In 1977, television audiences were introduced to the first live-action Spider-Man in a movie that aired on CBS and even had a theatrical release outside the U.S.
The film ultimately served as the pilot for The Amazing Spider-Man TV series (which ran for two seasons and a total of 13 episodes), and was directed by E. W. Swackhamer and written by Alvin Boretz. It starred Nicholas Hammond as the titular character, along with David White, Michael Pataki, Jeff Donnell, and Thayer David.
Two sequels, Spider-Man Strikes Back and Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, were released in 1978 and 1981, respectively.
As a reminder, in Spider-Man, a young university student, Peter Parker (Hammond), transforms into a crime-fighting hero after a radioactive spider bite. When a mind-controlling cult threatens New York, forcing citizens into chaos unless ransom demands are met, Peter must learn to balance his newfound "spider-sense," wall-crawling abilities, and his job as a Daily Bugle photographer to save the city.
The show was very much a product of its time, but it's achieved cult status and was the first time many people got to see Spidey swing into action on screen.
Today, Hot Toys has revealed its 1/6th scale Spider-Man Collectable Figure. Here's the official description from what promises to be a highly sought-after, difficult-to-find take on the web-slinger:
This exclusive figure is only available in a limited quantity of 600 units in selected markets. The figure comes with two sets of interchangeable eye pieces to evoke the distinctive look of the early costume. The costume itself is recreated in a tailored red and blue one-piece suit, completed with a web-shooter and utility belt. Eleven interchangeable hands allow for versatile posing — from web-shooting and surface climbing to photo shooting and dynamic poses.
Accessories include a short and a bendable long string of spider-web, an opened spider web effect, and a camera as a nod to Parker’s life as a photographer. A transparent TV series logo graphic card, and a specially designed figure stand complete the homage. Celebrate Spider-Man’s small-screen origins with this collectable, ideal for fans of vintage TV and dedicated Spidey collectors.
Like Iron Man before him, Spider-Man has become a big draw for Hot Toys in recent years, so we're not surprised to see the 1977 version of the character get his due from the Hong Kong-based company.
You can take a closer look at this Spider-Man figure in the Instagram gallery below.