Every Marvel Release in 1974
Marvel released one title in 1974: Spidey Super Stories, about 2h 25m of viewing. Here’s where it fits.
Every release this year came from outside the MCU: Spidey Super Stories.
| Release date | Title | Type | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1974 | Spidey Super Stories Not MCU | Series | 29 eps |
Marvel in 1974
Marvel's only screen appearance in 1974 came from an unexpected place: public television. Spidey Super Stories debuted that October as a recurring segment on PBS's The Electric Company, the Children's Television Workshop show that taught reading to elementary school kids. It was the first time Spider-Man appeared in live action anywhere.
The format was built around the show's mission. Spider-Man, played by dancer and puppeteer Danny Seagren, never spoke out loud. His lines appeared in comic-style speech balloons that young viewers had to read for themselves, and he was never shown out of costume as Peter Parker. The plots were simple: Spidey stops a petty crook or a mischievous villain, often with help from the show's regular cast.
The segments ran until 1977, and Marvel published a matching Spidey Super Stories comic for younger readers from 1974 to 1982. It's a long way from Tom Holland's MCU Spider-Man, but it set a pattern that held for decades: Spider-Man was the Marvel hero most often chosen to introduce the brand to kids, from these shorts to Disney Junior's Spidey and His Amazing Friends.
FAQ
Who played Spider-Man on The Electric Company?
Danny Seagren played Spider-Man in the Spidey Super Stories segments from 1974 to 1977. The character never spoke aloud; his dialogue appeared in speech balloons.
What was the first live-action Spider-Man?
The Spidey Super Stories segments on PBS's The Electric Company, which began in 1974, were Spider-Man's first live-action appearances. CBS's The Amazing Spider-Man with Nicholas Hammond followed in 1977.
How many Marvel movies and shows came out in 1974?
Just one: Spidey Super Stories, about 2h 25m of viewing.