Why did Blade have such a big impact on the show? - Spider-Man (1994) Discussion

[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 12 years ago

I don't know. Blade isn't as well known as some of Marvel's other heroes.

"Time to die! Like a man!" Venom Spider-Man Web of Shadows

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[–] BrunoAntony 12 years ago

There is a Blade cartoon ... Marvel Anime: Blade.

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[–] Gustav_Fiers 12 years ago

Blade and Morbius had too many episodes in the show. More than some of the classic Spidey villains like Green Goblin and Mysterio.

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[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

Yeah it was too much. That's when the show really started to drag...

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

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[–] Gustav_Fiers 12 years ago

You think the show started to drag as early as season 2 then, Edd?

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[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

I meant more like season 2's story dragging The whole vampire and tablet of time stuff was cool as a kid but season 2 should've ended with the Man-Spider turning back into Peter Parker in my opinion. No need to prolong the mutation disease.

Season 3 was the best because it had the best overall story, 4 had no real story going except Black Cat's emergence, and season 5 was the story arc special, but it was more like a Marvel crossover than Spider-Man's saga until the clone episodes.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

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[–] Gustav_Fiers 12 years ago

The vampire story could have been cut down to a two part episode. It didn't take all those episodes to show Morbius was tortured and wanted Felicia. They milked it to bring in Blade and The Punisher.

The Tablet of Time was actually pretty good I thought. Vulture, Hammerhead, The Lizard. Classic villains getting some screen time after the big vampire fest.

Did season 3 have an overall story theme? Season 4 was boring. Season 5 was crammed with too many guest heroes.

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[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

season 3 had Madame Web and Green Goblin. While I despise the former I love the Goblin in any incarnation.

The tablet episodes, eh, watch them again and you'll see what I mean. Everyone kidnapping everyone else and some really sloppy animation at times.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

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[–] TMC-4 (19386) 5 years ago

People complain a lot about the censorship on this show, but I feel that predominately featuring vampires like Morbius and an inherently violent character like The Punisher, just magnified the issue. I guess the point that I'm trying to make is that they all but made their limitations far more noticeable than maybe they needed or should've been.

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[–] Witchblade06 12 years ago

I agree. It sucks cuz the cooler villains only have 1 or 2 episodes while the crappy ones have numerous episodes

And going to Blade since this is a topic about him, did anyone here find the relationship between him and Detective Lee lame?

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[–] KCJ506 12 years ago

Yeah, I will never understand why Morbius who's at best a C/D-list villain was treated like a major villain. I mean, look at the other villains we could have - and I think that we should have - seen more of instead of Morbius.

Norman's Green Goblin got three mere episodes against Spider-Man before he went into limbo. Venom got three episodes (or four, if you count his shadowy cameo at the end of "The Alien Costume, part 2"), Poor Mysterio only got four episodes (and was killed off, which sucked). Vulture only appears in three episodes before joining the Insidious Six near the end of the series. Hobgoblin only got five episodes before getting arrested and never seen again.

Morbius got more exposure than any of those guys. That's just plain wrong. Especially when one of them is Spidey's arch nemesis.

Sick of threads "Megan Fox should play this!"

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[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

Yeah, the GREEN GOBLIN having less episodes than Morbius? Seriously.. thank you Avi Arad. he was the smart aleck who had Hobgoblin come in first and wanted Blade on the show.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

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[–] TMC-4 (19386) 5 years ago

I thought that it was John Semper who pushed hard to have Blade on the show:

https://web.archive.org/web/20041208074320/http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/semperinterview4.htm

At the time of his episodes' broadcast, Blade was a slightly obscure Marvel character. Was he included as a nod to the Blade film (which may have been in the works for a while)?

There was NO Blade film in the works at all. I did Blade because I’m black and he’s black and I wanted bring this cool black character to the screen for the very first time. It was my decision, period. In fact, as I stated previously, I believe that it was my use of the character that inspired Avi to pursue it as a movie.

By the way, when I did my series, Marvel couldn’t get arrested in Hollywood. Even Jim Cameron couldn’t get his Spider-Man movie made.

https://animesuperhero.com/forums/threads/john-semper-interviewed-10th-anniversary-special.3748791/

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[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7387) 5 years ago

Some may hate him for that but I think it's cool he wanted more diversity in the show. Also if I remember right the Hobgoblin being on the show wasn't Avi Arad's fault. It was Toy Biz's fault for putting him into their line of action figures because of his popularity in the comics. So after they did that without consulting anyone on the show they had to use him. John Semper actually wanted Green Goblin in that episode. Imagine how different the show would've been if they'd had Green Goblin both there and in season 3.

