 1930s, it consistently hinted at that time period through its tall buildings, vintage technology, organized crime, and clothing. Spider-Noir takes these influences a step further by being fully set in that era.

Although both shows share some similarities, they feel quite different in terms of style and how the stories are told. Spider-Noir follows a single, ongoing mystery with a consistently dark mood. Gotham, for much of its run, uses a more case-of-the-week format. However, if you’re interested in how Spider-Noir reinvented Spider-Man, you’ll definitely want to check out how Gotham reimagined Batman’s world into one of the most original comic book adaptations on television.

DC’s Gotham Series Deserves More Love Today

Even though Gotham gained a dedicated following during its five seasons (2014-2019), it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. While shows like the Arrowverse and animated series are often highlighted when talking about DC TV, Gotham was arguably the most daring creatively. Looking back, its willingness to take chances should be celebrated more.

Gotham was a bold show that wasn’t afraid to try new things with its style and character development – something many superhero shows still don’t do. It built a unique and detailed world with its own history, all while remaining true to its goal of telling a story before Batman’s time. It was a tricky balance to pull off, but the show succeeded.

The buzz around Spider-Noir is highlighting how ahead of its time Gotham was. While the new Spider-Man series on Prime Video is getting a lot of attention for its unique, noir-inspired take on the hero, Gotham proved years ago that audiences were open to seeing superheroes portrayed in unconventional ways.

More than anything, Gotham should be praised for inspiring today’s superhero shows to take big risks with their stories. Without Gotham demonstrating that audiences were open to darker and more unusual takes on classic heroes, shows like Spider-Noir might never have been made. Now, Gotham doesn’t seem like a forgotten show, but rather one that was simply innovative for its time.

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2026-06-01 00:32