Spider-Woman (TV series)

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Spider-Woman
Genre	Animation
Created by	Archie Goodwin, Sal Buscema, Jim Mooney (characters) Stan Lee (Created for Television)
Presented by	DePatie-Freleng Enterprises Marvel Comics Animation
Voices of	Joan Van Ark Bruce Miller Bryan Scott
Composer(s)	Eric Rogers
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producer(s)	David H. DePatie, Friz Freleng
Producer(s)	Lee Gunther
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ABC
Original run	September 22, 1979 – January 3, 1980
External links
IMDb profile

Spider-Woman is an animated television series, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Woman. The series was produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation, and aired on September 22, 1979 to January 3, 1980, one season of sixteen episodes, on the ABC-TV network.

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Differences between cartoon and comic book 3 Cast 4 Episodes 5 DVD 6 External links

[edit] Introduction

Jessica Drew, voiced by Joan Van Ark, is editor of Justice Magazine, a publication which has its own skyscraper and helicopter yet shows only two other employees — photographer Jeff and Jessica's teenage nephew Billy. When trouble rears its ugly head, Jessica comes up with an excuse to slip away and change into her Spider-Woman secret identity.

Spider-Man also guest stars in two episodes of the series.

The Spider-Woman cartoon should not be confused with Web Woman, a Filmation superheroine cartoon launched at around the same time, which reportedly prompted Marvel Comics into creating a Spider-Woman character to secure the copyright.

[edit] Differences between cartoon and comic book

The cartoon differs considerably from the comic book in its premise and supporting cast, while modifying Spider-Woman's powers slightly.

Billy, Jeff, and Justice Magazine never appear in the comic book in any form. Nor do the darker elements of the comic book (the heavy use of Arthurian legend and the occult, Jessica's feelings of alienation) enter into the much brighter world of the cartoon.

The animated Spider-Woman retains the ability to fire bursts of energy from her hands called "venom blasts", but they are white instead of green. The episode "Realm of Darkness" seems to imply that Venom Blasts can be fired as long Spider-woman has enough super-strength.

Like Spider-Man, she has a "spider-sense": a kind of clairvoyance that allows her to see dangers as they happen, no matter where she is, she can close her eyes and see the event outlined by a spider-web. The animated Spider-Woman also has the ability to change into costume merely by spinning around, an idea borrowed from the Wonder Woman television series starring Lynda Carter.

Although "Spider-man" in this series was played by a different voice actor than the one in the 1960s Spider-man series, some similarities in the two series still remained. Perhaps the most noticeable similarity is "animated stock footage", where - before any episodes were completed - an animated sequence was created. This sequence would be used with an appropriate background added, whenever the need would arise. One example is Spider-woman turning around, from back to front. Another example is where Jessica Drew gets a "spider-sense", turns her head while she closes her eyes, and then the location of danger appears using an editing technique.

[edit] Cast

• Joan Van Ark … Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman (voice)
• Bruce Miller … Jeff Hunt (voice)
• Bryan Scott … Billy Drew (voice)
• Lou Krugman … Police Chief (voice)
• Larry Carroll … Detective Miller (voice)
• John H. Mayer
• Vic Perrin
• Ilene Latter
• Tony Young
• Karen Machon
• John Milford
• Dick Tufeld

