History WesternAnimation / SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries

Being made in the 1990s, and not being ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', the Saturday-morning cartoon came under heavy censorship -- heavier, in fact, than even [[WesternAnimation/XMen other Marvel cartoons of the time]]. Spider-Man almost never threw a punch, and most of the action sequences was either DeadlyDodging or swinging kicks. NeverSayDie was in full force and there was even a joke among the staff that they couldn't even disturb any pigeons on the rooftops for fear one might have been hurt. The corner-cutting animation also often left a lot to be desired, featuring static movement, constantly recycled sequences, bewilderingly fast conversations and scenes, and all manner of video goofs.

The series' legacy lives on. Not only is it one of many '90s cartoons responsible for introducing a new generation of fans into the world of comic books, but several of its plot elements were later integrated into [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy the blockbuster films]] that followed it. And despite getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, [[LongRunner at 65 episodes, this was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' and the second-longest Marvel AnimatedAdaptation after [[WesternAnimation/XMen the X-Men]]. Even after being cancelled, it continues to have reruns going to this day in the U.S. and in various other parts of the globe. (Of course, the reruns are even ''more'' censored.) It also inspired the visual style of ''Ride/TheAmazingAdventuresOfSpiderMan'' ride at [[Ride/UniversalStudios Universal's Islands of Adventure]] theme park, even after its 2012 refurbishment.

** The three-part episode adapting ''ComicBook/SecretWars1984'' dispenses with a lot of characters from the original comic book storyline. The most notable and understandable omissions are the Hulk (who couldn't appear because of [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk1996 his own show]] airing on Creator/{{UPN}} and had the Lizard take his place) and most of the X-Men (as it proved expensive to have the Canadian cast of the [[WesternAnimation/XMen concurrently airing X-Men cartoon]] flown in to reprise their roles in "The Mutant Agenda" and "Mutants' Revenge").

** The show had a crossover with the 90's ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series. It was considered a big deal because it was a completely different animation studio involving the then current roster from X-Men in a show that was not their own. Even more impressive was the effort put in to keeping all the same cast (save for one, Gambit, presumably for contractual or scheduling reasons) for the sake of continuity. Even more fun, the crossover remains in continuity for Spider-Man, as ComicBook/{{Storm}} returns during the series' adaptation of the ''ComicBook/SecretWars1984'' crossover event.
** Creator/RobertHays also reprised his role from ''WesternAnimation/IronMan'' in several episodes, including the aforementioned ''Secret Wars'' arc; this version [[CompositeCharacter uses an armor that fuses the Modular Armor design seen in his own show with elements of the NTU-150 Telepresence Armor from the comics]]. Creator/JamesAvery also reprised his role from the first season of ''IM'' as War Machine.

* EnergyRingAttack: The crossover with ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' has a woman named Genevieve who serves as an assistant to an anti-mutant racist. It is revealed that Genevieve is a mutant herself with telekinetic powers which manifest as a concentric circle beam that levitates anything it hits.

** The show had a minor recurring expy of [[ComicBook/{{Agent 13}} Sharon Carter]] named "Agent 1".

* FamilyFriendlyFirearms: Handled somewhat better than the 90s ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' cartoon -- at least the guns actually look futuristic. Plus, with so many other "super-science" type things going on in this series, it's perhaps justified (compared, at least, to shows where phasers are the only divergence from the present day). It does, however, make the occasional normal-looking revolver that appears (but is then never fired) seem somewhat odd among the rest of the ray guns.

* SharedUniverse: With the concurrently aired ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' and ''WesternAnimation/IronMan''; the show featured the titular characters of both guest-starring.

** "Who do I look like? ComicBook/TheTick?" Considering that the ''WesternAnimation/TheTick'' also aired on Creator/FoxKids around the same point in time this show did, this was probably a form of friendly TakeThatUs aimed at the two shows' shared network.

* ShipTease: ComicBook/{{Rogue}} flirts with Spider-Man in the ''[[WesternAnimation/XMen X-Men]]'' crossover.

-->'''Ben Grimm/The Thing:''' So, I'm gonna lose the power to change back to normal?
-->'''Beyonder:''' Yes. Everything must be as it once was.
-->'''Ben Grimm/The Thing:''' Well, [[EasyComeEasyGo easy come, easy go]]...

