Fans of the animated Spider-Man: The Animated Series have waited a long, long time (thirty years almost!) for a resolution to the story and it’s finally here… but it’s probably not the story you were originally going to get and the show’s lead writer, John Sempler Jr, is keen to let you know that he is not involved. At all.
Taking to social media, Sempler Jr wrote: “NO, I am NOT involved with this comic book and no one approached me to be involved in any way.”
Pretty crappy of Disney/Marvel is true.
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However, remaining admirably professional, Sempler Jr, goes on to say that the book will likely be really good and that new leads JM DeMatteis and Jim Towe are great, but it’s not where he planned on going with the story: “I’m positive this new comic is in great hands. I hired [DeMatteis] years ago to participate in writing one episode of my series (which ran for 65 episodes) and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. Where he now chooses to take the series story-wise is entirely his decision. But for the record, they are NOT my creative choices, nor do they represent any oversight from me.”
In the original series, which wrapped in 1998, Mary Jane Watson was lost in the multi-verse and Madame Web promised to help Spidey find her – the series ended with our favourite web-slinger swinging into another dimension, leaving fans wondering if the next leap, would be the leap home, sorry, if it would take him to Mary Jane.
It was a pretty horrible way to leave fans hanging (no pun intended) for almost three decades and, I suppose, if nothing else, there’s going to be AN ending, if not necessarily THE ending: “Yes, it would have been nice (some might even say, respectful) if Marvel had reached out to me at some point as a courtesy,” Sempler Jr says, “But I have long ago abandoned all expectation that Marvel would acknowledge any of my contributions to the Marvel Universe- like, for instance, my creation of what is now known as the “Spider-Verse.”
Oooof!
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I must admit, I have seen the show but was never invested enough to know all these details, but I know that, if I were, and if I was planning on getting this book, this would certainly leave a sour taste in my mouth.
What say you all?
Here’s Sempler Jr’s social media post:
So, about that new SPIDER-MAN ’94 comic book… pic.twitter.com/7yTN9h06vC
— John Semper Jr. (@johnsemper) June 18, 2025
The new book’s press release:
Fans will be able to revisit Spider-Man: The Animated Series this September in SPIDER-MAN ’94, a new comic series that delivers an all-new adventure set in the world of the iconic ‘90s show! The five-issue limited series will be written by legendary Spider-Scribe J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by rising star artist Jim Towe (X-Force).
Premiering in 1994 and running for five seasons, Spider-Man: The Animated Series is considered one the most popular animated comic book adaptations of all time. The hit series ended with Spider-Man entering the multiverse to save Mary Jane. Now, nearly thirty years later, this cliffhanger is officially resolved as the SPIDER-MAN ’94 comic book series continues with storytelling set after the dramatic final episode. The saga will also introduce the animated universe’s versions of comic book characters that never appeared in the original series.
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After searching to the ends of the Multiverse, PETER PARKER – the AMAZING, the SPECTACULAR, the RADIOACTIVE Web-Head himself – A.K.A. SPIDER-MAN, swings back into the streets of New York City with his beloved Mary Jane Watson in tow! But what’s this? One of these villains is not like the others: Witness this universe’s debut of not one, but TWO of Spider-Man’s greatest villains from the comics—MORLUN and KAINE! Break out your action figures, and post up in front of the TV as we bring you back to the greatest era of animated super hero television in history! You’re never going to expect the twists and turns ahead for your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
“The 1990s Spider-Man animated series has become a beloved part of Spidey lore—it was the introduction to Peter Parker and his universe for an entire generation—and I’m delighted to be diving back into that universe,” DeMatteis told IGN. “We’re treating this as the next season of the show, which means introducing new villains, new challenges, new adventures for Peter—while doing our best to remain true to the creative spirit that John Semper and company established with the original show.”
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Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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