Spider-Woman (TV series)
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 from September 22, 1979 to January 5, 1980 on ABC. It was 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. 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: Home media. In 1982, a 100 minute "Spider-Woman" VHS tape was released, containing several episodes. Three episodes of "Spider-Woman" were originally released as part of the Marvel Comics Video Library VHS series in the mid 1980s. Volumes 6, 13, and 23 contain the "Spider-Woman" episodes "The Spider-Woman and the Fly", "Games of  Doom" and "Pyramids of Terror", respectively. Volume 6 was re-released in 1991, minus the bonus "Spider-Man" episodes. In 2008, volume 6 was released on DVD as "Spider-Woman vs. the Fly". 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. 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 was released in a 2-disc  set from Clear Vision Ltd. "Spider-Woman" was made available on the Disney+ streaming service at its U.S. launch on November 12, 2019.