The Amazing Spider-Man (1977)

Marvel Comics’s famous wall crawler gets his first live-action television series!

Brainy college student Peter Parker (Nicholas Hammond) has his world turn upside down when a radioactive spider bites him. What a nuisance. Then gradually Peter discovers that bite has given him super powers.

Before long he lands a photographer job at the Daily Bugle, is climbing up walls, swinging from some durable webbing he’s concocted and catching bad guys. Yep, sounds like the good old Spider-Man we all know and love.

Kicking off with a two hour origin story, The Amazing Spider-Man continued to air for the next two television seasons, mainly consisting of one hour episodes. Unfortunately, Spidey wouldn’t get a chance to face any of his major villains from the comics during his time on the tube.

A limited budget and some hokey effects didn’t alienate young fans from tuning in to see their hero swing around town. In comparison with today, 1977’s Spidey might look quaint and cheesy, but back in the day it was must see TV for any young superhero fan.

Here I take a look at the TV movie pilot that started things off. Hammond stars, with a supporting cast that would be replaced once the series began.