Twenty-seven years ago, Spider-Man: The Animated Series saw Spider-Man and Madame Web en route through the multiverse to locate the real Mary Jane Watson. But before fans could see MJ and Peter Parker reunited, Spider-Man: TAS ended. Yes, Marvel Studios’ X-Men ‘97 finale showed us Mary Jane and Peter Parker together again, but the show didn’t explain exactly how.
Marvel Comics is ready remedy that in its new book, Spider-Man ‘94. The comic, announced Wednesday, finds MJ and Peter back in New York City, continuing the critically acclaimed cartoon’s story. Spider-Man ‘94 will also mark the debut of “not one, but two” of Spider-Man’s comic book villains that have never appeared in the iconic animated series.
The four-issue limited series will be written by veteran J.M. DeMatteis, who also wrote on the ‘90s cartoon, with Jim Towe handling the book’s art. Spider-Man ‘94’s covers are drawn by Ron Lim, Nick Bradshaw, and John Tyler Christopher. Marvel Comics will release Spider-Man ‘94 #1 on Sept. 3.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series debuted in 1994 on the now-defunct Fox Kids Network, following the success of 1993’s X-Men: The Animated Series. The show was significant for various reasons, but one of its long-lasting achievements was implementing the Spider-Verse concept. The Spider-Verse first appeared in the cartoon’s fifth and final season when Madame Web recruited Spidey to help save the multiverse from an alternate version of Spider-Man, bonded with the Carnage symbiote, who sought to bring about universal annihilation. Spidey teamed up with a ragtag group of other Spider-Men from various universes and saved the day. It was during this multiversal expedition that the real MJ was lost.
After defeating the Carnage-bonded Spidey, Madame Web granted Spider-Man a gift to visit our reality. In this reality, Spider-Man is celebrated as a true hero and even meets his creator Stan Lee in one of the most heartwarming moments I have ever seen in a cartoon.
Now the story will continue in Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man ‘94 comic book — and thank Gods across the multiverse for that.
