Spider-Woman | |
---|---|
![]() Intertitle | |
Genre | Superhero fiction Action/adventure |
Based on | Spider-Woman by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin |
Developed by | Stan Lee |
Voices of | Joan Van Ark Bruce Miller Bryan Scott |
Composer | Eric Rogers |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 16 |
Production | |
Executive producers | David H. DePatie Friz Freleng |
Producer | Lee Gunther |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production companies | DePatie–Freleng Enterprises Marvel Comics Animation |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | September 22, 1979 January 5, 1980 | –
Spider-Woman is an animated television series, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Woman. The series was produced by DePatie–Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation (both owned by Marvel Entertainment), and aired on September 22, 1979, to January 5, 1980, one season of sixteen episodes, on the ABC-TV network. It was also DePatie–Freleng's final series before its reincorporation as Marvel Productions.
Overview[]
Introduction[]
According to the title sequence, Jessica Drew (voiced by Joan Van Ark) was bitten by a venomous spider as a child; her father saved her life by injecting her with an experimental "spider serum," which also granted her superhuman powers. As an adult, Jessica is editor of Justice Magazine, with two other employees featured; photographer Jeff Hunt (a cowardly braggart who nonetheless fancied himself as a quick-witted and resourceful crime-stopper) and Jessica's teenage nephew Billy. When trouble arises, Jessica slips away to change into her secret identity of Spider-Woman.
The Spider-Woman cartoon should not be confused with Web Woman, a Filmation superheroine cartoon launched at around the same time, which reportedly prompted Marvel Comics into creating a Spider-Woman character to secure the copyright.[1]
Differences between cartoon and comic book[]
The cartoon differs considerably from the comic book in its premise and supporting cast. Billy, Jeff, and Justice Magazine never appear in the comic book in any form. Nor do the darker elements of the comic book (the heavy use of Arthurian legend and the occult, Jessica's feelings of alienation) enter into the much brighter world of the cartoon. The origin of her powers is also altered somewhat; at the time of the series' production, the threat to her life in the comics was radiation poisoning (though her published origin has since been altered).
The animated Spider-Woman's powers are noticeably modified; her enhanced strength in particular seems entirely missing, as she is shown in several episodes being restrained by means (such as ordinary rope) that her super-strong comic-book counterpart could easily break. In addition to the ability to cling to walls:
- Spider-Woman retains the ability to fire bursts of energy from her hands called "venom blasts", but they are white instead of green. The episode "Realm of Darkness" seems to imply that Venom Blasts can be fired as long as Spider-Woman has enough strength.
- Spider-Woman has powers vaguely similar to ones possessed by Spider-Man that her comic book incarnation lacks:
- A clairvoyant "spider-sense" that allows her to see dangers as they happen; no matter where she is, she can close her eyes and see the event, shown to the viewers as an image outlined by a spider-web.
- She can also project spider-like "weblines" from the palms of her hands or an individual finger. This appears to be naturally generated, as opposed to Spider-Man's mechanical web-shooters, but she is similarly prone to running out of "web fluid" ("The Ghost Vikings"). She is able to control the direction in which her weblines move; "The Kingpin Strikes Again" shows her casting a web in a descending spiral to disorient and then restrain a criminal.
- The animated Spider-Woman also had the ability to change into costume merely by spinning around, an idea borrowed from the live-action Wonder Woman television series starring Lynda Carter. In the episode "The Spider-Woman and the Fly", where Jessica had been momentarily stripped of her powers, her costume reverted to the everyday civilian clothes she wore for work.
- While Spider-Woman could (at the time) only glide on air currents in the comics, the animated version appears able to fly at will, though her costume's glider wings were apparent whenever she took flight. (The comic book incarnation has since gained the power of true flight as well.)
