[8.3/10] One of the things I admire about Spider-Man: The Animated Series is its ambition in terms of continuity and its little corner of the Marvel universe. Characters come back and intersect and reference past events that brought them to that point, which is pretty cool for a 25-year-old show that was aimed at kids.
But the big problem with the show is that it’s very easy for it to be overstuffed, and when you get an episode like this one, which is relatively clear and focused despite it’s flashback frame story format, you see how the show’s writing is able to flourish when the powers that be get an entire episode to tell one unified story.
This time, it’s the story of The Prowler (aka Hobie Brown), a small time thief who ends up with a super suit after making a faustian bargain with Kingpin, like so many low-level crooks who get elevated to the big leagues. This is Prowler’s episode more than it is Spider-Man’s, which works to the episodes advantage, as it gives the show a chance to do a pretty straight but enjoyable origin story for Brown, where Spider-Man is a supporting character.
It’s a story focused on power and regret. I really like the theme that Hobie’s motivated by power, but not in the megalomaniacal way that Kingpin is, but rather a recognition that the way of the world suggests that might makes right, and so he wants to be on the side of the mighty. That’s good fodder for the episode’s parable, where cozying up to people in power and trying to use strong-arm tactics only leads to bad things for Hobie, while actually asking people for help is what puts him in the driver’s seat. It’s a nice lesson to make Spidey a conduit for, and that kind of clear motivation makes Hobie (who’s voiced by Tim Russ, of Star Trek Voyager fame) a compelling character.
There’s also some pleasant, pure superheroic stuff going on as well. The idea that Prowler’s suit needs to be charged, and that Kingpin is using a special belt to give him electric shocks until he does, makes for a legitimate obstacle. And the way that Hobie and Prowler intersected with the lives of both Spider-Man and Peter Parker gives him and the web-head an interesting dynamic. The “girlfriend who needs you to be there for her rather than pursuing a life of crime” bit is a cliché, but there’s some meat there too.
What’s more, Spider-Man’s little arc in this episode is really well done. In terms of real problems, I like him being worried both about whether he can give Mary Jane the life he wants, and relatedly, whether he’s good enough for her. While there’s some minor classism at play, I like the idea that hearing about Hobie’s troubles puts Peter’s in perspective, and he learns to appreciate how much he has (especially MJ’s love) rather than worry so much about what he doesn't have.
Overall, a nicely-crafted episode with good themes, good arcs, and even some comic book-y ridiculousness (I’m looking at you and your cold themed puns, Iceberg), to make this one a stand-out.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-06-22T19:52:39Z
[8.3/10] One of the things I admire about Spider-Man: The Animated Series is its ambition in terms of continuity and its little corner of the Marvel universe. Characters come back and intersect and reference past events that brought them to that point, which is pretty cool for a 25-year-old show that was aimed at kids.
But the big problem with the show is that it’s very easy for it to be overstuffed, and when you get an episode like this one, which is relatively clear and focused despite it’s flashback frame story format, you see how the show’s writing is able to flourish when the powers that be get an entire episode to tell one unified story.
This time, it’s the story of The Prowler (aka Hobie Brown), a small time thief who ends up with a super suit after making a faustian bargain with Kingpin, like so many low-level crooks who get elevated to the big leagues. This is Prowler’s episode more than it is Spider-Man’s, which works to the episodes advantage, as it gives the show a chance to do a pretty straight but enjoyable origin story for Brown, where Spider-Man is a supporting character.
It’s a story focused on power and regret. I really like the theme that Hobie’s motivated by power, but not in the megalomaniacal way that Kingpin is, but rather a recognition that the way of the world suggests that might makes right, and so he wants to be on the side of the mighty. That’s good fodder for the episode’s parable, where cozying up to people in power and trying to use strong-arm tactics only leads to bad things for Hobie, while actually asking people for help is what puts him in the driver’s seat. It’s a nice lesson to make Spidey a conduit for, and that kind of clear motivation makes Hobie (who’s voiced by Tim Russ, of Star Trek Voyager fame) a compelling character.
There’s also some pleasant, pure superheroic stuff going on as well. The idea that Prowler’s suit needs to be charged, and that Kingpin is using a special belt to give him electric shocks until he does, makes for a legitimate obstacle. And the way that Hobie and Prowler intersected with the lives of both Spider-Man and Peter Parker gives him and the web-head an interesting dynamic. The “girlfriend who needs you to be there for her rather than pursuing a life of crime” bit is a cliché, but there’s some meat there too.
What’s more, Spider-Man’s little arc in this episode is really well done. In terms of real problems, I like him being worried both about whether he can give Mary Jane the life he wants, and relatedly, whether he’s good enough for her. While there’s some minor classism at play, I like the idea that hearing about Hobie’s troubles puts Peter’s in perspective, and he learns to appreciate how much he has (especially MJ’s love) rather than worry so much about what he doesn't have.
Overall, a nicely-crafted episode with good themes, good arcs, and even some comic book-y ridiculousness (I’m looking at you and your cold themed puns, Iceberg), to make this one a stand-out.