** The Black Suit Spider-Man storyline streamlined the whole arc from the comics so well that ''this'' incarnation is the one usually referenced for future adaptations. Specifically it dropped the entire ''ComicBook/SecretWars'' origin of the black suit, instead having it brought to Earth in a space mission. The sentience of the suit manifests as Peter's aggression building to a fever point before he realizes what is happening, whereas in the comics the suit being discovered as sentient was after a number of traditional Spider-Man stories.

* LostInImitation: Most tellings of the Black Suit Spider-Man and Venom's origin story after this series are at least partly based on this show's version of events. The comic-book Symbiote never actually made Peter more aggressive or enhanced his powers, though it did take his body on joyrides and tried to permanently bond with him when he learned it was alive. Some of this was [[AdaptationDistillation simply streamlining the existing elements]] from the comics into a more cohesive whole (it originated from alien manufacturing equipment in ComicBook/SecretWars, a whole other arc the show adapted much later, whereas this show had astronauts bring it back from a space mission), and being [[FirstInstallmentWins the first adaptation of that story helped a lot there]].

** Felicia Hardy gaining superpowers as the ComicBook/BlackCat because of the Kingpin is actually lifted from the comics -- but tweaked, in that comic-Felicia voluntarily asked the Kingpin for the power boost, whereas here she is forced into it. Additionally, comic-Felicia's initial powerset was [[WindsOfDestinyChange the ability to inflict bad luck on others around her]], and Spidey eventually had her {{Depower}}ed against her will because [[PowerIncontinence her powers were constantly on an affecting those around her even when she didn't intend it]]; in the show, she is instead able to voluntarily shift into a for with enhanced strength and agility.

** J. Jonah Jameson funding the creation of ComicBook/TheScorpion? That's actually how it happened in the comics!
** Felicia Hardy gaining superpowers as the ComicBook/BlackCat because of the Kingpin is actually lifted from the comics -- but tweaked, in that comic-Felicia voluntarily asked the Kingpin for the power boost, whereas here she is forced into it.

** The second season, Neogenic Nightmare, is fundamentally an extended reference to "The Six-Arms Saga", a 3-issue mini-arc that ran from Amazing Spider-Man #100-#102, where Spider-Man developed six arms as a result of taking a formula intended to remove his spider-powers that instead increased them.

** The Man-Spider form that Peter Parker assumes after his mutation accelerates actually first appeared in an obscure Spider-Man/X-Men crossover story that ran in "Marvel Fanfare" in 1982.

*** The Whizzer gained his SuperSpeed by being injected with mongoose blood after being bitten by a cobra, although it was later retconned that he was a latent mutant and this simply activated his powers. He actually fought on a number of American super-soldier teams.

* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ordinary College Student]]: Peter Parker, naturally. [[HollywoodDressCode He even wears the uniform]].

[[caption-width-right:350:''”Radioactive Spider-Man”'']]

->''"Radioactive Spider-Man"''

->''"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Radioactive Spider-Man"''

->''"This is starting to sound like a bad comic book plot!"''
-->--'''Spider-Man'''

** The show didn't use Gwen as a regular character because all roads with her lead to death so instead they gave her Ditko-era characterization as LovableAlphaBitch of Peter's college and character design to pre-Black Cat Felicia and her sweet wholesome girl next door characterization to Mary Jane.

** Robert Hays also reprised his role from ''WesternAnimation/IronMan'' in several episodes.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Felicia exclaims "that maniac nearly killed you," in The Return of Kraven. The show is infamous for NeverSayDie.

** Spider-Carnage, who is literally a Peter Parker pushed to the breaking point, and then given the ''ComicBook/{{Carnage}}'' symbiote.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: Peter Parker is shown to be more buff and handsome in this series, compared to traditional depictions of the character.

However, even while hampered by the vehemently severe censorship and shoddy animation, even while given strict instructions to keep the cartoon as simplistic as possible, story editor John Semper and his writing team managed to "sneak in" everything that made ''Spider-Man'' the series it is, that being compelling character development and story arcs. It condensed the major Spider-Man stories from the comics in a very efficient manner, so much that this version of those stories became engrained over the originals. There was a great number of recurring characters from all over the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, each of whom have a particular [[ADayInTheLimelight spotlight episode]] or even story arc the series followed, all the time keeping a strong focus on Spider-Man and his interactions with all of them. This hit the spectrum from obscure minor characters to ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/NickFury and ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, plus concurrent Marvel animated shows at the time like ''WesternAnimation/IronMan'' and ''WesternAnimation/XMen''.

