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Ultimate Spider-Man The Animated Series Review

Spider-Man makes his triumphed return to the small screen once again! The Ultimate Spider-Man finds Peter Parker training to become the ultimate hero of all time with a little help from Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. and a team of rookie heroes. The Ultimate Spider-Man TV show is the first ever Marvel produced show making it even more richer in Marvel Comics DNA. This is excellent news for loyal fans of Spider-Man who've been waiting for the Ultimate version of Marvel shows to be created. With the release of lots Ultimate Spider-Man material in the past month or so, it is finally here, the Ultimate Spider-Man! Will it make the cut?

The Good

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The show opens up with a Spider-Man cliche that has been used every once in awhile in Spider-Man shows/movies/comics; narration from the character's perspective (or Spider-Man's perspective). This cliche of Spider-Man telling what has happened, prior and up to the point of getting his abilities, in the last year or so never gets old just because of the fact that seeing another creative team perfect the short narration story of Spider-Man for new viewers is really incredible. The first villain Spider-Man fights in this show is The Trapster, who many viewers don't particularity know as an iconic Spider-Man villain (which is true). Already we get to see Spider-Man break the fourth wall through his short fight with the villain, as well as bringing that iconic Spider-Man banter in the show that we would normally expect from Spider-Man. Just like in the comic book, we have the super-spy Nick Fury knowing that this is the age of heroes and that he needs to recruit as many of them as he possibly can to protect the world from the next big threat.

In these two episodes, Norman Osborn is seen to be a key villain for the eventual story development in the series. Osborn wants to harness Spider-Man's powers to manufacture an army of Spider-Men; whom he'll sell to the highest government bidder that wants and edge in the war. We get to see more villains throughout the two episodes that aired like the frightful four and Doctor Octopus all who work for Norman Osborn.

You'll be rooting thwipless for this show.
You'll be rooting thwipless for this show.

As expected, Peter's two most loyal friends Mary Jane and Harry Osborn are in this show. With also the frequent appearance of Stan Lee who plays Stan The Janitor, which is really great to see the humor and life that he brings to the show. Drake Bell does a good job as the voice of Spider-Man. The voice of Spider-Man comes naturally to him as if he himself were Spider-Man, just the humor he brings and the fading in-and-out of the fourth wall is enjoyable. The other actors Tom Kenny, Chi McBride, JK Simmons, Tara Strong, Steven Weber and others did a good job on these first two episodes and I can't wait to see how they fit more into their roles as hero or villain in eventual episodes. The appearance of Agent Coulson played by Clark Gregg in both big and small screen appearances has shown that he is really moving up in the ranks as an actor in Marvel films, it won't be long till we have an Phil Coulson Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. movie in the near future.

Having Paul Dini and original Ultimate Spider-Man writer/creator Brain Michael Bendis on the series makes this show extremely better and gives the viewer a sense that the writers know what they are doing with the characters and bringing the very comic book life that Marvel wants to display in this show. The Man of Action who are Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, Duncan Rouleau and Steven T. Seagle are working with Marvel, Dini and Bendis on this show will help strengthen the flow of the show building the characters in this show and also giving loyal Ultimate Spider-Man fans great material that they will not be displeased with. The animation style of the cartoon makes the series even more unique from the comic book, showing that the writers are looking forward to the future while also remembering the roots of the Ultimate Spider-Man.

The Bad

You will watch this show through the good and the bad
You will watch this show through the good and the bad

Usually when a new show comes around the creators go a little overboard or don't give the viewers enough material to stick with the TV Show. While the story, animation and actors were a great choice, it seemed a bit to me that the writers were really going a bit all out with the fourth wall concept. In the first episode of the show it seemed all Spider-Man did was break the fourth wall, but near the end of the episode and going into the second they toned it down a bit just enough for the viewer to get air. While I'm all for one with how the writers are molding Spider-Man into this show, I think they should back off just a little bit on breaking the fourth wall every 2 minutes. Other than that, this was a great series.

The Verdict

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Give the show a chance, you watch to much TV as it is so why don't you watch some more!? The Ultimate Spider-Man The Animated Series is a thwiping awesome show that has great attention to detail and also giving the loyal Ultimate Spider-Man fan a show that they deserve, as that is mostly the targeted audience that this show goes to (while also bringing in new viewers). If the comedy, action or story doesn't get you to watch this show, then just move along. Overall 5 out of 5. thwip-thwip.

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