[8.0/10] This episode is self-consciously a James Bond homage, from the title and ending teaser, to the slow-going lazer, to the Goldfinger reference with Fury’s “lucky number” on the countdown. And the episode has fun with that idea, having Fury and Spider-Man use a lot of neat spy tech and skulk around.
But oddly, I think this episode is a better Die Hard pastiche than it is a 007 spoof. The idea of our everyman(ish) hero crawling through vents, causing trouble for a shadowy group who’s taken over a big facility, while attempting to save someone he cares about but is on the outs with, works perfectly as an episode-length reference to Bruce Willis’s coming out party. The way that Spidey causes trouble for Zodiac, rescues Fury, and saves the day, is patently McLane-esque. (And maybe the episode is acknowledging that too with Spidey’s “Yippie-ki-yay” comment?)
And the show is better of for it! Maybe it’s just having Bendis behind the pen that makes the difference. The comedy is sharper here, with Spider-Man turning into a bit of a Bugs Bunny figure but in a way that feels better enmeshed in the tone of the episode than usual. The thematic stuff is still pretty basic -- with Spidey realizing that as much as he bristles at Fury’s lessons and instructions, taking them to heart gets him where he wants to go -- but it’s more functional and better-integrated than in a lot of prior episodes. And the action is well-done, with the Zodiac and Scorpio making for a fun villain set with an interesting wrinkle once Scorpio’s identity is revealed. Hell, I even liked the kinda corny label-maker joke!
Overall, this is one of Ultimate Spider-Man’s finest hours so far, combining comedy, action, homage, and a touch of theme to produce on thoroughly enjoyable and focused outing for the wall-crawler. More like this one please!
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2018-11-12T03:47:20Z
[8.0/10] This episode is self-consciously a James Bond homage, from the title and ending teaser, to the slow-going lazer, to the Goldfinger reference with Fury’s “lucky number” on the countdown. And the episode has fun with that idea, having Fury and Spider-Man use a lot of neat spy tech and skulk around.
But oddly, I think this episode is a better Die Hard pastiche than it is a 007 spoof. The idea of our everyman(ish) hero crawling through vents, causing trouble for a shadowy group who’s taken over a big facility, while attempting to save someone he cares about but is on the outs with, works perfectly as an episode-length reference to Bruce Willis’s coming out party. The way that Spidey causes trouble for Zodiac, rescues Fury, and saves the day, is patently McLane-esque. (And maybe the episode is acknowledging that too with Spidey’s “Yippie-ki-yay” comment?)
And the show is better of for it! Maybe it’s just having Bendis behind the pen that makes the difference. The comedy is sharper here, with Spider-Man turning into a bit of a Bugs Bunny figure but in a way that feels better enmeshed in the tone of the episode than usual. The thematic stuff is still pretty basic -- with Spidey realizing that as much as he bristles at Fury’s lessons and instructions, taking them to heart gets him where he wants to go -- but it’s more functional and better-integrated than in a lot of prior episodes. And the action is well-done, with the Zodiac and Scorpio making for a fun villain set with an interesting wrinkle once Scorpio’s identity is revealed. Hell, I even liked the kinda corny label-maker joke!
Overall, this is one of Ultimate Spider-Man’s finest hours so far, combining comedy, action, homage, and a touch of theme to produce on thoroughly enjoyable and focused outing for the wall-crawler. More like this one please!