- The animated Spider-Woman would occasionally display previously unknown "spider"-powers, conveniently able to assist her in random situations, such as:
- "Spider-telepathy", allowing her to mentally communicate with spiders and ask them for assistance ("Pyramids of Terror")
- A protective "spider-bubble" allowing her to function underwater without diving gear ("The Ghost Vikings")
- Spider-Man in this series was again voiced by Paul Soles who previously voiced him in the 1960s Spider-Man series, some similarities in the two series still remained. Perhaps the most noticeable similarity is "animated stock footage", where – before any episodes were completed – an animated sequence was created. This sequence would be used with an appropriate background added, whenever the need would arise. One example is Spider-Woman turning around, from back to front. Another example is where Jessica Drew gets a "spider-sense", turns her head while she closes her eyes, and then the location of danger appears using an editing technique.
Episodes[]
Nº | Title | Air date | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pyramids of Terror" | September 22, 1979 | |
Guest-stars Spider-Man. The Justice Magazine crew investigate an alien invasion in Egypt led by the mummy Khufu. | |||
2 | "Realm of Darkness" | September 29, 1979 | |
The powerful demon Dormammu emerges on a Pacific island, threatening to enslave mankind. | |||
3 | "The Amazon Adventure" | October 6, 1979 | |
Stolen gold from Fort Knox leads the Justice Magazine team into the Amazon, where they uncover a plot by the Amazon leader Shanna to take over the world. | |||
4 | "The Ghost Vikings" | October 13, 1979 | |
A "ghost" Viking ship emerges off the coast of Norway. The crew plan to steal the riches of the world, before returning to their own time. Spider-Woman travels back to AD 952 to defeat them. | |||
5 | "The Kingpin Strikes Again" | October 20, 1979 | |
Spider-Woman confronts Kingpin and his henchmen as they rob a bank, but after taking out two of his men, one of Kingpin's minions manages to turn the tables and lock Spider-Woman up, allowing Kingpin to get the loot. Humiliated, Spider-Woman as Jessica Drew tries to get back at the Kingpin by writing up a maligning news article about him. Angered by her recent Justice Magazine article, the Kingpin steals an experimental invisibility ray and seeks revenge on its editor Jessica Drew. However, while invisible, he witnesses her transforming into Spider-Woman, and opts for a blackmail plot instead. | |||
6 | "The Lost Continent" | October 27, 1979 | |
After United States Air Force planes vanish in the Bermuda Triangle, the team from Justice Magazine investigate. They soon find themselves thrown into a hidden dimension, where dinosaurs roam the Earth. | |||
7 | "The Kongo Spider" | November 3, 1979 | |
Guest stars Spider-Man. While covering the filming of a movie, the Justice Magazine team encounter a giant spider (in a plot inspired by King Kong). | |||
8 | "Games of Doom" | November 10, 1979 | |
Athletes in the World Athletic Games in Moscow are being kidnapped and replaced by android doubles. Jessica Drew goes undercover as a long jumper to investigate. | |||
9 | "Shuttle to Disaster" | November 17, 1979 | |
The Justice Magazine team find themselves on a hijacked space shuttle, heading towards the moon, where the villain Steeljaw intends to enslave mankind and put it to work digging for valuable gems. | |||
10 | "Dracula's Revenge" | November 24, 1979 | |
The world's population are threatened with being turned into vampires, werewolves, and Frankenstein's Monsters. Spider-Woman discovers that Dracula is behind this. | |||
11 | "The Spider-Woman and the Fly" | December 1, 1979 | |
Jessica confronts a former research assistant to her father, who has been mutated into a human fly after a lab accident. Deducing her secret identity, he creates a formula which will rob Jessica of her spider powers. | |||
12 | "Invasion of the Black Hole" | December 8, 1979 | |
A UFO attempts to swallow the Earth in a black hole, in readiness for an invasion by aliens from the planet Graviton. | |||
