March 8, 2008 – November 18, 2009
The Spectacular Spider-Man is an American superhero animated television series based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, developed for television by Greg Weisman and Victor Cook. In terms of overall tone and style, the series is based principally on the Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr. era of The Amazing Spider-Man comic books, with a similar balance of action, drama and comedy as well as a high school setting. However, it also tends to blend material from all eras of the comic's run up to that point in addition to other sources such as the Ultimate Spider-Man comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, as well as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy.
The Spectacular Spider-Man was jointly produced by Adelaide Productions and Marvel Entertainment. It premiered on March 8, 2008, during the Kids' WB programming block of The CW. The series aired its second season on Marvel's sister network Disney XD in the United States and ended its run on November 18, 2009. The entire series was broadcast in Canada on Teletoon. Although a total of five seasons consisting of 65 episodes was initially intended in addition to various direct-to-video films connecting each season, the series was canceled before production could begin on the planned third season, due to legal problems between Disney (who had entered an agreement to acquire Marvel during the show's run) and Sony Pictures Television (the series' distributor and parent of Adelaide Productions), who had relinquished the rights to produce television content under 45 minutes using Spider-Man and associated characters ahead of their acquisition, while retaining all production and distribution rights to the series.
The series received critical acclaim from critics, with praise for its faithful portrayal of the titular protagonist (along with the supporting characters and villains), the writing, and the unique character designs and art style. The series' iteration of Spider-Man was featured in the 2023 film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with Josh Keaton reprising the role.
Storyline[]
Each season of the series takes place over a semester of Peter's high school years, with season one running from September to November and season two from December to March. Producer Greg Weisman has stated that the series' theme is "The Education of Peter Parker." In keeping with this theme, each of the show's arcs is named after a course of study: season one's arcs are Biology 101, Economics 101, Chemistry 101, and Psychology 101; and season two's arcs are Engineering 101, Human Development 101, Criminology 101, and Drama 101.
Season 1[]
The first season opens with Peter Parker entering his junior year at Midtown Manhattan Magnet High School, having only been bitten by a genetically-enhanced spider and acquired his powers in recent months. Peter struggles to balance his responsibilities as the costumed hero Spider-Man with the problems of his personal life. In addition to fighting crime, he must navigate his romantic affections for Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson; maintain his friendships with Harry Osborn and Eddie Brock; deal with being bullied by football star Flash Thompson at school; keep his internship position as a lab assistant to Dr. Curt Connors at Empire State University; and help to support his Aunt May after the death of his Uncle Ben by working as a freelance photographer at the Daily Bugle. The Bugle is owned by loudmouth publisher J. Jonah Jameson, who often uses Peter's pictures of his alter-ego to discredit and carry out a smear campaign against Spider-Man.
Spider-Man's fight against crime attracts the attention of Tombstone, the "Big Man of Crime" in New York City. With the help of corrupt businessman Norman Osborn, timid scientist Dr. Otto Octavius, and mob enforcer Hammerhead, Tombstone orchestrates the creation of various super-criminals to distract Spider-Man from interfering with his empire. Among the "supervillains" that Spider-Man is forced to contend with are the Vulture, Electro, the Lizard, Shocker, Sandman, Rhino, Doctor Octopus, Chameleon, and Black Cat. Tombstone's plans are complicated when the mysterious Green Goblin surfaces and attempts to take control of the city's criminal underworld. After the Green Goblin is seemingly vanquished, Spider-Man must overcome an alien symbiote slowly taking control of his body, which ultimately leads to Eddie Brock's transformation into Venom.
Season 2[]
The second season finds Peter Parker's life becoming significantly more complicated when he finds himself torn between Gwen Stacy and Liz Allan, both of whom have confessed their feelings for him; Mary Jane Watson endeavors to help Gwen win Peter's affections. While Harry Osborn returns to school after a leave of absence, his father Norman Osborn takes on the role of Peter's mentor, helping Peter to reacquire his internship position as Dr. Curt Connors' lab assistant.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man faces new villains such as Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, the Tinkerer, Silver Sable, and Molten Man. Several of the web-slinger's old enemies also return, including Venom who attempts to expose Spider-Man's secret identity and remove his powers. An all-out gang war later erupts between Tombstone's established order, the Master Planner's supervillain forces, and the old guard of the Silvermane crime family. Once all of these major threats have been dealt with, Spider-Man must have a final confrontation with the Green Goblin, who masterminded the gang war to eliminate his opposition, take control of New York City, and destroy the wall-crawler once and for all.
The series concludes with loose ends due to the show's cancellation before a third season could be produced. Other new characters introduced, who were intended to have more prominent roles in future seasons, include Sha Shan Nguyen, Dr. Miles Warren, Calypso, Cletus Kasady, Morris Bench, and Roderick Kingsley. Mac Gargan is also briefly mentioned.
TV Show Intro[]
Sound Effects Used[]
- Advantage Audio Crash Sound
- Advantage Audio Electric Bolt Spark
- Advantage Audio Laser Sounds
- Advantage Audio Metal Crash Sound
- Advantage Audio Metal Hit Sound
- Advantage Audio Robot Footstep Sounds
- Advantage Audio Sword Shing Sound
- Advantage Audio Web Thwip
- Hollywoodedge, Bone Breaks Blood Com FS044105 (2nd half only.)
- Hollywoodedge, Crunchy Fist Impact PE247301/Hollywoodedge, Kick Body Hit 4 Thud Cr PE101601 (Heard often in the Fight Scenes.)
- Hollywoodedge, Single Sword Hit 4 Sam PE102801 (Heard once in "Destructive Testing".)
- Hollywoodedge, Sword Shing Long Clan PE245201 (Heard once in "Blueprints".)
- Sound Ideas, METAL, CRASH - SMALL METAL CRASH AND RATTLE, FOLEY (Heard in normal and different pitches.)
- Sound Ideas, PIG - SQUEALING, ANIMAL (Used for Venom.)
- Sound Ideas, ROBOTICS - ROBOT: SHUT DOWN (Heard once in "Blueprints".)
- Sound Ideas, SPACE, DOOR - SPACE SHIP DOOR 2, SCI FI (Last part edited; heard in "The Uncertainty Principle".)
- Sound Ideas, SPACE, DOOR - SPACE SHIP DOOR 3, OPEN, SCI FI (Heard in "Interactions".)
Image Gallery[]
The Spectacular Spider-Man/Image Gallery