Today marks the 28th anniversary of the finale of a truly exceptional Marvel animated series – a show that set a high standard for many that followed. Over the years, Marvel has produced a number of popular animated shows, including fan favorites like X-Men from the 1990s, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, all of which brought Marvel’s stories to life through animation.
For many fans, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is now the primary way they experience Marvel stories outside of the comics, bringing beloved characters to life on screen. But because most MCU projects are live-action and expensive to make, the movies often stick to well-trodden ground compared to the more adventurous animated series of the past. Thankfully, the conclusion of this show wasn’t limited by those same constraints.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series Ended 28 Years Ago Today
While the first Spider-Man cartoon appeared in 1967, many fans consider Spider-Man: The Animated Series to be the definitive version. This show, which aired from 1994 to 1998, really explored the rich history and stories of Spider-Man. It adapted popular storylines from the comic books, including major events like Secret Wars.
The show had some strange censorship rules. For instance, Spider-Man never punched anyone, storylines couldn’t put children in danger, and vampires weren’t allowed, which meant the character Morbius had to be changed. Even with these restrictions, The Animated Series remained a true adaptation of Spider-Man, and it’s especially cherished by those who watched it as kids in the ’90s.
Following the huge success of the X-Men animated series, Marvel hoped Spider-Man: The Animated Series would do equally well. At a time when Marvel was struggling financially, Spider-Man was unique because it was produced by Marvel’s own animation studio, though the studio didn’t have complete creative freedom over the show.
The first season of the show mainly featured individual Spider-Man adventures. However, later seasons began telling larger, ongoing stories. Season 2 was called “Neogenic Nightmare,” season 3 was “The Sins of the Fathers,” and season 4 was “Partners in Danger.” Season 5 included multiple story arcs: “Six Forgotten Warriors,” “The Return of Hydro-Man,” “Secret Wars,” and “Spider Wars.”
Sadly, Spider-Man: The Animated Series was cancelled after the “Spider Wars” storyline, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger. The last episode showed Spider-Man being sent across the multiverse by Madame Web, determined to locate the true Mary Jane Watson. While this storyline wasn’t finished in the original series, X-Men ’97 later revealed that Spider-Man did eventually find MJ.
Even though several Spider-Man TV series have been made since the 1990s animated show, it remains a truly excellent version of the story. While not perfect, it brought many Spider-Man tales to a wider audience and significantly shaped how many people picture the hero today.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series Ends With A Story That The MCU Will Never Tell
Just before Madame Web captures Peter in the Spider-Man movie’s climax, he’s transported to another universe where an actor is playing Spider-Man. There, Peter meets Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man, who is stunned to discover his creation is actually real. This universe seems to be our own, leading Peter to the shocking realization that he’s a fictional character invented by Marvel Comics.
Look, Deadpool definitely plays with the audience, but nothing will ever top Spider-Man realizing he’s in a comic book or movie. As a critic, I can tell you that’s a huge gamble for Marvel. It could really turn people off. They touched on it playfully in The Animated Series, but pulling that off in a live-action movie? That’s a different beast entirely, and I don’t think the MCU is brave enough to try it.
The death of Stan Lee makes a meeting between Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and his creator impossible. While Spider-Man could discover he’s a comic or movie character through other means, he won’t get to meet the man himself. Though Stan Lee’s cameos were enjoyable, it wouldn’t be right to bring him back after his passing.
As a longtime Spider-Man fan, I have to say seeing Spider-Man actually meet Stan Lee, played by the man himself, is a moment unique to Spider-Man: The Animated Series. It’s a detail that really highlights what makes this show so special, and with it now streaming on Disney+, I think it’s the perfect time to rediscover this classic.
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2026-01-31 22:18