Here they
are, better late then never. The Top 5 episodes from Spiderman: The Animated
Series (in my opinion). Many are spectacular, but I have chosen what I think to
be the “best of the best” from the best Marvel animated series of all time.
5.
The Alien Costume
In
this 3-part adventure from the very first season, the classic tale of the
symbiote is retold in spectacular fashion. Beginning with a mission to space,
the black symbiote is accidentally brought to Earth where it finds it’s first
host in Peter Parker. The Venom Saga from the comics was always one of my
favorites and as cool as it was to read that adventure in a comic, it was a
dream come true when I could watch it in spectacular animation on television.
Venom is arguably Spidey’s greatest foe and the story of the symbiote is one of
the best Spidey stories ever, so when the final showdown between Spiderman and
Venom arrived, it became one of the greatest moments in the show’s history.
Favorite
Moment: Peter
returns from the space shuttle crash with “tar” on his costume. As he goes to
sleep the symbiote latches onto him, creating an internal struggle between his
classic red suit and the symbiote. The symbiote wins, and Peter awakens in his
new, awesome outfit.
4.
Carnage
Just
as he is a more powerful villain then Venom, his episode gained a higher
ranking on the Top 10 list. Carnage is the spawn of the Venom symbiote, which
attached itself to the criminally insane Cletus Cassidy. With the symbiote’s
advanced abilities and Cassidy’s twisted mind, Carnage becomes a nearly
unstoppable opponent. An opponent so powerful that Spiderman requires the
assistance of his good buddy Ironman, and even Venom. This episode is very
similar to the comic series that introduced Carnage. In both the comics and the
cartoon Spiderman is forced to team-up with Brock and “keep his friends close,
but his enemies closer”. The difference is that Dormamu and his henchman Mordo
are helping Carnage. Carnage and Venom are eventually sucked into a vortex
created by Tony Stark’s inter-dimensional gateway machine. Ironman then
proceeds to destroy his machine, locking the two symbiotes inside forever.
Favorite
Moment: Just when
Spiderman and War Machine think they have won the fight against Venom, it’s
“symbiote son” Carnage arrives and creates a whole new set of problems for the
Web-slinger. Not even the combined forces of Spiderman and War Machine could
stop this pair of symbiotes.
3.
Turning Point
Named
after the classic story from the comics, in which the Green Goblin murders Gwen
Stacy, the TV series’ version of “Turning Point” sees the return of Green
Goblin, who had thought to be removed from Norman Osborn’s mind. The Goblin has
gained access to the time dilation accelerator (TDA) and has found out that
Peter is Spiderman. He uses the TDA to kidnap Mary Jane and he takes her to the
top of the Brooklyn Bridge (where he killed Gwen Stacy in the comics). After an
intense showdown with the Green Goblin, Spiderman notices that Mary Jane has
fallen off the top of the bridge, but when he looks over the side to save her,
she was gone. Unknown to Spidey, she had fallen into one of the TDA’s open
portals and sent to another dimension, a similar portal that took Carnage and
Venom.
Favorite
Moment: Without a
doubt the fight scene between Spiderman and the Green Goblin atop the Brooklyn
Bridge. Unfortunately this battle ends in the tragic disappearance of Mary
Jane.
2.
The Secret Wars
As
you’ve probably noticed by now, the majority of great episodes are loosely
based on some of the greatest stories, either in Spiderman comics or stories
from across the entire Marvel Universe. In The Secret Wars (comic version), the
heroes of the Marvel Universe are transported to an alien planet and get
involved in an inter-planetary war. The television version sees Spiderman and
the world’s greatest villains transported to another planet by the Beyonder to
see who would win: good or evil? Spiderman is given the opportunity to choose a
group of heroes to help him defeat the villains. The Fantastic Four, Storm, The
Black Cat, Ironman and Captain America are all selected to help the
web-slinging wonder battle the Red Skull, Alistair Smythe, Dr. Octopus and Dr.
Doom. After our heroes successfully win the battle, Madame Web and the Beyonder
take Spiderman back to Earth, but things are not what they seem.
Favorite
Moment: Dr. Doom
has taken control of the Beyonder’s powers, but when the powers become
unstable, Spiderman suggests that he give them up. Doom asks, “who among you
has ever wanted to give up there super powers?” Spiderman answers the question
with a classic speech about great power and great responsibility. Like we
haven’t heard that one before, but it worked.
1.
The Spider Wars
“I
Really, Really Hate Clones” and Farewell, Spiderman” are the two final episodes
of Spiderman: The Animated Series, and the best. In an alternate reality, the
Carnage symbiote bonded with this world’s Peter Parker, turning him into
Spider-Carnage and wit the TDA, he plans to destroy all dimensions with the
help of the two Goblins and the Kingpin. The Beyonder is losing power so Madame
Web summons 6 Spidermen from 6 different dimensions, including a six-armed
Spiderman and the Scarlet Spider. Our Spiderman travels to the “Iron”
Spiderman’s dimension where he meets Gwen Stacy for the first time, but his
real objective is to stop Spider-Carnage, which he realizes can only be done
with the help of Uncle Ben, alive and well in this dimension. With
Spider-Carnage defeated, all dimensions are safe and Spiderman meets Stan Lee when
Madame Web takes him to the “real life” universe. At the end of the episode,
Madame Web offers to help Spiderman find Mary Jane, lost in another dimension.
A perfect end to a perfect show.
Favorite
Moment: As Peter
struggles to break away from the Carnage symbiote; he opens a portal and takes
the machine with him, sacrificing himself to save all of reality. Either that
or the scene when Spiderman meets Stan Lee.
Hope you
enjoyed my Top 10 of Spiderman: The Animated Series. Farewell, “True
Believers!”
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