Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hero finds super strength and responsibility with new peers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ultimate Spider-Man
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 25 kid reviews
Kids say the show features a mix of humor, superhero teamwork, and positive messages, presenting Spider-Man as a relatable character navigating his teenage years with new allies. While some fans criticize it for straying from the comics and have mixed feelings about the humor and character representation, many appreciate its lightheartedness, diverse character development, and engaging animation, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
- humor and action
- positive messages
- character development
- mixed reception
- engaging animation
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN picks up the story of 16-year-old Peter Parker (voiced by Drake Bell) one year after the death of his uncle and his transformation into the infamous wall-crawling hero. When he's approached by Nick Fury (Chi McBride), the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., about joining his crime-fighting team, Peter agrees for the benefit of some formal training. At S.H.I.E.L.D., he meets Nova (Logan Miller), White Tiger (Caitlyn Taylor Love), Power Man (Ogie Banks), and Iron Fist (Greg Cipes), all slightly more experienced heroes who assume their own alter-egos to join Peter at Midtown High School and keep their fingers on the pulse of the town. Though Peter's not an immediate fit into his new team, he and his new comrades must find a way to work together to thwart the villains who target them, including Norman Osborn (Steven Weber) and Doctor Octopus (Tom Kenny).
Is It Any Good?
This action-adventure cartoon adds a fresh chapter to the familiar story of the beloved teen hero, using Marvel Comcis legend Nick Fury as a mentor figure for the cocky amateur Spider-Man. Bringing Peter into the fold of the S.H.I.E.L.D. training program isn't an easy process, and the young apprentice has a lot to learn about accepting criticism and being part of a team. And all of this goes down while he's working to keep his identity a secret and trying to survive the pitfalls of high school, which means there's no shortage of action or humor.
Naturally, violence is the biggest concern in Ultimate Spider-Man, but the fact that the players are masked villains and wall-scaling heroes takes the edge off the fighting. There's no blood, minimal weapon use, and few injuries. What will stick with kids are the lessons Peter learns about growing up and taking on responsibility under the guidance of his mentor and with the help of his new friends.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about heroes in Ultimate Spider-Man. Do you have any personal heroes? What makes them special to you? How do you try to imitate their behavior? Would it change your opinion of them if you saw them doing something wrong?
Kids: How do Ultimate Spider-Man's characters make good use of their individual skills? Does working together make them stronger than they are when they're alone? What special talents do Peter's non-hero friends and family have? How do they influence him in a positive way?
Peter keeps a big secret from his friends and family. How does it affect him to stay silent about his identity? Do you think he would improve his relationships if he told them the truth? What kinds of secrets are too important to keep from your parents?
How do the characters in Ultimate Spider-Man demonstrate courage and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 1, 2012
- Cast : Chi McBride , Drake Bell , Tom Kenny
- Network : Disney XD
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Superheroes , Adventures , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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