Marvel’s recently announced Spider-Man ’94 comic series is giving fans exactly what they’ve been asking for… a continuation of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, nearly three decades after its cliffhanger finale.
But, there’s one glaring omission from the revival that has left longtime fans scratching their heads, series showrunner and head writer John Semper Jr. wasn’t invited to be part of it.
Following the official announcement, Semper took to X to set the record straight.
“No, I am NOT involved with this comic book and no one at Marvel approached me to be involved in any way. Matt’s text message was the first I heard of it. The internet tells me that J.M. DeMatteis is the writer of the comic book, and I have nothing but the greatest respect for him.
“His amazing body of work over the years in both animation and comic books speaks for itself, and I’m positive this new comic is in great hands. I hired him years ago to participate in writing one episode of my series (which ran for 65 episodes) and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him.
“Where he now chooses to take the series story-wise is entirely his decision. But for the record, they are NOT my creative choices, nor do they represent any oversight by me.”
While the comic is in the capable hands of J.M. DeMatteis and artist Jim Towe, it’s hard not to question the absence of the person who shaped the soul of the original series. Fans might remember that Semper was also instrumental in creating what later evolved into the concept of the “Spider-Verse”, which is something he’s rarely credited for by the company.
“Yes, it would have been nice (some might even say, respectful) if Marvel had reached out to me at some point as a courtesy. But I have long ago abandoned all expectation that Marvel would acknowledge any of my contributions to the Marvel universe – like, for instance, my creation of what is now known as the ‘Spider-Verse.’”
Marvel’s decision echoes a larger conversation about how studios handle legacy creators, especially when reviving beloved properties. With X-Men ’97 earning critical praise for respecting its roots while pushing forward, it’s curious to see Spider-Man ’94 take off without the voice who made the original sing.
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