Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Ultimate Spider-Man (2012)
We’re celebrating Marvel’s Spider-Man by taking a look at the web-slinger’s cartoon history on television!
Spider-Man is back with a brand new show, and to mark the occasion, we’re looking back at his greatest animated adventures. We’re also going to rank each series and see how they stack up against each other.
During his 55-year existence, the iconic superhero has had a rich history in animation. He’s done “whatever a spider can,” made friends with two of the X-Men and even ventured into space. At this point, there’s really nothing he hasn’t done.
Each incarnation has taken us to new places and done some interesting things, but not all of them have been resounding successes.
So, come along with us as we swing down memory lane!
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man (1981)
8. Spider-Man (1981-1982)
Of all the wall-crawler’s animated outings, 1981’s Spider-Man definitely made the weakest impression. The show was created with the goal of launching a string of animated properties under Marvel Productions. However, it didn’t turn out to be quite the hit the company was hoping for.
It did manage to stick to the basic premise of the comics — Peter Parker trying to protect the city as his alter ego and balance the many obligations of his personal life. It even brought in numerous villains including big names like Green Goblin and Doctor Doom and lesser-knowns like Silvermane and Wizard.
Aside from that and some improved animation, it really didn’t build on the standard set by the 1967 series. To put it simply, it comes off as a bit basic, and it’s likely we’ll always view it as nothing more than “just ok.”
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man Unlimited (1999)
7. Spider-Man Unlimited (1999-2001)
Spidey’s (short-lived) first animated foray into the 21st century has some solid elements. It has an intriguing premise and features some of the most distinct artwork and character designs of any Spider-Man cartoon. Deep comic book cuts like the High Evolutionary and Man-Wolf were also featured. Unfortunately, these things couldn’t save it.
While it made an admirable attempt to freshen up the property, it strayed so far from the source material that it quickly lost the essence of the superhero and his world. The idea of “Counter-Earth,” with human-animal hybrids as the ruling class, was just too sci-fi for Spider-Man. Additionally, the story really wasn’t all that compelling.
If there’s anything to be learned from this experiment, it’s that the web-slinger is at his best when he’s on Earth, fighting crime on the streets of New York.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)
6. Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)
With Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man hitting it big in 2002, it was only a matter of time before Marvel found a way to capitalize on its success. The result was a CGI series developed for MTV that was aimed at more mature audiences. And, the result is a surprisingly underrated piece of work.
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Due to writer Brian Michael Bendis’ involvement, the show was heavily inspired by the look of his Ultimate Spider-Man comic. The voice cast was also a highlight, particularly Neil Patrick Harris’ Peter Parker. Some intriguing bad guys and side characters even made for some entertaining stories.
It does have its drawbacks. At the time, CGI was still a relatively new concept for a weekly television series, and as a result, scenes would sometimes look incomplete. The fact that the show shared continuity with the 2002 film was also somewhat unnecessary, as it never used that to do anything truly significant.
While it definitely has its flaws, there are things to like about this interpretation of Spider-Man, and if you have some spare time, it actually makes for a nice little binge.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man (1967)
5. Spider-Man (1967-1970)
The first animated incarnation of Spider-Man may seem corny now, but at the time of its release, it was every comic book buff’s dream. Fans were finally able to enjoy the web-slinger on television and join him on fun, weekly adventures. The hero’s supporting cast and an array of classic bad guys were also well-represented.
Unfortunately, the one foe the series couldn’t defeat was its shoe-string budget. Due to massive monetary constraints, episodes had to constantly utilize stock footage. And for a while, the titular character even had to sport a suit lacking an eight-legged spider and most of his signature web patterns.
Despite being a product of its time, this vintage cartoon will always hold a special place in fans’ hearts just as that iconic theme song will always stay on their lips.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981)
4. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)
People get nostalgic when it comes to this 1980s team-up series, and it’s kind of hard not to. It teamed the hero with two X-Men, which created a level of superhero camaraderie that was rarely seen in cartoons at the time — aside from Super Friends.
Enough can’t be said about the inclusions of Iceman and Firestar (an original creation at the time), who helped make the show exciting, lighthearted and refreshing. Their presence was vital to its success and definitely put it above its 1981 counterpart. And if you’re someone like me who first watched the show at a young age (via ABC Family in the early 2000s), this might have been your introduction to them.
On top of this, it also brought in some other fan-favorite heroes, which led to fun episodes like “7 Little Superheroes” and “The X-Men Adventure.” A few notable Big Bads like Loki and Red Skull even snuck their way into some stories.
It may seem dated now, but there’s still enough action and old school charm to justify revisiting this classic series.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Ultimate Spider-Man (2012)
3. Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017)
When Disney canceled The Spectacular Spider-Man in favor of a new show, a number of fans were disappointed. But, what we got actually proved to be good television.
Bendis and Man of Action gave viewers a refreshing take on Spidey and allowed him to really grow as the series progressed. Along the way, they dove deep into Marvel Comics lore to pull out some great characters. The top-billed Iron Fist, Power Man, White Tiger and Nova are clear evidence of that. Using stories like “Spider-Verse” and “Contest of Champions” was also a nice touch.
The comedy can occasionally be laid on a bit thick, and this sometimes led to a sheer sense of nuttiness. Hearing the web-slinging hero crack jokes is fine, but having him stop to talk to the bickering sides of his conscience may be pushing it.
Ultimately (couldn’t resist), it might not have been what we were looking for, but it might have been just what we needed.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for Spider-Man (1994)
2. Spider-Man (1994-1998)
The ’90s were a decade filled with animated hits, and Fox Kids’ take on ol’ web-head definitely stands among them. Although it had many writers from Fox’s acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, the producers opted for a slightly lighter tone. However, it did take a cue from that series and X-Men in that it used serialized storytelling, which was a first for any Spider-Man cartoon at the time.
With complex, sometimes season-long arcs, a variety of storylines were featured during the show’s run. Additionally, the serialized format helped to create true stakes and meaningful character development. Like BTAS and X-Men, it also doesn’t shy away from serious and emotional moments. J. Jonah Jameson explaining that his disdain for masked men stems from his late wife’s murder still gets me.
Spider-Man not only made for some good Saturday morning entertainment, but it also set the tone for future shows based on the character. And judging by the quality of its successors, we should all be grateful.
Image Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television and Marvel Animation for The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008)
1. The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)
Many were surprised when Kids’ WB (a block known for its DC Comics properties) announced they were co-producing a brand new Spider-Man cartoon with Sony. But, no one could have predicted it would become what is arguably the greatest animated version of the wall-crawler.
Showrunners Greg Weisman and Victor Cook found a way to revitalize Spider-Man and simultaneously, stay true to the character’s roots. Like the 1994 show, the serialized approach was employed, but it felt somewhat smoother this time around. And because of the strong emphasis on the characters, their actions always felt important, and their relationships were always compelling.
Like many of its predecessors, the voice-over work was impeccable. Each person in this universe was fleshed out and believable. From Peter Parker to the mostly silent Hobie Brown, every character had a moment to shine.
Although the show didn’t last nearly as long as it should have, it managed to leave a mark greater than almost any other animated series in the history of television.
So ends our look at Spider-Man’s animated timeline. Over the years, there have been ups and downs, but it has certainly been a fun ride.
Now, we want to hear from all of you! Let us know what you think the wall-crawler’s best and worst outings are.
And, of course, be sure to check out his latest adventure — Marvel’s Spider-Man on Disney XD!