This article is written from the Real World perspective |
The Spectacular Spider-Man | |
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Beginning date | March 8, 2008 |
End date | March 18, 2009 |
Number of Episodes | 26 Season One Season Two |
Writers | Matt Wayne Kevin Hopps Andrew Robinson Stan Lee (Characters) Steve Ditko (Characters) |
Producers | Stan Lee Joshua Fine Diane A. Crea Craig Kyle Eric S. Rollman |
Original Channel | Kids' WB |
Previous Series | Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes |
Next Series | Wolverine and the X-Men |
The Spectacular Spider-Man is a series that ran between March 8th, 2008 and March 18th, 2009 for two seasons. The show was targeted at both young, new viewers, as well as an older, more sophisticated audience that enjoyed the other previous series.
It is the seventh series to focus on the character after Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series.
Background
Like Spider-Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man follows the adventures of Peter Parker as he deals with his job at the social life and school while being secretly being the costumed superhero named Spider-Man. Although balancing the two worlds is difficult for Peter, he always remembers the phrase: "With great power there must also come great responsibility." Unlike the Spider-Man and Spider-Man: The New Animated Series versions, this Peter Parker is still in high school. The show deals with typical teenage angst while the previous two versions dealt more with early adulthood problems.
The series used classic storylines and characters based on the works of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko where the character was in high school. It also utilized the works of Brian Michael Bendis work on Ultimate Spider-Man. There are also several references to the Sam Raimi Spider-Man films.
Following The Walt Disney Company's purchase of Marvel Entertainment Sony relinquished all television rights to Spider-Man, including animation, in exchange for "some concession vis-a-vis the live action Spider-Man features" thus raising questions about what would happen to the series.[1]
With many months of near-silence on the subject, it hadn't been looking good for the series. On April 13, 2010, Marvel Comic's Tom Brevoort was asked about Spectacular on formspring, and simply said, "That was a wonderful cartoon, but finished now." Though asked for clarification, he added, "I'm not officially connected to the show, so I can't tell you anything officially; the people connected with it will have to do that." This came along with the announcement of a new Spider-Man series eventually called Ultimate Spider-Man.[2]
Cast
Edward Asner previously voiced J. Jonah Jameson while Jim Cummings played Shocker on Spider-Man. Jane Lynch played an Oscorp Executive on Spider-Man: The New Animated Series.
Episodes
The series ran between March 8th, 2008 and March 18th, 2009 for twenty-six episodes.
Reception
In January 2009, IGN dubbed the series the 30th best animated television series. It beat Spider-Man at 84 and Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends at 59. X-Men is the only Marvel series to beat this series at 13.[3]
In July 2013, IGN ranked the series the twenty-first animated series for adults.[4]
The episode "Final Curtain" received an Annie Award nomination in Storyboarding in a Television Production.[5]
References
- ↑ Sony No Longer Producing Spectacular Spider-Man; Studio Loses Spidey TV Rights at IGN.com
- ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man Comes to TV at IGN.com
- ↑ 30. The Spectacular Spider-Man IGN.com Top 100 Animated Series
- ↑ The Top 25 Animated Series for Adults at IGN
- ↑ "The Spectacular Spider-Man" Garners Annie Award Nomination, Weisman Comments at Marvel Animation Age
External links
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