Hey, Jameson and bounty hunters. I'd love to see Smythe and the Spider-Slayer robots. And didn't the Scorpian get his start as a Jameson funded project?
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: A fitting name!
- Thread starter Christopher
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Yep, Weisman said if the series goes on Scorpion will be in S3.
Makes sense, because each season will only be a few months in real-time with some time jumps, so by S3 Jameson's hatred of Spidey will have become volcanic enough that he'd create stuff like Scorpion and the Slayers to take him down. He doesn't hate Spidey enough yet.
Makes sense, because each season will only be a few months in real-time with some time jumps, so by S3 Jameson's hatred of Spidey will have become volcanic enough that he'd create stuff like Scorpion and the Slayers to take him down. He doesn't hate Spidey enough yet.
Actually the image of Spidey hanging upside-down and seeing his reflection in the black costume originated in the '90s animated series, and the movie borrowed it from that.
I would've liked for him to have a nightmare about the black suit and his normal costume fighting over him (which actually WAS from the comics first), but they went for the more subtle approach to the symbiote infecting him. I do wonder why the spider-sense didn't warn him about it.
Well, in the comics, the symbiote (and thus Venom) is immune to his spider-sense, but that's because the alien device that created (?) it tailored it not to trigger his spider-sense, so that it wouldn't interfere with his abilities or actions. So that wouldn't work here.
Perhaps the reason is that the symbiote isn't exactly a danger to him, at least not yet. If anything, it's making him safer. Or maybe it just has a natural immunity.
The alien device in "Secret Wars" didn't make the symbiote, it was actually a prison cell holding the symbiote after it was imprisoned there by the rest of the Symbiote Empire as it was judged "insane" for not wanting to fully take over it's host and conquer it.
It only became immune to the Spider-Sense afterwards, because it nearly totally bonded to him and his DNA.
It only became immune to the Spider-Sense afterwards, because it nearly totally bonded to him and his DNA.
^^I guess that was the retcon explanation; I think mine is closer to the original explanation from SW or thereabouts.
That's the advantage of adaptations sometimes. The original comics could be kind of a hodgepodge, and the original black costume/symbiote/Venom story unfolded pretty vaguely and unevenly. Eddie Brock didn't exist as a character until the issue where Venom was introduced, with his backstory being explained in a series of flashbacks folding him into the continuity of the previous year or two. And there wasn't really any story about the black costume turning Spidey toward the dark side -- just some intermittent subplot about the costume taking him out for spins at night while he was sleeping and gradually draining his life force. I really don't think they had any intention of creating Venom when they did the initial alien-costume stories. The '90s animated series brought a lot more coherence to the whole thing, even setting up Eddie Brock as a Spidey-hater from the very first episode of the show, and introducing the evil influence of the costume. It's no wonder the movie, and now this show, apparently, followed that lead instead of the comics'.
That's the advantage of adaptations sometimes. The original comics could be kind of a hodgepodge, and the original black costume/symbiote/Venom story unfolded pretty vaguely and unevenly. Eddie Brock didn't exist as a character until the issue where Venom was introduced, with his backstory being explained in a series of flashbacks folding him into the continuity of the previous year or two. And there wasn't really any story about the black costume turning Spidey toward the dark side -- just some intermittent subplot about the costume taking him out for spins at night while he was sleeping and gradually draining his life force. I really don't think they had any intention of creating Venom when they did the initial alien-costume stories. The '90s animated series brought a lot more coherence to the whole thing, even setting up Eddie Brock as a Spidey-hater from the very first episode of the show, and introducing the evil influence of the costume. It's no wonder the movie, and now this show, apparently, followed that lead instead of the comics'.
That's why "The Alien Costume" is a highly regarded episode even to the biggest detractors of the 90s series. It took all the flaws of the original symbiote saga and re-invented it totally so now there was more to the suit than just wanting to bond to its host. Plus it gave a less cosmic origin for the symbiote.
I'm still not a fan of the art style, but they've done a good job with spidey's movements and dialogue. I really enjoyed the symbiote episode and the chameleon didn't have that huge obvious green beltbuckle. I think if I was hugged up against the black cat when I was 15 or 16, I would need to strategically place something over the huge tent in my pants.
