Entertainment
Spider-Noir Reinvents Superhero Television For Casual Viewers
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been slow-dripping Spider-Noir into my veins like some sort of antidote, and it’s only solidified something I’ve been saying for years about superhero media: the less worldbuilding, the better. I don’t read comics. I gave up on the MCU about five years ago. I prefer standalone properties that are one-and-done because I don’t want to spend the rest of my adult life unpacking Easter eggs and lore, or latching onto media that no longer serves me simply because it’s the devil I know and I don’t want to move on.
I’m not trying to throw shade on my fellow comic-reading cohorts, but we’re just built differently. I want to watch the thing and get on with my life. If it’s good, great. If it’s terrible, I never have to think about it again.
I had my reservations about Spider-Noir, but they were quickly squashed when I realized how expertly it blends my two favorite things: pulpy crime noir and Nicolas Cage. I’ve never read the Spider-Man Noir comics, nor do I have any plans to. The best part is that I didn’t need to. You can go into the eight-episode run completely green and walk away feeling satisfied with its storytelling. And isn’t that what watching TV is all about?
Even better, the fact that the show is available in both black-and-white and full color is an added bonus, and there are actually some pretty fun ways to mix up your playback to enhance the experience.
Spider-Noir! Spider-Noir! Does Whatever A Spider-Noir Does!
Here’s all you need to know about Spider-Noir. Nicolas Cage plays the titular web-slinger, who’s now well into middle age and prefers to go by Ben Reilly. He has retired his mask and vigilante lifestyle, much preferring to spend his days investigating small-ball cases involving marital infidelity in exchange for a meager payout. He’s happy with this so long as he has enough scotch to get him through the day.
Working alongside his ever-faithful secretary Janet (Karen Rodriguez) and longtime journalist friend Robbie (Lamorne Morris), Ben sleepwalks through life, forever haunted by the inciting incident that made him walk away from the superhero lifestyle for good: the death of his wife, Ruby (Amanda Schull).
While pounding the pavement trying to make an honest living, Ben forms a semi-romantic relationship with femme fatale nightclub singer Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), who reluctantly works for unhinged Irish mob boss Silvermane (Brendan Gleeson). Through her, and a myriad of other inexplicable situations, Ben finds himself caught in the middle of the crime lord’s wheelings and dealings, which involve a bunch of superpowered gangsters, like the amphibiously armored Tombstone (Abraham Popoola), the shape-shifting Sandman (Jack Huston), and the ever-so-electric Megawatt (Andrew Lewis Caldwell).
Staring down his Spider-Noir mask, and sometimes into his own soul, Ben Reilly realizes he’s the key to saving New York City from certain destruction because of his history with these men, which can be traced all the way back to experimental procedures conducted on them during World War I. Caught between his past life and the one he’s currently living, Ben can either hang it all up or return to the life he once abandoned, sacrificing his sanity for the greater good.
A Wild, Web-Slinging Ride
I think it goes without saying that Nicolas Cage was born to play this role. We’ve seen him on the neo-noir grind with films like Bringing Out the Dead and 8MM, but nothing quite like this before. He brings that same kind of manic energy to the mix, but leans into camp by celebrating every tried-and-true, hard-boiled private dick trope you could think of (Seeeee?!). His performance is surprisingly subdued, making his inevitable “Cage Rage” moments all the more impactful.
I need to be very clear here and let you know that this isn’t the kind of Cage Rage you’ll find in films like Mom and Dad or Matchstick Men. It’s more of a semi-manic, always cynical, world-weary way of chewing the scenery. Cage excels here by playing a reluctant hero who can’t deny his gift, but remains conflicted by the responsibility his powers force upon him when the going gets tough.
The Color Swapping Method
The best part about Spider-Noir, though, is the fact that you have the option to switch from black-and-white to color ahead of each episode. The entire eight-episode run can be viewed either way, and fans have come up with some pretty neat watch orders, though I can’t vouch for every one of them.
