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| Spider-Man Unlimited | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | |
| Developed by | |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | Patrick Archibald |
| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer |
|
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Avi Arad Eric S. Rollman |
| Producer | Will Meugniot |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox (Fox Kids) |
| Release | October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02) – March 31, 2001 (2001-03-31) |
Spider-Man Unlimited is ananimated television series produced bySaban Entertainment[4] which features theMarvel comic booksuperheroSpider-Man and serves as a follow-up toSpider-Man: The Animated Series.Unlimited premiered in 1999, and though it had fair ratings, it was overshadowed byPokémon and the newly debutedDigimon, and canceled after airing only a few episodes.[5]Fox Kids later resumed airing the show from 1999 to 2001, airing 13 episodes, the last ending on acliffhanger.[6]
The specific incarnation of Spider-Man who serves as the focus ofSpider-Man Unlimited made a return in the 2023 feature filmSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, depicted as a member ofMiguel O'Hara's Spider-Society.[7]
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Initially, the goal was to do a low-budget adaptation of the first 26 issues ofThe Amazing Spider-Man comic book, butSony andMarvel Studios had already engaged in a deal to producetheSpider-Man film, and soSaban Entertainment was cut from any source and could not use the traditional Spider-Man suit or adapt the early comics. Also, in the original idea, Spider-Man was stranded in a Counter-Earth in whichBen Parker did not die and thus Peter Parker lacked the moral fortitude to resist becomingVenom. However,Marvel Comics did not like the idea and stated that they would not do a story with two Peter Parkers.[8] Additionally, the show was made after Marvel decided not to move ahead with a show focusing onSpider-Man 2099 following consideration due to theDC Comics seriesBatman Beyond premiering earlier that year and having a similar futuristic setting.[9]
Unlike the previous series which useddigital ink and paint, the animation on the series was made usingtraditional cel animation. The characters' designers, including Spider-Man's new outfit, were done byShannon Denton and Roy Burdine.[10] The show's music was handled by Saban Entertainment, and credited toShuki Levy andHaim Saban (under his composing alias Kussa Mahchi).[11] The music forSpider-Man: The Animated Series was also handled by Saban Entertainment and credited to Shuki Levy and Kussa Mahchi, although Saban were less involved with that show than they were withSpider-Man Unlimited.[12]
"One Is the Loneliest Number" was produced as, and supposed to be, episode 10, but it was packaged as the 11th by Fox Kids' decision, thus creatingcontinuity errors with Spider-Man referring to his battle with Venom at the middle of "Family Matters" while this battle was delayed by an episode and with theHigh Evolutionary referring to Spider-Man's interference with his attempts to control theSymbiotes near the end of "Family Matters", which also happens in "One Is the Loneliest Number" and is yet to be shown to the audience.
Several scripts were written for Season 2, including the conclusion of the cliffhanger, but were never produced.
Spider-Man Unlimited received mixed to moderately positive reviews from critics and audiences. OnRotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds a 50% Tomatometer score based on critic reviews, reflecting a range of opinions.[13]
Common Sense Media noted that the series explored more mature themes than typical children’s cartoons, such asracial purity,totalitarianism, and conflict between species, making it better suited for older children and tweens.[14]
Retrospective reviews have praised the show for its ambitious sci‑fi setting and unique take onSpider-Man, but critics also pointed out weaknesses in writing, pacing, and unresolved storylines, largely due to its cancellation after a single 13-episode season.[15]
User scores onMetacritic indicate a small but dedicated fanbase, suggesting that while the show was not widely popular during its original run, it developed a modest cult following over time.[16]
While covering the launch ofJohn Jameson's one-man mission toCounter-Earth (another Earth located on the far side of the Sun), Spider-Man attempts to stop his twosymbiote adversariesVenom andCarnage from boarding the shuttlecraft. Blamed for losing contact with Jameson byJ. Jonah Jameson of theDaily Bugle, Spider-Man becomes a target of persecution by the media and the public at large, with a bounty placed on his head. After John Jameson sends out a distress signal, Spider-Man borrowsnanotechnology fromReed Richards to design a new suit that incorporates built in upgraded webshooters and spider-tracers,stealth technology and anti-symbiotesonic weaponry. Making his way to Counter-Earth after persuading an attackingNick Fury to let him rescue Jameson, Spider-Man learns that Jameson has fallen in with a band offreedom fighters opposed to theHigh Evolutionary whoseBestials, hybrids of animal and humanoid attributes, are the dominant species whilst humans are the second-class minority.
With Jameson reluctant to return until all of the Bestials are defeated, Spider-Man elects to remain on Counter-Earth, blending in as best as he can as Peter Parker, taking up residence in the apartment of a doctor, Naoko Yamada-Jones and her son Shane and fighting the High Evolutionary, his Knights of Wundagore, and hisMachine Men alongside the rebels as Spider-Man. It is soon discovered that Venom and Carnage are also on Counter-Earth, and are following orders from the Synoptic, a hive-minded legion of Counter-Earth symbiotes.
This series also shows the animated version of John Jameson's Man-Wolf form, superhero versions of mainstream villainsGreen Goblin andVulture, and Counter-Earth's counterparts ofKraven the Hunter andElectro.