The show introduces two elements that the 90s show did really well: the Venom Saga and Black Cat; the latter actually appeared more as Felicia than as the Cat (you could argue that she was Peter's best match on that show, too), with a great voice done by Jennifer Hale. The 90s Venom origin was a highly influential revamp (the movies, and now this story, borrow a lot from it) that far exceeded the slapdash comics story. And both SSM's versions are off to great starts; SSM Black Cat is more like the original comics version than the 90s one that I grew up with (playful cat burglar vs. friend forced to become a thief), and it's done quite well (the 90s one provided an explanation for why she can do all the cool stuff she can, whereas here she's seemingly just a badass normal who can match Spidey's swinging/fighting, which may be a bit of a stretch).
I also really liked, as with the episode before last, that we get a more complex Flash here; the "Spider-Man's #1 fan" aspect is important to the character, and sets off his dislike of Peter.
I also really liked, as with the episode before last, that we get a more complex Flash here; the "Spider-Man's #1 fan" aspect is important to the character, and sets off his dislike of Peter.
^^Ohh, yeah, Jennifer Hale has one of the sexiest voices in animation (and she's pretty nice to look at too). I loved her Black Cat voice. But Tricia Helfer pretty much equalled her Cat for sexiness.
"Group Therapy" with the Sinister Six was pretty good today (I think this was new). The fighting is really inventive on this show and "Spidey" using the Six against themselves led to some cool moments. I am not a Spidey reader but from what I can tell this is doing justice to the symbiote story, next week looks good as he takes on the suit. The consequences of the denouement was well-played and slightly chilling. I like Mary Jane a lot, she seems to be a real strong person in a positive way, I think she'd be a good role model for kids watching.
My only negative is the odd art when Peter's arms are bare, it makes him look like a literal action figure.
My only negative is the odd art when Peter's arms are bare, it makes him look like a literal action figure.
In "Group Therapy," written by Andrew (not Garak) Robinson and directed by Jennifer Coyle, the Sinister Six make their debut as Doc Ock, with help from Hammerhead and a not-so-rehabilitated Electro (whose doctor is Ashley Kafka, making her series debut), breaks out Rhino, Sandman, Vulture, and Montana/Shocker (along with the other two Enforcers, although they go off with Hammerhead rather than making it the Evil Eight). In their first battle, they force black-costumed Spidey into retreat, but in their second battle, an oddly silent Spidey cleans their clocks and almost kills Doc Ock -- and when Peter wakes up the next morning and sees it in the paper, he has no memory of those events. Meanwhile, Aunt May, spectator to the first S6 attack in Times Square, has a heart attack, and Peter is so wrapped up (literally) in fighting bad guys symbiote-style that he doesn't even learn about it until the fadeout.
It seems they're going for a blend of the '90s animated series/movie version of the symbiote story (wherein it turns Peter darker and more aggressive) and the comics version (wherein it drained Pete's life force and took him out for nighttime spins while he was sleeping). Of course it was easy enough to tell what was going on simply from Spidey's silence; I don't think even a darker, crueler Spidey could keep his trap shut if he were conscious. And there was an element of the Inverse Ninja Rule in symbi-Spidey's battle with the Six (i.e. each opponent was highly dangerous individually, but in combination they're easier for the hero to beat), but the episode managed to justify it by having symbi-Spidey be more powerful, cunning, and ruthless, and by having s-S turn the Six's formidable powers against each other.
Meanwhile, we see Eddie Brock (in a black-and-white motorcycle jacket that evokes Venom's look) taking a darker turn, declaring his enmity toward Peter and trying to hurt him by "stealing" Mary Jane -- not in any sinister way, just by taking her out in the hopes of making him jealous. But it's an interesting echo of Venom's comics debut; the first thing he did there was to go after MJ and threaten her life in order to get to Peter. And MJ's failure to play along with Eddie's mind games, and her final shot at him about being half the man Peter was, will surely feed his bitterness. Just in time for the 2-part finale coming up, wherein I expect a certain black goo-like garment will be up for grabs...
(Oh, and there was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the fight with the S6 where Shocker's sonic weaponry made the black costume writhe -- a bit of foreshadowing.)
