Jeff Trammell is no stranger to bringing beloved characters to life in exciting and refreshing ways. As the head writer, executive producer, and showrunner of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Animation’s newest original series for Disney+, Trammell draws inspiration from Spider-Man’s comic book roots while crafting a modern, dynamic story that will captivate both lifelong fans and newcomers. With the show premiering on January 29th, we sat down with Jeff to discuss his creative process, the joy of working in animation, and the heartfelt stories behind Spider-Man and his incredible supporting cast.
Benji: This show somehow perfectly balances the old and familiar. It feels like it steps right out of a Silver Age comic book, yet it’s something very new and different in a way that seems almost anachronistic—but it works perfectly. How did you walk that line as you were developing and creating the show?
Jeff Trammell: Honestly, it’s a lot of leaning on what’s come before us and finding a way to bring that to the forefront. Our lead character designer, Leo Romero, does an incredible job of pulling these characters from the classic Ditko look and modernizing them. From there, it’s about writing in this modern world. It immediately clicks. We have the classic, we have the present, and we’ve been very fortunate to find a way to mesh everything together in a way that feels fun and fresh.
Benji: You basically have five hours of storytelling in this season as opposed to the time constraints of a film adaption. What’s it like to tell the story in that longer form, particularly with a character like Spider-Man, who has such a great supporting cast?
Jeff Trammell: It gives us a lot of time to tell those stories and really spend time with the characters. I don’t know if, in a film, we would’ve had the time to dig into Lonnie’s story as well as Nico’s, Harry’s, and so many other characters. This format also lets us have moments where things can just happen, and the audience can sit with them. That means a lot. It’s more impactful than just going, “Boom, boom, boom—here’s a bunch of stuff.” Letting the audience rest in a moment is really important.
Benji: Without spoiling anything, one thing I didn’t anticipate coming into the show is how invested I’d be in Lonnie Lincoln’s story. It’s executed in a way I haven’t seen before. It doesn’t take away from Peter Parker’s story—it adds this whole other element and contrast to it. Can you talk a little bit about the development of that plot?
Jeff Trammell: Yeah, in a lot of ways, Lonnie and Peter are two sides of the same coin. They go through similar journeys but with very different obstacles. That meant a lot to me—Lonnie is a Spider-Man character, but he has so much ground that we could break fresh for the show. He’s been around for a long time, but there hasn’t been a lot of his background fleshed out. Giving him that opportunity meant the world to me and the team.
Benji: You’re obviously a huge Spider-Man fan. What’s it like to be able to lead a Disney+ Spider-Man show?
Jeff Trammell: It’s very hard to put into words. It means the world to me because I love this character. And I don’t just mean that as a thing to say, I truly love Spider-Man. I’ve experienced so many incarnations of this character over my lifetime, and being able to pull from that, represent those versions, and make sure they’re honored is not something I take lightly. I want to create something that people can grow up with and love, the same way I loved the Spider-Man stories I grew up with.
Benji: Animation as a medium is almost limitless. What’s it like for you to work in the animated medium for Spider-Man, especially for this show?
Jeff Trammell: It’s incredibly special. It’s so gratifying to write something, give it to our board artists, and watch them just knock it out of the park every step of the way. Every time, it gets better and better. I have so much joy and pride in the team. Watching them continually improve and bring this character to life has been amazing. As a head writer and executive producer, it’s gratifying, but as a fan, it’s just really cool to see them push Spider-Man to even more exciting places.
Jeff Trammell’s passion for Spider-Man is evident in every frame of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. By blending nostalgia with modern storytelling, Trammell and his team have created a series that is both a love letter to the web-slinger’s early comic book days and an innovative, character-driven narrative for today’s audiences. Whether you're a die-hard Spider-Man fan or simply looking for an engaging animated series, this show promises to be a standout addition to Marvel’s legacy. Don’t miss the premiere on Disney+ this January 29!