Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American superhero animated television series based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name. The show ran on the Fox Kids Network from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998, and ran reruns on the Jetix block on Toon Disney and on Disney XD, with a total of five seasons and sixty-five episodes. The producer/story editor was John Semper Jr. and the production company was Marvel Films Animation.
Synopsis
The series focuses on Spider-Man and his alter ego Peter Parker during his college years at Empire State University. As the story begins, Peter has already gained his superpowers and is a part-time freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. The show features most of Spider-Man's classic villains, including the Kingpin, the Green Goblin, the Lizard, the Shocker, Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, the Scorpion, Rhino, the Vulture and Venom. Over the course of the series Peter contends with the romantic love interests of Mary Jane Watson, Felicia Hardy and her alter ego, the Black Cat. The show also features appearances from various other Marvel superheroes; including the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, War Machine, Daredevil, Blade, Doctor Strange, the Punisher and Captain America.Adaptations
A large number of storylines and events from the comics are loosely adapted in the series, such as:Season 1
- The first episode, "Night of the Lizard", is loosely based on the comic story "Face-to-Face with... the Lizard!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #6.
- The episode "The Spider Slayer" is loosely based on the comic story "Captured By J.Jonah Jameson!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #25, with the subplot of Flash Thompson dressing up as Spider-Man to scare Peter Parker being taken from "Marked for Destruction by Dr. Doom!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #5.
- The episode "Return of the Spider Slayer" borrows elements from the comic books including the way Spencer Smythe treated Spider-Man and Jameson is a very similar way to how Alistair Smythe treated them in the comic story "24 Hours till Doomsday!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #192, the three spider slayers are from "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 5: Arachnophobia Too!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #372 and Mary Jane uses her famous line from her first comic appearance: "Face it, Tiger. You just hit the jackpot", from the comic story "The Birth of a Super-Hero!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #42.
- The episode "Doctor Octopus: Armed and Dangerous" is loosely based on the comic story "Spider-Man Versus Doctor Octopus" from The Amazing Spider-Man #3.
- The episode "The Menace of Mysterio" is loosely based on the comic story "The Menace of... Mysterio!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #13.
- The episode "The Sting of the Scorpion" is based on the comic story "Spidey Strikes Back!"/"The Coming of the Scorpion! OR: Spidey Battles Scorpey!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #19-20.
- The episode "Kraven the Hunter" is loosely adapted from the comic story of the same name from The Amazing Spider-Man #15.
- The dream sequence from the episode "The Alien Costume, Part One" where the symbiote and the Spider-Man costume fight over Peter Parker is adapted from the comic story "The Sinister Secret of Spider-Man's New Costume!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #258.
- The end of the episode "The Alien Costume, Part Two" where Spider-Man uses the bell to get free from the symbiote is adapted from the comic story "'Til Death Do Us Part!" in Web of Spider-Man #1.
- The beginning of the episode "The Alien Costume, Part Three" where Eddie Brock has a wall covered with newspaper clippings of Spider-Man and turns into Venom swearing vengeance on Spider-Man is adapted from the comic story "Chance Encounter" in The Amazing Spider-Man #298, while the scene where Eddie menaces Peter at Aunt May's home is adapted from the story "The Sand and the Fury" from The Amazing Spider-Man #317.
- "The Hobgoblin" two-parter is loosely adapted from the comic stories "Secrets!"/"Confessions!"/"Endings!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #249-251.
- The episode "Day of the Chameleon" is loosely adapted from the comic story "Spider-Man Vs. the Chameleon!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #1.
Season 2
- The episode "The Insidious Six" "and "Battle of the Insidious Six" are both based on the comic story "The Sinister Six!" from The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1.
- In "Battle of the Insidious Six" the scene where Peter is unmasked by the Insidious Six, after Aunt May is kidnapped by them is from the comic story "Unmasked By Doctor Octopus!" from Amazing Spider-Man #12 but instead of Aunt May, it's Betty Brant who is kidnapped by Doctor Octopus by himself.