They've given Eddie, and incidentally Peter, a new backstory to link them together more closely. Apparently both their fathers were in business together, founding a research lab, and they all went down in a plane crash en route to a conference. I guess the comics' backstory of Richard and Mary Parker being government agents killed by the Red Skull is a bit too Cold-War to cut it anymore (good grief, this version of Peter would've been born in 1993 -- how time flies). But making Richard a scientist is a bit of a change. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that I recap it, it feels like they're laying the groundwork for some future storyline. I wonder where they might go with it.
I liked the bit of the S6 hanging out in a fancy restaurant and the cops just watching them, aware they couldn't do anything to stop them. It underlined just how powerful these villains are, and how much Spidey's got his work cut out for him. And how much the city needs him.
Speaking of which, it was surprising to see Aunt May trying to protect Spidey from the Six, standing in their way so they wouldn't hurt "that young man." Apparently this show isn't going for the traditional "May hates Spidey" angle, an element that the movies dispensed of pretty quickly as well. Plus we get to see Jonah's softer side again, when he resolves to tell Peter about May's heart attack himself -- although that backfires, as it turns out.
Well, the advance reports about this episode claimed it would show Venom's debut, which puzzled me, because it seemed like too much to throw into one episode. I'm not surprised those reports turned out to be inaccurate. No doubt that comes next week, and I'm curious how they'll handle it. I'm not a fan of Venom; he was ridiculously overused in the comics, and far too violent and gruesome a character. The '90s animated version wasn't so bad, partly because he was toned down in the violence department, partly because the groundwork for the character was more effectively laid (seeded throughout the first season rather than awkwardly retconned in after the fact), but also largely because they made very little use of the character so he didn't wear out his welcome. This show has already done the second of those things and is bound to do the first as well; it remains to be seen if the third will also apply.
It seems they're going for a blend of the '90s animated series/movie version of the symbiote story (wherein it turns Peter darker and more aggressive) and the comics version (wherein it drained Pete's life force and took him out for nighttime spins while he was sleeping). Of course it was easy enough to tell what was going on simply from Spidey's silence; I don't think even a darker, crueler Spidey could keep his trap shut if he were conscious. And there was an element of the Inverse Ninja Rule in symbi-Spidey's battle with the Six (i.e. each opponent was highly dangerous individually, but in combination they're easier for the hero to beat), but the episode managed to justify it by having symbi-Spidey be more powerful, cunning, and ruthless, and by having s-S turn the Six's formidable powers against each other.
Meanwhile, we see Eddie Brock (in a black-and-white motorcycle jacket that evokes Venom's look) taking a darker turn, declaring his enmity toward Peter and trying to hurt him by "stealing" Mary Jane -- not in any sinister way, just by taking her out in the hopes of making him jealous. But it's an interesting echo of Venom's comics debut; the first thing he did there was to go after MJ and threaten her life in order to get to Peter. And MJ's failure to play along with Eddie's mind games, and her final shot at him about being half the man Peter was, will surely feed his bitterness. Just in time for the 2-part finale coming up, wherein I expect a certain black goo-like garment will be up for grabs...
(Oh, and there was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the fight with the S6 where Shocker's sonic weaponry made the black costume writhe -- a bit of foreshadowing.)
They've given Eddie, and incidentally Peter, a new backstory to link them together more closely. Apparently both their fathers were in business together, founding a research lab, and they all went down in a plane crash en route to a conference. I guess the comics' backstory of Richard and Mary Parker being government agents killed by the Red Skull is a bit too Cold-War to cut it anymore (good grief, this version of Peter would've been born in 1993 -- how time flies). But making Richard a scientist is a bit of a change. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that I recap it, it feels like they're laying the groundwork for some future storyline. I wonder where they might go with it.
I liked the bit of the S6 hanging out in a fancy restaurant and the cops just watching them, aware they couldn't do anything to stop them. It underlined just how powerful these villains are, and how much Spidey's got his work cut out for him. And how much the city needs him.
