Post by goldenfist on Jun 24, 2008 22:43:48 GMT -5
Ign.com reviews the Spectacular Spider-Man Season 1.
Like many, I was skeptical of The Spectacular Spider-Man initially. It was a common complaint, but yes, the designs did seem a bit simplistic and goofy at a glance. And let's face it, the history of Marvel Comics cartoons in general and Spider-Man cartoons specifically didn't inspire a lot of confidence. The '60s series has its dated charm, and I love Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends because it was the show I grew up with, but neither are impressive creations when viewed now. And while the 1990s animated Spider-Man series -- along with many other Marvel character based shows of the era, especially X-Men -- at least were more directly influenced by the comics, they also had plenty of flaws.
I'm a Marvel guy, but I had to admit, DC had kicked Marvel's butt in the animation world. The crown jewel of course was Batman: The Animated Series, but most of the shows that series begat, including Superman, Batman Beyond and Justice League Unlimited, far surpassed Marvel's animated output.
Until this new Spider-Man show came along that is, and lived up to the title Spectacular.
In the first of many good decisions, Season 1 began with Peter Parker already Spider-Man, albeit still very young, as Peter was about to begin his junior year of high school. The Spider-Man movies have now made the general public very familiar with the character's origin, so it was wise for this series – shepherded by Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman – to simply jump into the action, saving the origin for an offbeat flashback episode later on.
Peter is the nerdy social misfit familiar from the comics, but he does have two good friends – the rich but awkward Harry Osborn, and Gwen Stacy. Gwen is given a major overhaul here from the comic books (original or Ultimate Spider-Man), reconceived as a geek herself, a sweet girl who clearly has a crush on her longtime friend Peter. More of a symbol than a strongly defined character in the comics, Gwen is vastly improved here; a genuinely warm presence who it's hard not to root for. And where is Mary Jane? Don't worry, she does show up eventually (and with all the energy you'd hope), but Weisman follows Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's original stories by building up to her first appearance.
On the villain side, right from the start Spider-Man is menaced by a mysterious criminal called The Big Man, represented initially by Hammerhead and his team of Enforcers. But soon an increasing number of bizarre costumed foes begin to challenge Spidey, and while Peter doesn't know it, Harry's father Norman has a lot to do with these villains.
It's easy to mimic the surface details of the Spider-Man story, but it's another thing to get the right tone and feeling. This is a show that succeeded right out of the gate in capturing everything that fans have loved about Spider-Man since 1962. From Peter's relationship woes and angst about the burden being Spider-Man puts on his life, to the witty quips he delivers in the midst of battle, this is a classic Spider-Man in the true sense, while never feeling outdated or simply like a copy of what's come before it.
Weisman and his collaborators are clearly huge fans of the source material, but don't limit themselves by simply doing page-for-page adaptations. There are notable changes to the original stories, such as the depiction of Gwen and her inclusion in Peter's life at an early age, but they are all well-conceived and feel like the right choices. The decision to rather radically alter who is inside the suit belonging to the villain the Shocker is the kind of thing that might have simply angered comic book fans in the wrong hands. But only the most stubborn purists could complain about the clever spin this show gives the Shocker story, along with so many others from the comic books.
The Spectacular Spider-Man is rather heavily serialized for a Saturday morning animated series. Villains almost never just pop up – instead, we are introduced to their alter-egos early on, getting a taste for who they are before they begin calling themselves names like Sandman and Doctor Octopus. From the threat of the Big Man, to Harry's growing issues, to the romantic life (or lack thereof) for Peter, many subplots weave in and out of episodes, only building enthusiasm for the series. The show is so successful at this that when it occasionally fails to completely explain what drives a character – such as a rather extreme shift Eddie Brock takes as the season progresses – it stands out a bit more, simply because such a high standard has been set.
As for the show's style and the early criticism of the look, once you actually watch an episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man, you have to work hard to still complain. Weisman made a specific decision to turn the show's budget and animation resources away from something highly detailed and instead to make sure that the show delivered where it mattered – showing Spider-Man in motion and in battle. This Spider-Man moves faster and more impressively than any seen in animation before. And when he fights… wow. The confrontations between Spidey and his enemies are incredibly impressive in every episode, with the show delivering one fun and exciting battle after another. There's a ton of "whoa!" moments, as hero and villain alike use their powers and abilities in clever and exciting ways, some of which have never been thought of before.
Every episode is jam-packed with plot, while never forgetting to have quieter character interactions that manage to flesh out Peter and nearly all of the supporting cast -- from Aunt May to J. Jonah Jameson and Flash Thompson -- get nice moments here. And comic fans are given a treat via the never-ending parade of more obscure characters that appear throughout the series – from the psychiatrist treating Electro to the reporting staff at the Bugle, one name after another will ring a bell to those who grew up reading Spider-Man comics.
Spider-Man finally has a TV series that's worthy of him. The Spectacular Spider-Man is to this beloved Marvel character what the wonderful Batman: The Animated Series is to the Dark Knight – it's the definitive version of the character on television and in animation, and perhaps in any medium outside the original comic books. This is a show that gets it right in a big way.
Oh, and the theme song? Incredibly catchy. Just try not to sing along after you've watched a couple of episodes.
