This is another in my "under the radar" series and another lost Marvel visual gem. Putting Spider Man into the sci-fi realm I thought is a cool idea, well actually "Spider Man" is a sci-fi series but its foot was more into the action genre and was in a modern day setting, in this show they wanted to swing the web slinger in a new setting which is in the future or an alternative future world. It made sense going this direction as other comic heroes were pulled off the same move from The Phantom with "Phantom 2040" and Batman with "Batman Beyond" unfortunately lighting didn't quite strike a third time.
This show kind of swung under the radar probably because of the confusion this inadvertently caused. The fact this show wasn't based on the "Spider Man 2099" which would have been awesome, let alone this was a standalone show and not a sequel. But the main reason I feel this show wasn't as successful as any other Marvel visual properties is it was another victim of bad timing, as this show came out in the twilight years of "Fox Kids" which unfortunately means a lot of show become overlooked like "Silver Surfer" another under the radar gem and a story for another time.
The animation is very solid, it looks like it has improved and evolved from the animation of its predecessor. Really like the use of black and dark blues which really help give the show a cyber noir feel, but also contribute to the dark direction of the show. We see a world that is technologically advanced but it's dirty and grimy and worst of all under some totalitarian rule which is part of why things are the way they are as resources are being controlled.
The action in the show is solid it's well choreographed, "Spider Man" still does his thing, but his suit has technological abilities which sort of predate the suit he had in the recent "Spider Man" live action films with Tom Holland. His suit can do theoretic camouflage but also can change to certain different modes when needed. I even like the story format of the show which was different as it had a ongoing plotline that constantly developed which was also different from the original 90's show. Not to say that show didn't have development but only in characters and arcs, this show is different as it' s a little more plot driven. Which was something different and wasn't all that common not just in animated shows but live action TV until years latter with shows like "24".
Music is decent it's nothing memorable, it's ok it's fits the show fine and really helps in getting things moving. And there is a pretty good voice cast with some familiar ones you probably know of. One of them of course is Rino Romano who is an honorable mention in favorite voice actors. This is the first of the major superheroes he voiced, of course it wasn't the last as he did "Batman" in the TV show "The Batman" years latter another underrated gem and story for another time.
I thought he was solid in the Peter Parker/Spider Man role as he had that same energy, enthusiasm, and even weighty thinking to him that of course Peter Parker/Spider Man was known for. He's even more sympathetic than before as he's trapped in an alien world, he never asked to go to in the first place which of course makes him a fish out of water. As we see he's forced into adapting, living, and surviving on this world until he finds an opportunity back.
Of course, you can say it was fate that brought him to this world as he is meant to help restore balance before mankind truly become extinct, which of course ups the stakes but also means Spidey's in for a long fight. Even like how we sometimes get some flashbacks with him and MJ and the times together they have and how distant they are now, which really ads to the sympathy factor and even more makes us want Peter/Spider Man to win.
The only weaknesses for the show are the supporting players aren't really that memorable along with some of the villains. They're not bad but it feels their all kind of two dimensional and lack a certain amount of depth.
I also wish that Mary Jane Watson was in the show which I feel would have given Peter/Spider Man a character dynamic he can bounce off, but also would have helped reassure us that despite how much has changed things are still the same in a way. It was also a bit of a lost opportunity because she could have contributed to the show as well, like giving her a spider man suit and kicking butt alongside Peter/Spider Man in that world. I know a long shot (not really considering what happened in the comic series latter on) but a shot all the same, one that just got missed.
However, the biggest problem is the same fundamental problem "G. I. Joe the Movie" (story for another time) has which is the plotline that mainly out of place. The plotline isn't bad (at least I didn't think so) could almost be like a sequel to "The Island of Doctor Monroe" only it's a dystopian society that resulted and humans are becoming the endangered species.
It's really a cool concept which would have worked as its own show. This could of easily of been a show based on Marvel's Multiverse where it could have been renamed "Counter Earth" without "Spider Man" and focused on the resistance taking back the Earth and through this war we could explore more of this "Counter Earth", clues on how it came to be and how different it is from the one from Marvel and probably have alternate versions of Marvel characters appear. But of course, that didn't happen and that alone would have been a tough sell altogether; so, oh well I'll take what I can get.
Overall, I like this show, it's one of the good "Spider Man" animated shows in my book, if low on the list. It would be awesome to have another "Spider Man" animated show in a future setting but I'm thinking this could happen two ways one we can make it where Peter and Mary Jane's daughter (May or Anne Parker from the comic series) are carrying the touch in the future world; or have an animated adaptation of the "Spider Man 2099" series. Either option is fine with me though I know probably might not happen but still thoughts to consider, and all the same "Spider Man" in the animated series area could use something new.