- The episode "Hydro-Man" is based on the comic story "The Coming of Hydroman!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #212.
- The episodes "The Mutant Agenda" and "Mutants' Revenge" are based on Spider-Man: The Mutant Agenda #1-3.
- The episodes "Morbius" and "Enter the Punisher" are both based on the comic stories "The Spider or the Man?"/"A Monster Called Morbius!"/"Vampire at Large!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #100-102. The Man-Spider plot is loosely adapted from "Fast Descent into Hell!"/"To Sacrifice My Soul..." in Marvel Fanfare #1-2.
- "Enter the Punisher" is also based on the comic story "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #129.
- The episode "Tablet of Time" is based on the comic story "The Web Closes!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 with Smythe's robot originating from "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 4: One Clue Over The Cuckoo's Nest" from The Amazing Spider-Man #371.
- The episode "Ravages of Time" is based on the comic stories "If This Be Bedlam!"/"Death Without Warning!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #74-75 and "Lifetheft Part One: The Wings of Age"/"Lifetheft Part Two: The Thief of Years"/"Lifetheft Part Three: The Sadness of Truth" from The Amazing Spider-Man #386-388.
- The episode "Shriek of the Vulture" is based on the comic stories "Duel to the Death with the Vulture!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #2 and "The Wings of Age!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #386.
- The episode "The Final Nightmare" is loosely based on "The Thief of Years" from The Amazing Spider-Man #387.
Season 3
- The episode "Make a Wish" is based on the comic stories "Doc Ock Wins!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #55 and "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #248. A flashback to Spider-Man's origin is shown and is adapted from the comic story "Spider-Man!" from Amazing Fantasy #15.
- The episode "Attack of the Octobot" is based on the comic stories "Disaster!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #56 and "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #248.
- The episode "Rocket Racer" is based on the comic stories "The Fiend from the Fire!" from Amazing Spider-Man #172 and "The Rocket Racer's Back in Town!"/"...And Where the Big Wheel Stops, Nobody Knows!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #182-183.
- The episode "The Ultimate Slayer" is loosely based on the comic story "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 6: The Bedlam Perspective" from The Amazing Spider-Man #373.
- The episode "Tombstone" is loosely based on the comic stories "Grave Memory" from The Spectacular Spider-Man #139 and "Will!" from The Spectacular Spider-Man #142.
- The episode "Venom Returns" is blended from several different comics including "Hearts and Powers"/"Gun From the Heart" from The Amazing Spider-Man #344-345 and "Toy Death!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #359.
- The episode "Carnage" is loosely based on the comic stories "Savage Genesis"/"Savage Alliance"/"Savage Grace!" from "The Amazing Spider-Man" #361-363.
- The episode "The Spot" is based on the comic story "True Confessions!"/"Spider on the Spot!" from Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #98-99.
- The episode "Goblin War!" is based on the comic story "The Goblin War" from The Amazing Spider-Man #312.
- The episode "Turning Point" is based on the comic stories "How Green Was My Goblin!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #39 and "The Night Gwen Stacy Died"/"The Goblin's Last Stand!" from The Amazing Spider-Man #121-122.
Season 4
- The episode "Guilty" is based on "Guilty!"/"Lock-Up" in The Spectacular Spider-Man #150-151 and "Crash Out!" in The Spectacular Spider-Man #155.
- The episode "The Black Cat" is based on "Never Let the Black Cat Cross Your Path!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #194.
- The episode "The Return of the Green Goblin" is based on "The Green Goblin Lives Again!"/"The Green Goblin Strikes!" in The Amazing Spider-Man #136-137.
Season 5
- The episode "The Wedding" is loosely based on "The Wedding" in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21.
- The "Six Forgotten Warriors" saga is loosely based on "The Parents of Peter Parker!" in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 and "The Assassin-Nation Plot" storyline from The Amazing Spider-Man #320-325.
