Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends

Debuting on September 12th 1981, this cartoon saw Spider-Man teamed up with Iceman (better known in the comics as one of the X-Men) and Firestar (who would later be added to Marvel Comics, first as one of the Hellions, and later as a founding member of the New Warriors and latterly the Avengers). There were a total of 24 episodes. Compared to the regular Marvel Universe, there were a number of differences, not the least being Spidey's ongoing partnership with two other heroes. Other versions of Spider-Man generally make him much more of a loner. Since Firestar made it into the mainstream Marvel Comics reality, perhaps some of the other characters introduced here might follow suit one day.

There is an excellent site, Spider-Friends, devoted to this cartoon.

New characters

So which mainstream Marvel characters have counterparts in this reality?

Lead characters: Spider-Man; Iceman; Firestar (originated here)

Supporting cast, etc: Aunt May Parker; Uncle Ben Parker; Flash Thompson; J.Jonah Jameson; Karen Page (Daredevil's former girlfriend in comics - only as name seen on movie billboard, which fits with her becoming an actress in the comics);

Fellow heroes:

The X-Men - Professor X; Sprite (later Shadowcat in the comics); Storm; Cyclops; Colossus; Thunderbird (able to take on animal forms such as bears, a power he does not have in the regular Marvel universe - but then he's dead there as well); Marvel Girl; Beast (only seen in pre-furry form); Angel; unnamed other who looks like Cyclops, complete with visor (Morph/Changeling or Mimic? In actuality it was an artist's error, but it isn't difficult to work round it); Wolverine; Storm; Nightcrawler

Independent heroes - Sunfire; Captain America; Shanna the She-Devil; Dr.Strange; Namor the Sub-Mariner; Hulk; Thor; Balder the Brave; Volstagg; The Black Knight; Daredevil; Iron Man; Tony Stark (not confirmed that he is Iron Man in this reality)

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Villains:

Brotherhood of Evil Mutants - Magneto; Blob; Mastermind; Toad

Green Goblin (Norman Osborne - physically transforms into the Goblin rather than just wearing a mask, making him closer to the Ultimate universe Green Goblin than the mainstream Marvel version); Kraven the Hunter; Dr.Doom; Swarm (not Fritz von Meyer); The Chameleon; Electro; Mysterio; Loki; Ymir; Modred; Kingpin; Dr.Faustus (a lot thinner looking than the comic version); Red Skull; The Shocker; Juggernaut; The Sandman; Dracula (not really the Marvel version, he looks different and seems to act like a spirit, possessing someone); Frankenstein's Monster (and unspecified werewolf); Human Fly; Blastaar; Klaw; The Beetle; Dr.Octopus

Cameos

Only seen as costumes at a party, which implies their counterparts probably exist for real: Spider-Woman, Medusa, Hellcat, Ka-Zar, Black Widow, Ms.Marvel, Wasp, Yellowjacket, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Phoenix, Black Panther, Power Man, Valkyrie, Thing, Falcon

Costumes in a fancy dress store that don't appear for real in another episode - Thing, Black Panther, Iron Man, Elektra, Firebird, Dazzler

Simon Williams (Wonder Man in comics - only seen as name on movie billboard. Since the mainstream Marvel universe version only got into movies after gaining his powers, this one is probably, but not definitely, super-powered too)

Seen only as illusions cast by Mastermind, which again means they probably do exist for real in this version of the Marvel universe - Mephisto, Psyklop, Annihilus, Ghost Rider

Watching Spider-Man during his first outing at the wrestling match where he tried to earn money - Jo from Gatchaman (not a Marvel character)

Back to US Independents Page

Home

All images and characters depicted on this site are copyright their respective holders, and are used for informational purposes only. No infringement is intended and copyrights remain at source.