TV SERIES · 2008– · USA
The Spectacular Spider-Man
25 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (25)
- #001
The series was initially planned to run for five seasons and 65 episodes.
- #002
A third season was planned, but the series was cancelled because of low television ratings for the second season (after the show moved from The CW Network (The CW) to Disney XD), DVD sales that failed to meet demand, and the return of the series rights from Sony to Marvel Animation. According to Greg Weisman, a third season would have included episodes introducing the villains Carnage, Hydro-Man, Scorpion and Hobgoblin. Norman Osborn's wife, Emily Osborn, would also have made her first speaking appearance, with Marina Sirtis considered for the voice of the character.
- #003
In the opening title sequence, a picture of Spider-Man holding a criminal dangling from a web appears on the cover of the Daily Bugle. This is a tribute to the cover of Amazing Fantasy #15, in which Spider-Man first appeared.
- #004
In terms of overall tone and style, the series is mainly based on Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's early comic book stories with a similar high school setting. It also draws inspiration from "Ultimate Spider-Man", which likewise features a teenage version of Spider-Man/Peter Parker in high school and was Marvel Comics' most popular Spider-Man comic during the production of this series.
- #005
Tombstone's role in this series is based on Kingpin. The reason Kingpin, Wilson Fisk, was not used in the series is that, although he originally began as a Spider-Man villain, he was better known at the time as a Daredevil villain and was not included in the series' rights, since only Spider-Man characters were permitted.
- #006
This is the first Spider-Man animated series to feature Gwen Stacy and George Stacy as regulars.
- #007
Many elements of Sam Raimi's trilogy were also used here: - Gwen saying "There are only fourteen", as Mary Jane points out in Spider-Man (2002). - Peter's conversation with Uncle Ben in the car is almost word for word the same as the conversation in Spider-Man (2002). - The way Peter lets the thief go from the wrestling ring is very similar to the way Peter lets him go in Spider-Man (2002). - Norman Osborn has a collection of "monster" masks, just as Norman does in Spider-Man (2002). - Dr. Octavius needs an "inhibitor chip", which will eventually backfire just as in Spider-Man 2 (2004). - Sandman's transformation is very similar to the one in Spider-Man 3 (2007). - The symbiote Spider-Man costume looks very similar to the costume in Spider-Man 3 (2007). - The way Peter removes the symbiote is very similar to the way it happens in Spider-Man 3 (2007).
- #008
Edward Asner (Uncle Ben Parker) had previously voiced Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994).
- #009
Peter MacNicol voiced Doctor Octopus in this series. In real life, MacNicol is a fan of the Spider-Man comics, and Doctor Octopus is his favorite Spider-Man villain.
- #010
Every episode ends with Spider-Man's mask being beamed onto the screen.
- #011
Dee Bradley Baker reprised his role as the voice of Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard in this series. Baker had previously voiced The Lizard in the Spider-Man (2000) video game for the Dreamcast, PlayStation and Nintendo 64 consoles, and was the voice of Dr. Curt Connors in the PlayStation sequel Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro (2001).
- #012
Series producer Greg Weisman made the creative choice to turn Montana, rather than Herman Schultz, into Shocker during the production of this series.
- #013
This was the first Spider-Man animated series in which The Sandman/Flint Marko appeared in more than one episode. The character had not appeared in more than one episode in any previous Spider-Man or Marvel animated series.
- #014
The series references the Spider-Man trilogy (2002, 2004 and 2007).
- #015
This series contains elements later used in future Spider-Man films, such as the relationship between Peter Parker and Liz Allan (later seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)) or the romantic relationship between Peter and Gwen (later seen in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)).
- #016
Before Greg Weisman joined the team, Christopher Yost presented the series' first draft to Marvel Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television. His presentation was to be set in the same universe as Marvel's animated series Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes (2006), and Sam Vincent was to reprise his role as Peter Parker's lawyer friend from FF: WGH; because Sony did not own the rights to the Fantastic Four (which would otherwise have gone to Fox at the time), the lawyer friend was to appear only in camera roles using body parts of the Fantastic Four, and ultimately Marvel and Sony took a step toward giving Weisman the green light.
- #017
Along with Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003), it is the only Spider-Man animated series not owned by Disney Entertainment.
- #018
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008) is the only animated series produced by Sony Pictures Animation for The CW Network (The CW) and Disney XD.
- #019
Aunt May is less frail compared to the 1994 version, in which she fainted at the slightest scare.
- #020
Electro is very tragic in this version. He was originally Max Dillon, a maintenance worker in Curt Connors' laboratory, but he accidentally crashed into a tank full of genetically modified electric eels and was badly struck. As a result, he had to wear a protective suit to cope with his new electrical powers. However, his inability to cope with isolation and basic pleasures of life (watching sports on television and sipping coffee) made him angrier. Spider-Man mistaking him for a fake because of the protective suit's mask and insulting him was the mistake that finally broke him and drove him to violence. As the series progressed, Max considered being treated by Doc Ock. But when he finally teamed up with the Sinister Six, Max had largely gone mad and chose to call himself Electro, abandoning any hope of being human.
- #021
The animated series is set in the Earth-26496 version of the Marvel Comics multiverse.
- #022
Following the closure of Adelaide Productions in 2014, the rights now belong to Sony Pictures Animation.
- #023
Before the series was cancelled, it was planned that Miles Warren would begin creating more villains for Spider-Man; I had already created Kraven and Molten Man.
- #024
Some of the villains' colors were changed. The Vulture wears black with red patterns. Doc Ock's villain costume has no yellow accents. Mysterio wears a yellow suit.
- #025
The Venom symbiote contains less violence compared to the 1994 animated series. It wants to punish Spider-Man until he regrets abandoning it and accepts its power back.
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