Spider-Man's most downplayed abilities

#1 Posted by RidTom (134 posts) - 8 months, 1 day ago - Show Bio

So yesterday I was watching some reruns of the Spider-man animated t.v. show from the 90's when I saw something I hadn't noticed before, the I watched some episodes of Spectacular Spider-man and Ultimate Spider-man and I noticed it again! What did I notice that these shows had in common? Simple : They all downplayed his strength and speed (especially the one from the 90's). Can anyone tell me why they decided to downplay some pretty important powers?

#2 Posted by mewmdude77 (960 posts) - 8 months, 1 day ago - Show Bio

It's probably because he holds it back so much that sometimes it would be hard to comprehend how fast and strong he could be if he didn't actually hold back.

#3 Posted by RidTom (134 posts) - 8 months, 1 day ago - Show Bio

@mewmdude77: But an example I'm thinking of was when he's chasing these criminals (normal human) he's so slow he get hit by one of them with a pipe! A pipe. It's still ridiculous when he fights super powered ones and is as slow and weak as a snail. Is it really that hard to translate his abilities?

#4 Edited by Strider92 (11314 posts) - 8 months, 1 day ago - Show Bio

@RidTom: the problem is Spider-man is a high-tier street leveler. He's up in the same league as Midnighter. The differences are:

1. Because of Spider-man's incredibly good stats not many street levelers have a shot at beating him so downplaying his abilities is for plot purposes to try to create an interesting story.

2. Spider-man is a good guy and holds back a lot. Midnighter will just go in an take the guys head off without a second thought.

#5 Posted by spidey 15 (17756 posts) - 8 months, 15 hours ago - Show Bio

@Strider92 said:

@RidTom: the problem is Spider-man is a high-tier street leveler. He's up in the same league as Midnighter. The differences are:
1. Because of Spider-man's incredibly good stats not many street levelers have a shot at beating him so downplaying his abilities is for plot purposes to try to create and interesting story.
2. Spider-man is a good guy and holds back a lot. Midnighter will just go in an take the guys head off without a second thought.

Basically that... :)

But i believe spectacular spidey made spidey.... well... spectacular. He had a lot of impressive moments there, unlike in the 90's which when i watched it as a kid, it had me believed that spidey was weak... :/

#6 Posted by kasino (289 posts) - 8 months, 15 hours ago - Show Bio

idk loved the cartoon but can't think of a comic or cartoon or anything except how good frosted flakes taste is ever consistent

#7 Edited by JigglyJiggletowns (53 posts) - 8 months, 12 hours ago - Show Bio

In the 90s show he only threw 2 punches throughout the entire series. I'm not even lying, and I'm pretty sure both times only happened after he got his ass handed to him.

#8 Posted by Strider92 (11314 posts) - 8 months, 9 hours ago - Show Bio

@JigglyJiggletowns said:

In the 90s show he only threw 2 punches throughout the entire series. I'm not even lying, and I'm pretty sure both times only happened after he got his ass handed to him.

90's Spider-man never even threw 1 punch. The censors at the time deemed it to violent or something like that so he was never allowed to punch.

#9 Posted by TDK_1997 (9690 posts) - 8 months, 9 hours ago - Show Bio

Because most of the times he is holding back and that way he can't show fully his abilities.

#10 Posted by RidTom (134 posts) - 8 months, 6 hours ago - Show Bio

@JigglyJiggletowns: Now that you mention it, he never did throw a punch huh?

#11 Edited by Sovereign91001 (1063 posts) - 8 months, 6 hours ago - Show Bio

@RidTom said:

So yesterday I was watching some reruns of the Spider-man animated t.v. show from the 90's when I saw something I hadn't noticed before, the I watched some episodes of Spectacular Spider-man and Ultimate Spider-man and I noticed it again! What did I notice that these shows had in common? Simple : They all downplayed his strength and speed (especially the one from the 90's). Can anyone tell me why they decided to downplay some pretty important powers?

It's well known that they downplayed his powers in that show. My favorite example was Spidey saying (while in the black suit) that he (prior to acquiring the black suit) had trouble lifting cars.

#12 Posted by RidTom (134 posts) - 8 months, 1 hour ago - Show Bio

@Sovereign91001: Did he say that? dang he was U.P.ed

#13 Edited by SpidermanWins (3962 posts) - 7 months, 29 days ago - Show Bio

Wall Climbing and his Strength (in video games and movies anyway)

#14 Posted by VeganDiet (479 posts) - 7 months, 28 days ago - Show Bio

@Sovereign91001 said:

@RidTom said:
So yesterday I was watching some reruns of the Spider-man animated t.v. show from the 90's when I saw something I hadn't noticed before, the I watched some episodes of Spectacular Spider-man and Ultimate Spider-man and I noticed it again! What did I notice that these shows had in common? Simple : They all downplayed his strength and speed (especially the one from the 90's). Can anyone tell me why they decided to downplay some pretty important powers?
It's well known that they downplayed his powers in that show. My favorite example was Spidey saying (while in the black suit) that he (prior to acquiring the black suit) had trouble lifting cars.

I think that that's actually a reference to one of his origin retellings. In which he, with a little difficulty, picked up a volkswagen.

#15 Posted by thespideyguy (1454 posts) - 7 months, 24 days ago - Show Bio

Break out your spider-man trades. Does anyone remember ho far he can leap.

Comment and Save