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Spider-Man: The Animated Series Episode ReviewsThe Alien Costume, Part One
Review and Media by Stu
Episode #7 - The Alien Costume, Part One
Original Airdate: April 29th, 1995
Spider-Man comes across an alien symbiote that attaches itself to him and forms a new black costume. Meanwhile, Eddie Brock accuses Spider-Man of stealing a valuable rock which was really stolen by the Rhino. Now Spider-Man faces a $1,000,000 bounty for his capture.
Credits:
Story By: John Semper and Brynne Chandler Reaves
Written By: Brynne Chandler Reavesr
Music Composed By: Shuki Levy and Kussa Mahchi
Animation Services By: Toyko Movie Shinsha (TMS)
Guest Starring: Christopher Daniel Barnes as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker, Ed Asner
as J. Jonah Jameson, Roscoe Lee Browne as The Kingpin,
Maxwell Caulfield as Alistair Smythe, Michael Horton as John Jameson,
Jim Cummings as The Shocker.
Review: Defiantly
one of the highlights of the series. Whilst some would say that this cartoon was
guilty of jamming too much into an episode, this wasn't the case with the Alien
Costume, as the entire 3 parts where executed flawlessly. Great pace, an excellent
story and some of the best animation and dialouge this show ever saw, The Alien
Costume is the dogs bollocks, of this there is no doubt.
This episode kicked it all off. In the comics, Venom was created over a longer
period of time, Spider-Man encountered the alien costume that created him on
another planet, teamed with a whole lot of hero's to fight a whole lot of
villains, and returned to earth, only to have Reed Richards tell him it was
actually alive, and Peter rejected it, and it later went onto become Venom,
Spidey's most popular enemy.
As you can guess, all that was far too much to tell in 20 minutes. Here, the
alien kept its same mysterious presence, but was brought to earth in a much more
simple, and just plain better way. It also gave us an incredible shuttle crash
on the Bridge.
Despite only being 3 episodes long, it had it'd fair share of subplots, and a
lot of characters. Used to great effect, as he often was, was The Kingpin.
Bringing him in also meant bringing in new villains, 2 of my favorites in this
case. Up first was The Rhino, who played a part in another sub plot involving
Eddie Brock, and also was the star of one of the series best fights scenes,
namely, his fight with the 'new' fugitive Spidey, decked out in his bad ass
black suit. After he gives up, I remember being comlpetly shocked as to what Spidey
did next, back when I first watched it. As said above, this is where the
brilliant dialouge came through
SPIDER-MAN: Who said anything about jail?
RHINO: I... I don't get it?
SPIDER-MAN: You will.It's like this... I'm through with not getting what I want!
RHINO: Wha.. what are you doing? I told ya... I give up!
SPIDER-MAN: That's funny. I give up too. I give up trying to be a friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man!
The opening shot of the new symbiote Spidey was especially memorable, as it was
just damn cool. Waking up staring at yourself in a costume you've never seen
before. Very creepy!
While part 1 wasn't as good as part 2, it still outshines most of the series,
with its spectacular animation, great script, and exceptional voice work,
especially Chris Barnes, who had a great sense of arrogance and fear while
voicing symbiote Spidey.
And it had the most whoop ass ending you ever did see!
Screenshots:
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