Marvel Celebrates "Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends" in August!

[Spider-Man]

Newsarama has put up a new Joe Friday interview with Joe Quesada and in it he reveals one of the August shipping titles will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends. The interview can be found here (http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JoeFridays50.html) and here is the info:


SPIDER-MAN FAMILY: AMAZING FRIENDS

http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JF50art/SMFAMAF001_cov_t.jpg (http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/JF50art/SMFAMAF001_cov.jpg)

Written by SEAN MCKEEVER
Pencils & Cover by PAT OLLIFFE
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the classic cartoon serial, here comes AMAZING FRIENDS! In an ALL-NEW one shot, a young Spidey's doing his darndest to find allies in his war against crime, but he didn't count on being matchmaker to two bickering heroes! Can the webslinger get Firestar to chill out and warm Iceman's heart...by setting them up on a date!?
Also, classic reprints of UNTOLD TALES OF SPIDER-MAN, SPIDER-MAN 2099, an ALL-NEW MINI MARVELS tale, and more!
96 PGS./ALL AGES ...$4.99
I'm really glad to see Marvel doing something like this.

[Stu]

Sweet Louisiana! Someone is actually doing something with Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends! The cover doesn't seem very Amazing Friends like, but if they can get that charming tone in the comic, it'll be fantastic.

I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to a Spider-Man comic. That hasn't happened in far, far too long!

[Jon T]

WOW!!! I never expected Marvel to do something like this! Like you say Stu, at least someone's doing something to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Now if only someone would release some nice unedited episodes on DVD to go alongside it...

[Spider-Friends]

...at least someone's doing something to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.


Someone is actually doing something with Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends!

Geez fellas...can I get a little credit? ;) Hmmm...I take that back...I always knew I was a nobody.




The cover doesn't seem very Amazing Friends like, but if they can get that charming tone in the comic, it'll be fantastic.

I couldn't get to Newsarama fast enough when Jon T told me about it. When I got there I saw the cover and was like, "....Oh." Pat Oliffe is a good artist but I feel like the nostalgia should have been played up with art similar to the show. The art in the recent comics for Transformers, He-Man and Dragon's Lair was MUCH more fitting.

Gotta say, I'm disappointed that its not me doing it. I was already working on a comic. Here's a piece:

http://www.spider-friends.com/SMAHAF22p.jpg

[Xurk]

Cool! I think your art is more appropriate, Spider-Friends :)

I can't see what Spider-Man 2099 and a Man-Bat have to do with "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" though...?

[Spider-Friends]

Cool! I think your art is more appropriate, Spider-Friends :)

I can't see what Spider-Man 2099 and a Man-Bat have to do with "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" though...?

Thanks Xurk!

The main title of the book is Spider-Man Family, meaning all things related to Spider-Man just like the old Superman Family and Batman Family titles from the 70's (I think). I'd rather have a Spider-Friends comic by itself but I'm sure they're doing it this way to test the waters. If sales are great they will know it was because of the Spider-Friends instead of two reprints and we may eventually get a stand alone Spider-Friends comic.

I still haven't figured out if this is happening in current Marvel Universe continuity. I'm thinking the reasoning behind using Pat Oliffe is because they are doing a story set in the past, ala Untold Tales of Spider-Man. But Firestar sure would be young then.

[Stu]

We'll be doing our own bit for Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends 25th annivesary, our new site should be up soon! No site or comic is the same as getting the show on DVD though. Hopefully next year, Disney will get a clue, as opposed to thier golden oppertunity for an X-Men site that they've utterly blown this year.

I'm not sure why they're including an issue of Untold Tales of Spider-Man here, but given how utterly brilliant that series was, I hope more people get into it. Whilst the majority of 1990's comics were pretty bad, Untold Tales of Spider-Man was a legendary series and was my favourite book when it was around. I remember being devasted when they cancelled it. I still have all the issues today!

[rhino9]

Would be nice if they included a reprint of the original Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends one-shot comic from way back when. Not the greatest book ever, but still a piece of the show's history.

[Hypestyle]

Looks like marvel is publishing the next edition of the "Spider-Man Family" specials in August. It will feature an original story starring Spider-Man, with Iceman and Firestar; there will also be reprints of Untold Tales of.., Spider-Man 2099, and more.
This was announced with the acknowledgment of the 25th anniversary of the Spider-Friends TV show. Technically, nothing about a dvd release, though.

