Spider-Man Unlimited 1999 was an animated Spider-Man series from 1999; that followed Spider-Man’s exploits on an alternate Earth. Starring Rino Romano as Peter Parker, Spider-Man Unlimited saw the webslinger travel to a planet named Counter Earth to rescue John Jamison (John Payne) from the symbiotes Venom (Brian Drummond) and Carnage (Michael Donovan); who boarded Jamison’s spaceship headed for Counter Earth in an attempt to explore it. Upon his arrival the arachknight finds that Beastials populate Counter Earth; intelligent anthropomorphic animals. And John Jamison is now leader of the human resistance movement against their creator the High Evolutionary. This cartoon is notable for striking a balance between schlocky animation. And clever science fiction. Spider-Man’s decency and humanity grounds this cartoon and provides its moral centre. When Spidey convinces the human resistance leaders not to execute their prisoners in episode 2.
Do androids dream of existential angst?
Spider-Man Unlimited 1999’s big bad was the High Evolutionary (Richard Newman). In addition to creating the Beastials the High Evolutionary enforced his will via Machine Men; a robotic total law enforcement corps. In episode 5 a Machine Man named X-51 (Dale Wilson) who is nearing the end of his life refuses to hurt the innocent. The wall crawler saves him and they escape the other droid enforcers. Which leads to a touching and heartfelt conversation about the meaning of life. Spider-Man states that he does not know the meaning of life; and that everyone must work that out for themselves. This was a criminally underrated piece of writing. That displayed this show’s potential and hidden depths superbly. Also notable was Git Hoskins’s storyline. Which revealed him to have been a painfully shy child who was captured and experimented on by Sir Ram (Ron Halder). One of the secondary antagonists.
Love can be a dangerous game
Spider-Man Unlimited 1999 had plenty of ship tease between Spidey and his friends (and foes). Dr. Naoko Yamada-Jones (Akiko Morison) and her son Shane (Rhys Huber) take Peter in when he is looking for a place to stay on Counter Earth. Peter and Naoko’s relationship deepens over the series (bonus points for Peter calling Naoko “MJ” at one point). And Parker’s friendship with Shane is adorable. Naoko proves to be a capable and caring ally to Peter and the human resistance. This reviewer would like to see Naoko and Shane appear in 616 canon personally. Additionally, Spider-Man gains an abhorrent admirer in Lady Vermin (Jennifer Hale). A Knight of Wundagore like Sir Ram who wastes no opportunity to kiss Spidey even when they’re fighting to the death. Moreover, Jennifer Hale also voiced Mary Jane in this series. Delivering a heartfelt speech to Peter about how he as an ordinary person is just as important as his superhero identity.
Overall
Spider-Man Unlimited 1999 is considered a cult classic. Parts of it are clever and parts of it are silly. I think this show is significant because it’s weird and unusual; and not fine tuned like so much of Marvel’s TV output is now. Over and above that, the original plan was for this cartoon to feature a second Peter Parker who hailed from Counter Earth. Whose Uncle Ben was still alive and who had thus succumbed to the Venom symbiote. This alone deserves to be explored if not at least referenced in 616 canon. On top of that, this version of Spidey cameoed in Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse. Digressions aside, Spider-Man Unlimited 1999 is a fun and deceptively smart romp through a little known corner of Marvel’s multiverse.
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