Top 11 Spider-Man TV Shows: Best to Worst Revealed!

Since 1962, when Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15, he’s become one of the most iconic characters in popular culture. Over the years, he’s played a significant part in the Marvel Comics universe, leading to numerous spin-offs and appearances in other titles. His film adaptations have been hugely successful too, with each version – from Sam Raimi’s trilogy to Marc Webb’s duology to Jon Watts’ series within the MCU – being a box office smash. Spider-Man has also had a mostly positive reception on television, although his shows have had their highs and lows.

Assigning a rank to each show proved challenging – every production offers a distinctive take on Spider-Man and broadens the existing storyline in creative, albeit sometimes imperfect, manners. Nonetheless, I managed to accomplish this assignment, and here are the results.

11. The Amazing Spider-Man (1977–1979)

CBS found great success with their existing superhero series, “Wonder Woman” and “The Incredible Hulk,” leading them to introduce another. In this new show, “The Amazing Spider-Man,” we follow college student Peter Parker who, after being bitten by a radioactive spider, gains extraordinary abilities and takes on the fight against crime. That’s essentially the gist of it.

As a movie critic, I must admit that the live-action Spider-Man portrayal in this show earns some kudos for being pioneering. Additionally, Nicholas Hammond delivers an acceptable performance as Peter Parker. However, beyond J. Jonah Jameson, the series fails to translate nearly any other comic characters, a significant missed opportunity. To add insult to injury, the special effects are quite shoddy, even considering the era of the 1970s, and the production feels alarmingly outdated.

10. Spider-Man Unlimited (1999–2001)

On a parallel planet named Counter-Earth, Peter Parker encounters a world strikingly similar to his own, inhabited by distorted versions of familiar faces he’s crossed paths with. Moreover, this world is ruled by the oppressive hand of the High Evolutionary and his Bestials.

Spider-Man Unlimited is brimming with many unusual creative choices. Instead of adhering to the style and storylines from its popular predecessors, this series takes a drastic turn, also diverging significantly from the original comics. Even though it offers some entertaining instances with multiversal variations of Marvel characters, it generally strays far from Spider-Man’s narrative and mythos.

9. Spider-Man (1981–1982)

In this comic book-inspired version, we follow Peter Parker’s journey as he juggles his roles: a college student, a photographer at the Daily Bugle, and a loving nephew taking care of his beloved Aunt May.

The film Spider-Man, while it doesn’t introduce much new to the character, is commendable for its adherence to the original storyline. However, the outdated and rigid animation may detract from the viewing experience. Notably, it showcases several iconic villains such as Sandman, Lizard, Green Goblin, and Kraven the Hunter, alongside less commonly seen characters like Black Cat, Ka-Zar, and Namorita.

8. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981–1983)

In an exciting twist, Spider-Man joins forces with Iceman from the X-Men and a fresh character named Firestar to create the crime-fighting group known as the Spider-Allies. However, when they’re not patrolling the streets of New York City, they lead ordinary lives as college students who reside at Aunt May’s house, which she transformed into a student dormitory.

Although Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends may not hold up as well over time, it manages to depict the comic book world quite accurately. It offers a mix of personal struggles intertwined with plenty of excitement, and you’ll find an impressive array of Marvel characters making appearances, such as Captain America, X-Men, Hulk, Doctor Strange, Magneto, and more.

7. Spider-Man (1967–1970)

When Peter Parker is unable to prevent his Uncle Ben’s death at the hands of a burglar, he decides to dedicate his life to combating wrongdoing, adopting the persona of Spider-Man, a character imbued with abilities bestowed upon him by a spider that had been irradiated.

Here it goes: This is the original one, everyone – the beginning of everything Marvel! Though it may seem cheesy now, let me remind you that it was the first time a Marvel character stepped beyond comic books and stayed quite faithful to its origin. Granted, later seasons got a bit trippy, but they still hold up. This series has left an indelible mark on our pop culture, from internet memes to the unforgettable theme song (“Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can”).

6. Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)

This series is set in the same universe as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, focusing on Peter Parker’s college years alongside friends Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn. Simultaneously, he faces a never-ending wave of villains causing chaos in New York City.

The animated series titled “Spider-Man: A Contemporary Take” was a stylish, up-to-date portrayal of everyone’s beloved web-slinger, which is not surprising given that it was broadcast on MTV. While the CGI animation might seem quaint by today’s standards, it boasts an impressive roster of voice actors, featuring Neil Patrick Harris as Spider-Man, Lisa Loeb as Mary Jane Watson, and Keith Carradine as J. Jonah Jameson. Notably, Rob Zombie played Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard, and Michael Clarke Duncan took on the role of Kingpin in this show.

5. Ultimate Spider-Man (2012–2017)

In this series, Peter Parker has been Spider-Man for barely a year when Nick Fury enlists him into S.H.I.E.L.D for advanced superhero training. However, it’s not just any hero training—Peter and other adolescents with powers are being groomed to become the upcoming Avengers team.

In contrast to earlier Spider-Man television shows, Ultimate Spider-Man offers a fresh take on our friendly neighborhood hero by transforming him into a S.H.I.E.L.D. apprentice. Fans of Deadpool might enjoy this series as well due to the character’s frequent fourth wall breaks and humorous quips.

4. Spider-Man (2017–2020)

Peter Parker is a gifted yet self-doubting teenager attending the elite Horizon High. After receiving extraordinary powers following a spider bite infused with radioactivity, he transforms into a superhero. Alongside him in his battle against wrongdoing are several powered allies: Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider), Miles Morales (Ultimate Spider-Man), and Harry Osborn (Hobgoblin).

In this adaptation of Spider-Man, there’s a noticeable departure from the original storyline in certain aspects, but introducing a team of spider companions for Spider-Man proves to be effective. The series also commendably emphasizes Peter’s exceptional scientific mind, a trait not often highlighted in other portrayals.

3. The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009)

Peter Parker leads an intricate existence: he’s enrolled at Midtown Manhattan Magnet High School, assists Professor Curt Connors in the lab at Empire State University, takes on freelance photography jobs for the Daily Bugle to help out his elderly Aunt May, and juggles a complex social and romantic sphere. Notably, he employs his extraordinary abilities to combat crime.

The Amazing Spider-Man seamlessly combined humor, emotion, and action. Remarkably insightful storytelling focused on Peter’s personal experiences, ensuring each character received appropriate depth. Regrettably, the show was terminated after merely two seasons, leaving a suspenseful cliffhanger that may never find resolution.

2. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025)

In this series, we witness Peter Parker’s initial years as Spider-Man, but unlike traditional portrayals where he gets bitten by a radioactive spider, here he is bitten by a spider from another dimension, expanding the scope of the storyline.

Although Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is relatively fresh, it’s already earning praise as one of the top Spider-Man TV series. It draws from various periods in the character’s history, such as the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko comic book era, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and everything in between. Remarkably, it manages to offer a fresh take on Spider-Man and his universe.

1. Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998)

As a die-hard fan, I’d say this Fox Kids show vividly portrayed my life as Peter Parker juggling college studies, managing my personal ties, and working multiple jobs – all while keeping New York City safe one web-slinging adventure at a time!

Spider-Man: The Animated Series serves as the equivalent of Batman: The Animated Series for Spider-Man. The makers of the show had an in-depth knowledge of what made the character compelling and weren’t hesitant to construct intricate, multi-episode narratives. For numerous Spider-Man enthusiasts, this animated adaptation encapsulates the essence of the character perfectly.

2025-02-01 18:43