Ultimate Spider-Man Episode Two: Great Responsibility

Great Responsibility

First Aired: April 1st, 2012

Synopsis: Spider-Man fights against robots designed to test him in the SHIELD helicarrier. Unbeknownst to him, he's watched by four other superheroes - Iron Fist, Power Man, Nova, and White Tiger - who all think that his style is too sloppy and not professional enough. In spite of their comments, Spider-Man is able to defeat the robots, and leaves the helicarrier using a web parachute from the new, advanced web shooter SHIELD has given him. The next day, he visits Harry Osborn in hospital before showing up at school, where Mary Jane reveals that she wants to meet Spider-Man and interview him, since he supposedly goes to their school. Although Peter does want to help her, and the interview would help her with her future career, he's worried that she'd recognise him as Spider-Man since she knows him too well. Later that day, at SHIELD Peter meets scientist Curt Connors and agent Phil Coulson. Spider-Man's given the Spider-Cycle, a motorbike that Connors developed for him, but accidentally drives it out of the helicarrier.

Spider-Man's unable to control the Spider-Cycle as it drives all around Manhattan, but is saved by Nova and White Tiger. Discovering that Nick Fury wants him to be on a team, he rejects the idea, and even though Fury points out the real-world experience he has that they don't, Spider-Man still says no. When he's back in the city he's attacked by the Frightful Four, and discovers that they've got a client who hired them to capture him. The SHIELD superheroes show up and help Spider-Man, and he tells them to help protect the civilians nearby. Spider-Man's able to defeat Thundra and Wizard, while Iron Fist defeats Klaw. Afterwards, Spider-Man agrees that he'll work with them, but that he still needs time to himself, which Fury agrees to. The next day, he discovers that his team will be going to school with him in their civilian identities, and that Coulson is now the school principal.

 

Sam Alexander is Actually the Worst:

• As the team of heroes watch Spider-Man fight robots, Sam bursts in and bellows, "Why is Fury testing a new candidate? I didn't approve this!" as if he's got any sort of authority, or, for that matter, maturity.
• On a more minor note, when Peter meets the team at school in their civilian identities, Sam is reluctant to introduce himself to Peter, and has to be nudged by Luke. It's a small thing, sure, but it's also incredibly petty.
  

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Agent Coulson is voiced by the same actor who plays him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Clark Gregg. Which is great! I love Agent Coulson, and I quite enjoyed Agents of SHIELD when it was a thing.
• When Peter meets Curt Connors, Connors is missing an arm...at least, it looks that way, before he reveals that he's hiding it in his coat as a prank. It's a cute little bit, and a good subversion of what we normally expect out of Curt.
• When the team are introducing themselves, Luke is originally introduced as his real name, before he interrupts and declares that he's Power Man. It's a nice little nod to the fact that he hasn't had a secret identity in the comics for years.
  

Review: One episode was all it took for this show to go downhill. If it wasn't for Spider-Man Unlimited having a pretty awful first episode I think that that would be a new record. The petty arguments I recall littering this show are right on display here - Spider-Man is angry that he has to work on a team (and to his credit, he's also worried about being responsible for them), he's later angry enough about them going to school with him that he tries to transfer, and the team are judgemental of Spider-Man and think he's full of it. (Except Danny and Luke. Danny and Luke are lovely people, as you'd expect). Everyone's emotions make some sort of sense - they're even relatable to an extent - but the way everyone acts on them and loudly declares what they're thinking makes them all far too hot-headed.

If you're not keen on the team having petty arguments, then how do you feel about a toy advertisement? Sure, okay, I can understand the Spider-Cycle being included because upper management wants to sell toys of it, but does so much of the episode have to be devoted to Spider-Man uncontrollably driving it through Manhattan? Again, it makes him look too hot-headed and stupid, and he's weirdly resistant to the idea of being saved by the team both here and in the fight with the Frightful Four.

There are a few silver linings here - as mentioned, Luke and Danny are both the nicest members of the team, and Spider-Man telling the team to protect civilians is both in-character for him, practical, and helps to sell that he has the experience that they lack. There's also a decent gag about Aunt May beating Peter at video games which is genuinely quite funny. But outside of these small moments, either the characters are acting too immature, or the writing is.