Plot: What’s it about?
Peter Parker (voiced by Neil Patrick Harris) is a college freshman, a normal young man who lives a normal lifestyle. But then fate threw a curve in his path, one which would not only change his own life, but the lives of countless others. Parker was bitten by a spider, like many people have been, but this was no normal spider. The arachnid was part of a scientific experiment on radiation, which meant it was bombarded with radioactive particles. As such, the spider carried that radiation inside, even if no external changes were evident. When the spider bit Parker, it injected some venom into the wound, radioactive venom. Thanks to the incident, Parker has some new traits, such as being able to climb walls and shoot webs, not to mention enhanced strength and speed. He also has a “spider sense” of sorts, which signals him whenever danger is imminent, so he has a jump on whatever or whoever is involved. He is determined to use his newfound powers for justice, so he fights crime at night, while going to school in the daytime. At school, he meets a young woman named Mary Jane Watson (voiced by Lisa Loeb), whom he is attracted to and a young woman named Harry Osborn (voiced by Ian Ziering), who has a vendetta against Spider-Man. Can Parker balance his two lives, or will his secret be revealed?
This series ran on MTV, which explains why I’ve never watched an episode or even knew the series existed. I am also unsure if this was the first and final season of Spider-Man, or if new episodes are in the works. But I do know that all thirteen episodes from the debut season are here, plus a host of supplements. Columbia has even given us anamorphic widescreen transfers, not to mention dual Dolby Digital & DTS soundtracks. The question is, does Spider-Man: The New Animated Series deserve such a lavish treatment? On visual power alone, this is a wild and well crafted series, but as we know, there is more to entertainment than visuals. You can tell this is an MTV production, as the voice actors are pop rock stars such as Rob Zombie and Eve, not to mention the storylines, which don’t reflect the source material that much. So if you want a faithful take on Spider-Man’s world, this series isn’t your cup of tea. But the show has some bright spots, especially in terms of visuals, which is where this release shines. The animation is a blend of cutting edge computer graphics and traditional cel animation, with mixed results. A lot of the characters have poor designs and movement is weak, but once the action kicks in, the animation is excellent and is often a blast to watch. I can’t recommend this as a blind purchase, but if you’re a fan of Spider-Man, the series is worth a look.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a new series, so the elements haven’t worn in the least and of course, that results in some great visuals. The prints all look pristine, with no source defects at all, though some visual quirks do surface. I saw some jagged edges here and there, as well as minor instances of edge enhancement and halos, nothing too serious, but worth a mention. Aside from those worries, the episodes look excellent and have a terrific visual presence. The vivid colors stream across the screen, with no errors to report, while contrast is flawless throughout the entire season. As this is an all digital program, the image is rich with detail and has a refined texture. So while some small troubles pop up, these episodes look great and fans will be delighted.
Audio: How does it sound?
I was pleased to see Columbia utilize a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, since this series has plenty of audio potential, but the studio didn’t stop there. No, the episodes also offer DTS soundtracks, which is a real treat, to be sure. The mixes won’t be your new reference tracks, but it enhances the battle sequences and adds to the atmosphere, which means more suspense in some scenes, some good use of the surrounds. As I said, not the most powerful 5.1 option on the market, but a good one that ensures the material sounds terrific. I found no errors with the dialogue either, as every word sounds clean and crisp in this presentation. This edition includes no subtitle options however, which is unusual for a Columbia release.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary is included on each episode, with assorted cast, crew, and comic book folks involved. The roster changes from episode to episode, but each one is loaded with voices and insightful comments. These sessions cover all kind of ground, from basics of voice acting to complex computer visuals to the comic book source. I was never bored for even a second here, as all the tracks are well worth a listen. This release also includes about fifty minutes of behind the scenes featurettes, a brief amount of animation test footage, rough animation clips, an outtake reel, talent files, a multi-angle look at the show’s animation process, a selection of production artwork, and some Spider-Man trivia.
