"Destructive Testing" Season 2: Episode 15 Discussion Thread

[Dread]

Comparing SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN with the 90's SPIDER-MAN: TAS is inevitable. In some ways, this series may not have been possible without the earlier one. Semper & Co. were often hampered by BS&P restrictions and corporate toy-wrangling, and still usually managed to put out a good show. That said, it has aged a bit worse than the 90's X-Men cartoon did, at least IMO. John Semper didn't have Ultimate or movies to take ideas from, and in fact the films took some from him and his writers.

That said, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN has been able to take things the 90's show did, as well as the comics of both the 616 and Ultimate universe, along with three films, and have more options as to what to use and whatnot. They have fewer restrictions on violence and a writing cast that were cutting their teeth on GARGOYLES around when the 90's Spidey show was on. I think this show in time will age a little better, too. The animation quality is more consistent with more animation friendly character models, and better storyboarding for action. But, of course, that 90's Spidey show had five seasons and years in repeats to cement it's place in history. I would certainly love for TSSM to get that opportunity as well.

With SPIDER-MAN 4 in pre-production, it would be folly to not have more animation past Season 2. But, with the economy the way it is, who knows what some of the people up top are thinking right now. All we can do is watch the show and maybe buy the toys and turn it into a ratings/merchandise juggernaut.

To be blunt, I can be a very, very, VERY hard and merciless critic. Anyone who reads some of my reviews for other things around Hype might agree. I have standards for things and if I think something should be better, I am not shy about typing it. But, despite that, and despite poor Spider-Man being one of the most maligned franchises at Marvel Comics right now, SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN is simply a fantastic, well written, well animated, well acted, and thrilling animated TV show. It takes all of the past works of Spider-Man and works it for a new century of fans, or some old ones who are jaded. The soap opera stuff, even in this episode, is just as amusing as the superhero stuff (poor Peter, Liz doesn't even care that you have a black eye and yet you're bypassing poor Gwen for her?); but the superhero stuff is amazing, too.

While I would love for there to be a 3rd, 4th, and 5th season right now, I at the very least will be grateful for what looks to be two seasons of excellence.

 

[varsas]

Unlike some people here, I feel that the Peter, Gwen, and Liz triangle is moving at a decent pace. I don't think Peter and Gwen should be together this soon. There should be a buildup towards their relationship and there should be obstacles first.

I absolutely agree. I enjoy the Peter Parker aspect of the show as much as the Spidey side and for me the character was not always about being a super-hero but teenage guy or young man.

 

[Don Yoyo]

Okay, I just saw it. Good episode for me. The mutant Kraven doesn't bother me, since I only know the Ultimate version of his character, and that this version is still a lot more convicing and dangerous than the Ultimate one. But I must say I think the way he came up with his name is lame, lamer than the way Doc Ock did with his own. Why whange his name like that because he is now part lion?

As far as the mutation goes, I think Kraven wi be able to switch between his human form and his were-lion form. While he is in human form, he will get some of the enhanced abilities he got with the experiment, but they will come full force only when he is transformed.

 

[The Joker]

Many of restrictions on The 90's series was due to the Fox kids network . But even with all the restrictions overall Spider-Man : TAS had 5 awesome seasons.

No, it had two awesome seasons, IMO. The latter three seasons were a mixed bag. Each season getting worse, especially with the overuse of the Kingpin and him being affiliated with practically every villain.

 

[Jick]

No villain sucked as much space and focus than Morbius did, and FoxKids network really neutered him. While I am sure this crew could handle him better, he's not a villain I am eager to see.

That title is reserved for Scorpion.

Scorpion is the villain that I'm dying to see.
Let's hope there will be a third season.

 

[November Rain]

a quality scorpion is worth more than any venom.

He brings in the physical prowess and intimidation of venom with the potential high level intelligence and resourcefulness of mysterio with the added bonus of also having jameson as a target.

 

[The Joker]

a quality scorpion is worth more than any venom.

He brings in the physical prowess and intimidation of venom with the potential high level intelligence and resourcefulness of mysterio with the added bonus of also having jameson as a target.

Amen to that

 

[LightningFlash]

No, it had two awesome seasons, IMO. The latter three seasons were a mixed bag. Each season getting worse, especially with the overuse of the Kingpin and him being affiliated with practically every villain.

The 90s series really only had one good season. I think when they tried too hard to have a season-long arc for seasons two thru five, it messed up the entire series, imo.

He brings in the physical prowess and intimidation of venom with the potential high level intelligence and resourcefulness of mysterio with the added bonus of also having jameson as a target.

TAS made Scorpion a dumbass. I have hope for TSSM's version though.

Here's hoping for a third season.

 

[Hobgoblin]

Scorpion is potentially highly intelligent? I thought he was a total nut job, a loose cannon.

 

[November Rain]

he's was a private eye who went insane. Kinda how doc ock went insane


he should still withhold his espionage and resource skills.

