Spider-Man (1981)

Spider-Man (1981): Summary

Originally on:Syndicated
Status:Ended
Premiered:September 12, 1981
Last Aired:September 11, 1982
Show Categories:Animation, Action/Adventure

This early 80s animated series was the second Spider-Man cartoon after the original 1967 series. It was produced by the newly formed Marvel Productions, which had risen from the ashes of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, who had previously produced the 1978 New Fantastic Four and 1979 Spider-Woman animated series. The series' character designs and some of the same voices (not Spider-Man himself) were later to be used in the more famous Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends animated series. The character designs for the series were based on the classic style of Spider-Man artist John Romita, and so, were very similar to the visual look of the comics from the mid 60s to the early 80s, when his style was still followed closely by successive artists.

The series itself chronicles the adventures of Peter Parker as Spider-Man during his college years. Regular characters included Peter's Aunt May, J. Jonah Jameson-editor of the Daily Bugle, Betty Brant-Jameson's secretary and occasional damsel in distress, and later on in the series, Robbie Robertson, Jameson's assistant. In this series, Spidey faced off against some of his classic foes, including the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Mysterio and the Chameleon. There was also a six-part story arc spread throughout the series that had Spider-Man's battling with Doctor Doom.

Although the series was produced just before the Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends series, it ended up being shown in syndication around the same time as Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends debuted on NBC in 1981. In 1988, the series was syndicated along with the then-new animated series Dinoriders and Robocop, altogether called the Marvel Action Universe. From the early 90s onwards, the series has been syndicated under the title of Spider-Man 5000, due to the production numbering system of the show (although the opening credits remain unchanged). This early 80s animated series was the second Spider-Man cartoon after the original 1967 series. It was produced by the newly formed Marvel Productions, which had risen from the ashes of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, who had previously produced the 1978 New Fantastic Four and 1979 Spider-Woman animated series. The series' character designs and some of the same voices (not Spider-Man himself)...

Under the Wizard's Spell

Aired: Monday January 1, 2007

A couple of roller-bladers terrorize vendors in Central Park, with Spidey showing up to quickly deal with them. Medusa appears and confirms to the police that Spidey had nothing to do with the trouble. She claims to be just visiting New York, but has in fact been invited there by the Wizard, her old partner in crime. She refuses his offer of joining forces with him, so the Wizard gives Medusa an unremoveable collar forcing her to work for him. Together, they steal cylinders of the rare metal element Niobium, so that the Wizard can construct an anti-gravity weapon. Medusa accidentally drops two of the cylinders and the alarm is sounded. Spidey turns up and fights the Wizard, not believing that Medusa is working for him again. The Wizard escapes, leaving Spider-Man and Medusa to talk about her problems, but she quickly leaves to join up with the Wizard before he does anything to the collar. The Wizard asks Medusa to steal an electronic component from a military base with Spider-Man's help. She tricks Spidey into helping her steal the component, and the Wizard then traps Spidey in his lair. Trapped in a room with increasingly hot walls, Spidey has to figure a way out in time to stop the Wizard and his anti-gravity weapon.

Welcome to the TV.com Blog for Spider-Man+%281981%29 by SYS 05/05/2007 6:58pm

Sorry there is no news for Spider-Man (1981) at this time.

Mona MarshallBetty Brant
William WoodsonJ. Jonah Jameson
Linda GaryAunt May
Ted SchwartzSpider-Man / Peter Parker

8.1
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QuadzillaNU
member since: Nov 23, 2006
The Bottom Line: "Mildly interesting"
Spider-man lives yet again. ...Continue »
11/24/06 07:33pm | report abuse
10
10
paperman
member since: Oct 2, 2005
The Bottom Line: "Personal favorite"
this was spider-man first show in the 80s following on from the 60s series and a great series it was, it just a shame the show gets no credit 10/10 far better then some of the crap cartoons that are out today. release this show on dvd please ...Continue »
12/30/05 02:30pm | report abuse
9.5
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Dexter6
member since: Apr 23, 2005
The Bottom Line: "Classic"
Before Neogenic Nightmare...There Was "Doom" ...Continue »
10/07/05 07:19am | report abuse