13 | "The Great Magini" | December 15, 1979 | |
Magician "The Great Magini" attempts to steal the world's most famous landmarks. | |||
14 | "A Crime in Time" | December 22, 1979 | |
An experimental time machine unleashes an invasion of Wookiee-like creatures. Jessica is forced to reveal her secret identity to her fellow magazine crew in order to save mankind. | |||
15 | "Return of the Spider-Queen" | December 29, 1979 | |
Spider-Woman is brainwashed by an alien race of human spider creatures, who believe she is their long-lost queen. | |||
16 | "The Deadly Dream" | January 5, 1980 | |
An alien threatens the world with her sleep-inducing powers. |
Cast[]
- Joan Van Ark – Spider-Woman/Jessica Drew
- Bruce Miller – Jeff Hunt
- Bryan Scott – Billy Drew
- Larry Carroll – Detective Miller
- Lou Krugman – Police Chief
- Vic Perrin –
- Tony Young –
- John Milford –
- Paul Soles – Spider-Man
- Ilene Latter –
- Karen Machon –
- Paul Winchell -
- Dick Tufeld – Opening Narrator
- Lennie Weinrib - Closing Narrator
DVD releases[]
In 2008, this series was planned for release on Region 2 DVD in the UK in by Liberation Entertainment as part of a release schedule of Marvel Animated series.[1] However, the release never came to be due to Liberation going bankrupt. The complete series of Spider Woman was finally released on Region 2 DVD format on 20 July 2009. The series is released in a 2-disc set from Clear Vision Ltd. [2]
Notes[]
- ↑ Johnson, Dan (August 2006). "Marvel's Dark Angel: Back Issue Gets Caught in Spider-Woman's Web", Back Issue Magazine Vol. 1, No. 17, pages 57-63. TwoMorrows Publishing.
External links[]
Spider-Woman | ||
---|---|---|
Creators | Archie Goodwin • Marie Severin | |
Characters | Jessica Drew • Julia Carpenter • Mattie Franklin • Veranke | |
Supporting characters | Anya Corazon • Ben Urich • Carol Danvers • Madame Web • Roger Gocking • Scotty McDowell • Shroud • Silk • Spider-Man | |
Enemies | Brothers Grimm • Death Web • Enforcer • Flying Tiger • Hobgoblin • HYDRA • Karl Malus • Gypsy Moth • Morgan le Fay • Needle • Nekra • Turner D. Century • Venom • Viper | |
Alternative versions | Spider-Girl • Spider-Gwen • Spider-MJ • Spider-Woman (Ultimate Marvel character) | |
See also | Spider-Gwen • Spider-Woman 2009 comic series • Spider-Woman TV series |
Animated television series based on Marvel Comics properties | |
---|---|
1960s | The Marvel Super Heroes • Fantastic Four • Spider-Man (episodes) |
1970s | The New Fantastic Four • Fred and Barney Meet the Thing • Spider-Woman |
1980s | Spider-Man • Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (episodes) • The Incredible Hulk • X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men • Solarman |
1990s | X-Men (characters • episodes • releases) • Iron Man (episodes) • Fantastic Four (episodes) • Spider-Man (characters • episodes (Spider-Man: The Venom Saga)) • Ultraforce • The Incredible Hulk • Men in Black: The Series (episodes) • Silver Surfer • Spider-Man Unlimited
(comics) • The Avengers: United They Stand |
2000s | X-Men: Evolution (episodes • characters) • Spider-Man: The New Animated Series • Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes • The Spectacular Spider-Man (episodes • characters) • Wolverine and the X-Men • Iron Man: Armored Adventures (episodes) • The Super Hero Squad Show (episodes) |
2010s | Black Panther • Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers • The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (episodes • characters) • Ultimate Spider-Man (episodes) • Avengers Assemble (episodes) • Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (episodes) • Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (episodes) •Guardians of the Galaxy (episodes) • Rocket & Groot • Marvel Future Avengers • Spider-Man (episodes) • Marvel Super Hero Adventures • Big Hero 6: The Series (episodes) |
Upcoming | M.O.D.O.K. • What If...? |
Series groups | Action Hour • Action Universe • Marvel Anime (episodes) |
Related topics | Marvel Entertainment • Marvel Productions • Marvel Animation • Disney XD • Disney Channel • Saban Entertainment • Spider-Man Animated Series (video game) • List of unproduced television projects based on Marvel Comics |
