Spider-Man in television


The Marvel superhero character of Spider-Man has appeared in multiple forms of media besides the comics, including on television numerous times, in both live action and animated television programs.

Live-action

''Spidey Super Stories'' (1974–1977)

The character was first portrayed in live-action by Danny Seagren in Spidey Super Stories, an Electric Company segment which ran from 1974 to 1977, with tie-in media seeing Hattie Winston's Valerie the Librarian become Spider-Woman.

''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (1977–1979)

In 1977, a short-lived live action television series was produced called [The Amazing Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Spider-Man (TV series)|The Amazing Spider-Man], starring Nicholas Hammond, one of the actors from The Sound of Music, in the title role. Although the series earned good ratings, the CBS Television Network canceled it after just two seasons, along with Wonder Woman, to avoid being labeled as "the superhero network." The series was broadcast only sporadically during the second season. Several episodes from this series were turned into full-length motion pictures outside the U.S. Three films were released overseas: Spider-Man in 1977, Spider-Man Strikes Back in 1978, and Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge in 1981, all compiling television film edits of multi-part episodes.

''Spider-Man'' (1978–1979)

In 1978, a Spider-Man live-action tokusatsu series was produced for Japanese television by Toei Company. Due to a request by Bandai that the show include giant robots and vehicles, it was not a faithful adaptation: instead of Peter Parker, Spider-Man is Spider-Man. The show is not related to Ryoichi Ikegami's earlier 1970 Spider-Man manga. Toei planned to follow the series with a new show starring Captain Japan, a Japanese counterpart of Captain America called, but the show was modified and became Battle Fever J, the first official installment of Toei's Super Sentai franchise. Having costumed superheroes pilot giant robots began in this Spider-Man series, was carried over to Battle Fever J, and became a tradition in the Super Sentai franchise.

''Spider-Noir'' (2026)

A live action Spider-Man Noir series spins-out of [Spider-Verse (franchise)|the animation|animated Spider-Verse film series], Spider-Noir, is also in development for MGM+. Nicolas Cage will star as the titular character, reprising his role from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Animation



''Spider-Man'' (1967–1970)

The first Spider-Man animated series was simply titled Spider-Man, and ran on ABC from 1967 to 1970. The show's first season was produced by Grantray-Lawrence Animation, which soon went bankrupt. In 1968, animator Ralph Bakshi took over. Bakshi's episodes, which suffered from extremely low budgets, were stylized and featured dark ominous settings and pervasive background music. One episode reused complete background animation, characters, and storyline from an episode of Rocket Robin Hood. The series is best remembered for its theme song, having become one of the most identifiable aspects of the series. In the early 2010s, several internet memes gained major prominence across various platforms, using the simplistic art style and awkward situation of the series for comedic purposes. Spider-Man was voiced by Paul Soles.

''Spider-Man'' (1981–1982)

In 1981, with the creation of the animation studio Marvel Productions Ltd., Marvel endeavored to translate more of their comic characters to television. To garner the attention of the major networks, Marvel first created a new syndicated Spider-Man series partially based on the 1960s show. The strategy worked, and NBC became interested in having their own Spider-Man series. Spider-Man was voiced by Ted Schwartz.

''Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends'' (1981–1983)

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends was created for NBC and featured the trio of Spider-Man, Iceman of the X-Men, and original character Firestar. Actor Dan Gilvezan gave voice to this incarnation of the wall-crawler. This series also featured a number of Marvel guest stars, and shared many of its character designs with the solo Spider-Man show produced just before it.

''Spider-Man: The Animated Series'' (1994–1998)

The 1994 Spider-Man animated series was made for the Fox Network, with Christopher Daniel Barnes voicing Spider-Man. This series had a bigger budget and used a novel system of one large story arc per season, developed by John Semper. As a result, each of the individual 65 episodes were called "chapters". This was the longest Spider-Man series, with 65 episodes in five seasons, until 2012's Ultimate Spider-Man surpassed it.

''Spider-Man Unlimited'' (1999–2001)

In 1999, an animated series named Spider-Man Unlimited was developed for Fox in which Spider-Man is transported to an animated Counter-Earth inspired by the one created by the High Evolutionary in early 1970s comics. This series was cancelled after one season. Spider-Man was voiced by Rino Romano.

''Spider-Man: The New Animated Series'' (2003)

In 2003, another television series adaptation, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series this time using computer animation was produced by Mainframe Entertainment for Sony Pictures Television and broadcast on MTV; it featured characters and continuity from the 2002 Spider-Man film, as well as Michael Clarke Duncan voicing the Kingpin, reprising his role from the 2003 live action Daredevil film adaptation. The show lasted only one season, which contained 13 episodes. Spider-Man was voiced by Neil Patrick Harris.

