Television Review: Spider-Man
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this mid-'90s animated Spidey
series looks more like the movies than the earlier cartoons.
It's dark: Villains aren't neatly trounced at the end of each
episode -- in fact, nearly every episode continues into other
episodes (which can be a problem, since they're not always
aired in order). The action, while "comic book" in nature, is
quick and explosive (sometimes literally). Characters often
find themselves in moral quandaries, and their back stories --
which often involve the deaths of beloved figures like uncles
and fathers -- are both described and shown. On the other hand,
the difficulties of being a superhero (loneliness, fear) are
also made clear, as are the characters' dilemmas ("I could save
myself, but I might endanger others").
Families can talk about whether this show more accurately
reflects the original comic book Spider-Man than earlier series
did. If so, what makes that the case? In what ways is it
different from other versions of Spidey's story? Also, what
messages do Spider-Man and his dilemmas send to kids? And how
is Spider-Man different from other superheroes?
SPIDER-MAN -- which originally aired on Fox from 1994-1998 -- follows Peter Parker/Spidey (voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes) from college through his early career and encounters with villains like the Green Goblin and Chameleon. Because each episode is part of a multi-part storyline, the action can be a little hard to follow (the episodes aren't always aired in order during reruns), and there's no expository catch-up -- familiarity with the Spider-Man back story and characters is assumed.
Spider-Manlooks and feels more like a movie than a classic action cartoon. The plots are complicated, the scenes are cut in movie style, characters narrate their histories over flashbacks, and action interrupts conversations and prevents people from revealing or discovering things. It's interesting and complex -- a good introduction to the live-action movies that are more suitable for older tweens and teens.
It's also worth noting that this Spider-Man, like the one in the comic books and movies, isn't always clearly the good guy; he struggles with his identity. And other superhero characters in the series can be even more ambiguous. All of that complexity makes Spider-Man a fun world to enter into -- nearly everyone seems to have an alter-ego and a personal mission that drives them. In that way, it also serves both as a reminder that everyone has his or her own story and as an invitation to create your own.
Spider-Man and His Amazing FriendsThe Spectacular Spider-Man
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
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