Every Marvel Release in 1981
1981 brought 3 Marvel movies and shows, years before the MCU existed, adding up to about 24h 10m. The full list is below, in release order.
Every release this year came from outside the MCU: Spider-Man (1981), Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, The Incredible Hulk: Season 5.
| Release date | Title | Type | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 12, 1981 | Spider-Man (1981) Not MCU | Series | 26 eps |
| September 12, 1981 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends Not MCU | Series | 24 eps |
| October 2, 1981 | The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 Not MCU | Series | 5h 50m |
Marvel in 1981
Marvel set up its own TV and film arm in 1981. Marvel Productions, led by David H. DePatie and Lee Gunther, made a syndicated Spider-Man cartoon that year and, on September 12, launched Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends on NBC. The network hoped to match the success ABC had with Super Friends.
The show's lasting contribution is Firestar. Licensing issues kept the Human Torch out, so the writers created a new fire-wielding heroine to team with Spider-Man and Iceman. She proved popular enough that Marvel added her to the comics in Uncanny X-Men #193 in 1985. The series ran three seasons, with Stan Lee narrating from season two. Columbia also released another Amazing Spider-Man compilation, Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, in theaters overseas.
FAQ
Why wasn't the Human Torch in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends?
Licensing issues kept him out, so the show created Firestar to take his place.
Who is Firestar?
She is a mutant created for Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends in 1981. She joined the comics in Uncanny X-Men #193 in 1985.
How many Marvel movies and shows came out in 1981?
There were 3, about 24h 10m of viewing in all.
What was the first Marvel release of 1981?
Spider-Man (1981), released September 12, 1981.
What was the last Marvel release of 1981?
The Incredible Hulk: Season 5, released October 2, 1981.