DVD Review: Spectacular Spider-Man: Complete First Season: Josh Keaton, Dee Bradley Baker, Irene Bedard, Jeff Bennett, Clancy Brown, Lacey Chabert, Keith David, Grey DeLisle, John Di Maggio, Ben Diskin, Robert Englund, Brian George, Dan Fausett, Dave Bullock, Jennifer Coyle, Troy Adomitis, Victor Cook, Andrew Robinson, Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps: Movies & TV

Jul29

DVD Review: Spectacular Spider-Man: Complete First Season: Josh Keaton, Dee Bradley Baker, Irene Bedard, Jeff Bennett, Clancy Brown, Lacey Chabert, Keith David, Grey DeLisle, John Di Maggio, Ben Diskin, Robert Englund, Brian George, Dan Fausett, Dave Bullock, Jennifer Coyle, Troy Adomitis, Victor Cook, Andrew Robinson, Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 29 July, 12:11 PM

Product Description
This adventure finds our hero tackling more Super Villains both old and new, including Chameleon, Venom and the Sinister Six: Electro, Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Sandman, Rhino and Shocker. While these criminals are almost more than Spidey can handle, his real struggle becomes an internal one. The stress is enough to drive a high school Super Hero over the edge, but making mistakes and learning lessons is all in a days work for the Spectacular Spider-Man!

A generally spectacular debut, though with some flaws.,

By S. Curley (Charlottetown, PE, Canada) -

Spider-Man, one of Marvel’s earliest comics characters, has been the backbone of Marvel’s animated efforts almost since the beginning. Though starting later than other 1960s animated series, the 60s Spider-Man is the only one of those shows that anyone really remembers (in great part because of the theme song). A number of others followed, most notably “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” in the 1980s and the 1990s show (the one that I myself grew up with). Following the latter show’s end in 1998, Spidey animation went into a bit of a rut, with the outright bizarre “Spider-Man Unlimited” and the MTV “Spider-Man” faiing to capture the magic. This is the first season (13 episodes) the latest very successful effort, overseen by Greg Weisman, the visionary creator of “Gargoyles”, one of the classics of 1990s children’s animation. Spoilers follow.

In a departure from previous media adaptations that immediately gives the series something distinctive to operate with, Weisman chooses to set the series during Spider-Man’s high school years. The most notable previous versions were set during his young adulthood (in university, for example, in the 90s show). For the main cast of students, Weisman draws on both the cast of the actual high school era in the comics (1962-65) (Liz Allan, Flash Thompson) and various characters from the subsequent John Romita era in college (Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn, Mary Jane Watson); the adult cast is a kaleidoscope from every era in comics. Minor characters abound, and, indeed, Weisman has boasted that every character is from the comics (though, in several cases, that just amounts to pasting a character name on top of an unrelated concept). All the regulars are present, though not all of them from the start.

The season is structured quite elaborately (and masterfully), mixing the qualities of a standalone episode, a mini-arc, and a season-long arc. Most episodes will introduce at least one new villain (most of them having appeared previously in their civilian guise). Among those featured: Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, the Rhino, the Shocker, and the Sandman. Behind the scenes, major figures jostle for control of the New York underworld, originally controlled by the mysterious Big Man (who, thanks to “Daredevil” licensing, is not who long-time fans will expect him to be).

Our lead, Spider-Man, voiced by Josh Keaton, is rendered remarkably well. Keaton is at least as good as Christopher Barnes on the 90s show, and he has more realistic dialogue (much less in the style of the suffocating narration of 1960s comics). Peter is an extremely relatable character, something that is the goal of all versions of the character; he learns lessons (and, unlike in many cartoons, he doesn’t forget them in time for the next episode), but not in a cloying way. The supporting cast is generally excellent (Daran Norris is perhaps a bit too manic as JJJ; I prefer Ed Asner’s 90s version; Alanna Ubach as the now-Puerto Rican Liz Allan takes some time to nail down exactly what sort of accent the character has), with standouts including Peter MacNicol as Doctor Octopus, Joshua LeBar as Flash, and Alan Rachins as Norman Osborn.

So, with all this said, why, you ask, is it only rated four of five? The answer is three words: Eddie Brock/Venom. This is the only area in which the series falls flat on its face, disappointingly so given both its track record and the 90s Venom. Eddie Brock is introduced in this version of the show as Peter’s close friend, now working as a lab assistan to Dr. Curt Connors. For much of the season, the show spends quite a bit of time giving Eddie legitimate misunderstandings about Peter’s behaviour (generally caused by his activities as Spider-Man), things leading to a break with his former friend. Then, in the final episodes, Eddie’s personality changes completely, becoming a proto-supervillain before even getting the symbiote. Eddie and the character of Venom just collapse under the weight of Eddie’s nonsensical motivation. Jarring, given how even the thugs like Rhino are handled better. Disappointing, because Venom’s actual fight scenes, like all such scenes on this show, are well-done, and the plot preceding it with Peter getting the symbiote and having his personality warped, are extremely well-done. Had Eddie made more sense, this might have been the definitive version of the Venom story, but the 90s show’s version (from which both this and “Spider-Man 3″ draw much) still holds that title. The problem, I guess, results from Weisman aiming to take Brock as a character to a more personal level, but falling short; the core of Brock’s character, his refusal to take responsibility for the consequences of his own actions, is lost.

This is not, by any means, a deal-breaking flaw. This remains the finest superhero animation in quite a while, one highly recommended (and the second season is even better). I’m glad that Sony has given us proper DVD sets, though only after doing the expected ripoff releases with smaller DVDs.

Spectacular Spider-Man,

By Reconnecting To My Childhood “Time Won’t Let … -

This 2-Disc DVD set will collect the complete first season of The Spectacular Spider-Man. Episodes will be in Widescreen Anamorphic Video with Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound. The first season is made up of the following 13 episodes:

Episode 1 - Aired: 3/8/2008
Survival of the Fittest
An elderly scientist named Adrian Toomes plans his revenge against Norman Osborn after accusing him of stealing his flying technology. Donning his own flying suit, Toomes takes to the skies to enact his revenge and it’s up to Spider-Man to stop him. Peter is concerned that Aunt May is running out of money. He tries to make money for the two by making a deal with J. Jonas Jameson that if Peter can get pictures of Spider-Man in action, Jameson will pay Peter money.

Episode 2 - Aired: 3/8/2008
Interactions
An electrician named Max Dillon becomes the supervillain known as Electro after a freak accident and it’s up to the Spectacular Spider-Man to stop his rampage. Meanwhile, Peter tries to tutor the popular Liz Allen.

Episode 3 - Aired: 3/15/2008
Natural Selection
Peter Parker and Spider-Man both must learn to own their choices when decisions made by Dr. Curt Connors transforms Pete’s mentor into The Lizard.

Episode 4 - Aired: 3/22/2008
Market Forces
Peter Parker has to choose between helping Aunt May pay the bills or buying a camera to further his career. Meanwhile, Montana (the Big Man’s Enforcer) becomes the stunning Shocker to fulfill his responsibility: eliminating the Spectacular Spider-Man.

Episode 5 - Aired: 3/29/2008
Competition
Peter Parker and Harry Osborn try out for the football team and become a little obsessed with going for the glory. Flint Marko, newly transformed into the Sandman, is out for glory too- at the expense of our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!

Episode 6 - Aired: 4/12/2008
The Invisible Hand
Flint Marko’s former partner, Alex O’Hirn, becomes the Rhino.

Episode 7 - Aired: 4/26/2008
Catalysts
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson go to the Midtown High Fall Formal. Meanwhile, the Green Goblin tries to take down L. Thompson Lincoln.

Episode 8 - Aired: 5/3/2008
Reaction
Tired of constantly being pushed around by others, the timid Otto Octavius has his robotic arms permanently attached to his back and becomes the deadly Doctor Octopus.

Episode 9 - Aired: 5/10/2008
The Uncertainty Principle
Spider-Man is pitted against the Green Goblin and Tombstone, while Colonel John Jameson attempts to land a damaged space shuttle.

Episode 10 - Aired: 5/17/2008
Persona
The Chameleon is out to blacken Spider-Man’s name. The master of disguise loots the city while borrowing Spidey’s look, forcing Peter Parker to get help from Black Cat.

Episode 11 - Aired: 5/31/2008
Group Therapy
Six of Spidey’s toughest enemies band together to get revenge, as the Sinister Six!

Episode 12 - Aired: 6/7/2008
Intervention
Spider-Man realizes the alien suit is ruining his life and tries to get rid of it. Unfortunately, it has grown too attached to Peter, and doesn’t plan on leaving him.

Episode 13 - Aired: 6/14/2008
Nature vs. Nurture
With Aunt May out of the hospital, Thanksgiving coming and the alien suit gone, Peter’s life is finally getting better. However, the Symbiote has survived and found a host within the vengeful Eddie Brock. Now Spider-Man must face this monster, named Venom, a creature that knows everything about him and will stop at nothing to get revenge.

Special Features said to be included in this set are so far two featurette’s,
Spider-man: Reanimated
Stylizing Spidey

This is a very interesting and well done animated series take on Spider-man, my only personal issues with it were already mentioned by another reviewer who noted the mishandling of the character Eddie Brock. Previously he had been in competition with Peter Parker to get photo’s of Spider-man which lead to his eventual hatred of the two when he continually failed. Here they try to make him a friend to Peter and rather than have them share the commonality of being young photographers they make him a lab assistant. In the end this first season works well overall though and should please any spidey fans.

A good Spider-Man show worth watching,

By Vulture Girl “Rid” (San Diego, CA USA) -

Although I have stopped watching cartoons a while ago because every single cartoon pushed out today is beyond terrible and utterly atrocious, I found Spectacular Spider-Man to be actually worth watching and a great show. However I was not interested at first. But then I heard people who watched say it was a good show, just as good as the 90s Spider-Man(which I grew up with)or even better. I didn’t watch Spectacular Spider-Man until it made its debut on Disney XD. And I must say that I enjoyed it.

Spectacular Spider-Man is the latest in line of Spider-Man animated series. The first Spider-Man cartoon debuted in the late 60s with the 1967 Spider-man(another favorite), Spider-Man 1981(another favorite), Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends(a big time favorite), Spider-Man the Animated Series 1994-1998(another big time favorite), Spider-Man Unlimited(not very good) and the MTV Spider-Man(not so good). Spectacular Spider-Man has been added to my list of favorites along with the 60s Spider-Man, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends and the 90s Spider-Man.

Spectacular Spider-Man is a show that’s made in very good taste. Greg Weisman who created the popular Disney show Gargoyles writes some of the stories. Although I don’t like the character designs or the voice acting, it has good action and follows the comics and Spider-Man himself has great fluid-like movements. It also features Peter Parker’s family, Aunt May, his friends Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, J. Jonah Jameson, Dr.Curt Connors, Black Cat and Harry Osborn, and his most famous foes including the Green Goblin, Venom, Doctor Octopus, Sandman, Vulture, Rhino, Lizard and Electro.

Peter Parker himself is featured not as a bookworm that is an outcast in the whole school. No glasses, no bad clothing and no self-esteem issues like the original teenager of the comic book series. In fact, the spider he has been bit by is not radioactive but genetically altered. He of course struggles with every day life as both himself and as Spider-Man.

I,m pleased to finally see that they’re releasing the entire first season. I thought it was silly to release a few episodes in individual DVDs and then later release the entire first season. I didn’t even bother to buy the individual DVDs for I knew an entire season would be released someday.

Spectacular Spider-Man debuted on the CW Network and later moved to Disney XD. Although this is a children’s show and is much better suited for younger audiences, teens and adults who are Spider-Man fans will enjoy it. I myself am an adult who has been a Spider-Man fan since childhood and actually found this show to be very enjoyable in spite of being a kid’s show. It has alot of action and exquisite fight scenes. If you love this show and waited long enough for an whole season release, then you may want to pick this up.
Search Spectacular Spider-Man: Complete First Season: Josh Keaton, Dee Bradley Baker, Irene Bedard, Jeff Bennett, Clancy Brown, Lacey Chabert, Keith David, Grey DeLisle, John Di Maggio, Ben Diskin, Robert Englund, Brian George, Dan Fausett, Dave Bullock, Jennifer Coyle, Troy Adomitis, Victor Cook, Andrew Robinson, Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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