So, if you're a "Spider Man" fan and looking for more animated treasures in the franchises web this is one worth a swing.
Rating: 3 stars.
This show kind of swung under the radar probably because of the confusion this inadvertently caused. The fact this show wasn't based on the "Spider Man 2099" which would have been awesome, let alone this was a standalone show and not a sequel. But the main reason I feel this show wasn't as successful as any other Marvel visual properties is it was another victim of bad timing, as this show came out in the twilight years of "Fox Kids" which unfortunately means a lot of show become overlooked like "Silver Surfer" another under the radar gem and a story for another time.
The animation is very solid, it looks like it has improved and evolved from the animation of its predecessor. Really like the use of black and dark blues which really help give the show a cyber noir feel, but also contribute to the dark direction of the show. We see a world that is technologically advanced but it's dirty and grimy and worst of all under some totalitarian rule which is part of why things are the way they are as resources are being controlled.
The action in the show is solid it's well choreographed, "Spider Man" still does his thing, but his suit has technological abilities which sort of predate the suit he had in the recent "Spider Man" live action films with Tom Holland. His suit can do theoretic camouflage but also can change to certain different modes when needed. I even like the story format of the show which was different as it had a ongoing plotline that constantly developed which was also different from the original 90's show. Not to say that show didn't have development but only in characters and arcs, this show is different as it' s a little more plot driven. Which was something different and wasn't all that common not just in animated shows but live action TV until years latter with shows like "24".
Music is decent it's nothing memorable, it's ok it's fits the show fine and really helps in getting things moving. And there is a pretty good voice cast with some familiar ones you probably know of. One of them of course is Rino Romano who is an honorable mention in favorite voice actors. This is the first of the major superheroes he voiced, of course it wasn't the last as he did "Batman" in the TV show "The Batman" years latter another underrated gem and story for another time.
I thought he was solid in the Peter Parker/Spider Man role as he had that same energy, enthusiasm, and even weighty thinking to him that of course Peter Parker/Spider Man was known for. He's even more sympathetic than before as he's trapped in an alien world, he never asked to go to in the first place which of course makes him a fish out of water. As we see he's forced into adapting, living, and surviving on this world until he finds an opportunity back.
Of course, you can say it was fate that brought him to this world as he is meant to help restore balance before mankind truly become extinct, which of course ups the stakes but also means Spidey's in for a long fight. Even like how we sometimes get some flashbacks with him and MJ and the times together they have and how distant they are now, which really ads to the sympathy factor and even more makes us want Peter/Spider Man to win.
The only weaknesses for the show are the supporting players aren't really that memorable along with some of the villains. They're not bad but it feels their all kind of two dimensional and lack a certain amount of depth.
I also wish that Mary Jane Watson was in the show which I feel would have given Peter/Spider Man a character dynamic he can bounce off, but also would have helped reassure us that despite how much has changed things are still the same in a way. It was also a bit of a lost opportunity because she could have contributed to the show as well, like giving her a spider man suit and kicking butt alongside Peter/Spider Man in that world. I know a long shot (not really considering what happened in the comic series latter on) but a shot all the same, one that just got missed.
However, the biggest problem is the same fundamental problem "G. I. Joe the Movie" (story for another time) has which is the plotline that mainly out of place. The plotline isn't bad (at least I didn't think so) could almost be like a sequel to "The Island of Doctor Monroe" only it's a dystopian society that resulted and humans are becoming the endangered species.
It's really a cool concept which would have worked as its own show. This could of easily of been a show based on Marvel's Multiverse where it could have been renamed "Counter Earth" without "Spider Man" and focused on the resistance taking back the Earth and through this war we could explore more of this "Counter Earth", clues on how it came to be and how different it is from the one from Marvel and probably have alternate versions of Marvel characters appear. But of course, that didn't happen and that alone would have been a tough sell altogether; so, oh well I'll take what I can get.
Overall, I like this show, it's one of the good "Spider Man" animated shows in my book, if low on the list. It would be awesome to have another "Spider Man" animated show in a future setting but I'm thinking this could happen two ways one we can make it where Peter and Mary Jane's daughter (May or Anne Parker from the comic series) are carrying the touch in the future world; or have an animated adaptation of the "Spider Man 2099" series. Either option is fine with me though I know probably might not happen but still thoughts to consider, and all the same "Spider Man" in the animated series area could use something new.
So, if you're a "Spider Man" fan and looking for more animated treasures in the franchises web this is one worth a swing.
Rating: 3 stars.