[ifthismeansevos]

Geez fellas...can I get a little credit? ;) Hmmm...I take that back...I always knew I was a nobody.





I couldn't get to Newsarama fast enough when Jon T told me about it. When I got there I saw the cover and was like, "....Oh." Pat Oliffe is a good artist but I feel like the nostalgia should have been played up with art similar to the show. The art in the recent comics for Transformers, He-Man and Dragon's Lair was MUCH more fitting.

Gotta say, I'm disappointed that its not me doing it. I was already working on a comic. Here's a piece:

http://www.spider-friends.com/SMAHAF22p.jpg
Nice designs very nice designs

[Hypestyle]

... hmm.. I just had a thought-- it’s entirely possible that the new adventure published here will take place in the "Marvel Adventures" continuity, the new stuff that’s aimed at younger kids. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. In fact, if a new "Amazing Friends" title were based in that world, I wouldn’t mind at all. Better late than never..

[Spider-Friends]

"Marvel Adventures" continuity......if a new "Amazing Friends" title were based in that world, I wouldn’t mind at all. Better late than never..

I wouldn't just "not mind", I'd PREFER that it be based in the Marvel Adventures Continuity. (If it has one. :)) The closer it gets to the feeling of the show the better. The regular Marvel Universe continuity would make it very hard to capture the show's spirit with Firestar being so young and Spidey being married.

[veemonjosh]

The main title of the book is Spider-Man Family, meaning all things related to Spider-Man.

ALL things you say?

...Spider-Ham. :p

On topic: Looks good. Wish I could go to somewhere that doesn't sell just Well-known titles so I could get this (though... it will be summer...).

[Spider-Man]

I wouldn't just "not mind", I'd PREFER that it be based in the Marvel Adventures Continuity. (If it has one. :)) The closer it gets to the feeling of the show the better. The regular Marvel Universe continuity would make it very hard to capture the show's spirit with Firestar being so young and Spidey being married.
If it's set in the regular Marvel Universe than it looks like it may be set in the early years. Pat Olliffe did the art work for the excellent series Untold Tales of Spider-Man and this could be a revisiting of that old style Spider-Man stories. But it wouldn't make much sense to celebrate the 25th of Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends by not having a story based on the show.

[Spider-Friends]

ALL things you say?

...Spider-Ham. :p

If Spider-Man Family is successful enough to continue then I would FULLY expect to see Spider-Ham at some point.


If it's set in the regular Marvel Universe than it looks like it may be set in the early years. Pat Olliffe did the art work for the excellent series Untold Tales of Spider-Man and this could be a revisiting of that old style Spider-Man stories.

This is where the problem lies with setting it in the Marvel Universe: it doesn't matter what time period it is, Firestar is going to be too young because she was a teenage when she was first introduced in Uncanny X-Men #193.

Firestar would be about 12 years old (AT MOST) if this takes place in the early part of Spider-Man's career. Even if it takes place when Peter is in college then Angelica would still only be about 15-16.

I have a feeling it is just going to be a stand alone story with no mention of what universe it is. Spidey is going to be married to MJ and be trying to set up Iceman & Firestar. There will never be a mention of Firestar's age. That's just my guess. I'll take what I can get since beggars can't be choosers...but it certainly won't have the dynamic that made the show fun if my guess becomes reality.

[Spider-Man]

I have a feeling it is just going to be a stand alone story with no mention of what universe it is. Spidey is going to be married to MJ and be trying to set up Iceman & Firestar. There will never be a mention of Firestar's age. That's just my guess. I'll take what I can get since beggars can't be choosers...but it certainly won't have the dynamic that made the show fun if my guess becomes reality.
Based on the cover Firestar looks a bit older than a teenager. Maybe they'll surprise us and have a tale that either takes place in the continuity of that show or have one that pays tribute to the series. They seem to have an idea that the show was a bit of a landmark for Marvel Animation and I bet they will want to acknowledge that.

[Spider-Friends]

Just found this at www.seanmckeever.com (http://www.seanmckeever.com):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
" Featuring new art by Pat Olliffe (Untold Tales of Spider-Man, Spider-Girl), Casey Jones (Spider-Girl, Guardians), Kano (Gotham Central), Nick Dragotta (X-Statix Presents Dead Girl, Amazing Fantasy) and Chris Giarrusso (Mini Marvels, Bullpen Bits)."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Those artist aren't necessarily working on the Spider-Friends but it would be nice to see some variation. I think Casey Jones would be a good choice for the Amazing Friends.

