For a generation of superhero fans, the 1990’s Spider-Man animated series set the standard for the web-swinging wonder. There was a push for a revival, even before the success of the X-Men ’97 animated series. Spider-Man ’94 spins a story in a similar vein, which picks up where the original cartoon left off. However, despite this premiere resolving several storylines and cliffhangers the show left open, Peter Parker‘s problems are far from over.
The story opens with Peter and Mary Jane Watson returning to their proper place in time and space. The cartoon famously ended with Peter and Madame Web going into the timestream in search of MJ, who fell through a portal into parts unknown. The excitement of their homecoming leads Mary Jane to propose to Peter, not knowing that he married her clone in her absence. As far as all their family and friends are concerned, they are already married!
While MJ is able to roll with the punches and play the excited newlywed, it still bothers her that she got everything she wanted without experiencing it. Peter is also disturbed, having seen the clone MJ die and being fearful that the woman he loves may turn out to be another clone. Ironically, Peter is right to be concerned, for his problems with clones are just beginning. However, it is a clone of Spider-Man himself who is about to make Peter’s life more difficult. This picks up on another cliffhanger from the final season of the animated series, with scientist Miles Warren (who created the Mary Jane clone) considering how to clone Spidey.
Spider-Man ’94 perfectly captures tone and look of classic cartoon
When Spider-Man ’94 was first announced, it inspired controversy due to the absence of showrunner John Semper. However, Semper, while wishing he’d been consulted, was quick to applaud the series being written by J.M. DeMatteis. Beyond being a veteran animation writer (and having worked on the 90s Spider-Man animated series), DeMatteis is also one of the most popular Spider-Man comic writers ever.
Unsurprisingly, DeMatteis perfectly captures the voices of Peter and MJ. He throws in a couple of Easter eggs to his own comic stories and the direction the Spider-Man comics took immediately after the animated series. Chief among these are a reference to Peter considering a career in teaching and the appearance of the villain Morlun.
The artwork, unfortunately, is not quite so finely tuned. Artist Jim Towe sticks closely to the classic character designs, like Spidey himself clinging to a wall. Unfortunately, there are many instances where the characters go off-model and the faces just look weird.
Ultimately, Spider-Man ’94 #1 gets far more right than it does wrong. Despite the incongruities in the artwork, the story is a perfect continuation of the classic cartoon’s cliffhangers. This series should prove a welcome slice of nostalgia for fans of the animated series.
Grade: 7/10
Spider-Man ’94 #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
