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Spider-Man - The 1967 Classic Collection (6 Volume Set)

Spider-Man - The 1967 Classic Collection (6 Volume Set)

List Price: $59.99
Your Price: $47.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Complete, but not great...
Review: I bought this for two reasons. First, because I used to be into comicbooks and love Marvel. Second, I liked the cartoons and wanted to know if I indeed saw every show. This show was before my time.

After buying it I felt happy about the purchase. After getting through to about the third disc and seeing the repetitve nature of JJ Jameson a PArker's relationship, it got boring fast. Combine that with the main function of superhero cartoons that if missing messes the whole thing up. This is also something that some Hollywood disrectors fail to understand when converting comic hero's to film. If the hero does not fight the villians in the comic books, comicbook fans interest will be lost.

On a whole, most of the episodes are not about Spidey bettling super villians, it is about made up, foolish villians. While ok for a diversion, it cannot sustain a series. Now we see why it did not last long.

After a while, the artwork takes on a kind of physcadelic look in it. I assume that since thise was the lat 1960's, that had something to do with it. The artwork improved, that look was a look that I describe as a "you had to be there to understand" look. The 1960's has some scary cultural traits fors those who have not experienced it. The later episodes relfects this.

So the lack of super-villians,boring stroy lines and the fact that an episode from the first season (with the Rhino) is actually repeated on the last disc. If that is how it aired -cool, but it took up space. Some TV ad's and a story on how popualr the show was could have helped also. SOME OF US WERE NOT AROUND, so we do not fully understand the impact of the show. My time for watching itwas during the 1970's when I was a little boy being baby sat and fed with cartoons.

If you want every show, get it. If you feel like you may be bored because you want to see the comcibook done right, this may not do it for you. Just like that Hulk movie did not do it for me.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Original. The one we all love
Review: I have yet to meet any Spidey fans (and I have met a lot) who have not greatly desired to have this complete set of cartoons on DVD. Make no mistake: these are treasures!

A little kooky? Well . . . from the song lyrics:
"Is he strong? Listen, bud! He's got radioactive blood!"

A little kooky, and a product of it's time, but still a very good cartoon, far better than most action hero oriented cartoons of its or any other time.

Worth the wait, and definitely worth the money!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Classic Spidey RULES!!!!
Review: I remember watching this as a kid and absolutley loving it to death. I havent seen it in YEARS, and I am hoping I will still love it as an adult.

Here is the official episode listing that I have recieved...

Finally today, we've had a few questions about where we are getting the episode count of "52" from, because people are counting more than 70 "story titles" in the series. 52 is the official count from Buena Vista, and it's the official count of half-hour episodes that were aired. Many of the episodes include two different stories. Here is the list of half-hour episodes. Ones that contains multiple stories show both titles, separated by a "/":

"The Power of Doctor Octopus / Sub-Zero For Spidey",
"Where Crawls the Lizard / Electro the Human Lightning Bolt",
"The Menace of Mysterio",
"The Sky is Falling / Captured By J. Jonah Jameson", "Never Step On a Scorpion / Sands of Crime",
"Diet of Destruction / The Witching Hour",

"Kilowatt Kaper / The Peril of Parafino",
"Horn of the Rhino",
"The One-Eyed Idol / Fifth Avenue Phantom",
"The Revenge of Dr. Magneto / The Sinister Prime Minister",
"The Night of the Villains / Here Comes Trubble",
"Spiderman Meets Dr. Noah Boddy / The Fantastic Fakir",
"Return of the Flying Dutchman / Farewell Performance",
"The Golden Rhino / Blueprint For Crime",
"The Spider and the Fly / The Slippery Doctor Von Schlick",
"The Vulture's Prey / The Dark Terrors",
"The Terrible Triumph of Doctor Octopus / Magic Malice",
"Fountain of Terror / Fiddler On the Loose",
"To Catch a Spider / Double Identity",
"Sting of the Scorpion / Trick or Treachery",
"The Origin of Spiderman",
"King Pinned",
"Swing City",
"Criminals in the Clouds",
"Menace From the Bottom of the World",
"Diamond Dust",
"Spiderman Battles the Molemen",
"Phantom From the Depths of Time",
"The Evil Sorcerer",
"Vine",
"Pardo Presents",
"Cloud City of Gold",
"Neptune's Nose Cone",
"Home",
"Blotto",
"Thunder Rumble",
"Spiderman Meets Skyboy",
"Cold Storage",
"To Cage a Spider",
"The Winged Thing / Conner's Reptiles",
"Trouble With Snow / Spiderman Vs. Desperado",
"Sky Harbor / The Big Brainwasher",
"The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian / Scourge of the Scarf",
"Super Swami / The Birth of Microman",
"Knights Must Fall / The Devious Dr. Dumpty",
"Up From Nowhere",
"Rollarama",
"Rhino / The Madness of Mysterio",
"Revolt in the Fifth Dimension",
"Specialists and Slaves",
"Down to Earth", and
"Trip to Tomorrow".

