Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man just confirmed Nico's magical abilities

Introduced as Peter Parker's classmate and best friend, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man establishes Nico as one of its mysterious characters. Introduced right in the very first episode, Nico was set to Peter's fellow classmate in Midtown High, but the school is damaged by a symbiote monster who falls into this universe through a Doctor Strange portal.

Therefore, she and Peter now attend the Rockford T. Bales High School. They both form a friendship because Peter stands up for Nico as the monster is about to hurt her. She is unable to defend herself at that time, but the seventh episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, "Scorpion Rising" hints at her magical comic book roots.

---

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man just confirmed that Nico is magical

Nico finds out about Peter Parker's double life as Spider-Man in the closing moments of the sixth episode Duel with the Devil. Therefore, she is mad at Peter for hiding this secret from his closest friend but shares it with Harry and Norman Osborn. Peter tries to beg for forgiveness in the seventh episode but nothing seems to work. That's where Harry Osborn steps in.

He hangs out with Nico for a bit in which they speak about Peter. She expresses her disappointment but Harry tells her about the dangers of being a superhero to them and their loved ones.

Nico finally relents for a bit and they are about to leave when she reveals that she doesn't know how to drive. Harry offers to teach her driving, setting up an important moment coming up a few minutes later.

She slowly drives towards the city when they come across a rude and unruly driver. Nico challenges the other driver for a street race, and the latter takes up the challenge.

Initially, Nico and Harry are behind the unruly driver, but soon they put her behind when they use the nitro booster. When the car, moving at hyper speed, veers off course, it is safely redirected as Nico's amulet glows.

This small moment from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man hints at Nico's origin as a magical being in the Marvel Comics lore.

---

Nico Minoru's comic book origin, explained

Nico has one of the darker origin tales in the Marvel Universe. She and some of her friends find out that their parents are evil and a part of a supervillain group called The Pride. She teams up with the other teens forming the superhero group Runaways. The team consists of her and five other heroes Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Gertrude Yorkes, Chase Stein, and Alex Wilder.

Nico, also known as Sister Grimm, can access a powerful magical artifact called The Staff of One by bleeding herself. This uber-powerful Staff can help Nico cast any spell she wants. But there's a catch, it will help her cast the spell only once. She may choose to cast that spell again, but doing so will come at a cost. Later, she becomes powerful enough to use magic without the staff.

---

What does it mean for Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?

The show hints at Nico's origin subtly. However, it is unclear if she is aware of her biological parents or not. She is a foster child currently living in New York and the only thing in her possession that could be traced back to her biological family is the amulet which we see glow in the seventh episode. However, this small moment works only as a hint for the future.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is in no hurry to introduce her superhero counterpart. But she could suit up and help Peter in the future seasons of the series. Maybe, the series may even feature other members of the Runaways.

---

Find out Nico Minoru's future in the series by catching Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man on Disney+.