- The "Secret Wars" trilogy adapts the 1984 limited series Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars.
- The "Spider Wars" duology adapts the second Clone Saga.
Cast and characters
Main voice cast
- Christopher Daniel Barnes – Peter Parker / Spider-Man
- Ed Asner – J. Jonah Jameson
- Jennifer Hale – Felicia Hardy / Black Cat
- Sara Ballantine – Mary Jane Watson
- Roscoe Lee Browne – Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
- Linda Gary / Julie Bennett – Aunt May Parker
- Gary Imhoff – Harry Osborn / Green Goblin
- Rodney Saulsberry – Joseph "Robbie" Robertson
- Mark Hamill – Hobgoblin
- Hank Azaria – Eddie Brock / Venom
Production
Writing staff
Producer John Semper was the primary credited writer on the show, receiving some sort of writing credit on 60 of the 65 produced episodes. He wrote 8 episodes solo; many of his story credits were actually adaptations of previously published comic book stories.Mark Hoffmeier was a frequent contributor, receiving credits on 16 episodes, while Stan Berkowitz was credited on 9.
Many of the other series writers had previously worked on , including Brynne Stephens, Marv Wolfman, Gerry Conway, Marty Isenberg and Robert N. Skir, Len Wein, and Sean Catherine Derek.
Animation
To reproduce New York City's appearance, background illustrators undertook a large amount of visual research by using photo archives from above New York, particularly rooftops. Maps were consulted for references and buildings were faithfully reproduced.It has been reported that the animation cels depicting Manhattan's Pan Am Building were scrapped after being complete because the California-based art staff learned the Midtown landmark had been given a new sign more than a year earlier.
The animation staff were directed to populate the city with cars and crowds on the street level. Semper believed that was one of the limitations of earlier Spider-Man animated projects.
Originally, Marvel Films planned to make the backgrounds completely CGI while Spider-Man 'webslung' around New York, yet due to budget constraints were forced to use traditional cel based animation while occasionally using CGI backgrounds by Kronos Digital Entertainment. As well, reuse of animation became more common as the series progressed, which also included reuse of animation involving a character speaking.
The animated series entirely used digital ink and paint in every episode, although most American animated television shows of the 1990s still use traditional cels such as Bobby's World and Animaniacs.
Music
Marvel outsourced the show's music to distributors Saban Entertainment, who were also responsible for the music in the concurrent X-Men cartoon airing on Fox Kids. The theme for the series was performed by Joe Perry of the hard rock band Aerosmith, although the song was written by Shuki Levy. Levy, Kussa Mahchi and Udi Harpaz are credited as composers of the orchestral background score.Reception
Spider-Man was both highly acclaimed and commercially successful, receiving wide critical praise for the faithfulness to the source material, the portrayal of many different classic storylines from the comics, the deep focus on the titular hero's personal life, motivations and struggles and the layered character work, along with the presentation of Spider-Man's rogues gallery. It also garnered exceptionally high ratings for a Saturday morning cartoon and shortly after the premiere became the highest rated and most popular children's television show in America. Many consider this to be the greatest Spider-Man show ever made.Its cancellation after 65 episodes was due to disagreements between executive producer Avi Arad and network head Margaret Loesch that forced the show to be cancelled.
Awards
Writer / Producer John Semper Jr. won an Annie Award in 1995 for Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation for the episode "Day of the Chameleon". Spider-Man was also nominated for one 1996 Image Award for Outstanding Animated/Live-Action/Dramatic Youth or Children's Series/Special.Merchandising
Three comic book series based on the TV series were produced:- Spider-Man Adventures : the first 13 issues each adapted one episode from the first season, and the last two issues were original stories. Spider-Man Adventures #1–4 was later reprinted in Kellogg's Froot Loops Mini-Comics #1–4.
- Adventures of Spider-Man : featuring new stories based on the series. Adventures of Spider-Man was later reprinted in Spectacular Spider-Man #11–21 from August 1996 to May 1997.
