Spectacular Spider-Man Preview

Attendees of WonderCon got an early preview of the upcoming KidsWB! cartoon series the Spectacular Spider-Man.

According to ComicBookResources contributer Erik Amaya, the series “places Spider-Man at the start of his junior year in high school. There he is pushed around by jocks, but has friends in the form of Harry Osborne and Gwen Stacy. While Harry is played in a fashion similar to his feature film counterpart, Stacy is conceived as Peter’s intellectual equal. In fact, both receive an internship at the local university, working for Professor Connors. There they find Eddie Brock, a friend who graduated from their high school the previous year. Peter hopes the internship will help him make some money to help out Aunt May — until Eddie tells him the job pays nothing.

“Meanwhile, Harry’s father, Norman Osborne, has made an enemy in the form of the Vulture, who attempts to kidnap Norman. His plan is thwarted by Spider-man. While the two clash above New York, Spider-man is chased by mercenaries working for a shadowy figure.”

If that sounds like the early 1960’s Marvel Comics Spider-Man to you, it’s because it’s meant to. The series is intended to perform as a primer for Spider-Man, a back-to-basics approach that will bring in new viewers and allow the animators to play out their favorite era of the web slinger with new twists.

So, uh… like Ultimate Spider-Man… only, no Bendis. Isn’t it weird that we are seeing so many ‘back to basics’ takes on Spider-Man these days? Was JMS’ run that bad?

Viewers can expect great stories and some stellar animation from the folks behind the newest The Batman cartoon series.

The Spectacular Spider-Man premiers March 8th on local CW affiliates.