Synopsis “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, radioactive Spider-Man…”

Marvel Comics’ most popular character returned for yet another set of animated adventures in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. The web-slinging wallcrawler had previously appeared in two Saturday morning series, a string of live-action made-for-TV films, and in “The Adventures of Spidey” segments on The Electric Company. Spider-Man: The Animated Series was designed to appeal to a slightly older audience than some of the earlier incarnations, throwing in plenty of super-powered action, a little romance, and often complex plots.

The background: At a science demonstration, geeky student Peter Parker was bitten by a spider that had fallen into the path of radiation. The radioactive venom gave Peter several spider-like abilities—super strength and agility, the ability to cling to walls and ceilings, and a special “Spider Sense” that warned him of danger (Note: real spiders do not have this sense). With his intellectual know-how, Peter was also able to develop a set of “web-shooters,” wrist-mounted devices that sprayed out thick webs or thin lines of highly durable “web fluid.”

At first, Peter used his powers for fame, donning a red and blue suit and taking the alias “Spider-Man.” But in his arrogance, Peter refused to lend a helping hand to a cop who was trying to stop a thief. Later, that same thief broke into the home of Peter’s legal guardians—his elderly Aunt May and Uncle Ben—and shot his uncle. When Peter caught the crook, he learned a life-changing lesson: “With great power comes great responsibility.” From that point on, Spider-Man dedicated his powers to fighting crime, swinging through the city on his web-vines and doling out justice (and a witty punchline) wherever it was needed.

Regular Spider-Man villains like Doctor Octopus, The Lizard, The Rhino, Mysterio, and others all made their obligatory appearances, but this show focused primarily on storylines adapted (and often significantly changed) from the Spider-Man comics of the 80’s and early 90’s. Thus, the wildly popular Venom made his first cartoon appearance (with an altered origin), Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson got married (or did they…?), and in the final season, the show revamped the infamous “clone” saga, giving it a happier ending.

This wasn’t a show for the very young, the easily confused, or the infrequent viewer. Stories covered complete seasons, and some points brought up in season two might not be resolved until season four or five. And in a surprising post-modern twist, the final episode featured a meeting between Spider-Man and his real-life creator, Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee. The flashy super-villains and comic book dialogue were still there, but this wasn’t the same Spider-Man we’d been seeing on television since 1967.

Whatever risks Marvel may have taken in putting this new Spider-Man on the air, they were richly rewarded. Spider-Man: The Animated Series was a monster hit for Fox Kids, running five seasons of original episodes before passing into reruns. The show finally left the network in 1999, but the hero lived on in the all-new Spider-Man Unlimited, which debuted later that year.

