DISNEY XD'S #1 ANIMATED SERIES "ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN" SWINGS TO A SECOND SEASON ON MARVEL UNIVERSE PROGRAMMING BLOCK

A second season of Marvel's #1 animated series "Ultimate Spider-Man," the launch series of the Marvel Universe programming block, has been ordered by Disney XD, it was announced today by David Levine, Vice President and General Manager, Disney XD Worldwide. The debut series from Marvel Television premiered in April 2012 and to date, has more than doubled its delivery in Total Viewers, Boys 6-14, Boys 6-11 and Boys 2-11. Marvel's "Ultimate Spider-Man" follows the action packed adventures of New York's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man who joins S.H.I.E.L.D.'s exclusive training program alongside four other teens to learn what it takes to become the ultimate Super Heroes.

The TV series' success extends to online as well where "Ultimate Spider-Man" games have held the #1 spot since their launch on DisneyXD.com. The "Iron Spider" game reached #1 in its first week (March 18) and stayed there for five straight weeks until "Cyber-Sabotage" launched on April 19, taking over the #1 spot for the next four weeks.

In making the announcement, Levine said, "The Disney XD audience has connected with Spider-Man and his super-powered friends as they face challenges in school and with their S.H.I.E.L.D. training. As the anchor of our Marvel Universe block, 'Ultimate Spider-Man' season two will be back with more humor, villains and adventurous storylines that boys (and girls) will love."

"We are very excited about the return of 'Ultimate Spider-Man' inside the Marvel Universe on Disney XD," said Jeph Loeb, Head of Marvel Television. "With season two, the series introduces popular Marvel heroes and villains you've never seen before on the small screen. With more action, more excitement, more humor, this is the ultimate Spider-Man for fans of all ages."

The acclaimed creative forces behind "Ultimate Spider-Man" come back for a second season. Man of Action return to the series as Co-Executive Producers alongside Creative Consultant Paul Dini. Fans can expect even more scripts from fan favorite Consulting Producer Brian Michael Bendis, who has written every issue of the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man since its best selling launch in 1999.

The second season of "Ultimate Spider-Man" has Spidey teaming up with some of the biggest heroes in the Marvel Universe, the Avengers - Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk. While the stakes get higher, the villains become more menacing as the young heroes encounter classic Spider-Man villains such as the Lizard and other familiar faces. Fans will discover the secret origins of their favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. trainees, with more revealed about Nova, Iron Fist, Power Man and White Tiger.

The award-winning creative team consists of executive producers: Alan Fine ("The Avengers," "Iron Man," "Thor"), Dan Buckley ("The Avengers," "Iron Man"), Joe Quesada (Marvel's Chief Creative Officer) and Jeph Loeb (Marvel's Head of Television) ("Lost," "Heroes"); co-executive producers: Stan Lee ("Spider-Man"), Eric Radomski ("Batman Animated," "Spawn"), Man of Action (creators of "Ben 10" and "Generator Rex") Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle, Dana Booton ("The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes") and Cort Lane ("The Super Hero Squad Show"); creative consultant: Paul Dini ("Batman: The Animated Series," "Lost"); and consulting producer: Brian Michael Bendis (visionary behind Marvel's Ultimate Comics Spider-Man series).

Versus year-ago time period averages, "Ultimate Spider-Man" has more than doubled delivery in Total Viewers (+138% - 827,000 vs. 347,000), Boys 6-14 (+135% - 249,000 vs. 106,000), Boys 6-11 (131% - 187,000 vs. 81,000) and Boys 2-11 (+151% - 248,000 vs. 99,000), with solid double-digit percent gains in all other kid demos (+87% to +93%).*

"Ultimate Spider-Man" stars Drake Bell ("Drake & Josh") as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chi McBride ("Boston Public") as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg ("Iron Man," "Thor," "The Avengers") as Agent Coulson, JK Simmons ("Spider-Man") as J. Jonah Jameson, Steven Weber ("Wings") as Norman Osborn, Greg Cipes ("Teen Titans," "Ben 10") as Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Ogie Banks ("Fatherhood") as Luke Cage/Power Man, Caitlyn Taylor Love ("I'm In The Band") as Ava Ayala/White Tiger, Logan Miller ("I'm In The Band") as Sam Alexander/Nova, Tom Kenny ("SpongeBob SquarePants") as Doctor Octopus, Matt Lanter ("Star Wars: The Clone Wars") as Harry Osborn/Flash Thompson, Tara Strong ("The Fairly OddParents") as Mary-Jane Watson, Misty Lee ("Batman: Arkham City") as Aunt May, and recurring guest star Stan Lee ("Spider-Man") as Stan the Janitor.

New episodes of "Ultimate Spider-Man" air Sundays at 11:00 a.m., ET/PT on Marvel Universe on Disney XD. The series is produced by Marvel Animation and carries a TV-Y7-FV parental guideline.

*Source: NTI, 12/26/11-5/20/12, U.S. ratings, most current ratings for YTD; Live + Same Day for 5/13 series high.