The Animated Series’ Did First
Spider-Man is the most popular and profitable superhero on the planet. Thus, his brand has had a plethora of adaptations over the years, often bringing a lot of the same comic book moments to life. While the Spider-Man films have easily been the most popular adaptations, the longest-running one is the iconic ’90s television hit, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which logically did a lot of the hero’s most iconic moments first.
Many great Spider-Man comic book stories out there with iconic moments find themselves constantly recreated in most adaptations, from the infamous Venom symbiote to Spider-Man’s crisis of identity. While some films would love to say they did certain moments first, they were often beaten by Spider-Man: The Animated Series, because of how much content it produced over the years. This list will discuss the most iconic Spider-Man scenes that the ’90s series did first. The movies might’ve given these moments a wider legacy, but the show beat them to the punch and, in some instances, did them far better.
10
Fighting Lizard in the Sewers
Season 1, Episode 1, “Night of the Lizard”
When Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield) first (legitimately) faces off with the Lizard (Rhys Ifans) in The Amazing Spider-Man, it’s an epic battle in the New York City sewer system. With Spider-Man making a web trap for the monster, Lizard finding out that Peter Parker is the Wall Crawler, and the hero getting a nasty gash in his chest, this superhero fight is thrilling with a great aesthetic.
However, he first traded blows with the Lizard (Joseph Campanella) in Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 1, “Night of the Lizard,” with just as much action and style. Some would even say the fight here is more dynamic, as there are more stakes with a missing subway worker and Martha Connors’ (Giselle Loren) lives in the middle of the conflict. Lizard’s arc here is actually pretty interesting as he has a back and forth with his wife about his goals and, eventually, the fate of his son if his goals pan out.
9
Spider-Man Meets Stan Lee
Season 5, Episode 13, “Spider Wars, Chapter 2: Farewell Spider-Man”
One of the most influential figures in comic books and potentially fiction in general, Stan Lee had cameos in pretty much every Marvel film, allowing him to interact with the heroes he co-created. Sometimes, he wouldn’t meet them face-to-face, but there have been times when he’s spoken to his characters. A great example is when he gives the heartwarming quote, “You know, I guess one person can make a difference. ‘Nuff said,” to Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) in Spider-Man 3.
In Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 5, Episode 13, “Spider Wars, Chapter 2: Farewell Spider-Man,” the hero (Christopher Daniel Barnes) is transported to the audience’s dimension and meets Stan Lee, bewildered to see his creation before him. It’s an incredibly wonderful tribute to the co-creator of the character, and getting to see Stan swing through the city with Spider-Man is borderline tear-jerking, especially now that he’s gone.
8
Iron Man Saves Spider-Man
Season 3, Episode 11, “Sins of the Fathers Chapter 11: Carnage”
One of fans’ biggest complaints about Spider-Man: Homecoming and the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man (Tom Holland) in general is that he relied too much on Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) throughout his journey. There’s a specific moment in the middle of Spider-Man: Homecoming in which the Armored Avenger has to save Spider-Man from dying as he tries to save the Staten Island Ferry.
People forget, though, that Iron Man has come to Spidey’s aid multiple times over the years, Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 3, Episode 11, “Sins of the Fathers Chapter 11: Carnage” being a great example. When Baron Mordo (Tony Jay) and Carnage (Scott Cleverdon) come together, both Venom (Hank Azaria) and Iron Man (Robert Hays) have to jump to the Web Slinger’s aid to save his tush. It’s an actually awesome fight that is one of his better team-ups in the animated show.
7
Teaming Up with the Avengers in Space
Season 5, Episode 9, “Secret Wars, Chapter 1: Arrival”
When Spider-Man makes his way to space in Avengers: Infinity War, it was the first time on film that the Wall Crawler went beyond Earth. It was a big moment that had Spidey fans’ eyes glowing as they watched him team up with Iron Man, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and the Guardians of the Galaxy in the battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin).
Spider-Man: The Animated Series was beloved for developing some amazing comic book storylines. The most popular and successful included the rest of the Marvel Animated Universe with the adaption of the incredibly popular “Secret Wars” comic book. It featured Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and other Marvel heroes and villains being warped onto another planet by The Beyonder (Earl Boen) to take part in his “ultimate test.”
6
Teaming Up with Doctor Strange
Season 3, Episode 1, “Sins of the Fathers Chapter 1: Doctor Strange”
What’s always been cool about Spider-Man being in the MCU is that he gets to interact and team up with the larger Marvel. In the third Tom Holland Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, he teams up and trades attacks with Doctor Strange. The odd doctor’s involvement in the movie allows for some unique action for a Spider-Man project and makes it super fun.