Review Score: 9.0 Outstanding
(I like the series I thought it was great)
Like many, I was skeptical of The Spectacular Spider-Man initially. It was a common complaint, but yes, the designs did seem a bit simplistic and goofy at a glance. And let's face it, the history of Marvel Comics cartoons in general and Spider-Man cartoons specifically didn't inspire a lot of confidence. The '60s series has its dated charm, and I love Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends because it was the show I grew up with, but neither are impressive creations when viewed now. And while the 1990s animated Spider-Man series -- along with many other Marvel character based shows of the era, especially X-Men -- at least were more directly influenced by the comics, they also had plenty of flaws.
I'm a Marvel guy, but I had to admit, DC had kicked Marvel's butt in the animation world. The crown jewel of course was Batman: The Animated Series, but most of the shows that series begat, including Superman, Batman Beyond and Justice League Unlimited, far surpassed Marvel's animated output.
Until this new Spider-Man show came along that is, and lived up to the title Spectacular.
In the first of many good decisions, Season 1 began with Peter Parker already Spider-Man, albeit still very young, as Peter was about to begin his junior year of high school. The Spider-Man movies have now made the general public very familiar with the character's origin, so it was wise for this series – shepherded by Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman – to simply jump into the action, saving the origin for an offbeat flashback episode later on.
Peter is the nerdy social misfit familiar from the comics, but he does have two good friends – the rich but awkward Harry Osborn, and Gwen Stacy. Gwen is given a major overhaul here from the comic books (original or Ultimate Spider-Man), reconceived as a geek herself, a sweet girl who clearly has a crush on her longtime friend Peter. More of a symbol than a strongly defined character in the comics, Gwen is vastly improved here; a genuinely warm presence who it's hard not to root for. And where is Mary Jane? Don't worry, she does show up eventually (and with all the energy you'd hope), but Weisman follows Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's original stories by building up to her first appearance.
On the villain side, right from the start Spider-Man is menaced by a mysterious criminal called The Big Man, represented initially by Hammerhead and his team of Enforcers. But soon an increasing number of bizarre costumed foes begin to challenge Spidey, and while Peter doesn't know it, Harry's father Norman has a lot to do with these villains.
It's easy to mimic the surface details of the Spider-Man story, but it's another thing to get the right tone and feeling. This is a show that succeeded right out of the gate in capturing everything that fans have loved about Spider-Man since 1962. From Peter's relationship woes and angst about the burden being Spider-Man puts on his life, to the witty quips he delivers in the midst of battle, this is a classic Spider-Man in the true sense, while never feeling outdated or simply like a copy of what's come before it.
Weisman and his collaborators are clearly huge fans of the source material, but don't limit themselves by simply doing page-for-page adaptations. There are notable changes to the original stories, such as the depiction of Gwen and her inclusion in Peter's life at an early age, but they are all well-conceived and feel like the right choices. The decision to rather radically alter who is inside the suit belonging to the villain the Shocker is the kind of thing that might have simply angered comic book fans in the wrong hands. But only the most stubborn purists could complain about the clever spin this show gives the Shocker story, along with so many others from the comic books.
The Spectacular Spider-Man is rather heavily serialized for a Saturday morning animated series. Villains almost never just pop up – instead, we are introduced to their alter-egos early on, getting a taste for who they are before they begin calling themselves names like Sandman and Doctor Octopus. From the threat of the Big Man, to Harry's growing issues, to the romantic life (or lack thereof) for Peter, many subplots weave in and out of episodes, only building enthusiasm for the series. The show is so successful at this that when it occasionally fails to completely explain what drives a character – such as a rather extreme shift Eddie Brock takes as the season progresses – it stands out a bit more, simply because such a high standard has been set.
As for the show's style and the early criticism of the look, once you actually watch an episode of The Spectacular Spider-Man, you have to work hard to still complain. Weisman made a specific decision to turn the show's budget and animation resources away from something highly detailed and instead to make sure that the show delivered where it mattered – showing Spider-Man in motion and in battle. This Spider-Man moves faster and more impressively than any seen in animation before. And when he fights… wow. The confrontations between Spidey and his enemies are incredibly impressive in every episode, with the show delivering one fun and exciting battle after another. There's a ton of "whoa!" moments, as hero and villain alike use their powers and abilities in clever and exciting ways, some of which have never been thought of before.
Every episode is jam-packed with plot, while never forgetting to have quieter character interactions that manage to flesh out Peter and nearly all of the supporting cast -- from Aunt May to J. Jonah Jameson and Flash Thompson -- get nice moments here. And comic fans are given a treat via the never-ending parade of more obscure characters that appear throughout the series – from the psychiatrist treating Electro to the reporting staff at the Bugle, one name after another will ring a bell to those who grew up reading Spider-Man comics.
Spider-Man finally has a TV series that's worthy of him. The Spectacular Spider-Man is to this beloved Marvel character what the wonderful Batman: The Animated Series is to the Dark Knight – it's the definitive version of the character on television and in animation, and perhaps in any medium outside the original comic books. This is a show that gets it right in a big way.
Oh, and the theme song? Incredibly catchy. Just try not to sing along after you've watched a couple of episodes.
Review Score: 9.0 Outstanding
(I like the series I thought it was great)