Spider-Man, Spider-Man, the radioactive Spider-Man. Anyone who either grew up with or is a fan of the 90s superhero series will recognize that those simple but catchy lyrics come from one of the best animated superhero shows of all time. The show took a surprisingly mature take on many of Spider-Man’s most entertaining and devastating storylines for a children’s show, being iconic and quality enough for people of all ages to enjoy the stories it provides to this day. Here are the best stories shown throughout the many episodes of Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
5 The Return of Hydro-Man
Watery Sadness
- First Episode Release Date: September 30, 1995
- Why It’s Such A Good Story: It has heart-wrenching scenes
One of the most emotional episodes to ever come out of Spider-Man lore, with one of the most iconic scenes in animated superhero fiction with Spider-Man’s blood-curdling screams by an evaporating Mary Jane.
In this special two-part story arc, we see Peter and Mary Jane finally ready to enjoy their honeymoon as they take themselves to Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, nothing goes to plan for the unlucky couple. Their trip is disrupted when watery villain Hydro-Man captures MJ. Spider-Man has to be aided by femme fatale Black Cat in order to save her. A fight with Hydro-Man later breaks out, one that ends in the most unpredictable of ways. Hydro-Man is defeated by an enhanced Mary Jane, revealed to now have his abilities for some reason.
Spider-Man later finds out that Mary Jane is a clone and, after a final battle, he sees her evaporate along with Hydro-Man, resulting in his iconic scream. This episode lights a fire underneath this version of Spider-Man, making him more determined than ever to find the real Mary Jane.
4 The Mutant Agenda
Spider-Man and the X-Men
- First Episode Release Date: September 30, 1995
- Why It’s Such A Good Story: Spider-Man interacts with Charles Xavier and co.
Being bitten by a radioactive spider that made him a superhuman, leading to him being considered a mutate, and thought of as a menace by normal humans in power, Spider-Man is one of the best characters to compare to the mutants of the X-Men.
In the Mutant Agenda storyline, we see Spider-Man actively seeking out help from mutants so that he can better understand his abilities, with talks of dangerous mutant cures afoot. Things take a turn to conflict when Peter is kept in a holding chamber by the X-Men. Spider-Man finds a way to escape the chamber and shenanigans ensue. The Hobgoblin acts as a major villain throughout this storyline, adding to the hectic fun. Professor Charles Xavier rebuffs Spider-Man, stating he only deals with natural mutations and not the mutate-brand of powers he received.
Spider-Man eventually leaves the X-Men to their own devices, but the Beast seeks him out again and discloses that he is familiar with a man, Herbert Landon, who is working on a potential mutant cure.
3 Secret Wars
A Brilliant Crossover Event
- First Episode Release Date: November 7, 1997
- Why It’s Such A Good Story: We see so many different heroes and villains in one storyline
What happens when a set of higher-powered individuals take it upon themselves to construct a scenario where they can figure out which faction is stronger, heroes or villains? You get Secret Wars parts one through four, that’s what happens.
We see Spider-Man fighting alongside heroes from famous teams such as the Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men against villains such as Doctor Octopus, Doctor Doom, the Lizard, and Red Skull in a good versus evil battle royale for the animation ages. We see Spider-Man on another plane of reality along with these other well-known Marvel heroes and villains, making it a collaboration of the ages. The Beyonder took all of these figures to another planet in collaboration with Madame Web to conduct this interesting test.
Many revelations are made throughout the intriguing interactions that this storyline provides, such as the heroes managing to separate a grateful Curt Connors from his Lizard persona. Black Cat comes into the fold, Dr. Doom must be stopped in New Latveria, and memories are manipulated.
2 The Alien Costume
Birth of Venom
- First Episode Release Date: April 29, 1995
- Why It’s Such A Good Story: It introduces alien themes and a great adversary
Space travel, alien organisms, and the proper introduction of one of the most well-regarded Spider-Man villains of all time, The Alien Costume storyline has a lot to offer in terms of all things Spider-Man.
In an ironic twist of fate, Spider-Man helps J. Jonah Jameson’s son in a space trip gone wrong, saving the life of the man who thinks he is a menace’s son. Whilst this is happening, an alien symbiote attaches himself to Spider-Man. Initially, he is not sure what it is, or why it has changed his costume, giving him a sleeker black gel look to it. But as he goes about his Spider-Man duties, he learns it is much more sinister. He finds that this symbiote enhances his strength and power as a positive, and his aggression and rage as a negative.
He is initially able to part ways with it, but this is only the start of his problems. The symbiote attaches itself to Peter Parker’s rival Eddie Brock, creating one of his most iconic villains: Venom.
1 Turning Point
The Menace Of The Green Goblin
- First Episode Release Date: November 23, 1996
- Why It’s Such A Good Story: It shows the Green Goblin at his best (or worst)
As shown with Willem Dafoe’s portrayal in the nostalgic Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, and his return as one of the best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man, Green Goblin is Spider-Man’s most dangerous and captivating villain of all time. Acting similarly to the Joker in relation to Batman, Green Goblin is a horrible menace who could easily ruin Peter Parker’s life, and the Turning Point storyline shows that this is even an understatement.
This season finale shows Green Goblin in possession of a device that allows him to spy and teleport on whoever and to wherever he wants, allowing him to terrorize Spider-Man with twice the ease that he usually does. Green Goblin is able to find out Spider-Man’s real identity.
Mary Jane is not only tossed off of a bridge in this finale, but the many antics by Green Goblin, Madame Web, and the Time Dilation Accelerator lead to her disappearance. By the end of the episode, Spider-Man comes to the realization that Spider-Man understands that the loss of the Time Dilation Accelerator means he cannot bring Mary Jane back.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is one of the biggest names in entertainment today. The superhero first appeared in the Marvel comic Amazing Fantasy #15 before becoming a leading figure in the Marvel comic-book universe.Â
Spider-Man has also featured in numerous films and a plethora of video games, most notably Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