Speaking of which, it was surprising to see Aunt May trying to protect Spidey from the Six, standing in their way so they wouldn't hurt "that young man." Apparently this show isn't going for the traditional "May hates Spidey" angle, an element that the movies dispensed of pretty quickly as well. Plus we get to see Jonah's softer side again, when he resolves to tell Peter about May's heart attack himself -- although that backfires, as it turns out.
Well, the advance reports about this episode claimed it would show Venom's debut, which puzzled me, because it seemed like too much to throw into one episode. I'm not surprised those reports turned out to be inaccurate. No doubt that comes next week, and I'm curious how they'll handle it. I'm not a fan of Venom; he was ridiculously overused in the comics, and far too violent and gruesome a character. The '90s animated version wasn't so bad, partly because he was toned down in the violence department, partly because the groundwork for the character was more effectively laid (seeded throughout the first season rather than awkwardly retconned in after the fact), but also largely because they made very little use of the character so he didn't wear out his welcome. This show has already done the second of those things and is bound to do the first as well; it remains to be seen if the third will also apply.
Superman
Fleet Captain
This is actually not a new backstory at all, but a very close adaptation of the Ultimate Spider-Man version of the Parkers and the Brocks. In USM, Peter and Eddie's fathers were working together to develop a cure for cancer, a healing suit which would eventually bond first with Peter and then with Eddie.
I liked their use of that origin here, and have suspected it was being riffed on since Eddie debuted as Peter's college-aged good friend.
I love this show and hope it gets a home after the KWB closes.
\S/
Well, technically Kids' WB closed its doors two weeks ago; the Saturday morning block is now officially dubbed CW4Kids, although they haven't made any changes yet beyond the logo (although we've seen promos indicating that Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward will be moving to CW4Kids in June). And given SSM's ratings, the online commentators are saying it seems likely they'll keep the show around -- although that's just speculation, since the network is being surprisingly close-mouthed about its plans.
I enjoyed silent symbiote Spidey. They didn't feel the need to explain that Peter was unconscious until the end. It was almost like they were assuming the viewers were reasonably intelligent.
^^Be careful what you wish for...
I keep over sleeping and missing these episodes...I'll have to watch them when the first volume DVD is released later this year. The episodes that I have watched (three or four) have been fantastic and love the direction that they've been heading towards. It seems like Weismen has taken the best bits and pieces from the comics, (both 616 and Ultimate), and movies and webbed (pun intended) together to create a Spectacular (pun intended again) version of Spider-Man on TV! Also the theme song has grown on me so much that I sing out loud whenever I heard it.
In the time when kids cartoons are fading away from saturday morning, it's good to know there's at least one good cartoon left. I hardly DVR any cartoons anymore so "Spectacular spider-man" is something worth DVR'ing.
Heck I don't even watch Power Rangers anyone. The show has failed to regain the glory days due to its new executive producer who seems to want something to explode every second and dialogue that would make the early years seems like "Shakespeare". Also Disney's interference with the action.
In the past they could get away with bullets now its.........."laser bullets!"
Plus they turned the japanese footage(gekiranger ) to 4:9 aspect ratio when just two years ago japan switched to widescreen format >_> Everything is crammed.
Sorry to go off on a tangent but Spectacular Spider-man is the only thing that I will wake up and follow now. I think i'll find the sinister six ep on youtube and watch it on my nano
I found it interesting Electro was supporting Ock.
Funny coincidence but I've been reading the novel Spider-man: the sinister six combo.
http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Si...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212299573&sr=8-1
Heck I don't even watch Power Rangers anyone. The show has failed to regain the glory days due to its new executive producer who seems to want something to explode every second and dialogue that would make the early years seems like "Shakespeare". Also Disney's interference with the action.
In the past they could get away with bullets now its.........."laser bullets!"
Plus they turned the japanese footage(gekiranger ) to 4:9 aspect ratio when just two years ago japan switched to widescreen format >_> Everything is crammed.
Sorry to go off on a tangent but Spectacular Spider-man is the only thing that I will wake up and follow now. I think i'll find the sinister six ep on youtube and watch it on my nano
I found it interesting Electro was supporting Ock.
Funny coincidence but I've been reading the novel Spider-man: the sinister six combo.
http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Si...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212299573&sr=8-1
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