The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, Episode 10, "Retrieval," now streaming on Disney+.
Left stranded on a deserted planet, the Bad Batch gave up on their stolen ship, which they assumed was far off-planet. Omega's quick thinking revealed it wasn't even that far away -- something viewers already knew after meeting the thief, who sounds a lot like Spider-Man.
Benni -- the ship's thief -- is voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, who for the past 12 years has been the definitive voice of Spider-Man in half a dozen games, including the forthcoming Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The Peter Parker in the games is an older version, and Benni proves why Lowenthal's performance could also work for a younger Spidey. The wry nuance of Benni's habitual lying and constant double-crossing plays surprisingly well, considering what a do-gooder the wallcrawler is. Thus, Lowenthal's Spider-Man voice works in favor of and against the poor, mistreated Benni.
Yuri Lowenthal as Spider-Man Gives the Character Immediate Authenticity
In the 2018 Marvel's Spider-Man game, Peter yearns for allies, but still takes on every problem as if it's his alone. Even when just quipping at enemies in games like Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, Lowenthal's performance gives the character immediate authenticity.
Lownethal keeps his Peter and Spider-Man close to his own speaking voice. Younger Spider-Man actors play the role with a little more nasal flourish. These versions often talk quickly, like kids do. Benni's age is vague enough during his appearance on The Bad Batch. Given that he sounds the game's Peter, he might be in his early twenties. In the game, Peter is only 23 years old, but he's been Spider-Man for eight years. The voice performance carries the gravitas of his experience and moments of joy at being a superhero.
Benni doesn't get much in the way of that second bit. But if he is closer to Omega's age, that means he's had a hard life. Living as a miner under first the Separatists and then a crime lord like Mokko is weighty experience. For a 23-year-old, Lowenthal's Peter Parker is a real square, but Benni has more of that younger Spidey's swagger.
Benni's Bad Batch Story Almost Sounds Like a What If…? Episode
From the moment viewers recognize the voice, it's impossible to not think periodically, "Spider-Man is a ship thief?" Viewers who've spent hours swinging around New York, playing missions and challenges on PlayStation or PC might especially find themselves taken out of the episode. Fans' head-canons can have a grand time trying to connect Benni to the rest of the Spider-Verse.
In truth, Benni and Peter Parker are as different as the galaxies they live in. However, there are moments throughout the episode where viewers can be forgiven for expecting Benni to shoot a web and swing away. Benni is a classic Star Wars thief and liar, who is very bad at talking himself out of trouble. He thinks fast, and the hands are quick, too. He doesn't just steal the Bad Batch's ship, but he pickpockets one of his peers to get Omega access to a secure room. Benni has no power, so he feels no responsibility.
Yet, when sneaking around with Omega and the rest of Clone Force 99 or shouting down Mokko at the end of the episode, there are moments that sound like quintessential Spider-Man. One way Spidey and Benni are alike is that they both try to save their villains. The moment Benni tries to save Mokko's life is enough to make one fire up the game and take on the Sinister Six all over again.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch debuts new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+, where the full Ultimate Spider-Man series is also streaming.