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Walloping Websnappers :-)
Review: I was glad to buy this set, as I grew up on the reruns for ages. Sure now that I have them all, I see (in fact I even remembered) as others have said, several episodes are just rehashes of others (Ex. Vine vs Rollerballs), but still are a lot of fun. Also in the recent series, the actor voicing Peter/Spidey make him sound like a wimp, while in this series he is actually a joy to listen to. Sure, the Ed Sullivan Show wannabe concept may be old, but hey what would he say nowadays, Star Search? Also, one UNIQUE thing about this series that is taken right from the back of the older comic books. When Stan Lee wrote the comics, he claimed Peter made his costume with a muffle that makes his voice as Spidey unrecognizable. This concept has not appeared in ANY "recent vintage" (80s to the present) Spidey animated series (and some of them were actually pretty good as well, such as Spiderman and His Amazing Friends). In this series, I'll bet my spare vcr he had the muffle. The way the voice changes, I couldn't tell at first back then that it was the same actor, and now 30 years later with my discs, I sometimes still can't. Buy these discs and watch what Saturday morning cartoons are supposed to be like.:-)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disney's DVD production is cheap.....
Review: I was rather disapointed that Marvel allowed Disney to do the DVD editions of the 1967 Spider-man animated shows, because Disney's DVD production is also not the best in Hollywood. They useually sneak in Disney promotion adds everywhere on the Disk, the picture quality and sound are also off, and the bonus features look like a 12 year old made them, so when this series comes out, I will pass on it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic "Spider-Manimation" collected at long last!
Review: I watched Spidey's animated TV series (1967) on syndication in 1971-72 and 1978-79. Fourteen years later, I watched about 35 episodes through VHS tapes from Prism and Fox Home Video. ABC Family's "Spidey-mania" marathon during "Spider-Man" movie hype (2 1/2 episodes were badly edited). And an Internet (have to say it) website. Then I heard the news that made my "spider-sense" tingle off the scale. The entire 3-season, 52-episode series will be released on DVD. And on the same week that "Spider-Man II" comes out, too.
SPIDER-MAN kept the elements of the Marvel comic book's Silver-Age roots intact, as seen in Season One. But I was more intrigued with the change and tone in Season Two to make it more ... unique. And I dare anyone to say that the theme song and background musuic wasn't on point. Thought so. The scoring ranged from jazz instrumentals, orchsetral symphonies and psychedelic pop/rock tunes. Now that's what I call a soundtrack.
As I wait for my 6-disc box set to arrive, I reminisce about the fun and excitement I had when I was a kid watching Peter Parker's friendly neighborhood alter ego's amazing adventures. Spidey learning a lesson in power and responsibility after a tragedy he indirectly caused. Eluding capture from the "Spider-Slayer" robot. Battling the Rhino while sick with the cold. Sword-dueling with Mysterio and his goons. Postponing a very hot date to face a mad specialist. Talking a young boy out of running away from his problems. It goes on and on. However,I must express my beef with a few "elements" of the series. No webs on Spidey's shirt, the greenish-hued skins on some of the villains from Seasons Two and Three, and that wack excuse for a catchphrase... "walloping websnappers"? Puh-lease! Hopefully, it'll be explained in a DVD feature.
As much as I loved watching the other SPIDER-MAN series from 1981 (on his own and with "his amazing friends") and 1994, the original's always the one I'll forever hold closest to my heart. I'm sure that the rest of my fellow Spider-fans will agree 100%. Man, all of the waiting will definitely have me climbing up the walls, but it'll be worth it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: How many episodes are on this DVD set??
Review: I've recorded all of the 1960s Spiderman cartoons on VHS tapes, and they came to a total of 79 episodes when completed. The Paszaz Superhero Cartoon Database also verifies that this is a 79 episode series in total. I'm happy that this great series is finally being released on DVD, but I'm a little concerned about the 52-episode count. Does anyone know if this DVD set will in fact be a COMPLETE collection of the 60s Spiderman toons, or is it the first of 2 volumes?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I WAITED 36 YEARS FOR THIS DAY.
Review: If you're reading this then chances are you spent many hours watching this classic on TV as a kid (yeah, before there was cable). God, this was the one, wasn't it... I mean this was IT! It was one thing to read Amazing Spider-Man for 25 cents during the Gerry Conway/Ross Andru era, but to watch him moving, jumping and swinging while battling his most hated enemies on a cartoon show!!??! Okay, so once Bakshi took over, he did some very acid-trip stuff (very questionable) and there were some obscure villains like "Infintata" from the bizarre but strangely intrgiuing "Revolt in the Fifth Dimension" episode. But still. Cool stories... great music... and my number-one hero. No matter what condition the series ended up as on an artistic level, you cannot question the fact that for a little over $50, you get all 52 EPISODES - - DIGITALLY REMASTERED ON DVD!!! THAT'S LIKE, $1 AN EPISODE!!!! I heard a rumor they were also altering the music and sound effects, but I REALLY HOPE THIS IS NOT THE CASE. A classic is a classic for a reason. Make it clearer, make it more colorful, but don't change the content!! AFTER A 36 YEAR WAIT, I AM VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS 6-DVD SET! It will provide hours of entertainment to myself and my two sons!!! Gotta buy, buy, BUY!!! Love, Astronut