[Antiyonder]

If Spider-Man Family is successful enough to continue then I would FULLY expect to see Spider-Ham at some point.

Then they should do another one reprinting:

Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends One Shot (Triumph Of The Green Goblin)
Spider-Man/Firestar and Iceman (Spider-Friends VS The Abomination)
Spider-Man/Firestar and Iceman (Spider-Friends VS Daddy Longlegs)
Spider-Man Meets Spider-Man 2099

As for an exclusive story? Maybe one set in the cartoonverse, with Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman. Have her and The Spider-Friends sent into a cartoon called, you guessed it Spider-Ham.

[HarleyQuinn]

Geez fellas...can I get a little credit? ;) Hmmm...I take that back...I always knew I was a nobody.





I couldn't get to Newsarama fast enough when Jon T told me about it. When I got there I saw the cover and was like, "....Oh." Pat Oliffe is a good artist but I feel like the nostalgia should have been played up with art similar to the show. The art in the recent comics for Transformers, He-Man and Dragon's Lair was MUCH more fitting.

Gotta say, I'm disappointed that its not me doing it. I was already working on a comic. Here's a piece:

http://www.spider-friends.com/SMAHAF22p.jpg

Wow thats a sweet drawing.

[Bones Justice]

I have never understood the appeal of this show. I saw it again recently and it was beyond horrible. The episodes I saw were Education of a Superhero and The Bride of Dracula. Even when I watched this show when I was younger, I couldn't take it.

I like the main characters of Spider-man, Iceman, and Firestar. But the stories don't make much sense and the voice acting is subpar. I don't understand why there is such a fan following for this show.

[Spider-Friends]

The episodes I saw were Education of a Superhero and The Bride of Dracula. Even when I watched this show when I was younger, I couldn't take it.
Hey Bones,
If you didn't watch it as a kid in the 80s then I can see why it would be hard to understand the appeal. You have to watch it in the context of its time. SuperFriends was laughable at how bad it was, even in 1981. Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends came along and for the first time superheroes had personalities, a sense of humor, a little angst (money and relationship problems). Another BIG part of the appeal was that this was the first Marvel show to feature numerous guest stars...giving the "feel" of a cohesive MARVEL universe. We all accepted the silly stuff, like Ms. Lion and the secret computer lab, because we all knew it could have been so much worse. Looking back on it in hindsight, wouldn't you have expected the network to demand the Marvel version of the SuperFriends? Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and Spider-Woman would have not made sense as a team...so the creators used college based characters to make it a little more understandable that Spider-Man would join a team.

For the record, "Education of a Superhero"and "The Bride of Dracula" are considered two of the worst episodes of the show. If you want to watch it again, try "Along came Spidey" (the best translation of Spidey's origin in any medium outside of comics).


...the voice acting is subpar. That just comes to personal preference. I think they are all great, even today. I still think Dan Gilvezan has such an appealing voice that he makes Spidey instantly likeable, as does Kathy Garver as Firestar. Frank Welker (Iceman) and June Foray (Aunt May) are two of the most prominent voice actors in the industry. Those two get more work than just about any one you could name.

Thanks, Harley!

[Zebi]

Gotta say, I'm disappointed that its not me doing it. I was already working on a comic. Here's a piece:

http://www.spider-friends.com/SMAHAF22p.jpg

Your comic art looks great! :) It definitely feels more like the cartoon than the official comic that is coming out. Still, I'm glad to see Marvel acknowledge Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends ... although a DVD release would be much more appropriate.

[Spider-Friends]

Your comic art looks great! :) It definitely feels more like the cartoon than the official comic that is coming out. Still, I'm glad to see Marvel acknowledge Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends ... although a DVD release would be much more appropriate.

Thanks, Doc Ock! I agree about the comic...I'll take whatever I can get!

[Crossdive]

Now if only someone would release some nice unedited episodes on DVD to go alongside it...

my thoughts exactly, but don't get your hopes up. -_-*

[Bones Justice]

Hey Bones,
If you didn't watch it as a kid in the 80s then I can see why it would be hard to understand the appeal. You have to watch it in the context of its time. SuperFriends was laughable at how bad it was, even in 1981.


No, you're right, I wasn't watching it much then. I was watching stuff like The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangersand reading Spider-man and X-Men comic books. So I was very disappointed when I saw Spider-friends for the first time.

