Spider-Woman

1 9 7 9 – 1 9 8 0 (USA)
16 x 30 minute episodes

As a child, Justice magazine editor/publisher Jessica Drew (voiced by Joan Van Ark) had been bitten by a spider in the laboratory of her scientist father, Dr Alexander Drew, and, when cured by an experimental serum from him, found herself possessing that arachnid’s abilities – and then some.

She shot webs, delivered “venom blasts” to foes, possessed supersensitive hearing, and even flew.

Her photographer Jeff Hunt (Bruce Millar) and young nephew Billy (Bryan Scott) had no inkling of her crime-fighting alter ego, which she became by twirling into a  figure-hugging red and yellow outfit.

The synopsis sounds like a distaff Spider-Man with only a few minor alterations, but it prompted no lawsuits from
Marvel because its executive producer was Stan Lee, the comic book company’s founder, who created the character in the comics in 1977.

Interestingly, the voice of actress Joan Van Ark had been heard in the previous season on Tarzan and the Super 7, a cartoon series on which one of the segments was a similar production called “Web Woman.”

This ABC show was the last series produced by DePatie-Freleng Productions.

Jessica Drew
Joan Van Ark
Billy
Bryan Scott
Jeff Hunt
Bruce Millar
Detective Miller
Larry Carroll
Kuthu
Vic Perrin
Chief Cooper
Lou Krugman
Narrator
Dick Tufeld