New "Ultimate Spider-Man" Animated Series Coming to Disney XD For Fall 2011? - Part 3

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[Sebastos]

I loved the Taskmaster episode.

[Spider-Aziz]

This one is a notable improvement to the previous episode, and it really saddens me considering Iron Man being my second favorite Marvel hero
I really wish Tony Masters had his Alvin Lee design, and I wanted to hear him voiced by Kevin Conroy

[Webhead2006]

Well finally got the chance to watch the new episode earlier this morning. After coming home from work and getting some sleep. It wasn't that bad of an episode either. Sure we still have the cheesy gags and all that. But there wasn't to many distracting ones in the episode. Also we got some good character building with eva and peter, with them learning to work together better. Taskmaster was also pretty good. Solid fights with him. And really liked his voice actor. Overall a pretty fair episode. Don't have any major issues with it.

[Thundercrack85]

Have to say I am surprised by how much I dislike this show.

It's just so bad. I usually don't comment on things I dislike, but this is a Spider-man show, how can it be this bad?

I'm not a fan of the Young Justice style set up. But, the writing is incredibly juvenile, the show's attempts at humor get downright painful, the characters are caricatures of themselves, there is no discernible plot. This show is the antithesis of Spectacular Spider-man (i.e. the best Spider-man TV show).

[Marvin]

As much as I enjoy this show, it could gain alot if it didn't pause every 4 seconds to telecast a joke.

90's Spiderman was the best.
I still recall when MJ was taken by goblin. If that happened(happens) on this show, it will be one big joke after another, and then black nick fury will show up and so on.

[Webhead2006]

Again the show demo is for younger viewers compared to slightly older demo for yj.. but yes the usm writing isn't that great. But that is something that can improve in time. But at this rate everyone is just running in circles here some hate it, some ok with it. You hate it you hate you like it you like it. Like I said I get the show faults and agree certain things are not good. But there is still some good portions to the show.

[Zoken]

Yeah, but that Demo already had SSM. A much better show all things considered.

HOWEVER, I liked this episode because it finally showed why Nick put Spidey in charge of the team. He thought creatively and managed to turn Taskmaster's powers against him. I did not like though that it hinted to another arching story line when they haven't even developed the first.

[Marvin]

I haven't read a single comment on here, but if that's what's been going on I can understand.

[Lunar_Wolf]

Didn't liked this episode.

Normally I'll s****** at a joke or two, but this week didn't smile once at any jokes.

[MarvelKnight]

This episode wasn't that bad. Taskmaster's look was pretty cool and he looked formidable. "Switching it up" to defeat him wasn't that original but oh well. Flash is kind of annoying.

Still hate the same old stuff(4th wall, spider-men conscience, etc) but The stuff with Coulson was funny, shocker, that's the only time I ever laugh when watching this show.

I have accepted they won't get rid of the crap I dislike, so I have started to watch the show after the fact so I can fast forward through the ridiculous stuff I don't like.

I still think Venom is the best episode thus far, but this was solid - for the most part.

[Donut]

When the Season is over. Someone should do a Agent Coulson Scene Collection. It would be all people need to see lol

[Webhead2006]

Not really tssm was teen demo where usm seems to be more for even younger. But that the thing every show is going for something different. So its all apples to oranges to comparing each. Every show/production crew is going for different things. Now as for usm what they decided on sure hasn't hit well for older viewers. But like I said in the old thread we would have to go to kid board and see what the little kiddies think of the show.

[Dread]

This weekend, Disney XD may as well have been named Iron Fist Network, as the immortal weapon from K'un L'un will naturally get to be featured in both of Marvel's animated offerings, "AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES" and this underwhelming enterprise. Episode 6, "WHY I HATE GYM" introduces the villain Taskmaster to Marvel Animation, after increased appearances in the comics and being one of the fighters in ULTIMATE MARVEL VS. CAPCOM 3. Last week I professed supreme irritation that Taskmaster's debut would be in a series as trite as "ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN", but having seen the actual episode, I do have to call a spade a spade. This episode's not bad. And by not bad I mean it actually hits the average marker. It's grade C, middle of the road, 5 out of 10, 2 stars out of 4. And THAT makes it the BEST episode of the show's history thus far. Go low expectations, eh?

The plot is simple, as most tend to be on this show.

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

Dr. Octopus, who is still working for OsCorp, wants Spider-Man apprehended so he can continue to perform experiments on him to mass produce his powers for Osborn. Quite why he needs to do this when he already got Spidey's DNA in "VENOM" I don't know, unless Ock in this show was so dumb he didn't create multiple cultures of that blood sample instead of wasting all of it to create Venom. At any rate, he hires Taskmaster to do this task since Ock believes Spider-Man is a student at Midtown High as well as is supplied with SHIELD weapons. Taskmaster is played by Clancy Brown and as usual he does a solid job playing a villain. Meanwhile, Spidey is busy fighting Batroc The Leaper (who lives up to every French stereotype possible aside for wearing a baret and surrendering), and getting a lecture on the importance of training from the overachieving White Tiger. By this point I would like to mention that in six episodes, Venom was the only villain who has appeared who is actually a Spider-Man villain, which is low even for "SPIDER-MAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS" standards (where the first few episodes at least featured Green Goblin and Kraven). To this end, Taskmaster poses as Midtown High's sub gym teacher, Mr. Yeager, and holds athletic try-outs to determine which of the students has the moves to be Spider-Man. Naturally, Taskmaster in this show has photographic reflexes, and can copy any action he sees once; the animation for showing this involves showing a lot of numbers and diagrams, which reminds me of how Amadeus Cho's power is supposed to work. Because Peter deliberately messes up in gym class to throw off suspicion - a feat he has to freeze the show and explain to the audience for a couple of minutes as if we're dullards - Taskmaster winds up suspecting Spidey as Harry Osborn, Flash Thompson or Daniel Rand. He thus orders the trio to appear on a Saturday, during which he turns Principle Coulson's SHIELD security against him to lay his trap. White Tiger is irritated about not making the cut and wants to attend anyway, but gets a clue something it up by the electric fence.

While the episode is no masterpiece, it's a decent affair. Taskmaster naturally proves able to overwhelm Rand by copying his moves as well as being able to spank Spidey and Tiger, despite all the training of the latter. As a twist, he sees potential in Spider-Man and offers his past as a former SHIELD agent, warning Spidey that Fury will ultimately betray him once he's no longer useful. Naturally, Spidey refuses Taskmaster's job offer and instead comes up with his own plan to confuse and overwhelm the copycat artist. The awkward lesson is that it's okay to ditch training and practice if one happens to be a prodigy who often gets lucky and has friends to bail him out, but by this stage Spider-Man isn't here to be a moral paragon, but to be the goofy slapstick hero who always wins. In fairness, stressing imagination and creativity in a crisis isn't a bad lesson I suppose. The action's not bad and Taskmaster's original outfit is well designed and animated.

Where the episode fails is where it always fails; some of the dumb jokes and the reality bending "chibi" antics. For the most part Taskmaster is treated as threatening, aside for one sequence. We get the return of the dumb Spider-Devil/Angel bit, and more of Peter's lectures to the audience which he (and by he, I mean the producers) assume are so dumb they can't even wipe their rear ends without a tutorial. This episode happened to have far less of these moments than previous episodes, which ends up being a boon despite itself. Batroc in the beginning was annoying, but he's often played for laughs even in the comics. This episode actually allowed many of the moments to speak for themselves and stand on their own without bombarding the viewer as much as in prior episodes. Imagine that.

Easily the most successful episode of the season thus far - in that it hits the mark of mediocrity. If I were an optimist, at this rate I might assume episode #8, nearly a third of the way into the season, might actually be good. I'm not, however. It is easier to stick around for a show like this when it manages to hit a grade of "Meh" instead of "UGH!", although mediocrity as a peak will naturally spark apathy. Spider-Man himself is displayed in his most annoying animated incarnation ever, but let's end this review on a positive note. While the episode wasn't good, it was the first that wasn't bad. "USM" needs all the ones it can get.

[nogap87]

I can't tell if secret identities matter in this show. Danny has no problem breaking out his iron fist out of costume and White Tiger practically told TM that she was the athletic girl in his class from the other day. On the plus side, Taskmaster is the coolest villain so far.

P.S. Peter dissing Flash's comedy was annoyingly ironic.

[Dread]

Originally Posted by nogap87

I can't tell if secret identities matter in this show. Danny has no problem breaking out his iron fist out of costume and White Tiger practically told TM that she was the athletic girl in his class from the other day. On the plus side, Taskmaster is the coolest villain so far.

P.S. Peter dissing Flash's comedy was annoyingly ironic.

Apparently only Peter Parker cares about his secret identity.

[nogap87]

Originally Posted by Dread

Apparently only Peter Parker cares about his secret identity.

It sure is looking that way. Unfortunately, at this point I don't care if anyone figures it out or not. USM has zero tension.

[Dread]

Originally Posted by nogap87

It sure is looking that way. Unfortunately, at this point I don't care if anyone figures it out or not. USM has zero tension.

Apparently, Peter's concern about it is haphazard, as are a lot of bits in this show. He doesn't seem to mind Nick Fury and many SHIELD agents knowing, and he eagerly unmasked for Tony Stark last episode.

Of course, this is also a show that wants us to root against Norman Osborn because he wants to mass produce Spider-Man's powers to create super-soldiers, but embrace SHIELD even though they employ teenagers to do missions for them as well as have completely taken over a school regardless of local authorities or community boards. How is Osborn's desire to examine spider-DNA much different from SHIELD making hi-tech versions of all of Spidey's gadgets and even duplicating his powers? But, eh, too much thinking.

[Drz]

Do we have any idea about the ratings on these episodes?

[Sebastos]

Anyone know where I can get screencaps for the latest episode? Would greatly appreciate it.

[Hound55]

Did you catch last weeks New Avengers, Iron Fist?

[Sebastos]

Originally Posted by Hound55

Did you catch last weeks New Avengers, Iron Fist?

I did, a great set up issue and it felt like an Immortal Iron Fist story where we were reading about a past Iron Fist. It has great potential and I look forward to how everything plays out.

[Sebastos]

[Lunar_Wolf]

Hulk looks like ****