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[–] danmj2 12 years ago

I dont know but I kind of liked it. I realy liked the Morbius stuff, I thaught he was one of the better villians.

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[–] CountVladDracula 10 years ago

I dont know but I kind of liked it. I realy liked the Morbius stuff, I thaught he was one of the better villians.

Agreed. I actually think it's a shame that outside of the odd video game he hasn't had a multimedia incarnation in over twenty years now.

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[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 12 years ago

To be fair though Morbious never was in a cartoon before this. Green Goblin and Doc Ock had both been in cartoons prior to this. Although this was really the first cartoon that had Norman Osborn as Green Goblin. In the 60s cartoon he was just some thief who would get arrested by the cops without them removing his mask. I don't know if Spider-Man and his amazing friends treated him better since I've never seen it. I do admit having Kingpin always be behind everything was kind of dumb. Heck he formed the Sinister Six instead of Doc Ock!

"Time to die! Like a man!" Venom Spider-Man Web of Shadows

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[–] KCJ506 12 years ago

I do admit having Kingpin always be behind everything was kind of dumb. Heck he formed the Sinister Six instead of Doc Ock!

Yeah, Kingpin was ridiciously overused and it really hurt the other villains. Especially Doc Ock. Always working for Kingpin. Ock is a leader of men. Not a follower. And Norman Osborn would never live in fear or kowtow to Fisk.

Sick of threads "Megan Fox should play this!"

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[–] Gustav_Fiers 12 years ago

Yeah, Kingpin was ridiciously overused and it really hurt the other villains. Especially Doc Ock. Always working for Kingpin. Ock is a leader of men. Not a follower. And Norman Osborn would never live in fear or kowtow to Fisk.

Exactly. Ock and the Goblin, the two biggest Spider-Man villains, and they were reduced to grunts who were under the Kingpin's thumb.

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[–] GreenGoblinsOckVenom86 12 years ago

Although Norman Osborn was under Kingpin's thumb, Green Goblin was not. Heck, Green Goblin was going to kill Fisk in his first appearance on the show. I really liked what he said to Fisk. "And you! The worst of them all! Your sins are only exceeded by your gut!"

"Time to die! Like a man!" Venom Spider-Man Web of Shadows

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[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

I liked Neil Ross' Green Goblin but he was underused.

With all the censorship I couldn't have asked for anything more from "Turning Point", one of my favorite episodes of any series.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

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[–] Thetruthisinhere 10 years ago

to be fair,they made a point of Doc(tor) Oc(topus) hating that he was under someones boot,especially in season 5 he himself said even moreso how he won't follow orders of someone(I think it was Red Skull) and went to do his own thing despite orders. He never particularly liked working for Fisk(Kingpin),so they didn't ignore his dislike of it or leader nature.

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[–] spooie-1 12 years ago

Might have had to do with the upcoming movie at the time. Did you know that the character of Whistler in the films were based on the animated series?

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[–] Times_Up 12 years ago

Might have had to do with the upcoming movie at the time. Did you know that the character of Whistler in the films were based on the animated series?

Yep and they were hoping the film would come out much earlier. However, Whistler in this cartoon was based upon Goyer's earlier draft where he was portrayed more as Frank Drake, before Kristofferson came aboard and put his spin on him.

Am I unreal? Am I a character who can’t possibly exist? – Alissa Rosenbaum

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[–] jerichofan_101 11 years ago

I can't remember where I saw it, but I read an interview where John Semper said Blade was either one of, or was his favourite super hero and that's why he used him so often.

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[–] 11 years ago

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[–] TheMarvel 11 years ago

personally I thought the Morbius storyline was really well done. One of the most recurring themes of the show isn't about what villain gets the most screen time, but how he ties into Peter, and how Peter is always battling his guilt. What happened to Morbius mirrors the guilt that Peter feels over what happened to Uncle Ben. He feels responsible for both.

I do wish other villains got more episodes/story arcs, but I can't complain about the Morbius episodes because, imo, they are some of the best in the entire series (Even if it has more to do with Spider-Man than Morbius). While season 3 easily has the best episodes, I have to admit that I think season 2 was the most consistent in quality. I didn't think there was one bad episode at all, while season 3 had a couple turds, and a terrible beginning (Dr. Strange, Make a Wish (with that awful Mousie character, etc).

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[–] CountVladDracula 10 years ago

personally I thought the Morbius storyline was really well done. One of the most recurring themes of the show isn't about what villain gets the most screen time, but how he ties into Peter, and how Peter is always battling his guilt. What happened to Morbius mirrors the guilt that Peter feels over what happened to Uncle Ben. He feels responsible for both.

Agreed.

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