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises | |
---|---|
Founders | David H. DePatie • Friz Freleng |
Theatrical shorts (original) | The Pink Panther (1964–1980) • The Inspector (1965–1969) • Roland and Rattfink (1968–1971) • The Ant and the Aardvark (1969–1971) • Tijuana Toads (1969–1972) • The Blue Racer (1972–1974) • Hoot Kloot (1973–1974) • The Dogfather (1974–1976) |
Commissioned by Warner Bros. |
Merrie Melodies/Looney Tunes (theatrical, 1964–1967) • Bugs Bunny's Easter Special (CBS/TV special, 1977) • Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales (CBS/TV special, 1979) |
Television shorts | Texas Toads (1976) • Misterjaw (1976) • Crazylegs Crane (1978) |
Television shows | The Super 6 (NBC, 1966–1969) • Super President (NBC, 1967–1968) • Here Comes The Grump (NBC, 1969–1970) • The Pink Panther Show (NBC, 1969–1971) • The Pink Panther Meets The Ant and the Aardvark (NBC, 1970–1971) • Doctor Dolittle (NBC, 1970–1971) • The New Pink Panther Show (NBC, 1971–1976) • The Barkleys (NBC, 1972–1973) • The Houndcats (NBC, 1972–1973) • Bailey's Comets (CBS, 1973–1975) • The Oddball Couple (ABC, 1975–1977) • Return to the Planet of the Apes (NBC, 1975–1976) • The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half-Hour and a Half Show (NBC, 1976–1977) • Baggy Pants and the Nitwits (NBC, 1977–1978) • What's New Mr. Magoo? (CBS, 1977–1979) • Think! Pink Panther (NBC, 1978) • The All New Pink Panther Show (ABC, 1978–1979) • The Fantastic Four (NBC, 1978–1979) • Spider-Woman (ABC, 1979–1980) |
Television specials | The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas (NBC/TV special, 1973) • My Mom's Having a Baby (ABC/TV special, 1977) • Where Do Teenagers Come From? (ABC/TV special, 1980) |
Dr. Seuss Television specials |
The Cat in the Hat (CBS/TV special, 1971) • The Lorax (CBS/TV special, 1972) • Dr. Seuss on the Loose (CBS/TV special, 1973) • The Hoober-Bloob Highway (CBS/TV special, 1975) • Halloween Is Grinch Night (ABC/TV special, 1977) • Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? (ABC/TV special, 1980) • The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (ABC/TV special, 1982) |
See also | Marvel Productions Ltd. • Saban Entertainment • Here Comes the Grump (film) |
Marvel Action Universe | ||
---|---|---|
First-run series | Dino-Riders • RoboCop • X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (pilot) | |
Rebroadcasts | Defenders of the Earth • Dungeons & Dragons • The New Fantastic Four • The Incredible Hulk (1982 TV series) • Spider-Man (1981 TV series) • Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends • Spider-Woman | |
Production companies | Marvel Productions • New World Entertainment • Orion Television • Sunbow Productions • Claster Television | |
Related topics | The Marvel Action Hour |
Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1970s | ||
---|---|---|
First-run animated series |
Rocky and Friends (1957-73) • The New Casper Cartoon Show (1963–70) • The Smokey the Bear Show (1969–70) • The Cattanooga Cats Show (1969–71) • Hot Wheels (1969–71) • Skyhawks (1969–71) • The Adventures of Gulliver (1968–70) • Fantastic Voyage (1968–70) • Will the Real Jerry Lewis Please Sit Down (1970–72) • The Road Runner Show (1971–73) • The Funky Phantom (1971–73) • The Jackson 5ive (1971–73) • The Osmonds (1972–74) • The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (1972–74) • The Brady Kids (1972–74) • Kid Power (1972–74) • Yogi's Gang (1973–75) • Super Friends (1973–74) • Lassie's Rescue Rangers (1973–75) • Goober and the Ghost Chasers (1973–75) • Mission: Magic! (1973–74) • Hong Kong Phooey (1974–75) • The New Adventures of Gilligan (1974–77) • Devlin (1974–76) • These Are the Days (1974–76) • The Tom and Jerry Show (1975–77) • The Great Grape Ape Show (1975–76) • The Oddball Couple (1975–77) • Jabberjaw (1976–78) • The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour (1976–77) • The Mumbly Cartoon Show (1976–77) • The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977–78) • Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics (The Scooby-Doo Show) • Laff-A-Lympics • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels) (1977–79) • Fangface (1978–79) • Challenge of the Super Friends (1978–79) • The All-New Pink Panther Show (1978–79) • The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979–80) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (Mighty Man and Yukk) • Rickety Rocket) (1979–81) • Spider-Woman (1979–80) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979–80) | |
