The best binge-watch after Prime Video’s Spider-Noir is HBO’s TV show that blends together the world of comic books and noir. One of the most anticipated projects of 2026 has finally hit the screens, and we are all rejoicing. Spider-Noir has gained overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, uniting two groups that usually have divided perspectives.
We’ve all come together to praise the beautiful cinematography, Nicolas Cage’s incredible performance, and the quippy dialogue. Rather than trying to run from the pulpiness, Spider-Noir fully embraces this side of the noir genre. However, all good things must come to an end, at least for now. Prime Video’s show rushes by at five and a half hours. Even if a viewer wants to see the black-and-white and color versions of the Prime Video show, that’s still an easy binge-watch for a long weekend. Folks will have to fill the void with other TV shows quickly.
There are a myriad of other neo-noir TV shows to watch. However, the best choice by far is HBO’s critically acclaimed 2024 TV show The Penguin, which centers on the titular villain from the Batman universe. Despite being part of enemy franchises, the Marvel and DC projects have more in common with each other than with the comic book worlds they inhabit, making The Penguin the perfect follow-up to the hit Prime Video series.
Spider-Noir & The Penguin Are Neo-Noir Mob Stories First & Comic Book Shows Second
Spider-Noir and The Penguin set themselves apart from most comic book shows in that they don’t lean into the conventions of the superhero genre. Instead, they exist first and foremost as neo-noir shows, blending traditional noir elements with modern conventions. This is most obvious in the gritty visuals, heavy shadows, and hard lighting. Unsurprisingly, these comic book series look like siblings because they share the same cinematographer, Darren Tiernan. The camera angles might be a little more modern and polished, which is where the “neo” part of neo-noir comes into play.
Noir’s influence also exists in the narrative. The stories delve into themes like organized crime, murder, betrayal, and loss. These motifs are the backbone of the larger genre. Similarly, the story includes tropes such as the hard-boiled detective and the femme fatale. The dialogue diverges, though. Much like the camerawork, the dialogue feels less like actual noir and more like a modern script with noir influences.
Both Spider-Noir and The Penguin are great examples of the brilliance that can come when blending the old and the new. Even better, both series can stand completely on their own. There’s no need to know Spider-Man or Batman to understand and enjoy the TV shows.
Marvel’s Spider-Noir & DC’s The Penguin Show Opposite Sides Of The Law
While the two series feel intrinsically linked, Spider-Noir is a little bit more conventional in its main character, while The Penguin is more modernized. The Prime Video show takes on the tradition of the Classic Era of noir, focusing on a hardened anti-heroic detective. However, The Penguin follows in the footsteps of the ’70s to ’90s neo-noir shift, where the villains frequently served as the protagonist. This gives the shows a slightly different tone.
In Spider-Noir, we’re rooting for Ben Reilly to take down the mob boss, Silvermane, and the corrupt cops involved in his criminal enterprise. However, The Penguin forces us to see the conflict through the perspective of the bad guy. It’s a fascinating look into the mind of a depraved person with few moral limits. Since the HBO series came out, viewers have been split over whether to root for Oswald. The show lures us into a false sense of security, making us think Oswald might have good intentions. Over time, though, it becomes clear that he is unsaveable.
Ultimately, watching the shows back-to-back is an interesting exercise in perspective and empathy. Both are equally compelling characters. Oswald and Ben both carry deep wounds from their traumas, which have hardened them. However, the leads of Spider-Noir and The Penguin would be direct enemies if set in the same world.