IN FILMS

Spider-Man (2002)

Sam Raimi’s live action version with Tobey Maguire playing a high-school Peter Parker in love with Mary-Jane Watson is the first big silver screen outing for the web-slinger that we remember. Maguire made a great Peter, even though he came across as less intelligent than a nerd that Peter was supposed to be. 
X-Factor: Willem Defoe’s cackling and mental Green Goblin and Spidey and Mary-Jane’s upside-down kiss in the rain.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Tobey Maguire’s second outing as Spidey is the best Spider-Man film in the modern times, though he is not the best Spider-Man. Relationship trouble, friendship, importance of taking responsibility... all play a role in the film. Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus (a comic book fan-favourite) was a nuanced and complex villain, the best Spidey villain so far. Even Maguire upped his acting chops.

X-Factor: That train sequence where Spider-Man fights Doc Oc on a speeding train and forces Spider-Man to pull out all he’s got to stop the runaway train... just glorious.

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

The less said about this one, the better. The worst film to come out of the Spider-Man franchise went wrong with everything. The Mary-Jane-Peter Parker story felt stale, Maguire slipped back into his zero-acting skill territory, especially with the cocky Venom version. There are too many villains, too many plot threads and everything ends up a mess.
Z-Factor: Gotta be that dance Tobey Maguire did as he walked down the road. There cannot be anything worse.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Marc Webb took over from Sam Raimi and rebooted the series with Andrew Garfield as the smart alecy Amazing Spider-Man version of the comic books. Garfield’s Spider-Man was a refreshing change as was the change of the love interest from Mary Jane to Gwen Stacy.

X-Factor: Insane action sequences, especially the one on the bridge where the Lizard throws cars off the bridge and Spider-Man tries to save them. Also Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone’s chemistry was off the charts.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

An over-long film overpopulated with villains who hardly make a mark was a strike against the second Marc Webb film, despite excellent acting by most of the cast (we are still holding out judgement on Jamie Foxx’s Electro). The action sequences were fantastic and the tone of the film just as fun as the first.

X-Factor: The sparks between Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield made up for the mess of the film; their chemistry saves the day. 

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

While technically not a Spider-Man film, this is our introduction to the MCU version of the webslinger, back where he belongs — with Marvel. Tom Holland’s geeky, young and unsure Peter Parker is exactly what the comic book fans needed. If his “I can’t go to Germany, I have homework” dialogue didn’t seal the deal, it was nothing but love at first sight when he webs away Cap’s shield and goes on to blabber about how he could have got his landing better and how he was a fan of Captain America. Perfect.

X-Factor: That suit! That suit has got to be the best Spidey suit ever. Also him geeking out about Winter Soldier’s metal arm while fighting him and then that AT-AT reference as he helps bring down a gigantic Ant-Man.

ON TELEVISION

SPIDER-MAN (1967)

For most of the ’80s kids in India this is the first memory of watching the web-slinger on television. The first animated series which originally ran on ABC from 1967 to 1970 was aired on Doordarshan in the ’80s. Spider-Man was voiced by Paul Soles and the top villains fought on the show included Doctor Octopus, Mysterio and the Green Goblin. 

X-Factor: What we still remember word for word is the theme song: “Spider-Man Spider-Man does whatever a spider can/ Spins a web any size/ Catches thieves just like flies/ Lookout! Here comes the Spider-Man”. 

SPIDER-MAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1994)

For the kids growing up in the ’90s the Fox Kids show that ran from 1994 to 1998 and aired on Disney Channel was their introduction to the friendly neighbourhood guy in a mask. The show focused on Peter Parker’s college years in Empire State University while he has already been a photographer with The Daily Bugle. 

X-Factor: Appearances from various other Marvel superheroes like the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Captain America and more.