You may start seeing a trend here, because in 2012 a new series of live action movies was launching — Sony's much hyped "Amazing Spider-Man" reboot starring Andrew Garfield — and with a potential impending blockbuster on the way, Disney and Marvel, who now controlled the rights to Spider-Man cartoons, wanted to have a new animated series ready to hit the airwaves around the same time. This series, dubbed "Ultimate Spider-Man" (but shared almost nothing in common with the comic book series of the same name), saw Peter Parker's super hero alter ego battling villains with the help of other heroes. In a movie that was clearly inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the series opened with Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. recruiting Spider-Man to be a part of a new team of superheroes that included Nova, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and White Tiger.
Though many of the episodes would revolve around Spider-Man's well-known roster of villains, "Ultimate Spider-Man" drew from the wider Marvel Universe, with villains like Zodiac, Juggernaut, Nightmare, Sabretooth, and Loki, as well as a parade of superhero guest stars like Wolverine, Captain America, Hulk, Doctor Strange, Deadpool, Blade, The Guardians of The Galaxy, Ka-Zar, Cloak & Dagger, and many others. It seemed Marvel was hoping to use the popularity of Spider-Man to introduce kids to all these new heroes. Reviews from fans were split, with some applauding its ambitious stories and bigger Marvel Universe, while others criticized it for not being nearly as good as the show that preceded it.
