Spider-Man: The Animated Series aged poorly, but because Marvel has redefined its storytelling and characters.

Premiering in 1994, Spider-Man: TAS was a landmark animated series that introduced many audiences to the wall-crawler’s greatest adventures. With its serialized storytelling, deep character arcs, and adherence to comic book lore, it set a high bar for superhero animation. In the decades since, Marvel has become a multimedia giant, redefining characters and storylines in ways that make aspects of Spider-Man: TAS feel different when viewed today.

10 Spider-Man: TAS No Longer Has The Worst Morbius

Morbius Was Subject To Strict Censorship in Spider-Man: TAS

When Morbius appeared in Spider-Man: TAS, he was one of the most dramatically altered characters due to censorship. The series avoided references to blood, which led to Morbius feeding on "plasma" through suction cups in his hands rather than fangs. This made him a bizarre, less-threatening version of the Living Vampire, and the depiction has been frequently ridiculed since. For years, this was considered the worst depiction of Morbius.

However, the 2022 Morbius movie starring Jared Leto changed that perception. The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with critics and audiences lambasting its disted story and uninspired performances. Ironically, Spider-Man: TAS Morbius, despite his odd plasma obsession, at least had a compelling arc and connection to Peter Parker’s world. In retrospect, the show’s version is now seen as campy but endearing, rather than the absolute low point for the character.

9 Venom Is Now Considered More Of An Antihero

Venom Was One Of The Primary Antagonists In Spider-Man: TAS

In Spider-Man: TAS, Venom (Eddie Brock) is one of Peter Parker’s most fearsome enemies, serving as one of the show's most memorable villains. The symbiote storyline played out in a chilling manner, with Brock's transformation into Venom being driven by pure hatred for Peter. In the '90s, Venom was primarily a villain, only later developing more antiheroic tendencies in the comics.

Fast-forward to today, and Venom is firmly entrenched as an antihero in Marvel media. The Tom Hardy-led Venom movies portray Eddie as a flawed but ultimately goodhearted protagonist, and in the comics, Venom has had multiple heroic arcs, even becoming a full-fledged protector of Earth. This stands in stark contrast to the Spider-Man: TAS version, who was defined by his vengeance and unrelenting grudge. Watching the show today, Venom’s portrayal feels like a throwback to a time when he was far less nuanced.

8 The Infamous Spider-Man: TAS Cliffhanger Has Been Resolved

Spider-Man: TAS Ended With Spider-Man On A Mission To Save MJ

One of the most frustrating unresolved plot lines in superhero animation is the cliffhanger ending of Spider-Man: The Animated Series. The show’s final episode saw Peter Parker teaming up with Madame Web to find the real Mary Jane Watson, who had been lost in a time vortex since season 3. Audiences were left hanging, with no official resolution to this storyline.

Decades later, Marvel’s revival of X-Men: The Animated Series, X-Men ’97, featured a brief but significant cameo that depicted Spider-Man and Mary Jane reunited, implying that Peter successfully rescued her. While it wasn’t a full-scale resolution, it was enough to provide closure to audiences who had been wondering for decades. This confirmation recontextualizes the contentious Spider-Man: TAS finale, turning it from a frustratingly ambiguous cliffhanger into a completed story arc, albeit one resolved outside its original show.

7 The Spider-Verse Has Been Established

Spider-Man: TAS Featured The Spider-Verse Long Before Sony Or The MCU

One of the most exciting moments in Spider-Man: TAS was the introduction of the multiverse in the final season. The series finale featured multiple Spider-Men from alternate realities teaming up, a concept that was relatively novel for mainstream audiences at the time. While this was a thrilling twist, it was more of a fun one-off adventure rather than a fully developed concept.

Today, the Spider-Verse is one of the most important elements of Spider-Man’s mythology, thanks to the success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, its sequel Across the Spider-Verse, and the multiversal crossover in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Modern audiences are now fully accustomed to the idea of multiple Spider-Men coexisting, making the multiversal elements of Spider-Man: TAS feel like a thrilling early prototype for what would eventually become a major pillar of the franchise.

6 The Lack Of Gwen Stacy Feels Conspicuous

Gwen Stacy Only Appears In One Spider-Man: TAS Episode

Gwen Stacy is one of the most important characters in Spider-Man’s comic book mythology, yet in Spider-Man: TAS, she is almost entirely absent. Her only appearance comes in an alternate universe during the final episode, meaning she never plays a direct role in Peter Parker’s life. Instead, Mary Jane Watson takes on many of the storylines that originally belonged to Gwen in the comics, such as her romantic relationship with Peter and significant danger at the hands of villains.

Most notably, Mary Jane took Gwen’s role in the infamous “The Death of Gwen Stacy” storyline, in which Geren Goblin throws Gwen to her death – which was changed to MJ being lost in a different dimension. In modern adaptations, including The Amazing Spider-Man movies and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Gwen is a major presence, making her near-absence in Spider-Man: TAS stand out more today than it did in the '90s.

