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Spider-Man - The '67 Collection
Review and Scans by Amazing Spidey
Several of these episodes were
included as bonus features on the Spider-Man: The Animated Series DVDs. As they
have now received their own DVD, we decided to review the set.
 Here
they are -- all 52 episodes of Spider-Man's original 1967 classic television
series, now completely restored in full color and bursting with spectacular
Spidey action! Experience every amazing moment of Spider-Man's first appearance
on TV in the animated series that electrified Saturday morning audiences from
1967-1970. Featuring the Web-Slinger's greatest foes, including Dr. Octopus, The
Green Goblin, Mysterio, The Rhino, Dr. Magneto, and so many more.
Release Information:
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video
DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004
Edition Details:
• Region 1
• Color
• Number of discs: 6
• Written Introduction by Stan Lee
Review: First airing on ABC Television in 1967, Spider-Man has gone on to
become a cult favorite, best known for its cheap animation, hammy voices, and of
course, its outstanding theme song.
After releasing a few episodes as bonus features on other Spider-Man related
DVDs, Disney has decided to release all 52 episodes of the classic series in one
gigantic box set.
As the series has been on and off TV screens for a while now, it’s possible that
some of you have yet to see a single episode. This cartoon is perhaps one of the
strangest I’ve ever seen. As a big Spider-Man fan, I should hate it.
The show constantly reuses animation, so much that it seems like a clip show. It
constantly calls the villains I grew up loving by the wrong name. However, it
does it all with such a charm, it’s hard not to smile whilst watching it.
The central characters are all likeable; they each have their own charm. The
series focuses on Photo Journalist Peter Parker and his superhero alter ego
Spider-Man. Most of the episodes involve him taking pictures for J. Jonah
Jameson, and his long suffering secretary Betty Brant, much like the old Stan
Lee/Ditko comic books of the same time.
 So why is it that this series is so fondly remembered? There has to be more to
it than the theme song. After seeing the episodes, it’s pretty simple to
understand. The stories are simplistic, designed for all to enjoy. This is very
much a pre-Batman: The Animated Series cartoon, there’s very little depth, but
it’s not needed here.
Highlights include “Farewell Performance,” in which Blackwell The Magician
prevents J. Jonah Jameson from tearing down an old theatre, “Kingpinned,” in
which Spider-Man must stop The Kingpin from blowing up The Daily Bugle, and “To
Catch A Spider,” in which four of Spider-Man’s greatest enemies, The Green
Goblin, Electro, Vultureman (Grrrrr!), and Dr. Noah Body (An invisible man!)
team up to kill him.
And what of the DVD? What makes it all so special every episode should be
released, to the chagrin of fans wallets? Every episode has been digitally
remastered, and Disney did one of the finest jobs I’ve ever seen. The picture is
so bright and colorful; it’s hard not to be impressed. There’s no special
feature on the disc, but with the sheer amount of episodes, and beauty of the
picture, it wasn’t really to be expected.
With Spider-Man being my favorite superhero, I knew I was going to pick this up
the day it was announced. The rest of you who aren’t Spider-Man fans are bound
to find something you enjoy here. There’s the odd silly episode here and there,
but the series charm pulls through. The crummy animation, the brilliant music,
and the picture quality make this a worthy purchase for animation fans.
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