While it was one of the only times Spidey stepped into the mystical realm of storytelling in live-action, he had already done so in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the first chapter of the “Sins of the Fathers” story arc. As he’s pursuing the missing Mary Jane Watson (Saratoga Ballantine), he comes across a cult led by Baron Mordo, which puts him in the path of Doctor Strange (John Vernon). Together, they even go up against the mighty Dormammu (Ed Gilbert), making for an awesome episode to watch and one of his cooler and wackier team-ups.
5
Harry Becomes the New Goblin and Fights Spider-Man
Season 4, Episode 8, “Partners in Danger Chapter 8: The Return of the Green Goblin”
The best friend to Peter Parker, Harry Osborn (James Franco), finds himself turning to the dark side in Spider-Man 3 after discovering who his friend really is in the movie prior, Spider-Man 2. Soon, he becomes the New Goblin in the trilogy capper and turns against Peter. With a vengeance for Spider-Man and Peter, the New Goblin is born and ready to avenge Norman Osborn (Willem Dafoe).
A very similar scenario plays out within Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the “Partners in Danger” saga. After discovering Peter’s real identity, Harry Osborn (Gary Imhoff) suits up as the New Goblin while being haunted by his father in another dimension. Just like the movie from ten years later, New Goblin sets out to destroy Spider-Man once and for all, ultimately failing.
4
Mysterio Pretends to be a Hero
Season 1, Episode 5, “The Menace of Mysterio”
The most interesting and entertaining thing about Mysterio in the comics, shows, and movie (aside from his illusions), is the way he typically poses as a hero before revealing his villainy. Mysterio is typically a guy looking for fame and fortune as a hero, or with an ulterior motive, like the one he has in Spider-Man: Far From Home. In the second Tom Holland film, he ends up being one of the best MCU Spider-Man villains, period.
Spider-Man: Far From Home isn’t the first Mysterio to depict himself as a hero at the start. The Mysterio (Gregg Berger) found in Spider-Man: The Animated Series follows the same route, but does something even cooler than pretending to be Peter’s friend. This iteration of the villain doesn’t just pretend to be a hero but also frames Spider-Man for robbing a bank, too, adding a lot more conflict and stakes.
3
Removing the Symbiote/Birth of Venom
Season 1, Episode 9, “The Alien Costume, Part Two”
The Symbiote saga is quite easily one of, if not the most, iconic and popular Spider-Man comic book stories of all time. Not to mention, it also features what is, without a doubt, the most popular Spider-Man alternate costume. However, it’s infamous in the live-action Spider-Man realm for how it notoriously brought Venom (Topher Grace) into the project and ruined it for many. One of the coolest scenes in Spider-Man 3 is the removal of the black suit and paralleling the birth of Venom at the same time in the church.
While it wasn’t executed amazingly in Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: The Animated Series does it exceptionally well. After almost killing Shocker (Jim Cummings) at the top of the church tower, Peter realizes he must take this symbiote suit off because of how it’s affecting him. As he takes it off, things play out quite similarly to the third Tobey Maguire outing, and Venom is born, busting down the entire church wall and declaring war on Spider-Man.
2
Matt Murdock Defends Peter Parker
Season 3, Episode 6, “Sins of the Fathers Chapter 6: Framed”
One of the most underrated cameos in Spider-Man: No Way Home is the first-ever MCU film appearance of the ever-beloved Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox). He makes his debut by representing and defending Peter Parker with his legal troubles post-secret identity reveal. This moment was huge for fans of Netflix’s Daredevil and helped lead to Marvel Studios bringing their most anticipated TV series, Daredevil: Born Again.
In the comics, Daredevil and Spider-Man have a relationship that fans adore, and Marvel hasn’t shied away from bringing them together in other media. One of their best team-ups comes in Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 3, Episode 6, “Sins of the Fathers Chapter 6: Framed”. Peter Parker is framed for treason and, while his superhero counterpart interacts with Daredevil (Edward Albert), he is defended by the blind hero’s secret identity, Matt Murdock.
1
The Spider-Verse Unites
Season 5, Episode 12, “Spider Wars, Chapter 1: I Really, Really Hate Clones”
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse put the multiverse of Spider-People at the forefront of the world’s minds. With how popular the film ended up becoming, and the way it absolutely redefined the film animation medium, it became one of the most popular animated movies of all time. But far before the Spider-Verse came to life on the big screen, it was brought to the silver screen in 1998.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 5, Episode 12, “Spider Wars, Chapter 1: I Really, Really Hate Clones,” brought Peter Parker face-to-face with five other versions of himself, each with unique personalities and motives. This scene is crucial to the origin of the Spider-Verse idea, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse most likely would not have happened without this episode.
