The Spectacular Spider-Man (TV series)

The Spectacular Spider-Man is an American superhero animated television series based on the superhero Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics and developed for television by Greg Weisman and Victor Cook. In terms of overall tone and style, the series is based principally on the Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr. era of The Amazing Spider-Man comics, with a similar balance of action, drama and comedy as well as a high school setting. However, it also tends to blend material from all eras of the comic's run and other sources such as the Ultimate Spider-Man comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series.
The Spectacular Spider-Man premiered on March 8, 2008, during the Kids' WB programming block of The CW. The series aired its second season on Marvel's sister network Disney XD in the United States and ended its run on November 18, 2009. The entire series was broadcast in Canada on Teletoon. Although a third season was initially planned, the series was canceled before production could begin due to legal problems between Disney (who purchased Marvel during the show's run) and Sony Pictures Television, who had relinquished to Marvel, the rights to produce any further television content under 45 minutes using Spider-Man and associated characters ahead of their acquisition, while retaining all production and distribution rights to the series.
The series received widespread acclaim from both critics and fans, with praise being aimed at the exploration of surprisingly mature themes, the faithful portrayal of the titular protagonist and supporting characters along with the vocal performances from the cast, the unique character designs and art style, and the use of clever writing while paying homage to classic stories from the comics. IGN named The Spectacular Spider-Man #30th in the Top 100 Best Animated TV Shows in January 2009. The series was also awarded Best Animated Series in both 2008 and 2009 with the series' version of the main character being named TV's Best Hero in 2008. Subsequently, it was placed second in the Top 25 Comic Book TV Shows in 2011 (behind Batman: The Animated Series). TV Guide listed the series as one of the sixty greatest animated series of all time.
Category:TV Shows