EPISODE REVIEW

Episode #19: Growing Pains
Original Airdate: July 20th, 2009

Venom is back and framing Spider-Man. Meanwhile, alien spores infect John Jameson, increasing his size, strength and mass. J. Jonah Jameson convinces his son to become a super-hero to capture Spidey…

Credits
Written By Nicole Dubac
Directed By Mike Goguen
Music by Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter, Michael McCuistion
Animation By Moi Animation

Voices
Josh Keaton as Spider-Man/Peter Parker
Dee Bradley Baker as Curt Connors
Lacey Chabert as Gwen Stacy
Steve Blum as Dilbert Trilby, Mr. Parrot
Allana Ubach as Liz Allan
Joshua Lebarr as Flash Thompson
Ben Diskin as Venom
Crispin Freeman as Electro
Brian George as Miles Warren
Grey Delisle as Sally Avril, Erin
Kelly Hu as Sha Shan Nguyen
Vanessa Marshall as Mary Jane Watson
James Arnold Taylor as Harry Osborn
Cree Summer as Glory Grant
Daran Norris as J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson/Colonel Jupiter

Review: Stu - I can’t say I ever thought I’d see Colonel Jupiter in this show… I thought we’d eventually see Man Wolf by how blatant a good guy John Jameson is but I think Colonel Jupiter works here, especially since Spidey has been framed yet again.

This is probably the most highlighted we’ve seen Jonah Jameson since the show began – he’s too good a character to ignore completely (Bendis!) but everything they’ve done so far has been pretty spot on. He’s clearly ill tempered and doesn’t think things through but he’s not a complete idiot or two dimensional in his hatred of Spider-Man – I especially like the fact that he doesn’t like that people use Spider-Man and his son John in the same breath when using the word “hero” as outlined in the last season’s The Uncertainty Principle. It adds something more to his character in my opinion – I think that they can crack a really interesting version of The Scorpion from Jameson here, as Weisman has indicated he’d like to do in season 3.

I liked the interventions with the auditions and how each segment explained the forthcoming scene – clever stuff there. Nicole Dubac clearly did her homework here! The Harry one was my favourite.

I really like how Venom is now stalking him and trying to ruin his life before ending it. I don’t think the voice quite works as he’s not quite threatening enough, but the design is growing on me (except that stupid tongue – he looks scarier with sharper teeth).

And that cliffhanger! What a jaw dropper! Even Jack Bauer himself would be proud of a cliffhanger like that!

Media: