Review by Jess Harrison

Rating: PG

RRP: £14.99

It can be a tough life being your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.  Not only does he have a whole rogue’s gallery of villains constantly causing trouble for him, but if J. Jonah Jameson has his way then the web-slinger himself may just end up behind bars.

A real treat for hardcore Spidey fans, Volume 3 of the original animated series swings its way onto our shelves on this month.  Digitally remastered for improved sound and visual quality, this is a must have for collectors of all things Spider-Man.  This new edition also offers a choice of six different subtitled languages in which to enjoy our hero’s antics.

With fourteen individual episodes, grouped into double features, each lasting just over ten minutes, this volume provides over two hours of crime-fighting action.

Bad guys such as Green Goblin, the Human Fly Twins, Doc Oc, Vulture and the Rhino, amongst many others, all find out why crime really doesn’t pay.  Spidey literally wraps up each case, and delivers all of the villains with a note signed “from your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man”. 

Spidey is an all round crime fighter, and finds himself up against jewel heists, fighting shadows, egotistical gold robberies and even someone pretending to be him.  There’s certainly never a dull minute in our hero’s schedule.

Unfortunately, no matter how many good deeds our hapless hero does not everyone is convinced of his intentions as Daily Bugle big-shot J. Jonah Jameson is determined to prove that Spider-Man is just as much of a crook as all those who’s plans he foils.  This inevitably makes life difficult for Spidey’s alter-ego Peter Parker, who not only has to keep his hot tempered boss happy with his photos, but also try desperately to convince him to call off the newspaper witch-hunt!  Even after J.J. is himself rescued by our hero he still holds true to anti Spidey attitude.  I guess there really is no pleasing some people.

Unlike the later animated series from the 1990’s, there is no real story arc to speak of in this original series.  Each episode is a stand alone tale, formulaically beginning with the viewer witnessing a crime in progress, and then following Spidey as he seeks out the culprits and saves the day.

Any fans who may have come into the world of Spider-Man in later years, such as myself, may not get as much out of this series as an old-school fan would.  The nostalgia value of the series is definitely high, and harks back to a time of a simpler Marvel universe.  Any new fans wishing to go back to Spidey’s origins and really immerse themselves in his world would definitely get a real ‘kitsch buzz’ from this.  However, I wouldn’t recommend this volume as a good starting place to get into the character, and would perhaps suggest that newcomers check out the later series first, or even pick up the trades from Brand New Day onwards.

A definite treat for long-standing fans, but maybe not so much for new Spidey readers.

Rating: 6 out of 10 (Slightly Above Average)

For further info on any of the DVDs reviewed here be sure to check out www.superheroesondvd.co.uk  - also, look out for a competition to win these DVDs later in the week on TheComicAddiction.com!