Spider-Man (1981)
TV SeriesOptional
A syndicated solo Spider-Man series with a rogues’ gallery including Doctor Doom. This 1981 Marvel series sits outside the MCU timeline, so you can watch it on its own without any homework. All 26 episodes stream on Disney+ in the US, about 9h 32m in all.
| Release date | September 12, 1981 |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 26 × ~22 min |
Why it’s worth knowing about
A companion to Amazing Friends, made the same year.
About Spider-Man (1981)
This was the second Spider-Man cartoon, following the 1967 series, and it keeps things simple. Peter Parker juggles the Daily Bugle and Aunt May while taking on a long list of comic-book foes: Doctor Octopus, the Lizard, Mysterio, Kraven, the Vulture, the Kingpin, the Green Goblin and the Red Skull among them. Doctor Doom turns up more than anyone, in six episodes, and Magneto and the Sub-Mariner make rare guest turns as villains.
It was the first project from Marvel Productions, the studio Marvel formed in 1980 out of DePatie–Freleng, with David H. DePatie and Lee Gunther as executive producers. Ted Schwartz voiced Peter, with Morgan Lofting as Aunt May and Mona Marshall as Betty Brant. The 26 half-hour episodes went to syndication through ARP Films rather than a network, and early sales were sluggish, so many markets only picked it up around 1983–84. A 1982 Comics Feature article even called it the Spider-Man series you may never get to see.
Good to know
- Spider-Man wasn't allowed to throw a punch under the era's broadcast restrictions, so the fights lean on acrobatics and fluid animation.
- Director Larry Houston restaged poses from Steve Ditko's Amazing Fantasy #15 art in the episode "Arsenic and Aunt May."
- Neil Ross voiced the Green Goblin here and played him again in Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994).
- Peter got a modern redesign, dropping the 1960s crew cut and suit-and-tie look for something closer to the 1970s newspaper strip.
How to watch it
Watch it after the 1967 series to see how Spider-Man animation moved on, and alongside Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, which came from the same studio at the same time. Nothing here is serialized, so any episode works on its own. Pick the Doctor Doom episodes for the show's main recurring threat, and "Arsenic and Aunt May" for the Ditko homages. Go in expecting breezy, old-school villain-of-the-week adventures rather than long story arcs.
Where to watch Spider-Man (1981) in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Disney+ |
|---|
Where to watch Spider-Man (1981) outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Disney+ | None needed |
| Canada | Disney+ | None needed |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
All streaming options for Marvel movies and shows, by service and country.
Related guides
Spider-Man (1981) FAQ
Is Spider-Man (1981) the same show as Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends?
No. Both came from Marvel Productions, but this is a solo series sold into syndication, while Amazing Friends aired on NBC and teamed Spider-Man with Iceman and Firestar.
Who voices Spider-Man in the 1981 series?
Ted Schwartz voices Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
Why is Doctor Doom in a Spider-Man cartoon?
The show borrowed villains from across Marvel, not just Spider-Man's own rogues. Doom appears in six episodes, and Magneto, the Red Skull and the Sub-Mariner also show up.
Can you skip Spider-Man (1981)?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
How many episodes does Spider-Man (1981) have?
Spider-Man (1981) has 26 episodes, around 22 minutes each.
Is Spider-Man (1981) part of the MCU?
No. It’s Marvel, but it was made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.