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The CW was stupid to let it get away from them.
Fans of Spider-Man have been fortunate in that the web-slinger has always done well in animation. The 1960s series was the best superhero cartoon of its era; the 1990s series presented a galaxy of guest-stars and supporting characters and adapted well known stories from the comics; even the 1980s Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends stood tall in an era where cartoon violence was heavily censored.
Now comes Spectacular Spider-Man, taking the character back to its roots in the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko/John Romita era yet with a 21st century attitude. The first season of 13 episodes is now out on DVD and it lives up to its name of being Spectacular! The show abstains from presenting an origin to start the series. Instead, we pickup some three months after Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man. He’s in his junior year of high school and dealing with the problems that most teenagers face such as peer pressure, academics, relationships with the opposite sex, etc…on top of that, Pete is helping his Aunt May with the finances, and squeezing in crime-fighting along the way.
SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: Complete First Season
Next to Batman, Spider-Man has perhaps the best rogues gallery of villains and most of them make an appearance during season one including: The Vulture, Electro, The Shocker, Sandman, Green Goblin, Rhino, Doctor Octopus, Tombstone, Hammerhead, and Venom. Several of these are villains are created by Doctor Octopus working alongside Millionaire Norman Osborne. Yes this is a departure from the comics but it has the benefit of tying this little world together in 13 episodes as opposed to just a random group of villains.
While not necessarily adapting those early Lee/Ditko tales, the writers manage to capture at once the inexperience of a young superhero coupled with the complexities of the real world. Pete does become a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle, using his own Spider-Man pics to earn money to help Aunt May.
Most of the usual supporting characters are here including Harry Osborne, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, Flash Thompson, and J. Johah Jameson. Again this demonstrates the strength of the show to be able juggle so many characters without losing focus.
Among the best episodes are “The Uncertainty Principle” a Halloween episode complete with a gothic setting; “Persona” in which The Black Cat is introduced and Spidey gains the alien symbiote costume; and “Intervention” an episode that flashes back to the death of Unvle Ben and is in black & white, which was a nice touch.
It’s a fabulous cartoon and without a doubt, the best animated Spider-Man series yet, and that is quite an achievement!
Spider-Man Re-Animated (14:00) This features a look at the show’s development from plot to final animation. Includes interviews with most of the cast including Robert Englund (Vulture), Josh Keaton (Spider-Man), Phil LaMarr (Randy and Robbie Robertson), Vanessa Marshall (Mary Jane), and more.
Styling Spidey (8:20) Producer Greg Weisman and Supervising Director Victor Cook look at how the characters were updated for the 21st century but still pay homage to the 1960s.
This show is perhaps Marvels best animated show to date.
Dynamic animation, great storytelling (and captivating stories)
They have really well thought out character developement. I love this show.
Season 2 is even better...
I HOPE HOPE HOPE that it gets renewed for season 3.
BTW, Marvel.com hass the 90's Spiderman The Animated Series online. They post a new one every Wednesday. Doesn't hold a candle to this show, but it's a fun watch if your bored... AND it's even better if you go to Wikipedia and rad the standards and practices regulations on what they could and couldn't do on that show.
MANIA!!! Thanks again for reviewing this, I think it was only last week that I asked for a review of this show.
Three of the 4-5 things I asked about last week have shown up this week.
MANIA LISTENS!!
Thanks!
Any word on a season 2? It's ok to watch. But I think it's time for it's yearly reboot again. MTV version the best so far.
I'm not really a fan of this show, the animation really isn't doing it for me. The 90's Spider-man animated series is by far the best ever Spider-man show. I'm just really surprised that people are referring to Spectacular Spider-man as the best animated Spider-man show ever!!!
I don't find it surprising at all. The 90's Spider-Man was acceptable, I suppose, but viewing through older eyes exposes a lot of it's problems: bad/melodramatic acting, the animation is awful/choppy reused, the character models though more detailed, have an awful color palatte and give everyone body builder physiques (seriously, when would an evil genius like ock have the time to work out/diet for those abs?), and the writing is absolutely inane with half the story being told in expository monologues. Without the nostalgia tinted glasses, SM:TAS holds up terribly
Spectacular has phenominal writing, much better story arcs, more nuance/detail, vastly better acting, and fast, beautiful, well choreographed action sequences. Not to mention all the famous cover art/panel homage easter eggs for the hardcore Spidey fans like myself
Awesome show. This is how SM should sound.
The voice of the Goblin is excellent.
Not at all whiny like the 90's toon.
........just took a bit to get past the look of the characters!