Ever since The Batman was canceled early this year, I’ve ignored Saturday morning cartoons. A few weeks ago, however, I woke up early and paid little attention to my daughter’s channel surfing until I caught sight of an old familiar web-headed friend. I quickly realized that The Spectacular Spider-Man was something I should have been paying attention to all along.

This incarnation of Peter Parker and friends is certainly new, but it also offered a surprising number of nostalgic touches that I haven’t seen in decades. Who thought I would have missed gadget-based web shooters, vestigial web wings and a spidey-faced sunset? As I quickly caught up with this first 13-episode season, I saw a veritable parade of classic villains with the same retro-future vibe, including the oft-overlooked Lizard and Rhino, as well as the more cinematically favored Green Goblin, Doc Oc and Sandman.

While Spidey is the star, there is plenty of screen time for Peter Parker as well. We see our hero struggle to balance school, work, family and friends along with his newly acquired taste for super-vigilantism. Like the rest of us, he doesn’t always succeed, but thankfully learns from his mistakes.

For those who missed this engaging first season of The Spectacular Spider-Man, one easy way to catch up is being offered in the form of three-episode DVDs, which are just starting to hit the streets. You have until March 2009 to prepare for the second season premiere on the CW. Now — like yours truly — you have no excuse to miss this excellent retelling of Spider-Man’s tale.