[edit] Episodes

Episode Name	Airdate	Synopsis
Pyramids of Terror	September 22, 1979	Guest stars Spider-Man. The Justice Magazine crew investigate an alien invasion in Egypt.
Realm of Darkness	September 29, 1979	The powerful demon Dormammu emerges on a Pacific island, threatening to enslave mankind.
The Amazon Adventure	October 5, 1979	Stolen gold from Fort Knox leads the Justice Magazine team into the Amazon, where they uncover a plot to take over the world.
The Ghost Vikings	October 12, 1979	A 'ghost' Viking ship emerges off the coast of Norway. The crew plan to steal the riches of the world, before returning to their own time. Spider-Woman travels back to 952 A.D. to defeat them.
The Kingpin Strikes Again	October 19, 1979	Angered by a recent Justice Magazine article, the Kingpin steals an experimental invisibility ray and seeks revenge on its editor, Jessica Drew. However, while invisible, he witnesses her transform into Spider-Woman, and opts for a blackmail plot instead.
The Lost Continent	October 26, 1979	After US Air Force planes vanish in the Bermuda Triangle, the team from Justice Magazine investigate. They soon find themselves thrown into a hidden dimension, where dinosaurs roam the Earth.
The Kongo Spider	November 2, 1979	Guest stars Spider-Man. While covering the filming of a movie, the Justice Magazine team encounter a giant spider (in a plot inspired by King Kong).
Games of Doom	November 9, 1979	Athletes in the World Athletic Games in Moscow are being kidnapped and replaced by android doubles. Jessica Drew goes undercover as a Long Jumper to investigate.
Shuttle to Disaster	November 16, 1979	The Justice Magazine team find themselves on a hijacked space shuttle, heading towards the moon, where the villain 'Steeljaw' intends to enslave mankind and put it to work digging for valuable gems.
Dracula's Revenge	November 23, 1979	The world's population are threatened with being turned into vampires, werewolves and Frankenstein's monster.
The Spider-Woman and the Fly	November 30, 1979	Jessica confronts a former research assistant to her father, who has been mutated into a human fly after a lab accident. Deducing her secret identity, he creates a formula which will rob Jessica of her spider powers.
Invasion of the Black Hole	December 7, 1979	A UFO attempts to swallow the Earth in a black hole, in readiness for an invasion.
The Great Magini	December 14, 1979	Magician, the Great Magini, attempts to steal the World's most famous landmarks.
A Crime In Time	December 21, 1979	An experimental time machine unleashes an invasion of Wookiee-like creatures. Jessica is forced to reveal her secret identity to her fellow magazine crew, in order to save mankind.
Return of the Spider-Queen	December 28, 1979	Spider-Woman is brainwashed by an alien race of human spider creatures, who believe she is their long lost queen.
The Deadly Dream	January 3, 1980	An alien threatens the World with her sleep inducing powers.

[edit] DVD

As of 2008 this series is planned for release on Region 2 DVD in the UK in 2008 by Liberation Entertainment[1]as part of a release schedule of Marvel Animated series.[2]

[edit] External links

• Spider-Woman at the Internet Movie Database
• Liberation Entertainment
• Marvel Originals Series at Amazon.co.uk

v • d • e DePatie-Freleng Enterprises Founders David H. DePatie • Friz Freleng Cartoons The Pink Panther (Theatrical, 1964-1980) • The Inspector (Theatrical, 1965-1969)   • Roland and Rattfink (Theatrical, 1968-1971) • The Ant and the Aardvark (Theatrical, 1969-1971) • Tijuana Toads (Theatrical, 1969-1972) • The Blue Racer (Theatrical, 1972-1974) • Hoot Kloot (Theatrical, 1973-1972) • The Dogfather (Theatrical, 1974-1976) • Misterjaw (Television, 1976) • Crazylegs Crane (Television, 1978) • Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies (Theatrical, 1964-1967) Shows The Pink Panther Show • The Super 6 • The Houndcats • Super President • Here Comes The Grump • Doctor Dolittle • The Barkleys • Bailey's Comets • The Oddball Couple • The New Fantastic Four • Spider-Woman Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat (CBS/TV special, 1971) • The Lorax (CBS/TV special, 1972) • Dr. Seuss on the Loose (CBS/TV special, 1973) • The Hoober-Bloob Highway (CBS/TV special, 1975) • Halloween is Grinch Night (ABC/TV special, 1977) • Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? (ABC/TV special, 1980) See also Marvel Productions Ltd.