Admittedly, we did watch Superfriends more but only because it was so laughable. Spider-friends wasn't on as much but it was also mainly boring. It didn't have much action and the stories were slow-paced. I know censorship killed a lot of the potential for action but I don't see how that makes it a good show.



Looking back on it in hindsight, wouldn't you have expected the network to demand the Marvel version of the SuperFriends? Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and Spider-Woman would have not made sense as a team...so the creators used college based characters to make it a little more understandable that Spider-Man would join a team.


I don't have a problem with Spider-man teaming up with Iceman and Firestar. The concept is okay. The stories are what killed it for me.



For the record, "Education of a Superhero"and "The Bride of Dracula" are considered two of the worst episodes of the show. If you want to watch it again, try "Along came Spidey" (the best translation of Spidey's origin in any medium outside of comics).

I have seen a few others recently. I saw the one with Captain America and the Kingpin, which was just as bad, in my opinion. I also saw one with Doctor Doom which was bad. I saw one with Spider-man meeting a girl from the future and it was very bad. I saw one with Thor and it was probably the best of the ones I saw recently but I wouldn't exactly give it a thumbs up.

I don't think I've seen the origin episode you're referring to. It looks like the show is off the schedule again anyways.

Honestly, I've seen other animated shows from the same time period that were much better. Even Spider-man Unlimited, which is generally panned, seems like a better show to me.

I suppose if it's a nostalgia thing that explains it. I just didn't care for it even originally so there's no appeal for me now, either.

[Spider-Friends]

I know censorship killed a lot of the potential for action but I don't see how that makes it a good show. I think people like it mostly because of the humor and comradery of the characters. I think it is more akin to liking a show like Friends (with Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry) than it is to liking a Spider-Man comic book.


Honestly, I've seen other animated shows from the same time period that were much better.
I would be very interested for you to name FIVE Saturday morning cartoons from 1981-82 that you think are better. And let me stipulate that again: five Saturday morning cartoons from 1981-83.

If you can do that...then our tastes must be so different that this conversation is pointless.


I suppose if it's a nostalgia thing that explains it. I just didn't care for it even originally so there's no appeal for me now, either.I don't think I would watch it for the first time as a 33 year old and enjoy it. It was a cartoon for kids...it mostly is just a nostalgia thing...therefore we look at the positive.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Sean McKeever talks about this one-shot (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72790) at Newsarama.

The punch line to the one thing that seems to concern more people here than anything else:


NRAMA: Now that you're in continuity ...

SM: I've tried to be careful about where I'm setting it in terms of continuity so that it's someplace that makes sense for all of them to meet up.

NRAMA: ... at what point is it taking place?

SM: In publishing terms, it's in the early '90s. Right around '91.

NRAMA: So this takes place in the past.

SM: Yeah. Right. It's in past continuity.

Spidey's living in his Soho apartment with Mary Jane, married. Firestar's in the New Warriors and Iceman's back with the X-Men after being in X-Factor.
-- Ed

[S.C.B]

Even Spider-man Unlimited, which is generally panned, seems like a better show to me.

Dude. I know you're trying to make a point, but... that's just cold. :D

But I see where you're coming from. I love Transformers, being an 80s kid, but if I show it to someone I know who's never even seen them, they can't really see what the fuss is about and quickly switch off. Hell, even I switch off during some of the episodes. Compared to what action cartoons we have now, anything from the 80s is going to look bleak. Even the worst shows have at least fairly good animation, whereas back then... well, let's just say that AKOM were busy that decade.

[Antiyonder]

This one seems interesting as well:


NRAMA: And the back-up story?

SM: I'm doing a six-page Mini-Marvels back-up story with Chris Giarrusso. He's the creator of the Mini-Marvels stuff. That's pretty cool. I'm glad to collaborate with him. I've never really written humor type stuff.

NRAMA: Can you tell us anything about that story?

SM: It's a six-page story! I'm not going to give anything away.

NRAMA: Oh, c'mon. Just a hint.

SM: It's kind of hard to actually describe. It's called Spidey and His Amazing Friends, but then "Friends" is crossed out and it says "Co-Workers." You see, in the Mini-Marvels world, Spidey's a kid, and he's always in costume. Even as Peter Parker, he's in costume. And he has a paper route for the Daily Bugle. And so Iceman and Firestar get hired to be on the paper route with him. 'Cause he's slackin'! So that's the story.