Release History 11/19/94 - 9/17/99 Fox

Sub Categories animated
sci-fi/fantasy
action/adventure

Studio Marvel, New World, Saban, Graz

Cast

Spider-Man/Peter Parker		Christopher Daniel Barnes
J. Jonah Jameson		Edward Asner
Aunt May		Linda Gary
Felicia Hardy		Jennifer Hale
Mary Jane Watson		Saratoga Ballaintine
Flash Thompson		Patrick Labyorteaux
Agent #1		Rachel Davies
Alisa Silver		Leigh Baker Bailey
Alistair Smythe		Maxwell Caulfield
Anastasia Hardy		Dimitrra Arlys
Angela		Anne-Marie Johnson
Anna Watson		Majel Barrett
Armor-Spidey		Christopher Daniel Barnes
Arthur Avis/Young Vulture		Alan Johnson
Beast		George Buza
Beyonder		Earl Boen
Black Cat/Felicia Hardy		Jennifer Hale
Black Marvel/Omar Mosley		Paul Winfield
Blade		T.D.Hall
Bruce Huntington		David Hayter
Calypso/Dr. Mariah Crawford		Susan Beaubian
Captain America		David Hayter
Carnage/Cletus Kasady		Scott Cleverdon
The Cat/John Hardesky		John Phillip Law
Child Silvermane		Cannon Young
Clay Marks		Don Gene Reed
Cyclops		Norm Spenser
Daredevil/Matt Murdock		Edward Laurence Albert
Debra Whitman		Liz Georges
Destroyer/Keene Marlowe		Roy Dotrice
Dr. Ashley Kafka		Barbara Goodson
Dr. Curt Connors		Joe Campanella
Dr. Doom		Thomas Kane
Dr. Farley Stillwell		Michael Rye
Dr. Groitzick		Nick Jameson
Dr. Mariah Crawford		Susan Beaubian
Doctor Octopus		Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
Dr. Silvia Lopez		Wanda De Jesus
Doctor Strange		John Vernon
Dormammu		Edmund Gilbert
Eddie Brock/Venom		Hank Azaria
Electro/Rhindolt Kragov		Phil Proctor
Gambit		Chris Potter
Gecko		Roger Kern
Genevieve		Laurie O'Brien
Gila		Kathy Garver
Glory Grant		Nell Carter
Green Goblin/Norman Osborn		Neil Ross
Gwen Stacey		Mary Kay Bergan
Hammerhead		Nicky Blair
Harry Osborn		Gary Imhoff
Henry		Rodney Saulsberry
Hobgoblin		Mark Hamill
Human Torch		Quinton Flynn
HydroMan		Rob Paulsen
Iceberg		Lawrence A. Mandley
Illyena		Edie Murman
Invisible Woman		Gail Matthius
Iron Man/Tony Stark		Robert Hays
Jacson Weele		Michael Des Barres
Jason Phillips		Mark Hamill
Jean Grey		Catherine Disher
Jimmy Dugan		Frankie Crocker
Joe 'Robbie' Robertson		Rodney Saulsberry
Joey Nails		Stanley Ralph Ross
John Jameson		Micheal Horton
Jubilee		Alyson Court
Kingpin		Roscoe Lee Brown
Kraven		Greg Berger
Landon		David Warner
Lewald		Joseph Ruskin
Liz Allen		Marla Jeanette Rubinoff
Madame Web		Joan B. Lee
Man-Spider		Jim Cummings
Margaret Conners		Giselle Achegar
Margaret Conners		Giselle Loren
Maria Taina Elizando		Stephanie Eustace
Martha Robertson		Iona Morris
Mary Jane's Father		Edmund Gilbert
Michael Pingree		Scott Cleverdon
Microchip		Robert Axelrod
Miles Warren		Jonathan Harris
Miranda Wilson		Beverly Garland
Miriam		Nichelle Nichols
Miss America		Kathy Garver
Monitor		Rodney Saulsberry
Morbius		Nick James
Mordo		Tony Jay
Mousie		Anne-Marie Johnson
Mr. Fantastic		Cam Clarke
Mrs. Farrell		Telma Hopkins
Mrs. Hardy		Rue McClanahan
Mysterio		Gregg Berger
Ned Leeds		Bob Bergen
Newscaster		John Beard
Nick Fury		Jack Angel
Nick Fury		Philip Abbott
Nora		Lois Nettleton
Norman Osborn		Neil Ross
Octo-Spidey		Christopher Daniel Barnes
Powerless Spidey		Christopher Daniel Barnes
Professor Xavier		Cedric Smith
Prowler/Hobie Brown		Tim Russ
Punisher		John Beck
Randy Robertson		Alfonso Ribeiro
Red Skull		Earl Boen
Rhino		Don Stark
Richard Fisk		Nick Jameson
Rocket Racer/Robert Farrell		William 'Pop' Attmore II
Rogue		Lenore Zann
Sarah Baker		Sandra Bernhard
Scarlet Spider/Ben Reilly		Christoper Daniel Barnes
The Scorpion		Martin Landau
Shocker		Jim Cummings
Silver Sable		Mira Furlan
Silvermane		Jeff Corey
Six-armed Spidey		Christopher Daniel Barnes
Spencer Smythe		Edward Mulhare
Spider-Carnage		Christopher Daniel Barnes
The Spot/Dr. Jonathan Ohn		Oliver Muirhead
Stan Lee		Himself
Storm		Alison Sealy Smith
Susan Choi		Amy Mill
Terri Lee		Dawnn Lewis
The Thing		Pat Pinney
Thunderer		Hansford Rowe
Tombstone		Dorian Harewood
Uncle Ben		Brian Keith
Vanessa Fisk		Caroline Goddall
Vulture/Adrian Toomes		Eddie Albert
War Machine/Jim Rhodes		James Avery
Wardell Stromm		Philip Abbott
Whistler		Malcolm McDowell
Whizzer/Bob Frank		Walter Edmiston
Wolverine		Cal Dodd
Wong		George Takei
Young boy Silvermane		Matthew McCurley
Young Peter		Warren Sroka
Young/Middle-aged Silvermane		Townsend Coleman

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