This Japanese SPIDER-MAN TV Series is Totally Bonkers

If you're following along with what Marvel Comics is doing with Spider-Man right now, you'll know that writer Dan Slott is in the middle of a centuries-spanning arc called Spider-Verse that involves every iteration of the Spider-Man character to ever exist - and that includes the version of the character that appeared on the bizarre, Marvel-approved television show in Japan in the late 1970s. You have to see this to believe it. Check out a quick trailer below.

Spider-Man wielding a machine gun? Someone named Professor Monster? What the heck is going on here? This is totally nuts, and I sort of love it. Anyway, Marvel has made the first and the seventh episode of the show available on its website for you to check out right now if you're in the mood to see a whacked-out Spidey controlling a Megazord. I've never heard of this show before, but I like that there's an officially licensed take on this character that's light-years away from how we know him in the U.S. It's cool that this character can transcend cultural boundaries, and now I'm wondering if any other Marvel characters have strange TV shows floating around out there that I didn't know about. Check out the two available episodes below.

"The Time of Revenge Has Come! Beat Down Iron Cross Group!" The first episode of the TOEI-produced Japanese "Spiderman" TV series sees motorcycle racer Takuya Yamashiro gain the powers of Spider-Man! With his new powers and the help of Marveller, he transforms into Leopardon in order to defeat Professor Monster and his evil Iron Cross Army.

"Fearful Hit Tune! Song Dancing Murder Rock" Spider-Man protects two scientists working to make a weapon that can target the Iron Cross Army, while Professor Monster models cyborgs out of a popular Japanese rock band!

H/T: Uproxx