Equally adored as he is reviled, Spider-Man
must contend with the distrustful fury of Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson
as he protects New York City from the unseen machinations of the criminal Kingpin.
Along the way, he must face off against the likes of the Lizard, Doctor
Octopus, Mysterio and the Scorpion all while trying to impress his drop dead
gorgeous next-door neighbor Mary Jane Watson.
Spider-Man:
The Animated Series’ first season aired from 1994 to 1995, featuring the
voice talents of Christopher Daniel Barnes, Edward Asner, Sara Ballantine and
Roscoe Lee Browne.
As far as first seasons go, Spider-Man makes a splash. As one of the
most iconic cartoons from the ‘90s, it establishes its characters with
incredible precision and develops an engaging story arc that develops
organically over the course of its 13 episodes. The series is set early on in
Spider-Man’s career and focuses on his debut fights against the Lizard, Doctor
Octopus, Mysterio, Scorpion, Kraven, Venom, the Hobgoblin, Shocker, Rhino and the
Chameleon. Needless to say, this show wasted no time introducing the webslinger’s
rogue’s gallery to audiences. Each villain is defined rather well and is given
an assortment of motivations that keeps things fresh. From the tragic Lizard to
the vengeful Mysterio to the mercenary Chameleon, these villains feel distinct
and are a key component of what makes this show so captivating. No two episodes
feel alike, nor do they particularly feel like filler. This is aided by a
subplot involving the Kingpin’s plotting to rid New York City of Spider-Man.
Standout episodes from the first season
include the multi-part “The Alien Costume” and “The Hobgoblin,” the latter of
which features Mark Hamill portraying the titular Hobgoblin. The three-part “The
Alien Costume” chronicles Spider-Man’s acquisition of a new black costume
created by a Symbiote. When Spidey finally ditches the new duds, the Symbiote
attaches itself to Eddie Brock and transforms him into the villainous Venom.
This three-parter is an important series of episodes that push our hero to the
brink, exploring his frustrations and doubts, while also transforming Eddie
Brock from a whiny nuisance into a genuine threat. “The Hobgoblin,” meanwhile,
sees Kingpin and Norman Osborne crossing and double-crossing each other using
the mercenary Hobgoblin to do so. It’s amusing to see two of Marvel’s most
iconic villains going tête-à-tête with one another, in addition to seeing just
how much havoc Hobgoblin can wreak. Beyond that, “The Hobgoblin” pushes even
further past filler territory by developing Peter’s relationships with Harry,
Mary Jane and his aunt. It would have been an ideal season finale, certainly
much more so than the so-so “Day of the Chameleon.”
Beyond storytelling, Spider-Man: The Animated Series is so enjoyable because of its
animation and its casting. Where its contemporary X-Men: The Animated Series is dreadfully dated and awkwardly drawn,
this series is much more fluid and dynamic. The choreography here isn’t as
clunky and the consistency is much stronger. Of course, that’s not to say that
the CGI backgrounds and the oh-so-censored laser guns aren’t worthy of raised
eyebrows. On the voice acting front, the casting couldn’t have been better.
Christopher Daniel Barnes is iconic in his role as Spider-Man, capturing the
youth and snark of his character. Similarly, it’s almost impossible to imagine
anyone but Edward Asner and Roscoe Lee Browne in the respective roles of J.
Jonah Jameson and Wilson Fisk. I’m also rather fond of Sara Ballantine as Mary
Jane, who captures the flirtatious nature of the character as well as the more
tender parts as well.
The first season of Spider-Man: The Animated Series is an impressive effort. It’s an
entertaining start for an iconic cartoon, featuring a colourful and distinct
cast of characters. It’s mildly dated, particularly due to heavy censorship and
the animation styles at the time, but overcomes this with strong storytelling
that is remarkably respectful to its source text.
RATING:
B
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