Disney Plus' latest animated series, "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man", has been making headlines recently, not just for its fresh take on the classic Spider-Man character, but also for its bold approach to diversity and community justice. Despite initial concerns from the show's star, Hudson Thames, that the series might be "annoying and woke", creator Jeff Trammell has clarified that the show's focus on multiculturalism and social awareness is, in fact, one of its strongest aspects.

The series, which follows the story of Peter Parker, a dorky kid from Queens trying to balance his double life as a high school student and a superhero, boasts a diverse cast of characters, including longtime Runaways fixture Nico Minoru and newer character Pearl Pangan. This shift towards inclusivity is not new to the Spider-Man franchise, with previous adaptations, such as 2008's "The Spectacular Spider-Man" animated series and Marvel/Sony's recent live-action Spider-Man films, also making efforts to diversify the cast of supporting characters.

What sets "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" apart, however, is its thoughtful approach to storytelling, which tackles complex social issues such as racial profiling, policing, and structural inequality. The show's action, though occasionally stutter-y, is fun and works well with its cel-shaded, comic book-inspired aesthetic. But it's the series' slight adjustments to Peter Parker's world that give its story a level of depth and thoughtfulness, often referred to as "woke", that is surprising to see from Marvel.

The term "woke", often misused as a pejorative by bigots, originated within Black communities and refers to the importance of being able to recognize the societal dangers Black people face. Featuring characters who are Black, or merely non-white, does not automatically mean that a film or TV show has anything to say about things like policing, crime, and structural inequality. However, "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" certainly does, as it starts showing what makes this Peter Parker more of a street-level vigilante than any of his big-screen counterparts.

In one of the premiere's most poignant moments, Peter brings a thief back to a pizza joint she's just robbed, and the thief, a white woman, tells Peter that she's become desperate after losing her job. Peter, who understands the struggle of living with financial difficulties, is able to peacefully resolve the situation by leading with empathy rather than suspicion. This moment is juxtaposed with another scene where Lonnie, a Black character, is racially profiled in quick succession by both the police on the street and a random white woman on the train as he makes his way home.

Through this juxtaposition, the show is actually saying a lot about how different styles of policing communities can lead to drastically different outcomes for their populations. The show does not need to depict the police attacking Lonnie to illustrate how racial profiling is a kind of violence in and of itself that causes real harm to the people who experience it. By doing so, "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" is making a powerful statement about the importance of community-focused heroism and the need for empathy and understanding in the face of social inequality.

In conclusion, Disney Plus' "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" series is a breath of fresh air in the world of superhero storytelling, offering a unique blend of action, humor, and social awareness. By embracing diversity and tackling complex social issues, the show is doing an excellent job of making sure you don't forget that being a hero is not just about fighting villains, but also about fighting for justice and equality.