- Marvel Adventures : anthology featuring various animated versions of Marvel characters—Spider-Man only appeared sporadically.
Electronic versions of classic Spider-Man comics were released by Marvel that included narration by Christopher Daniel Barnes and featured animation and theme music from this series. Spider-Man novels inspired by selected episodes were also released. A wide variety of themed merchandise was produced. McDonald's produced a themed line of Happy Meal toys for the show. However, this paled in comparison to the extensive official toy line that ran over eight series, and included a staggering amount of play sets and vehicles and actually lasted longer than the television series itself.
Release availability
Despite the fact that the show ended in 1998, the success of the live-action Spider-Man films have sparked more interest in new fans, allowing the series to air in reruns due to its new owners: The Walt Disney Company.The show became available for streaming in its entirety on the Disney+ service on November 12, 2019.
Home media
Region 1During the series' run, some episodes were released on VHS. These were from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.
| VHS Name | Episode Titles | Release Date | Publisher | Stock Number | Notes |
| The Hobgoblin | "The Hobgoblin" Parts 1 & 2 | July 2, 1997 | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment | 4176 | Trailers: FOX Kids Video Promo FOX Toons Interactive CD-ROM Promo |
In the late 1990s, another selection of VHS compilations were released by Marvel Films/New World Entertainment. These releases featured episodes edited into 70–80, 90-100 minute movies based on the particular story arc.
| VHS Name | Episode Titles | Release Date | Publisher | Stock Number | Notes |
| The Venom Saga | "The Alien Costume" Parts 1 & 2 & 3 | November 12, 1996 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00103 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 60 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Based on the all-new 1996 Spider-Man animated television series |
| Revenge of the Goblins | "The Hobgoblin" Parts 1 & 2 "Enter the Green Goblin" "Goblin War!" | January 28, 1997 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00123 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 80 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: Spider-Man: The Venom Saga Dragon Flyz: Day of the Dragon |
| Spider Slayer | "The Spider Slayer" "Return of the Spider Slayer" "Kraven the Hunter" "The Return of Kraven" | March 18, 1997 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00143 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 80 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: Spider-Man: The Venom Saga Dragon Flyz: Day of the Dragon Special Bonus: Kraven the Hunter Meets Spidey |
| Insidious Six | "The Insidious Six" "Battle of the Insidious Six" "Hydro-Man" | June 17, 1997 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00163 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 100 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: The Incredible Hulk: Return of the Beast Dragon Flyz: Day of the Dragon Special Bonus: Includes two episodes of Iron Man: "The Beast Within" "Cell of Iron" |
| Mutant Agenda | "The Mutant Agenda" "Mutants' Revenge" "Morbius" | September 9, 1997 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00183 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 100 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: Dragon Flyz: Day of the Dragon The Incredible Hulk: Return of the Beast Special Bonus: Includes two episodes of Iron Man: "Iron Man to the Second Power" Parts 1 & 2 |
| Tablet of Time | "Enter the Punisher" "Duel of the Hunters" "Tablet of Time" "Ravages of Time" | November 4, 1997 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00203 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 80 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: Franklin The Incredible Hulk: Return of the Beast Special Bonus: Includes the final episode of Spider-Man: Mutant Agenda And Contains Various Commercials At The End Of The Movie: Spider-Man: Web Splashers Action Figures Advertisement Spider-Man: Spider Wars Playset and Action Figures Advertisement |