The following list reflects the correct viewing order of theSpider-Man Unlimited episodes.
| No. | Title | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Worlds Apart Part One" | Story by :Michael Reaves,Will Meugniot Teleplay by : Michael Reaves | October 2, 1999 (1999-10-02)[18] | |
WhenSpider-Man spots his two main enemiesVenom andCarnage, hijacking onJohn Jameson's spaceship on a trip to the mysterious planet Counter-Earth, he fails to stop them and the two symbiote villains go with Jameson to Counter-Earth where the ship crashes and Jameson presumably dies.J. Jonah Jameson and public then blames Spider-Man for Jameson's seeming death. Spider-Man fakes his own death and lies low for half a year until he gets a new nano-tech costume from Reed Richards. He then hijacks a shuttle, broadcasting that he's going to save John Jameson with Peter Parker tagging along to help clear his name, and gets another ride to Counter-Earth following a distress signal making it to Earth. He has an encounter with the Machine Men and the Knights of Wundagore who managed to capture him. | ||||
| 2 | "Worlds Apart Part Two" | Story by : Michael Reaves, Will Meugniot Teleplay by : Michael Reaves | October 9, 1999 (1999-10-09)[19] | |
After escaping from the Knights of Wundagore before he can be experimented on, Spider-Man finds out that John Jameson survived the crash. He has become a member of a rebellion fighting against the forces of the High Evolutionary, a figurehead who hates humans and creates animal-mutant hybrids called the Bestials. Spider-Man then joins the group and moves in with a single mother named Dr. Naoko Yamada-Jones and her son Shane Jones. | ||||
| 3 | "Where Evil Nests" | Story by :Brynne Chandler Reaves, Will Meuginot Teleplay by : Brynne Chandler Reaves | October 16, 1999 (1999-10-16)[20] | |
While Peter tries to get a job at the local paper, the Daily Byte, Spider-Man meets the Counter-Earth version of theGreen Goblin, a hero who mistakes Spider-Man for a villain. Spider-Man realizes the kidnapper of Dr. Naoko Yamada-Jones is not the Goblin. The two team up to save her and stop a plan by her kidnappers responsible for the green Bio-Mass: Venom and Carnage. | ||||
| 4 | "Deadly Choices" | Story by : Michael Reaves, Will Meugniot Teleplay by :Steve Perry | December 23, 2000 (2000-12-23)[21] | |
A member of the rebellion against High Evolutionary named Git Hoskins steals a device from Sir Ram's lab, unaware it has a bomb inside which triggered after leaving the lab, threatening to blow up the Counter-Earth New York. The rebellion and the Bestials are forced to team up to get it back before both humans and Bestials are killed by the contagious compound within the bomb as Spider-Man learns Git's history that involved Sir Ram. | ||||
| 5 | "Steel Cold Heart" | Story by :Roger Slifer, Will Meuginot Teleplay by : Roger Slifer | January 13, 2001 (2001-01-13)[22] | |
AMachine Man namedX-51 (the 51st off the assembly line), refuses to hurt innocent people. So he betrays the High Evolutionary and the Knights and decides to join the rebellion after he was previously saved by Spider-Man. | ||||
| 6 | "Enter the Hunter!" | Story by : Michael Reaves, Roger Slifer Teleplay by :Diane Duane,Peter Morwood | February 3, 2001 (2001-02-03)[23] | |
Sir Ram convinces the High Evolutionary that Spider-Man is too much of a problem and must be dealt with. To do so, Sir Ram hires the human assassin named the Hunter (Counter-Earth's version ofKraven the Hunter) to kill the hero – which becomes problematic when he finds evidence that Peter and Spider-Man are the same. | ||||
| 7 | "Cry Vulture" | Larry Brody Robert Gregory Browne | February 10, 2001 (2001-02-10)[24] | |
Spider-Man teams up with the Counter-Earth hero version of theVulture when they discover Sir Ram has been kidnapping humans off the streets to be experimented on. Worst of all, the duo have to deal with Firedrake, a fire-breathing dragon monster acting as the guardian. | ||||
| 8 | "Ill-Met by Moonlight" | Robert Gregory Browne Larry Brody | February 17, 2001 (2001-02-17)[25] | |
Spider-Man learns from Naoko that John Jameson was experimented on by Sir Ram, turning into Man-Wolf if a special inhibitor chip isn't placed on him. Which becomes a problem when The Resistance enlist Spider-Man into breaking into the High Evolutionary's power plant. Here, he confronts an electric eel that is Counter-Earth's Bestial version ofElectro. | ||||
| 9 | "Sustenance" | Robert Gregory Browne Larry Brody | March 3, 2001 (2001-03-03)[26] | |
Spider-Man jets off to the Counter-Earth Atlantic City on a lead to where the Solaris II is being stored. In doing so, The Goblin returns and figures out that Spider-Man is Peter Parker. They are both then kidnapped by Rejects, failed Bestials created by the High Evolutionary led by thebutterfly-like Prima and also consisting of theplatypus Bestial Alice, thehorse Bestial Lester, and a bunch of unnamed Rejects. They attempt to sneak into one of the High Evolutionary's hideouts in Atlantic City so Spider-Man can escape where he pretends to help the Rejects. | ||||
| 10 | "Matters of the Heart" | Mark Hoffmeier Larry Brody | March 10, 2001 (2001-03-10)[27] | |