First-run live-action series |
American Bandstand (1957–87) • Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp (1970–72) • Here Come the Double Deckers (1970–72) • Lidsville (1971–73) • Curiosity Shop (1971–73) • Make a Wish (1971–76) • Korg: 70,000 B.C. (1974–75) • The Lost Saucer (1975–76) • Uncle Croc's Block (1975–76) • The Krofft Supershow (1976–78) • Bigfoot and Wildboy (Dr. Shrinker • Electra Woman and Dyna Girl • Magic Mongo • Wonderbug) • Junior Almost Anything Goes (1976–78) • Animals, Animals, Animals (1976–81) • ABC Weekend Special (1977–97) • Kids Are People Too (1978–82) | |
Rebroadcasts | George of the Jungle (1967–70) • Bewitched (1972–73) • Jonny Quest (1970–72) • H.R. Pufnstuf (1972–73) • The Monkees (1972–73) • The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1972) • The Roman Holidays (1972) • Speed Buggy (1976) • Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1978) • The Bugs Bunny Show (1973–75) | |
Schedules | ||
Related topics | Animation in the United States in the television era |
Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1980s | ||
---|---|---|
First-run animated series |
The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979–80) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (Mighty Man and Yukk) • Fangface • Rickety Rocket) (1979–80) • Spider-Woman (1979–80) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (1979–80) • Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels (1977–80) • Super Friends (1980-82) • The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang (1980–82) • Richie Rich (1980–84) • Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (shorts) (1980–82) • Thundarr the Barbarian (1980–82) • The Heathcliff and Dingbat Show (1980–82) • Laverne & Shirley in the Army (1981–82) • Goldie Gold and Action Jack (1981–82) • Pac-Man (1982–84) • The Little Rascals (1982–84) • Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour (1982–83) • The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour (1982–83) • The Puppy's Further Adventures (1982–84) • Monchhichis (1983–84) • Rubik, the Amazing Cube (1983–84) • The Littles (1983–86) • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984–85) • Mighty Orbots (1984–85) • Turbo Teen (1984–85) • Dragon's Lair (1984–85) • Wolf Rock TV (1984-85) • The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show/The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries (1983–85) • Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–90) • Ewoks (1985–87) • Droids (1985–86) • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985–86) • The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985) • Pound Puppies (1986–88) • The Care Bears Family (1986–88) • The Flintstone Kids (1986–88, 1989) • The Real Ghostbusters (1986–91) • My Pet Monster (1987–88) • Little Clowns of Happytown (1987-88) • Little Wizards (1987-88) • The New Adventures of Beany and Cecil (1988) • The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–1991) • A Pup Named Scooby-Doo (1988–91) • Beetlejuice (1989–92) | |
First-run live-action series |
ABC Weekend Special (1977–97) • American Bandstand (1957–87) • Animals, Animals, Animals (1976–81) • Kids Are People Too (1978–82) • Menudo on ABC (1983–85) • ABC Funfit (1985) • ABC Fun Facts (1988) | |
Rebroadcasts | The Best of Scooby-Doo (1983–84) • The Bugs Bunny Show (1985–2000) • Scary Scooby Funnies (1984–85) • Scooby's Mystery Funhouse (1985–86) • Pink Panther and Sons (1986) • The Wuzzles (1986–87) | |
Related | Animation in the United States in the television era • Modern animation in the United States |