Anna Daniels
Considering that Spider-Man has been Marvel’s flagship character since he debuted in the ’60s, it’s probably not surprising that his show managed to outlast the Iron Man, Fantastic Four, and even the X-Men cartoons. In its last season, though, Spider-Man managed to give that animated universe a pretty amazing send-off in the form of its three-part “Secret Wars” saga.
Loosely based on the 1984 comic book of the same name, “Secret Wars” saw Spider-Man as the subject of an almost Job-like wager between Madame Web, a spider-themed psychic weirdo who wouldn’t stop meddling in Peter’s life, and an omnipotent being called the Beyonder. In order to determine whether good or evil was stronger, they abducted Spider-Man and dropped him onto a strange planet to battle a bunch of supervillains. With a roster of opponents that included Dr. Octopus, Dr. Doom, the Red Skull, Alistair Smythe, and noted boy-eater Curt Connors, aka the Lizard, Spider-Man had to form a team of his own. To that end, he chose Iron Man, Captain America, Storm, and the Fantastic Four, because, as he pondered out loud while making is decision, “Who’s fought that Doctor Doom guy before?”
Looking back from a time when everyone in the world has seen a fight scene between 40 superheroes and an army of monsters led by Thanos, and where formerly obscure characters like Squirrel Girl have been featured in starring roles on cartoons, ‘Secret Wars” probably seems quaint. Back in the day, though, getting to see all of your faves — well, most of your faves, Wolverine must’ve been busy in another crossover that week — was mind-blowing, and for all its goofy dialogue, it still has its charm. If you’re going to watch one piece of Spider-Man and want to see something that captures all the thrills and excitement that made the show a hit — and also features Spider-Man carrying Captain America around like a li’l baby — “Secret Wars” is the thing to watch.
Written by: Looper
