Classic animated Spidey proves a crowd-pleaser for fans of the wise-cracking webslinger...

Hold onto your hats Spidey fans! Everyone’s favourite webslinger is back, this time with a new seven-episode DVD release of the wall crawler’s early adventures during the 1980s. Marking Marvel’s second foray into animating its most popular character, Spider-Man 5000 follows the web-head during Peter Parker’s college years, gives added insight to his bungling career as a photographer for the Daily Bugle, and shows Spidey himself swinging into action as a tidal wave of crime and super villainy descends upon the city of New York.

After Marvel’s first animated venture with Spidey in the late 1960s, this second attempt was produced by the newly-formed Marvel Productions and proved to be one of the more successful Marvel animations to date. Based on the original artwork and comic books of John Romita Sr, this 1981 series really was vintage Spidey and would pave the way for Spider-man and His Amazing Friends, featuring characters Ice Man and Firestar, to be aired later in the same year.  

Before that though, there was this, and it was clearly the superior of the two. While the artwork is almost identical in both series, there is something much more authentic and entertaining about these solo Spidey adventures, due in no small part to the episodes being based on actual comic-book storylines and, as already mentioned, Romita’s classic artwork. And it goes without saying that all the other classic Spidey traits are here – the dare devil heroics, the quick wit, Parker’s disastrous attempts at trying to maintain a career, a love life and an education – every aspect of the classic Spider-man is alive and kicking, and the character really makes the leap from page to screen. And let’s not forget regular Spider-man characters such as his beloved Aunt May, who continues to go about her life completely oblivious to Peter’s comings and goings as the webbed one.

"Every aspect of the classic Spider-man is alive and kicking, and the character really makes the leap from page to screen"

Of course, Spidey would be nothing without his super villains and all the classics are here: Doctor Octopus, Magneto, Black Cat, Sand Man, The Lizard, Doctor Doom and Mysterio; they all make an appearance, providing a different villain for the web-head in each episode. It’s worth noting too that this volume includes the first instalment of a six-part story arc featuring Doctor Doom, with the remaining instalments to play out as the remaining DVDs are released.  

One noticeable absence from this series is Mary Jane, Spidey’s most frequent love interest. In her place his Betty Brant, J Jonah Jameson’s secretary and occasional damsel in distress for everyone’s favourite wall crawler. There are subtle nods to other aspects and characters of the Marvel universe, the Hulk in particular, while elsewhere, in a (blink and you’ll miss it) phone booth scene, die-hard fans may even notice a subtle nod to a certain DC superhero. And just to complicate things, fans may also find themselves slightly confused by the DVD title, Spider-man 5000, especially as there is no mention of the ‘5000’ in the title sequence or in any of the episodes. Actually, the 5000 comes from the production numbering system when the show went into syndication again in the early 90s, and, for some reason, the title has stuck.

Pointless trivia aside though, this box set marks volume one in a four-volume release and there is, as always, a slight downside. As with all animated Marvel DVD releases of late, there is a noticeable absence of any extras or special features. A constant gripe for any Marvel fan and serious DVD collector, there is certainly room for something extra, and Marvel would be wise to consider this for future releases.  

That being said, these episodes are entertainment enough and will find themselves very welcome with any fan, old and new alike. The artwork still stands up today, and Romita fans everywhere will find the look and feel of these episodes an absolute delight. The same holds true of the storylines and the dialogue – fans of classic Marvel and the first airing of the series will enjoy the nostalgia of reacquainting themselves, while newer fans will be equally enthralled with these classic adventures of everyone’s friendly neighbourhood Spider-man (voiced here by the brilliant Ted Schwartz). A must buy for Marvel fans everywhere, this box set is a worthwhile release and will prove a welcome addition to any DVD collection.

Spider-Man 5000, Volume 1 is out today.

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