What was your introduction to Spider-Man...?

[bat39]

...and how did it shape your perception of the character and/or preferences for the franchise?

In my case the answer is clear-cut - I was introduced to Spider-Man through the 2002 Raimi film as a kid.

Not long after I sought out the comics, and read the first arc of Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man, as well as a few issues of the then-recent Spider-Man: Chapter One. I also happened to read a few issues of Spider-Girl early on.

Also around this time I read the giant Spider-Man guide, published by DK Books I believe, which was a deep-dive into the entire 40 year history of the character and his mythos.

I also caught a few reruns of the first couple of seasons of the 1994 animated series, and watched the 2003 MTV series when it premiered. A few years later, I watched Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

In terms of 616, I remember reading some stray issues of the then-ongoing JMS run - Peter and MJ were having marital issues, Peter was working as a teacher, and Aunt May had just learnt the truth. Think I read the 'Revenge of the Green Goblin' mini around this time as well.

So to sum up, my gateway to all things Spider-Man was the Raimi movie, and that was the prism through which I viewed most of the other Spider-Man media I consumed over the next few years. To me, Mary Jane-Watson was 'the one' for Peter, virtually predestined since they not only get married, but have a kid together in the future! Norman Osborn AKA the Green Goblin was Spider-Man's arch-nemesis. Harry Osborn was his best friend, who I knew would become a villain someday (so the ending of Spider-Man 2 didn't surprise me). Gwen Stacy was really more a trivia item for me, a long-forgotten part of Spider-Man lore it was interesting to know about, but not really relevant (I associated MJ with the iconic 'bridge scene').

A decade later, I did enjoy TASM, mainly because it felt like Ultimate Spider-Man. Emma Stone's portrayal of Gwen interested me in the character for the first time, though I knew she was destined to die and make way for a rebooted MJ (that ultimately didn't happen).

The MCU Spider-Man honestly didn't resonate with me that much, though it was exciting to see a version of Spider-Man interacting with the Avengers. I suppose, to me, it was an intriguing 'alternate' take on the character, but not really my Spider-Man. I loved NWH for that reason though, not only because Tobey and Andrew's Peters came back, but also because it pushed Tom's Peter in the same more 'classic' direction.

I loved the Spider-Verse films though, and particularly the version of Peter Parker in them who was at least partially coded to be the Raimi/Maguire version.

[Jman27]

It took some episodes of the 90s series, PS1 game , toys and Raimi Movie as my introduction to the web head. Then it was mostly cartoons movies or videos games like Ultimate Alliance that kept my interest. Read a few comics but mostly kept up with his history thru the wiki. Didn’t get into the comics until I heard about Superior Spiderman turning into Venom.

[exile001]

The Animated Series was my real introduction, though I was already aware of Spidey as I had Amazing Spider-Man #282 in a UK Marvel Annual from the late-80s.

I grabbed some books from the library (a load of the Michelinie ASM and some of McFarlane's SM), then started collecting the UK reprints that was running the 90's Clone Saga. It didn't take long for me to start buying all the Spider-Man comics and every back issue I could get my hands on (until the Byrne/Mackie reboot, after which it was just back issues).

[Batman Begins 2005]

Spider-Man 1960s cartoon reruns but mainly Spider-Man 1990s animated series and Spider-Man on the PlayStation. Comics, it was reprints of the Clone Saga and JMS Spider-Man run in Astonishing Spider-Man, a UK monthly.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

The 90s cartoon followed by Unlimited, Electro's revenge for the PS1 and the anazing friends reruns.

[Android 17]

Three things in particular:

- The 90s TAS (To this day, Christopher Daniel Barnes is the quintessential Spidey to me)

- Issues of Web of Spider-Man when I was a kid

- And this video game
Screenshot 2024-05-09 at 9.13.57 AM.jpg

[CrimsonEchidna]

The 90s Cartoon --> Ultimate Spider-Man comics.

[Kaitou D. Kid]

Spider-Man TAS was my introduction, and I feel like it's one of those things that's dated but aged gracefully. It's acknowledged as great but for the most part we've moved on and don't base everything around it to the point where it's detrimental to the IP, which you sometimes get with some other stuff - like the way the 80s show cast a shadow on TMNT for a long time, or the way the influence Raimi and Bendis had on Spidey in the 2000's cast a shadow to this day (BND, etc.). TAS doesn't have that, and that's part of why it's always fun and charming to go back to it. Wish more dated things aged like TAS.