5 Mysterio's Reputation Has Changed Significantly

Mysterio Has Become A More Famous Villain Since Spider-Man: TAS

Mysterio was long considered a second-tier villain in Spider-Man’s rogues' gallery, often overshadowed by more prominent foes like Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. However, Spider-Man: TAS gave him a fairly substantial role, elevating him beyond the typical illusionist gimmick. His presence in the series was impactful, and his later prominence in Spider-Man video games elevated him to a much larger threat.

Indeed, it wasn’t until Spider-Man: Far From Home that Mysterio became an A-list threat in live-action. The film reimagined him as a tech-savvy mastermind capable of deceiving the entire world, making him a pivotal antagonist in the MCU. Compared to his modern portrayal, Mysterio’s role in Spider-Man: TAS feels like a prelude to the larger role he would one day play in the franchise. Watching Spider-Man: TAS today, Mysterio was fittingly formidable, despite not enjoying such a legacy in the comics yet.

4 Spider-Man Being More Of A Lone Hero Stands Out

Spider-Man: TAS Highlighted Spider-Man’s Isolation

In Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Peter Parker primarily operates alone. While he does work with characters like Daredevil, Blade, and the X-Men, these collaborations are usually brief and serve individual episodes rather than forming lasting partnerships. This version of Spider-Man is very much a street-level hero who solves his own problems and fights his own battles, reinforcing his independence. Nothing represents this better than Spider-Man’s repeated heart-to-hearts with an inanimate gargoyle.

By contrast, the modern interpretations of Spider-Man, particularly in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, depict him as a hero who frequently works with and relies on others. Whether it’s Iron Man mentoring him, teaming up with Doctor Strange, or working alongside the other Spider-Men in No Way Home, contemporary Peter Parker is rarely alone. This makes the isolated nature of Spider-Man: TAS stand out today, as it represents a time before Spider-Man was deeply integrated into larger superhero teams and universes.

3 Peter Parker Is Far More Independent In Spider-Man: TAS

Spider-Man has No Official Mentor In Spider-Man: TAS

One of the most defining aspects of Spider-Man: TAS is that Peter Parker operates without any real mentorship or oversight. Unlike the MCU version, which has Tony Stark as a mentor figure guiding him through superhero life, the '90s animated Peter is fully self-reliant. He develops his own webbing, solves his own problems, and doesn’t have a wealthy benefactor providing him with advanced suits or technology.

The only exception to this is Madam Web. However, more than a sage advisor, Madam Web was frequently unhelpful and Spider-Man left her tutelage. In more recent Spider-Man portrayals, there’s often an authority figure influencing Peter’s actions, whether it’s Stark, Nick Fury, or even Norman Osborn in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. This shift makes the Spider-Man: TAS version feel notably different, as he exists in a world where he truly has to figure things out on his own.

2 Green Goblin Isn't The Primary Adversary In Spider-Man: TAS

Venom Served As A More Prominent Primary Villain In Spider-Man: TAS

In most Spider-Man adaptations, Norman Osborn’s Green Goblin is portrayed as Peter Parker’s ultimate nemesis, often representing the peak of his rogues’ gallery. However, in Spider-Man: TAS, the Goblin takes a backseat to other villains, particularly Venom. While Norman and the Goblin persona do play a significant role in the show’s later seasons, they are not nearly as central as they are in modern Spider-Man stories, and were even introduced after Hobgoblin.

Instead, Eddie Brock’s transformation into Venom serves as one of the most personal and recurring antagonistic threats to Peter. In contrast, modern Spider-Man media, particularly the Spider-Man: No Way Home film and Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 game, reaffirm Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin as the ultimate Spider-Man villain. This makes Spider-Man: TAS feel distinct, as it is one of the rare portrayals where Green Goblin isn’t the primary, defining adversary.

1 The Lack Of Stark Tech And The Avengers Stands Out

Iron Man Only Appears In 4 Spider-Man: TAS Episodes

In today’s Marvel landscape, it’s almost impossible to imagine Spider-Man (or any Marvel property) without the influence of Stark technology and the broader superhero community. The MCU version of Peter Parker receives multiple suits and gadgets from Tony Stark, while Insomniac’s Spider-Man games incorporate heavy Avengers references. However, in Spider-Man: TAS, these elements are largely absent.

Aside from a brief appearance by Iron Man in just four episodes, the Avengers and their technology are not a major part of Peter Parker’s world. Instead, Peter Parker makes all of his own gadgets and suits, including his webbing. This is closer to Spidey’s origins in the comics, but feels incongruous with contemporary Spider-Man media. Spider-Man: The Animated Series represents a version of the character where he is far more self-reliant, making it feel distinct from modern portrayals.

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