SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN is dead… long live ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN!
Marvel’s first big announcement at the MIPTV (I don’t know what that is but, according to ICv2, it’s “a worldwide, TV-focused media conclave) is that a new Spidey cartoon’s going to be rolling out on Disney XD in 2011’s fall. That means, of course, that fans will only have about two months to enjoy it before the Maya’s apocalypse hits in 2012. Details are sparse, at the moment. It only seems certain that Spidey’s going to be bumping heads with other Marvel superheroes throughout the series. Shocking! Also, despite the name, it isn’t clear yet whether this will be directly based on the Bendis/ Bagley mega-run that we’re all so familiar with.
I’d find it funny if the series WERE actually based on that comic, because SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN basically already was ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, at least in general purpose rather than the exact details. Perhaps the Green Goblin wasn’t a hulking brute powered by the Oz drug, but the whole point of the show was to present a streamlined version of Spidey that young audiences could latch on to.
I haven’t caught much of SPECTACULAR, myself. I’ve liked the Mike Wieringo-esque redesigns and general animation from what I’ve seen of it, though. The one episode I did catch (it had something to do with the Sandman) was actually pretty fun. Like, it was legitimately funny for an older viewer like me to enjoy. Have any of you maniacs in the spectacular, sensational and utterly amazing Comic Vine watched this show? Is it worth checking out? Or are you glad that Marvel/Disney’s brushing it away for something that could be a better execution of the Wall Crawler?
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. Pre-order the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover now on Amazon.com.