The watch pattern I adopted while watching Spider-Noir went like this: episodes one and two in black and white, episodes three and four in color, then alternating between each viewing method for the remaining four episodes. Some people say to watch the first four in black and white and the last four in color, and I’m sure that’s fine too. What I noticed with my particular arrangement is that the episodes I chose to watch without color leaned more into the noir and detective plots, while the action was found mostly in the color episodes. Obviously there is some crossover, but this was a neat way to compartmentalize.
I’m not sure if this is coincidental or intentional, and I don’t really care. It made for a great viewing experience. At least there was never a point during the season where I felt like I’d made the wrong choice in my color, or lack thereof, preference.
Spider-Noir is the best superhero series I’ve watched in a minute because I was able to go in blind, watch some incredibly talented actors commit to the bit, and never needed decades of lore or hours of homework before hitting play. I only watched it because I’m a Nicolas Cage fanatic, and I have zero regrets. Not just because of Cage’s magnetic performance, which earns every bit of its 92 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but because the storytelling is on point, the action is breathtaking without being over the top, and it knows exactly when to pivot from pulpy and campy to semi-serious.
Spider-Noir holds up not only as a solid superhero entry, but as a straight-up mystery that anybody could sink their teeth into. If you have your reservations about tuning in, take it from me, a guy who couldn’t care less if the MCU and DCU imploded overnight and we never got another superhero movie again: this show is straight-up gas, and I can’t see a crime thriller fan not enjoying it.
Spider-Noir is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Entertainment
NYT Pips hints, answers for July 12, 2026
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you’re stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play Pips
If you’ve ever played dominoes, you’ll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we’ve shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don’t necessarily have to match.
The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you’ll run into across the difficulty levels:
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Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
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Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
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Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
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Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
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Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 12 Pips
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 12 Pips
Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.
Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 12 Pips
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
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Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.
Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Entertainment
How to watch Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Wimbledon has been fun, sweaty, and shocking in 2026. We’ve been treated to some electric tennis, shock results, and top players delivering when it counts.
Sinner now faces off against Zverev in the final game of the tournament. Sinner is seeking his fifth Grand Slam title and his second at Wimbledon. Zverez is looking to build on his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open. It’s going to be a fascinating battle between two guys at the top of their game.
If you want to watch Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
When is Sinner vs. Zverev?
Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is set to take place at 4 p.m. BST on July 12.
How to watch Sinner vs. Zverev for free
Sinner vs. Zverev in the 2026 Wimbledon final is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
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BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free by following these simple steps:
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Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit BBC iPlayer
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Live stream Wimbledon 2026 for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees and free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This obviously isn’t a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to live stream Wimbledon 2026 before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming services from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for Wimbledon?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including the UK
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast streaming speeds free from throttling
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 Wimbledon final for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
This educational kids app gives parents a much-needed break — and now it’s $60 for life
TL;DR: Lock in a lifetime of educational fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99 (reg. $250).
Have you had a sip of hot coffee this summer break? If not, you might want to check out Pok Pok. It’s an educational app that offers a guilt-free screen option for kids ages 2-8, so you can get a little break when you need it.
Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $59.99.
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Pok Pok is an award-winning app that gives busy parents everywhere a chance to cook dinner, answer some emails, or just enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning while their little ones enjoy some educational content. It takes a Montessori approach to learning, so kids can navigate it independently.
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Montessori-inspired learning means there is no winning or losing and no rules, levels, or objectives. Kids can just open Pok Pok, tap a toy, and start exploring categories like space, dinosaurs, numbers, and shapes. This open-ended play setup can grow with your kids, so they can enjoy the app for years.
As your kids play, you can rest easy knowing the app was developed in collaboration with early childhood experts and designed to be calming and non-addictive, featuring hand-drawn animations and in-house-made sound effects.
Pok Pok is COPPA-certified, ad-free, and GDPR-compliant, so they won’t be tricked into making any purchases. A lifetime subscription also includes access to regular updates, so kids will always have something new to explore. This subscription also includes an exclusive surprise gift that will show up at your address.
Let your kids explore while you take a break thanks to this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Public memorial for Kyle Busch set for Oct. 9 in Charlotte
NYT Pips hints, answers for July 12, 2026