After a failed attempted at getting Lord Tyger, Spider-Man is shocked to see Bromley, a member of the rebellion, doing the Beastials a favor in helping capture Spider-Man. As it turns out, Bromley was promised to be reunited with his long-lost brother Durwood. Now, the two not only have to find Gabriel, but they have to escape Castle Wundagore, and the wrath of the High Evolutionary in person. | ||||
| 11 | "One Is the Loneliest Number" | Robert Gregory Browne Larry Brody | March 17, 2001 (2001-03-17)[28] | |
Eddie Brock is separated from the Venom symbiote by the Bestials so that it can be used in the experiment of theTexas horned lizard scientist Dr. Borowski. Spider-Man reluctantly agrees to retrieve it by donning it and then give it back to Brock before he dies while contending with Carnage. | ||||
| 12 | "Sins of the Fathers" | Robert Gregory Browne Larry Brody | March 24, 2001 (2001-03-24)[29] | |
Karen O'Malley, a member of the rebellion against the High Evolutionary, is kidnapped by Machine Men of the Evolutionary, so Spider-Man and X-51 teams up to save her. Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary realizes that Karen is his granddaughter. | ||||
| 13 | "Destiny Unleashed" | Robert Gregory Browne Larry Brody | March 31, 2001 (2001-03-31)[30] | |
Venom and Carnage reveal why they are on Counter-Earth. They have been working for the Synoptic, whose plan is to team up with the High Evolutionary. When the time is right, they will unleash millions of symbiotes on the planet to finally take over all of all life once and for all. Spider-Man, John Jameson, the rebellion, X-51 and the Goblin all team up to put an end to the High Evolutionary's plans. They appear too late when the plans of Venom and Carnage unfold and the symbiotes are unleashed, ending the series on a cliffhanger. | ||||
In Australia, the series aired onNetwork Ten'sCheez TV morning cartoon block in August 2001. It ran again on Cheez TV in June–July 2002.[31]
As with the majority of the other Disney-acquired Marvel Comics animated series, Liberation Entertainment UK planned to release this on DVD in 2009. Due to Liberation's bankruptcy, the Marvel licenses were re-acquired by Clear Vision Ltd, who released it on DVD (in Region 2 PAL format) in a two-disk set containing all 13 episodes. It was released on the May 3, 2010. Marvel.com had uploaded all of the series – sponsored byPanasonic – to their website in late 2009; each week another episode was uploaded. All 13 episodes are available onAmazon.com.
In 2019, Disney released all 13 episodes onDisney+ for streaming.
Alongside the animated series, Marvel Comics commissioned a comic to tie in with the series. It would be the second volume ofSpider-Man Unlimited as a whole from the company, but the only one of theUnlimited volumes to be based on it. The first two issues were adapted from the first three episodes of the series, with the last three providing their own storyline in which Counter-Earth served as an alternate reality to Earth, rather than its own planet, with all of theFantastic Four exist with the same human appearance and names but with other biographies. Reed Richards appears in one issue as The Brute, the Counter-Earth iteration of the Hulk.
In the final issue, Spider-Man meets an escapee from Haven, a Bestial version ofWolverine. After fighting, the two team up and take down a BestialChameleon. It is hinted that Wolverine is really Naoko Jones' missing husband (although the cartoon hints that the Goblin is really Naoko's husband). The question was never resolved as poor sales ended the comic's run.
The series was somewhat referred to in theWebspinners: Tales of Spider-Man issues #13 and 14 from February and March 2000, where the Peter Parker ofEarth-616 is teleported into another dimension ruled byBlastaar while chasing Carnage (who himself was running away from the NYC police) and finds himself in the costume Spider-Man wore in this TV show. He joins forces withDusk and remains in this suit until he defeats both villains and is transported back to his homeworld with the knocked-out Carnage.
A copy of the series' universe, labeled Earth-7831, is massacred byMorlun's brotherDaemos during the events ofSpider-Verse.[32] Another version of Spider-Man wearing this costume is seen alive and assisting other Spiders in the climax of Spider-Geddon.[33]
The Peter Parker / Spider-Man fromSpider-Man Unlimited appears in the animated feature filmSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), depicted as a member ofMiguel O'Hara's Spider-Society.[7] He is revealed to have survived the cliffhanger ending of the series while the events after it however still remain unknown. An image of Eddie Brock turning into Venom from the episode "One Is the Loneliest Number" was used in the film.
TheUnlimited suit appears as an unlockable costume for Spider-Man inNeversoft'sSpider-Man video game and its 2001 sequel,Spider-Man 2: Enter: Electro.
In 2025,Hasbro'sMarvel Legends line released an action figure of this show's incarnation of Spider-Man.
Spider-Man Unlimited; Director(s): Patrick Archibald; Co-producing countries: US,CA; Production year: 1999
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