''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' (2008–2009)

This television series is based on the early Lee/Ditko and Romita eras of The Amazing Spider-Man in addition to drawing elements from other eras of the comics, the Ultimate Spider-Man comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series. Peter Parker is still a teenager living in contemporary New York, as in Bendis' Ultimate version, but many of the cast members borrow from both the early and later years of Spider-Man comics. Many of the original supporting cast, including Flash Thompson, have been translated into modern terms but are still very true to the comics, and some have altered ethnicities: Liz Allan is Hispanic and Ned Lee is Korean. The series follows several plot arcs drawn from the comics. Two seasons of the series were aired, each containing 13 episodes, but originally a total of 65 episodes along with several direct-to-video films were planned. However, the series ended prematurely when Sony Pictures relinquished its rights, which it had licensed from Marvel, to produce animated works using Spider-Man and associated characters. Spider-Man was voiced by Josh Keaton.

''Ultimate Spider-Man'' (2012–2017)

Spider-Man appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced again by Drake Bell. This version is a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the leader of a group of trainees consisting of Iron Fist, Nova, Luke Cage and White Tiger.

''Spider-Man'' (2017–2020)

Spider-Man features Spider-Man teaming up with Miles Morales as Spider-Man II / Spy-D, Gwen Stacy as Spider-Gwen / Ghost Spider, and Anya Corazon as Spider-Girl.

''Spidey and His Amazing Friends'' (2021–present)

A children's television series titled Spidey and His Amazing Friends premiered on August 6, 2021 on Disney Junior. Peter Parker / Spidey is voiced initially by Benjamin Valic and by Alkaio Thiele from the third season onward.

''Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' (2025–present)

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man explores Peter Parker's origin story and early days using the Spider-Man persona. It is produced by Marvel Studios for Disney+, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, and takes place in an alternate timeline from the MCU in which Norman Osborn meets and mentors Parker in place of Tony Stark in the films Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming. The series features a style that is intended to "celebrate" and pay homage to the early The Amazing Spider-Man comic books. Hudson Thames reprises his role as Spider-Man after appearing in the animated Marvel Studios anthology series What If...?. The series debuted on the streaming service Disney+ in 2025, with a second and third season in development.

Appearances in other series

Marvel Animated Universe

  • Spider-Man appears in Avengers Assemble, with Drake Bell reprising his role. In "Hulk's Day Out", he is selling hot dogs. In "Avengers Disassembled", Spider-Man temporarily joins the Avengers as Captain America's replacement, but leaves the team near the end of the episode due to Captain America and Iron Man being unable to work together. In "Avengers Underground", Spider-Man is among the heroes the Squadron Supreme imprison, although in his case, he is occupied with one of their drones. In "Avengers World", Spider-Man appears at the end of the episode on a holographic globe as one of the heroes Iron Man and Captain America consider potential Avengers. Finally in "Vibranium Curtain" Pt. 2, Spider-Man shows up and works with Black Panther to fight Vulture.
  • Spider-Man appears in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., voiced again by Drake Bell.
  • Spider-Man appears in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Robbie Daymond.

Television specials

Mentions within Marvel animated series

  • In Iron Man animated series, when a hacker causes H.O.M.E.R., the Starks' artificial intelligence, to malfunction, he mentions Peter Parker.
  • A small reference is made to Spider-Man in the X-Men: Evolution episode "On Angel's Wings", when Angel is seen reading the Daily Bugle, the place Spider-Man/Peter Parker usually works.
  • Spider-Man is referenced several times in the animated series The Super Hero Squad Show. In the episode "Election of Evil", the Mayor of Superhero City references Spider-Man by saying that he tried to get superpowers by "getting bitten by a radioactive bug", and his campaign motto is "With great responsibility comes great power... and vice-versa". Spider-Man did not physically appear in the series due to Sony Pictures' ownership of the character's animated television rights as it was airing.
  • In Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Spider-Man is alluded to. In "Iron Man 2099", a Maggia goon mistakes Hawkeye for Spider-Man after Hawkeye uses a web arrow to catch one of his cohorts.

Mentions within Marvel Cinematic Universe series

Miscellaneous

  • Spider-Man guest-starred in the Adult Swim television series Robot Chicken in the sketches "Bloopers! Two", "Superheroes Tonight", "Goblin Aerobics", "Kid Venison", "Spider Sense", "Excelsior", "Spidey in the Bathroom", "April's Report on Town Hall", "J. Jonah Jameson's True Love", and "Nick Fury Kills Everybody", voiced by Seth Green and Andy Richter.