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic cheesy cartoon, but you gotta love it
Review: Like many, I have fond memories of watching this cartoon in reruns during the early 80's. Lately, I've been reduced to seeing low-quality mpegs cut from videotapes. Finally, we'll all be able to get our hands on this long-awaited DVD release!

Spanning six discs are the following episodes that made up the series:
"The Power of Doctor Octopus, "Sub-Zero For Spidey", "Where Crawls the Lizard," "Electro the Human Lightning Bolt", "The Menace of Mysterio", "The Sky is Falling, "Captured By J. Jonah Jameson", "Never Step On a Scorpion, "Sands of Crime", "Diet of Destruction," "The Witching Hour", "Kilowatt Kaper," "The Peril of Parafino", "Horn of the Rhino", "The One-Eyed Idol," "Fifth Avenue Phantom", "The Revenge of Dr. Magneto," "The Sinister Prime Minister", "The Night of the Villains," "Here Comes Trubble", "Spiderman Meets Dr. Noah Boddy," "The Fantastic Fakir", "Return of the Flying Dutchman," "Farewell Performance", "The Golden Rhino," "Blueprint For Crime", "The Spider and the Fly," "The Slippery Doctor Von Schlick", "The Vulture's Prey," "The Dark Terrors", "The Terrible Triumph of Doctor Octopus," "Magic Malice", "Fountain of Terror," "Fiddler On the Loose", "To Catch a Spider," "Double Identity", "Sting of the Scorpion," "Trick or Treachery", "The Origin of Spiderman", "King Pinned", "Swing City", "Criminals in the Clouds", "Menace From the Bottom of the World", "Diamond Dust", "Spiderman Battles the Molemen", "Phantom From the Depths of Time", "The Evil Sorcerer", "Vine", "Pardo Presents", "Cloud City of Gold", "Neptune's Nose Cone", "Home", "Blotto", "Thunder Rumble", "Spiderman Meets Skyboy", "Cold Storage", "To Cage a Spider", "The Winged Thing," "Conner's Reptiles", "Trouble With Snow," "Spiderman Vs. Desperado", "Sky Harbor," "The Big Brainwasher", "The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian," "Scourge of the Scarf", "Super Swami," "The Birth of Microman", "Knights Must Fall," "The Devious Dr. Dumpty", "Up From Nowhere", "Rollarama", "Rhino," "The Madness of Mysterio", "Revolt in the Fifth Dimension", "Specialists and Slaves", "Down to Earth", "Trip to Tomorrow."

Of all the episodes, look forward to "Fiddler on the Loose," which pits Spidey against a violin-wielding madman who somehow manages to make his music deadly. It's one of the campiest things I've ever seen, and maybe it had something to do with the fear that music could corrupt. It was '67, so who knows what was going on.