| Neogenic Nightmare | "Blade, the Vampire Hunter" "The Immortal Vampire" "Shrieks of the Vulture" "The Final Nightmare" | May 19, 1998 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00213 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 80 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains Various Commercials At The End Of The Movie: Spider-Man: Web Flyers: Sneak Attack Action Figures Advertisement Spider-Man: Web Blaster Refills and Web Fluids Advertisement |
| Forgotten Warriors | "Six Forgotten Warriors, Chapter I" "Six Forgotten Warriors, Chapter II: Unclaimed Legacy" "Six Forgotten Warriors, Chapter III: Secrets of the Six" "Six Forgotten Warriors, Chapter IV: The Six Fight Again" "Six Forgotten Warriors, Chapter V: The Price of Heroism" | October 27, 1998 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00223 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 100 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains The Following Previews At The Beginning: Franklin Based on the all-new 1996 Spider-Man animated television series And Contains Various Commercials At The End Of The Movie: Spider-Man: Spider Force Web Car Vehicles and Action Figures Advertisement Spider-Man: Web Blaster Refills and Web Fluids Advertisement Spider-Man: Web Flyers: Sneak Attack Action Figures Advertisement |
| The Sins of the Fathers | "Framed" "The Man Without Fear" "The Ultimate Slayer" "The Spot" | May 18, 1999 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00233 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 80 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. Contains Various Commercials At The End Of The Movie: Spider-Man: Web Copter Vehicle and Web Fluids Advertisement Spider-Man: Flip 'n' Trap Playset and Action Figures Advertisement Spider-Man: Spider Force Web Car Vehicles and Action Figures Advertisement Spider-Man: Web Blaster Refills and Web Fluids Advertisement |
| Secret Wars | "Secret Wars, Chapter I: Arrival" "Secret Wars, Chapter II: The Gauntlet of the Red Skull" "Secret Wars, Chapter III: Doom" "Spider Wars, Chapter IV: I Really, Really Hate Clones" "Spider Wars, Chapter V: Farewell, Spider-Man" | October 26, 1999 | Marvel Films/New World Entertainment | 00243 | This Tape Is In SP Mode. Contains 100 Minutes Of A Feature Length Movie. |
To date, the only VHS and DVD releases of the series in the U.S. have been several volume sets from Buena Vista Home Entertainment that feature 4-5 episodes each.
Region 2
In the UK, Sweden, and Germany, Clear Vision Ltd. has released all five seasons on DVD as of October 19, 2009.
| DVD Name | Ep # | Release Date |
| Complete Season 1 | 13 | June 22, 2009 |
| Complete Season 2 | 14 | August 3, 2009 |
| Complete Season 3 | 14 | August 17, 2009 |
| Complete Season 4 | 11 | September 14, 2009 |
| Complete Season 5 | 13 | October 19, 2009 |
| The Complete Collection | 65 | November 11, 2011 |
Other releases
- A Canadian DVD containing three episodes from the "Mutant Agenda" episodes. This is a reissue of the 1997 Marvel-New World/Telegenic VHS release ; as a "Bonus" two episodes from the 1990s Iron Man TV series are included, just like on the VHS release.
- Canadians also received another DVD release of the first season two-parter "The Hobgoblin". This was a re-release of a 2002 VHS release by Disney; the video quality of the episodes on the DVD is that of a VHS transfer. There are no bonus features or audio/subtitle selections on this DVD either.
- A VCD release by Magnavision Home Video.
- A boxed set of all the DVDs released in Poland, simply entitled "Spider-Man: 5 DVD Set". The front of the box features the same graphics as "The Ultimate Villain Showdown".
- Several two-episode DVDs released by Marvel in 2002 prior to the acquisition by Disney.
- 3 DVDs with 2 episodes each were released regionally for Serbia and Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia with Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian dubs on them in 2005.
- The entire first season is available on Xbox Live and iTunes through Disney XD. All five seasons are also currently available for digital purchase on Vudu.
- The entire series is currently available to stream on Disney+.
- There were also unlicensed DVDs that had The Adventure Continues on them that contained two episodes from most of the movies that were released by Marvel Films/New World Entertainment. For example, one was Spider-Man - Blade the Vampire Hunter which contained two episodes which were "Blade, the Vampire Hunter" and "The Immortal Vampire", a two-part story episode from the second season, making it like a movie based on the toy line, Spider-Man: Vampire Wars.