However, even while hampered by the vehemently severe censorship and shoddy animation, even while given strict instructions to keep the cartoon as simplistic as possible, story editor John Semper and his writing team managed to "sneak in" everything that made ''Spider-Man'' the series it is, that being compelling character development and story arcs. It condensed the major Spider-Man stories from the comics in a very efficient manner, so much so that it's considered a good point of reference for future adaptations of other works. There was a great number of recurring characters from all over the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, each of whom have a particular [[ADayInTheLimelight spotlight episode]] or even story arc the series followed, all the time keeping a strong focus on Spider-Man and his interactions with all of them. This hit the spectrum from obscure minor characters to ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, ComicBook/NickFury and ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}, plus concurrent Marvel animated shows at the time like ''WesternAnimation/IronMan'' and ''WesternAnimation/XMen''.

** The Black Suit Spider-Man storyline streamlined the whole arc from the comics so well that ''this'' incarnation is the one usually referenced for future adaptations. Specifically it dropped the entire ''ComicBook/SecretWars'' origin of the black suit, instead streamlining it as being brought to Earth in a space mission. The sentience of the suit manifests as Peter's aggression building to a fever point before he realizes what is happening, whereas in the comics the suit being discovered as sentient was after a number of traditional Spider-Man stories.

** Stupid name aside, the Spot went from a C-list member of Spidey's RoguesGallery, to an antagonistic (but not evil) foe of his able to run circles around Webhead.

** In the comics, Kraven was a legitimately unhinged man who hunted Spider-Man first out of [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame ennui and for the challenge]], and then because he became fixated on Spider-Man as the human avatar of a demonic force he blamed for all the suffering in his life. In this series, Kraven is introduced as a TragicMonster, allies with Spider-Man in his second appearance, and is antagonistic in his third appearance only due to PoorCommunicationKills.

** He blames Jameson for ruining Osborn's reputation by reporting on Oscorp's creation of chemical weapons. However, as Jameson said he has an obligation to inform the public on things like this as a journalist.

* InsaneTrollLogic: The Green Goblin "charges" the Oscorp stockholders with the crime of hypocrisy. However, the hypocrisy he accuses them of is illogical.

** The Goblin accuses Anastasia Hardy of funding Dr Octopus who is a criminal. However, as seen in Octavius' debut episode he became Dr Octopus ''after'' Anastasia Hardy stopped funding his work before he was a villain. Ironically, funding criminals is something both Jameson and Fisk are guilty of, but Norman/The Goblin don't know about Jameson's hand in creating the Scorpion and the Green Goblin doesn't mention any of Fisk's crimes that he ''is'' aware of and simply [[YouAreFat mocks him for his weight]].
** Another display of InsaneTrollLogic comes from the Scorpion in his debut episode. When he starts mutating further, he fixates on the idea that since being exposed to radiation created him, then another dose of the stuff should undo it. So he tries to set off a ''nuclear meltdown'' to get himself a good solid dose of radiation. In his defense, it's explicitly called out that his mutation is driving him insane.

* RightForTheWrongReasons: The Green Goblin calls Jameson and Anastatia hypocrites. He isn't wrong about them being hypocrites but he is wrong about why he thinks they are:
** He calls Jameson a bad friend to Norman for reporting Norman's creation of chemical weapons but that doesn't make Jameson a hypocrite or a bad friend, just a journalist who does his job. Now if the Goblin had called out Jameson for creating the Scorpion, he'd have been right on the money.
** The Goblin accuses Anastasia of funding Dr. Octopus but Octavius became Dr. Octopus because Anastasia stopped funding his work. In season four, it is revealed that Anastasia was married to the Cat, a known thief and it is implied much of the Hardy fortune is from things he stole. Had the Goblin known about this, it would have made for a much more reasonable charge to levy at Anastasia rather than falsely blaming her for creating a supervillain.