Regardless, this collection has been well worth the wait, and I cannot wait to see these episodes in all their digitally restored glory. After all, this is Spider-Man, he can do whatever a spider can.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: 5 Episodes Were Not Remastered!!
Review: Like most of us who grew up watching this series, either in it's original first run on TV from 1967-70 or later in syndication, it left an indelible impact. Remember, this was the very first time Spider-Man had ever been made into a cartoon, and so the idea of actually getting to see him swinging from building to building instead of just looking at freeze-frame shots in a comic strip was really a big deal.

The first season of episodes (20 shows, 38 individual stories total), I think, are still the most remembered and most cherished of the series, with Spidey taking on famous villains like The Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Electro, The Vulture, ect. While the later seasons, which were exec. produced, directed, as well as story supervised by Ralph "Lord of The Rings - The Animated Motion Picture" Bakshi, are a mixed bag of strange trippy imagery, with some plot points in them that just make you scratch your head in bewilderment. There are some gems in there though. Besides the "Origin" Episode (#21), which is definitely a standout, other highlights by Bakshi include, "Home" (#34), a story about a woman who also has spider powers (no, it's not Spider-Woman), "Criminals In The Clouds" (#24) which involves the kidnapping of a high school student by the villainous Sky Master, "The Madness of Mysterio" (#48), a rare original Season Three episode involving the famous villain, only looking completely different and having green skin. And speaking of green skin, what was Bakshi's fetish with green skinned villains anyway? Just about all of them were green with a few exceptions. And the irony is that he never once used The Green Goblin in any of his episodes.

Most of the last season was just a rehash of earlier episodes, remixed and redubbed to seem like new episodes. I guess when you're given no money to work with, you try to be as creative as you possibly can, and Bakshi did his best, like taking the mad scientist from the "Swing City" episode (#23) and turning him into an Atlantian in episode #46 ("Up From Nowhere") by giving him different ears to look like a fish. Then Bakshi would do another episode with the mad scientist again (#50 "Specialists And Slaves"), back to his normal self. You'd think the scientist would learn to stop shooting at Spider-Man while the webslinger is standing in front of that control panel, but nooooo.

Seriously, these episodes are still great fun nonetheless. Great nostalgic value. However not every episode was properly remastered. Episodes #40 ("The Winged Thing" & "Connor's Reptiles"), #42 ("Sky Harbor" & The Big Brainwasher"), #43 ("The Vanishing Doctor Vespasian" & "The Scourge Of The Scarf"), #46 ("Up From Nowhere") & #52 ("Trip To Tomorrow") all look terrible. Very blurry and grainy, which is a complete shock, especially when you compare them to a remastered episode which looks crystal clear with bright colors and a crisp clean look on practically each and every frame. Episode #52 actually does look perfect...that is until the "Flying Dutchman" segment comes on, then it reverts back to being blurry and grainy ect. It would seem that perhaps this boxset was rushed by Buena Vista in order to be distributed to the public the same week Spiderman 2 was released in movie theaters, even though it wasn't quite yet finished...just so they could make a bigger profit. There's even a misprint on the lyrics to the Spider-Man theme song in the little booklet that comes with the boxset. They forgot the line "Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man". Just shotty workmanship, due to it being rushed.

Obviously if you love this series, you'll pick up this boxset regardless of it's flaws. Some have scoffed that there are no special features included, which is true, but considering you're paying around a dollar per episode, there's not much reason to complain too much about it. But many fans are disappointed that the "Next Week" promos at the end of each episode were not restored, except for one episode. Episode #28 ("Phantom From The Depths Of Time") does include the promo at the end (as well as a shot of Spider-Man crawling down a web in the middle of the episode). But what's humorous is that the promo is for "Revolt In The Fifth Dimension" and that's not the next episode...it's not even on the same disc. Another subtle highlight are the character drawings on all the DVD discs of several bad guys, Spidey, and J.Jonah Jameson, and the fact that there's actually an episode of that character on the disc where he's featured as the cover art on the DVD itself. A nice touch.

Despite all the flaws I still enjoy the series and am happy that it has finally been released on DVD. If you're a fan of this series, pick it up. For the most part, this release is the best this show has looked since...ever!

Keep Swingin' Spidey!


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