NRAMA: It sounds like you had fun writing all this, and we can assume you're trying to make it fun for the readers too. Why do you think they should check it out?

[Bones Justice]

I would be very interested for you to name FIVE Saturday morning cartoons from 1981-82 that you think are better. And let me stipulate that again: five Saturday morning cartoons from 1981-83.

What would that prove? Besides the fact that I don't know of five animated shows during that exact time frame, I mean. Just because Spider-Friends was better than another show doesn't mean it was a good show.

Also, narrowing down a specific time frame doesn't make sense. I don't think much of Superfriends, either, and you could probably pinpoint some time prior to 1981 where it was the "best" animated superhero show on television, too. But it still wouldn't make it a good show, either.

I can think of other animated superhero stories that were better that existed before Spider-Friends. The Fantastic Four series from the sixties or the old Superman shorts showed a lot more promise of what an animated superhero show could be like. Even the Captain America series from the sixties, while nowhere near as animated, had better stories. Why? Because they all stayed closer to the nature of their comic book. In Captain America's case, they practically animated issues from the comic book itself.

I have no problem with Spider-man teaming up with Iceman and Firestar. I just didn't find anything interesting with what they did with the idea.



I don't think I would watch it for the first time as a 33 year old and enjoy it. It was a cartoon for kids...it mostly is just a nostalgia thing...therefore we look at the positive.

Well, at least that is an answer that I can understand.



Dude. I know you're trying to make a point, but... that's just cold. :D


I apologize if I came across as insulting. I just don't understand the fan following for this show. If it were the only animated Spider-man show, maybe I could see some Spidey fans getting behind it. But it's not the only show. Some of the other Spider-man shows are practically hated even though they've got as much to offer, if not more, than Spider-Friends. I don't see the logic in it.

What would you say to someone that watched Spider-man Unlimited as a kid and nostalgia was kicking in now? Wouldn't you wonder why he ever liked that show?

Or haven't you ever wondered why anyone spends money on the Superfriends DVD's? They were shows that we did watch as kids -- yet we knew they were bad even back then. We were mocking them even though we watched them, knowing that there were no other superhero shows on television.



Compared to what action cartoons we have now, anything from the 80s is going to look bleak.


Not entirely true. For example, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers is still enjoyable to watch and holds it's own with a lot of stuff today. I think it's from 1985.

[Spider-Friends]

What would that prove? Besides the fact that I don't know of five animated shows during that exact time frame, I mean. Just because Spider-Friends was better than another show doesn't mean it was a good show. Everything is relative. If every show on TV is bad then people remember the ones that were better. I was trying to get you to see the perspective of a kid watching it during those years since you previously said, "I've seen other animated shows from the same time period that were much better."


Well, at least that is an answer that I can understand. Here's a better answer as to why you hear or read about the show so much: the majority of the comic book reading audience today is 25-35 years old which means they grew up with the cartoon. And we all know people are fond of the cartoons they chose to watch as a kid. THAT'S why it gets a lot of credit.


Some of the other Spider-man shows are practically hated even though they've got as much to offer, if not more, than Spider-Friends. I don't see the logic in it. Same thing I said above. Spider-Friends gets a "pass" for being the show that got so many people into comic books. I don't want to discredit its charm though. It was a fun show.


What would you say to someone that watched Spider-man Unlimited as a kid and nostalgia was kicking in now? Wouldn't you wonder why he ever liked that show? I know this wasn't directed at me but, frankly, I would completely understand. But I've actually put some thought into why Spider-Friends gets the credit it does. Most people's nostalgia overpowers their logic. Then again, if Spider-Man Unlimited was responsible for getting a lot of kids into comics then other comic fans would probably give it some credit...but it didn't.

[D.Shaffer]

The BEST part of the Newsarama interview? They reveal who the villain is going to be.

VIDEOMAN! Videoman is going to be a canon character in the Marvel Universe. Oh man. I can stop laughing in both glee at what the die hard fans are going to think about this, and with joy because, corny as he was, I always liked that guy in BOTH his incarnations, Hero and villain.

[jamiemadrox]

One question, does anyone think that this will lead to a revival of the cartoon series?

[Hypestyle]

One question, does anyone think that this will lead to a revival of the cartoon series?

nope.. though I wouldn't mind, personally.. :anime: