Topic: The 1967 Spider-Man Animated Series

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Episode 27: The Spider and the Fly

The Plot: Spidey chases the culprit in an attempted theft of jewels from a countess and is surprised to find that his opponent, dressed in a black "Human Fly" costume, also has the ability to scale walls and can cross thin wires between buildings.

My Thoughts: Another favorite of mine! The Fly Twins are definitely good distractions for Spider-Man, and I'll love Betty's line after JJJ just can't take the news Spidey's good again.

"It could be worse Mr. Jameson. Spider-Man could be twins!"

"No! No! Nooooooo!"

  

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Episode 28: The Slippery Doctor Von Schlick

The Plot: Oil is being stolen in huge quantities by Dr. Von Schlick, a chemist villain garbed in a rubber, non-stick suit and armed with petroleum-based bubbles that he fires from his fingers to envelope Spidey.

My Thoughts: Well, as slippery as the villain is, I couldn't help but to be bored with him. I'm a little homesick for the real ones.

Lol, but the episode was one of the better ones! Everyone's sliding everyplace, and JJJ can't do a thing cuz therree's no oil to run the presses!!!

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Episode 29: The Vulture's Prey

The Plot: The nefarious Vulture traps Jameson inside of a tower-clock and uses the well-informed Daily Bugle publisher as a source of information on the whereabouts of a visiting diamond merchant and the testing of military equipment- two prospective heists for the greedy bird-man.

My Thoughts: Oh, this was hilarious!!! The end mainly, but still!! The begining I have a bone to pick, though. Since when is the Vulture greeted as Vulture-man??

Oh, but the ending put me in stitches!!

"GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!!!"

"Say please."

"What? No! Confound it, I said, get me down!"

"Please."

"Do what I say and get me down!"

"Ok, see you later."

"Wait, Spider-Man!"

"What was that?"

"Get me down......please."

 

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Episode 30: The Dark Terrors

The Plot: Life-like and substantial shadows of beasts are projected in various locations in New York City by the Phantom's new Shadow-Scope glasses to cause panic and enable the Phantom to effect unconstrained bank and jewelry store robberies

My Thoughts: Yes, the Phantom again, and as much as I'm annoyed by those shiny eyes and his voice that always sounds like he has a cold, I always liked the idea of living shadows. It just seems to me that shining a light on it would be a very obvious weakness. That being the only problem, this episode gets a big 

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Episode 31: The Terrible Triumph of Docotor Octopus

The Plot: Doctor Octopus imposes upon Dr. Smartyr's Nullifier rocket test and steals the ultra-powerful destructor missile, with possession thereof Octopus plans to force all nations to bow to his will.

My Thoughts: Doc Oct was always a favorite villain. Everything in the episode seems so repaeted though. No twists or good jokes. Average episode.

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Episode 32: Magic Malice

The Plot: While Blackwell the Magician is entertaining at the Castle Theatre, his house is invaded by the Green Goblin, who swipes some of Blackwell's props and peruses Blackwell's book of magic spells and incantations.

My Thoughts: Nice to see ol' Gobby again. I was never one for a "magical" plot, but this was pretty good! I miss the pumpkin bomb, and a cape and wand is no replacement.

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Episode 33: Fountain of Terror

The Plot: Dr. Curtis Conner goes missing in the Florida swamps after finding the Fountain of Youth. When Spidey investigates the scientist's disappearance, he discovers a fifteenth century Spanish conquistador, Ponce de Leon, who is intent upon keeping the magical fountain a secret.

My Thoughts: This was a pretty memorable cartoon. I like the idea of Spidey helping the doc and his family, but there is one aspect of the cartoon that was cranked up I really get annoyed by. Wholloping Websnappers? I get back then superheroes had to have a catch phrase, but did Billy have to learn it too?

In any case, this is another one of my favorites, and yes, I have a handful of favorites from this set!

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Episode 34: Fiddler on the Loose

The Plot: Because he hates rock-and-roll for its having replaced classical music in the tastes of the masses, a fiddler with a deadly, sonic violin seeks revenge upon pop-music sponsor Cyrus Flintridge.

My Thoughts: This was....unusual. In a fun way, I mean. Modern vs. Classic music taken to the sonic level!! As usual, JJJ takes the scene by being tortured in the episode, but this time not because of Spider-Man, but thanks to modern music. Nice!

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Episode 35: To Catch a Spider

The Plot: Under the guidance of Dr. Noah Boddy, the Green Goblin, Electro, and the Vulture join forces for revenge on Spiderman.

My Thoughts: Off hand, I'd say this is a lesser attempt at the Sinister Six, minus two people. They actually pulled together with a good plan at wearing him down, if they ever agreed who would finish him off!! It's funny they were all tricked through ventriloquism to take each other out, and even funnier that JJJ "admitted" he was the worst villain of all time! 

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Episode 36: Double Identity

The Plot: Art robberies are committed by an old enemy of Spiderman, actor Charles Cameo, who can utilize masks and make-up to usurp any identity, including those of J. Jonah Jameson and Spiderman!

My Thoughts: Well, off hand, the Chameleon was written in 1963,so if they needed a guy with good disguises, again, why not use whats already there? Moving on from that, the whole "imposter" plot is old, but it never gets old!! Thats a storyl;ine anyone can get into, so big  for this one!

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Episode 37: Sting of the Scorpion

The Plot: When the Scorpion, intent on vengeance upon Spiderman and Jameson, escapes prison, he visits the laboratory of his creator, Dr. Stillwell, and drinks a potion that vastly increases his size.

My Thoughts: Well, I think they could have done better here. He drinks the potion, he's a badder bad guy, but did they have to make him the size of a building? I would think they'd, idk, just upgrade his powers, like acid coming out of his tail or something.

Aside from that, it was very interesting, and amusing how JJJ was screaming for the entire time he was taken hostage, yet still took most credit in the end!!

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Episode 38: Trick or Treachery

The Plot: Paroled from prison, the Human Fly Twins rob diamonds from an importing company, and one of them does this deed in a Spiderman costume so that the guard, before being hit on the head from behind by the second twin, believes that Spidey is the culprit.

My Thoughts: Nothing special about this episode, except for a close call for Spidey, everyone thinking he's a criminal. Aside from that, it's like watching The Spider and the Fly all over again. Very repeatative. Even the same hideout. Entertaining all the same, but nothing new.

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Episode 39: The Origin of Spider-Man

The Plot: Student Peter Parker is labeled a "bookworm" by his peers when he declines their offer of a triple-date in favor of viewing a radiology experiment. Bit by a spider, turning into a superhero, his uncle killed by a thief that Peter let go.. fights crime now in Manhattan.

My Thoughts: Well, to kick off the second season, they decided to tell Spidey's origin, which is fine, but like I typed before,. I think they really should have done that to kick off the first season. Still, the origin was awesome! IO mean, it always is, it's hard to mess up a classic!

Of coarse no its seen as scientifically impossible for radioactivity to have that kind of effect, and is now explained as a genetically manipulated spider, which is scientifically proven to have the same effects. (As a matter of fact, scientists are working on making their own Spider-Man!! Little heads up!) But, like I said, nothing beats a classic.

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Episode 40: King Pinned

The Plot: On his first night at work at the Daily Bugle, Peter overhears talk of a fake medicine racket engineered by a rotund mobster called the Kingpin, whose thugs have a laboratory somewhere where they produce cheap, imitation pharmaceuticals, which are then peddled at gunpoint to druggists, who are subsequently frightened into selling the fake medicine and not signing a complaint for the police.

My Thoughts: They did the Kingpin decently for this episode. A "fake medicine" empire wasn't exactly what I expected, but still, the King Pin has his empire. I noticed now the series seems to be on rewind as now Parker is just starting to work at the Daily Bugle. Thats ok, I just wish they thought of doing it first season! Don't get me started on the chase scenes! Now that they switched from cramming two episodes in a half-hour block, they're stretching the one, and that means filling it in the gaps with extremely long chase scenes!  Still, the writers, creators, and such did a good job, I really think they gave Pete, JJJ, and the King Pin justice.

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Episode 41: Swing City

The Plot: A twisted radiation specialist gains illicit dominion over Manhattan's new and only nuclear power plant and uses a special ray to lift Manhattan into the clouds, and unless he is amply paid, granted amnesty from arrest, and permitted to build his own nuclear reactor, he will deactivate the ray and plunge the island by force of gravity back down to Earth.

My Thoughts: This is yet another one of my favorites. Shows Spidey how this line of work can mess up a date! I always did like that in a superhero show, more conflict than just fist fights and solving problems. Unfortunatly, it doesn't always work out for the hero, but I think I speak for most of us at least that we aare always entertained!!!