Spider-Man has proven to be one of the most popular superheros of all time on the big screen, butSpider-Man: The Animated Serieshelped to launch that legacy. Before Sony began adapting the hero into live-action, and long before the MCU, everyone’s favorite web-slinger starred in a popular animated series beginning in 1994.
Considering the character was initially introduced in comics back in 1962, there was already a wealth of Spidey stories to depict, and this series actually adapted many of the most popular. Today, some ofSpider-Man’s biggest storylines are playing out on the big screen, but three decades earlier,Spider-Man: TASwas laying the foundation.
It also goes to show just how effective the animated format is, and how much it has done to take these exciting and expansive stories and see them fully realized in a format beyond the original comics.Spider-Man: The Animated Serieswas pivotal in these developments, and established Spider-Man’s popularity in the modern day and far into the future.
10The Man Without Fear (Season 3, Episode 7)
Spider-Man: No Way Homefeatures an incredible cameo where Charlie Cox plays Matt Murdock, a lawyer who also has a secret identity as a superhero, aka Daredevil. The film seesMurdock working with Peter Parkeras his legal counsel after his identity as Spider-Man was revealed to the world.
The movie fails to see the characters suit up together, but that has already been covered inSpider-Man: TAS, whenSpidey and the Man without Fear join forcesto help clear Peter’s name after being falsely accused of a crime.
9I Really, Really Hate Clones (Season 5, Episode 12)
Spider-Man: No Way Homealso showsPeter forming a team with two other versions of Spider-Man from alternate realities. For fans of the character, it’s incredible to see the former actors who tackled the role, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, get back into their suits and join the MCU.
However,TASalso covered this subject with a bigger focus on the Spider-Verse. In fact,theepisode had a lot more in common with the SonySpider-Versefilms, as different versions of the hero from across various dimensions join together to fight an overwhelming threat.
8The Mutant Agenda (Season 2, Episode 4)
The mutants have begun appearing across the MCU, but up to this point, there hasyet to be a crossover between Spider-Man and the X-Men. Well, fortunately,Spider-Man: TAShas that covered as well. This episode opens the door for the series to explore Marvel stories beyond Spider-Man’s solo adventures.
Interestingly, the episode also veers into the realm of political intrigue. Themutants face a threat from humanitythat is intended to kill them rather than cure them, as it’s being advertised. It’s a remarkable story, and a great crossover.
7Secret Wars, Chapter 1: Arrival (Season 5, Episode 9)
As the MCU gears up toconclude the Multiverse Saga withAvengers: Secret Wars, things are heating up with theintroduction of powerful villains like Doctor Doom. The film is also expected to feature a Battleworld storyline, where heroes and villains from across all realities will be brought together to compete.
Well, inSpider-Man: TAS’final season, the show’s penultimate storyline follows a version of the events from the Secret Wars storyline in the comics. Here,Doctor Doom makes a prominent appearance, along with several familiar heroes, like the Avengers, helping to put a stop to the cruel games of the Beyonder.
6The Alien Costume (Season 1, Episode 8)
Back inSpider-Man: TASseason 1,Spider-Man comes into contact with a mysterious black goothat transforms his suit and appears to give him a power boost. However, this ultimately turns out to be an alien symbiote known as Venom, who later turns on Spidey with a new host, Eddie Brock.
This story is played out much more effectively than the version of this story seen inSpider-Man 3, and even theVenomfilms from Sony. In both instances, it failed to give these events the weight they deserved, butTAScaptured the emotion and fallout of this storyin perfect detail.
5Carnage (Season 3, Episode 11)
While Spider-Man never ends up meetingVenom in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, there are other symbiotes that Brock encounters on his journey. However, the specificdepictions of these are hit-and-miss.
One that was particularly disappointing was Cletus Kasady, a serial killer who binds with a symbiote to become Carnage as it played out inVenom: Let There Be Carnage. But once again,Spider-Man: TASsaves the day with a significantly better adaptationof this character’s debut. And it actually includes Spider-Man.
4The Menace Of Mysterio (Season 1, Episode 5)
Way back at the start of the series, during its premiere season,TAStackles a complex story where Spider-Man is framed for a series of crimes. Ultimately, it was revealed that Mysterio was behind these injustices, but the damage was done, and Mysterio became a recurring rival in the series.
A similar story is seen in the MCU, whenSpider-Man: Far From Homehas Peter Parker befriend a mysterious being from another dimension. As it turns out, this is Quentin Beck, aka Mysterio, and he isintent on messing up Peter’s life. And in the final act of the film, he does just that by revealing Spider-Man’s secret identity.
3The Sting Of The Scorpion (Season 1, Episode 6)
However, not every MCU story is delivered in a timely manner. For instance, in the post-credits scene ofSpider-Man: Homecoming, Mac Gargan is seen in prison communicating with Adrian Toomes, aka Vulture.Comic book fans will recognize Gargan as Scorpion, but despite arriving in the MCU in 2017, it’s taken nearly a decade for his story to be told.
While theScorpion is confirmed to be appearing inSpider-Man: Brand New Dayin 2026,TAShas already covered theintroduction of this character in exciting detailin their premiere season. As Scorpion, he proves a huge threat to Spidey, and the episode is sure to whet the appetite to see the character in live-action.
2Doctor Octopus: Armed and Dangerous (Season 1, Episode 4)
Continuing with the premiere season, one of the most popular Spider-Man villains of all time, Doctor Octopus, also makes his debut early in the series.Doc Ock arrives in this episode as a former teacher of Peter’swho goes on to kidnap a young woman named Felicia Hardy.
Now, while the portrayal of this character by Alfred Molina, seen in bothSpider-Man 2andSpider-Man: No Way Home, is immaculate,this iteration is thoroughly exciting. It’s also great to see it combined with the arrival of Black Cat, a character that was set up inThe Amazing Spider-Man 2, but never fully realized.
1Battle Of The Insidious Six (Season 2, Episode 2)
While theSinister Six was teased throughout the entire lifespan of the Sony Spider-Man Universe, it never materialized. Thankfully,Spider-Man: TAStackled this storyline as well, giving audiences a look at what could have been. While this episode comes one after their initial arrival, it does depict their epic battle with Spider-Man.
It’s an exciting and frankly intoxicating pay-off after the first season established these various villains, only to haveKingpin set them all loose on the streets of New York, putting pressure on Spidey. Of course, Spider-Man manages to overcome this incredible challenge, cementing just how solid and imaginative this show could be.
Now, the show avoided using the title, Sinister Six, opting to call them the Insidious Six, but the effect was the same. With Chameleon, Mysterio, Shocker, Rhino, Scorpion, and Doctor Octopus all joining forces to defeat Spider-Man, this proved to be a spectacular outing, and one of the most memorable inSpider-Man: The Animated Series.
