Spider-Man Unlimited Episode Two: Worlds Apart, Part Two

Worlds Apart, Part Two

First Aired: October 9th, 1999

Synopsis: Spider-Man tries fighting back against Sir Ram, and the High Evolutionary gives him a brief overview of his origin - he showed up to Counter-Earth to escape his planet, but found that there was just as much corruption here and so created the human-animal hybrids, the beastials, since they're not as corrupt as humans. Spider-Man manages to break free of the operating table he's strapped to and escapes from the laboratory, where he finds some humans who say that they're here to save him. They cause an explosion as a distraction and while they get away, the rebels explain to Spider-Man that the High Evolutionary showed up fifty years ago, turned humanity into dregs, and created the bestials, but no one knows why. They manage to escape into the sewers, but are followed by Lady Vermin. Although Lord Tyger wants to join her, the High Evolutionary orders him not to, saying that he's bringing in specialists. At the human base, Spider-Man meets an unexpected face: John Jameson.

 

Although John Jameson is sceptical at first of Spider-Man being the real deal, Spidey proves it to him, but shortly afterwards bestials come in and start fighting the rebels. Spider-Man first finds himself facing off against Lady Vermin, who kisses him, and then Venom, who alongside Carnage is one of the specialists mentioned by the High Evolutionary. Spider-Man shows off an ability of his new suit, which is to unleash powerful sonics which drive the symbiotes away. Afterwards, some of the bestials who attacked have been captured and John wants to kill them, but Spider-Man convinces him that it'd be no good. Bromley, an explosives expert, is disgusted by Spider-Man's mercy, and it's mentioned that if Spider-Man knew what the High Evolutionary did to his family he'd understand. Spider-Man tries convincing John to return to their Earth, but John says he won't return until humans are freed, and anyway, they have no way of leaving Counter-Earth yet. Spider-Man is reluctant to help, even when it's pointed out that as the only person without a tracking chip he could be pivotal, but he's given clothes and money and told to have another look at the planet. Two days later, a robot malfunctions and tries to attack a small child, but Peter Parker saves him. The child's mother, Dr. Naoko Yamada-Jones, is grateful to Peter and offers him a place to stay.

Subplots:

• Prior to the attack on the human rebels' base, Venom and Carnage emerge from a submarine, and touch the two bestial guards who investigate. They say that they won't be in control of themselves, only doing what the Synoptic wants, and reveal that although they're working for the High Evolutionary now, they're planning on spreading the Synoptic's spores around and betraying the High Evolutionary eventually

Miscellaneous Notes:

• The giant purple robots which attack people are called Machine Men, and said to be the Knights of Wundagore's enforcers. A reference to X-51, I assume. 
• When Spider-Man's costume is criticised, he comments that "Women don't normally criticise my fashion sense until at least the third date!" It's an innocuous line, but given what some people say is okay on the third date, it definitely can take on a bit of extra meaning.
• During the scene when the bestials are attacking the rebels, they advance towards a man covered in bandages, who promptly falls apart into bandages, travels in a passage below the bestials, then appears again behind them. Okay?? Who is this man, why is he amazing, and why is he bandages?

Review: There's still some clunk here, noticeably the High Evolutionary giving his origin and then Spider-Man being told some of the details again by the rebels less than five minutes later (and not offering to fill in the gaps in their knowledge!), but this feels like a much stronger episode than the previous one. If you're going to go with an out-there premise like Spider-Man on another planet, you might as well lean into it, and I must say that Spider-Man hanging out with rebels feels like a good setup for this series. It's almost a pity when he goes and gets an apartment to live in at the end of the episode; I think I could handle him moving from rebel base to rebel base as the plot demands.

The episode could definitely do with some tightening up - other than John and Bromley I don't know any of the rebels' names, even though one of the women who helps get Spider-Man away from the lab feels like she's in a prominent role (though I might have just missed it). And seriously, as cool as he is, what the hell is up with Bandages Man?! Spider-Man being so keen to get off Counter-Earth feels a bit out-of-character, too - I get that he has a mission to do and he can complete it once John's out of there, but he doesn't show much compassion for the people of Counter-Earth, and I'm honestly surprised that he needs as much convincing as he does.

Overall though, I do feel fairly comfortable with the direction we've settled into. Establishing what's up with the bestials and the High Evolutionary helps to explain one of the most distinct parts of the premise of this show, and even though they could use some fleshing out, the rebels are likable and sympathetic. Although she's only in the episode at the end, I liked Naoko, too; I'm keen to see her and her son interacting with Peter. This is still a bit of a weird Spider-Man show, but set up enough now that I'm starting to get a feel for the show's merits.