"Destructive Testing" Season 2: Episode 15 Discussion Thread

[Spider-ManHero12]

possible or they could always have kraven revert to a more human look at a later time. They could easily say the mutation wasnt permint and all that.

Indeed, maybe during a ballte, it wears off out of no where. Or maybe, over time, it slowly wears off, not all at once.

 

[sauronthegreat]

I would like an arc in the upcoming third season with the Lizard and Kraven. And maybe even Morbius may appear. I think it would be great for them to return somehow the Lizard and have him with this Kraven when in the end Kraven turns to normal.

 

[VenomRules153]

oh have Kraven hunt Dr Conners by having him find out tht hes the Lizard 0.0

 

[venom892]

Then bring in the popular Hobgoblin later, in the form of Roderick Kingsley. He's everyone's fav Hobgoblin. Not Jason.

To be fair at the time the episodes came out it still was not revealed Kingsly was Hobgoblin.

 

[Congo Jack]

Really fun episode. Stronger than the season two opener.

This series once again proves adept at taking classic characters and presenting them to a new audience in an exciting way. Taking an element of Ultimate Kraven, but much more of the classic Lee/Ditko character; Weisman and co. introduce a strong new enemy.

There was great character design on Kraven, with those bold black lines around his eyes. His mutation into a Lion-Man was something that worked for me and I wouldn’t mind seeing it adapted in the 616 comics if he ever comes back. They tied Miles Warren into Kraven’s mutation in a way that is both entertaining and sets up Warren’s future arc.

I’ve been reading through some of the comments here and it seems like most people dislike the Gwen/Liz/Peter sub-plot but for me it’s fun and keeps up with the tradition of having a soap-opera dynamic that is synonymous with Spider-Man.

Other things: Including Gulyadkin was a nice touch. I’m missing JJJ but his ’cameo’ in this episode was funny. There should have been some follow up on Norman Osborn in the episode.

I’d give this one an eight out of ten.

 

[nygma619]

I actually liked this episode a little better than the season opener. Probably because the Spidey fights with Kraven gave it the edge over last weeks, IMO. While some are calling this episode the worst of the season (and series), I actually think it's one of season 2's best (and most underrated) episodes along with Shear Strength, First Steps, Subtext, and Final Curtain.

Kraven hasn't had the best track record for a spidey rogue. Aside from TNAS's bad ass portrayal of him, he's done very little to impress. But I felt as long as there was potential to work with (and there was) Weisman and co. would use it to there advantage.

I liked Kraven's appearance here (his portrayal sort of reminded me of Stalker from Batman Beyond), as he provided a good threat to Spidey, along with 2 kick ass smackdowns that are up there with the best fights on this show. Of course any episode with Adam Van Wyk's name listed as a storyboard artist has not disappointed. While I'm on it Kevin Altieri did a bang up job directing here.

Some people were a little iffed about Kraven's sudden desire to be mutated, but c'mon we're talking about a guy who took a lion all around public in Manhatten in the middle of the day (where's the NYPD when you need them), so it didn't strike me as off that he went through with the transformation, since he's the obsessive type. Also the use of Miles Warren as the one that transformed him was a nice touch.

And unlike about 90% of the fans of this show. I actually like Kraven's mutated form. IMO it makes him a hell of alot more interesting, and I'm not one of those fans that are waiting for him to get a gene clenser.

I'll be really disappointed if this is the only script Matt Wayne wrote this season. The dialogue in his episodes is so much fun. "Oh Krav it off."t: being my favorite. But there were lots of other great Spidey quips in this episode. I'm also liking how Pete's so dumbstruck with Gwen right now. As well as Liz's involvement.

I also love how they showed all those "important" people in Flash's life at the hospital when he got injured, but none of them were football players.
That's team loyalty kids.

This version of Kraven IMO is one of the most interesting. Maybe not as cool as the TNAS version, but lets face it, few things are.

***** for Destructive Testing.

 

[Sarcastic Fan]

First off, let me get this out of the way. I always thought that Kraven the Hunter was the lamest of the classic Spider-Man rogues. He just always seemed out of place to me. An attempt to do a comic book version of Richard Connel's "The Most Dangerous Game." I just never bought him as all that imposing a supervillain in the Spidey corner. Not when he had guys like the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Electro, Mysterio, and so many others. Okay, Kraven was better than the Living Brain, but that's not saying much.

Then, J.M. DeMatteis wrote a classic story in the late 80s where Kraven shoved a shotgun into his own mouth and pulled the trigger. He's been dead ever since and replaced by three cheesy knock-offs. The Grim Hunter. Al Kraven. And I hear there's a new, female Kraven now. But, really, I don't think Kraven would be remembered nearly as well if he didn't commit suicide the way he did. In fact, I've been looking for an excuse to post this...

http://destroyblog.com/2009/01/05/kravens-last-hunt-in-30-seconds/

I didn't much care for Kraven in the 90s series either. And the Steve Irwin take on Kraven in Ultimate was okay... and then they kept bringing him back. So, needless to say, I was skeptical. Greg Weisman, Vic Cook and their team have done a phenomenal job on the series so far, even with Venom, a character whom I hated. So, would lightning strike twice? Could they make Kraven work? Let's find out.

Kraven's voice actor, Eric Vesbit, whom my close friend, production assistant, Jennifer L. Anderson has been raving about really sold Kraven with his performance. The guy was tough, the guy was imposing. The guy was primal. I enjoyed him. The opening scene in Africa was a great introduction to him.

I thought the battles between him and Spidey were very done. I especially liked how the first one ended, which summed up why Kraven needed an upgrade to really take Spider-Man on.

Miles Warren, boy is he a piece of work. He's an opportunist of the highest order. He carries a gun on school property. He lies with the best of them. He seemed pretty normal last week, but now we're getting to see him at work, and well. His brother Aaron seems like a nice, warm and friendly guy. But Miles, take all of the above, and throw in that he's going behind Conners' back conducting experiments on mutation and Miles is just a jackal.

Oh, cool. Debra Whitman. Is she Miles' assistant? I was expecting Anthony Serba. But hey, cool.

As with last week, Liz is all over Peter. I don't think she's using him either, I think she genuinely likes him. But, Pete really should talk to Gwen. We'll see where this goes.

"Come on, Flash! You can do it!!! Can't believe I just said that." - Peter. Loved that line.

I also loved the return of the Itsy Bitsy Spider ringtone.

And the Master Planner plot line continues. And we get a new Sinister Six next week. I still say the Master Planner is either the Chameleon or Dr. Octopus.

Now, the one con. I think Kraven's decision to mutate himself seemed very sudden. As if we were missing a step in between. This is not like buying a new car. While I do think mutating himself is completely in character, I just think the set up should have been done a little better. The Pack didn't get an upgrade in their first appearance in "Gargoyles." It was after two or three humiliating defeats that they chose to alter themselves like that. Aw well.

Great episode. I liked last week's better, but this was still good.