Considering J.Jonah Jameson hired him (purely to find out who spidey is), he must either be highly acclaimed him or just a bum.

if you made him the former, it opens up many avenues of character development both for his arc with jameson and spidey but also across the entire superhero spectrum.

i could imagine shield and hydra bartering with him for information he has on both and working both sides for the highest profit. He could become the 'goto' character for info in the marvel universe.

I'd love for him to be like the only living person to know cap's supersoldier serum, how to remake his shield and a whole host of other marvel secrets. One of the few to see doom's face, a means to deactivate odin's spell on thor's hammer, everything...

 

[Ratcrawler]

Interesting. The "vampire voice" you do is pretty cool.

Thanks. Having Morbius rip on Twilight in a faux eastern European accent was fun. I should do a follow-up.

But I must say I think the way he came up with his name is lame, lamer than the way Doc Ock did with his own. Why whange his name like that because he is now part lion?

YEAH! I kept forgetting to mention that but you're right. I mean "villain name" introductions have ranged from awesome (Tombstone) to kinda silly (Doc Ock) but this one was more of a "why bother?" Is it cuz he's got a "Kraven" for human flesh? I prefer how in the movie-verse JJJ just gave the bad guys their names for publicity. Makes more sense than a guy bent on proving his greatness to the world calling himself Doctor Octopus. But Kraven? I dunno, I just figured that'd be what sPidey calls him for short.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Thank you very much. I was, too to be honest, but I was thrilled that Greg and Vic allowed me to try out for it. We're all hoping for more seasons, too.

I have to say, man. You draw classic Spidey perfectly, same for the other characters.

 

[The Joker]

The 90s series really only had one good season. I think when they tried too hard to have a season-long arc for seasons two thru five, it messed up the entire series, imo.

Yeah, I wasn't crazy about the Neogenic Nightmare arc in season 2. But it was a hundred times better than the Madame Webb crap in season 3, Black Cat in season 4, and the six forgotten warriors rubbish in season 5.

 

[Webhead2006]

i actually did like the six forgotten warriors arc besides the red skull's son as electro.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I gotta say I prefer the surprising adherence to past comic continuity in Spectacular to Spider-Man:TAS's jumping all over with its story telling. There didnt seem to be any flow in the progression of the stories. Granted its been a while since I saw any of the old episodes.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea i love the stories and arc and continuity we are getting with TSSM.

 

[Web-Head408]

I only really liked season 1 and 2 from TAS. There were only a handful of good episodes from seasons 3-5, IMO. I thought all of the season arcs sucked minus the Neogenic Nightmare one. That was probably the most cohesive one of them all.

Season 1 was hands down the best, though. Simple Spidey action and stories with some of the best animation the show would ever see. I think the show would have been better off sticking to the simple villain-of-the-week formula for the rest of its run. Or at least after season 2 wrapped up.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I loved TAS so much. Tbh, I really enjoyed all the seasons, though, I really didn't like Electro being Red Skull's son and all that. Also, one of my favortie episode was "Night of the Lizard".

 

[The Caped Knight]

Josh Keaton is good as voicing spidey but still IMO Christopher Daniel Barnes is definitive voice of The Amazing Spider-Man . Just like Kevin Conroy will always be the definitive voice of batman .

 

[Web-Head408]

I like to view it like this:

Josh Keaton is the best teenage Spidey; while either Chris Barnes or Rino Romano are the best adult Spidey's.

 

[Venom 1988]

Josh Keaton is good as voicing spidey but still IMO Christopher Daniel Barnes is definitive voice of The Amazing Spider-Man .

Nah I'd go with Rino Romano on that

 

[Ratcrawler]

I never liked Rino as sPidey because I got used to his voice as Randy, the Latino college student in Godzilla the series. That felt weird. He was a decent Batman though. No Conroy but still.

 

[Jick]

i actually did like the six forgotten warriors arc besides the red skull's son as electro.

And I actually did like Electro, even though he was a different person. He was the most powerful villain of this show.

I never liked Rino as sPidey because I got used to his voice as Randy, the Latino college student in Godzilla the series. That felt weird. He was a decent Batman though. No Conroy but still.

When I read a comic, it's always his voice that comes to mind.

 

[The Caped Knight]

No, it had two awesome seasons, IMO. The latter three seasons were a mixed bag. Each season getting worse, especially with the overuse of the Kingpin and him being affiliated with practically every villain.

I disagree Seasons 3,4 & 5 had a lot of great moments. As for The Kingpin connection to the villains . That's the exact same thing TSSM has done with The Big Man (with the exception of The Vulture, Electro, Lizard, & Venom)

 

[Styleshift]

Christopher Daniel Barnes, Rino Romano, and Josh Keaton are all great Spider-men.

Rino has the best delivery of quips IMO. ...

Although I do think Josh Keaton could pull of an adult Spidey as well as the teen Spidey. He's a VERY good voice actor.

I dunno....it's a really tough choice. Batman has not had as many good voice actors as Spidey. Kevin Conroy has also had the role for so long that he remains undisputed. We're talking early 90s to the 2000s here...and lets not forget that he is returning for the arkham asylum game this year.