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POSTINGS 2008-05 (May)

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Sylvester writes...

Ever since I heard the man behind Gargoyles would be working on a Spider-Man animated show, I knew it would be the best yet. The icing on the cake was learning you were also an avid Spider-Man fan. You've done a really excellent job.

I've got to ask though, where is the super strength and spider-sense reflexes? I've seen plenty of web shooting, wall-crawling, agility and did I say web shooting? I just feel those two traits were lacking in the fights he had with Ox, Fancy Dan, and just recently, Tombstone. I'm all for the hero being challenged and all, but not as a result of his powers being watered down. Will we get to see just how strong someone who possesses the proportionate strength of a Spider can be in future episodes?

Thanks

Greg responds...

Well, you say his powers have been watered down, but I say his powers have been put back to where they started in the early Lee/Ditko comics. Potato/Potahto, except we both know it matters more than that, right?

Spidey has the proportionate strength of a spider still, and I can't say how you can see our show and not feel he has spider-reflexes. But I've never bought into the notion, despite what's been written by individual writers in things like the Marvel Universe Handbook -- and this from a guy who once wrote multiple, multiple entries of DC Comics' Who's Who -- that Spidey is one of the strongest guys around. He's stronger than a normal human, certainly. Considerably stronger. But he's not Hulk; he's not Rhino; he's not as strong as Doc Ock's arms. He's about at Gobby level, in my mind. Even a quote-unquote normal human like Ox, for whom strength is his main claim to fame, can challenge him. Again, all you have to do is look at the early Lee/Ditko issues to see that's how Spidey started. And that's how I think he should stay -- at least as long as he's still so young, physically immature and inexperienced. Which is not to say you haven't seen and won't continue to see feats of strength in coming episodes and especially in Season Two. But Spidey's never been about the strength, and I think it's flat out WRONG to make him too strong, so to speak. Frankly, I'd rather see him overpowered, than over-powered.

Spider-Sense is another ability that I think has, over the years, been abused as well. Pete was bit by a spider, not by a psychic. If you buy the notion of SPIDER-sense at all, you need it to fit with (at best) our perception of what a SPIDER can do. So in our show, Pete can only anticipate an incoming blow. That to me, is key. Pete could walk right by a serial killer with a chainsaw hidden under a trenchcoat and not feel a buzz, unless the guy took a swing at him. (Again, he's not psychic. He doesn't have a built-in EVIL SENSOR.) Because having spider-sense is NEW to Pete, he's not even that great at taking advantage of it now. We've decided that his spider-sense doesn't go off (or at any rate it's too low a level to bother with) when he can see the danger right in front of him. That would be redundant. And unless there's a lot of anticipation to a blow coming from an unseen source, he just may not get enough warning or information. Often the warning comes too late for him to react. Often the warning comes. But it's generic. He knows he's about to get slammed - but doesn't know from where. (It's just a tingling sensation. It can't talk to him and give him more information.) I won't deny that some writers -- including, on occasion, Stan -- have in fact turned spider-sense into an all-purpose evil sensor. But personally I don't buy it.

Of course, you're more than welcome to disagree with me. But I think you can see that there's at least a logic to our choices.

And for the record, all of the above was laid out in our series bible -- long before a single episode was ever written, boarded or animated. And that bible was vetted and approved by Marvel. They had every right -- not to mention responsibility -- to disagree with me and insist on a different approach to protect the integrity of the character. But there were no disagreements. We talked it over and concurred. These decisions weren't made lightly.

Response recorded on May 21, 2008

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WolfCypher writes...

Since it never hurts to ask, and if I cross any lines, all you have to do is ignore that question, I'm going to get presumptuous with some of my questions.

1) I gotta know...what will drive Eddie to hate Peter/Spidey to the point of wanting to kill him?

1.1) Okay, that may be too much, so maybe I'll ask if Eddie's hatred will be towards only Peter, or Spider-Man, too...

1.2) Okay, okay, at least can you reveal by what episode will we see their brotherly bond breakdown and Eddie's dark side come out?

2) Will the opening feature the same animation in later seasons, or will the animation change, such as featuring season 2 characters in the opening?

3) Have there been any Gargoyle referrences in this show? Besides Max getting electrocuted by the eels in "Interactions"?

Well, it was an honor wasting your time with these nerdy questions. Seriously, big fan of Gargoyles, and I love your handling of 'Spec SM'!

Greg responds...

1. You'll just have to be patient.

2. The opening changed a little with episode #110. I honestly don't know what if any changes we'll make for Season Two.

3. There have been a few. You know, like the gargoyles in episode 101.

Response recorded on May 20, 2008

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Webhead2006 writes...

Hey Greg, first off i wanted to say i love the spidey show. Personally i think its the best out of all the past shows, i loved the early 90s one when i was a kid growing up with it. But now i see all the flaws it had back then and all that. So far SSM is great love the characters, the story, and the action all top notch. I wish you the best of luck with the show and i heard your podcast with spiderman crawlspace and i would love to see the show make it to 65 episodes or more and then also would love to see some direct to dvd films which would be great. I just had one question i was wondering if you can give me the answer to and here it is: Are you planning to have any other villains/supporting characters be mergered between two different characters like you did with shocker/montana? I was really just wondering because its something i wouldnt want to see happen alot/ to certain characters. Thanks again for any answer you may give me. Also P.S Could we expect any twists with foswell and the big man identity or is big man just going to be tombstone's alias.

Greg responds...

I do appreciate all the kind words, but I'm really not going to use this forum to post, confirm or deny spoilers. (Happy to discuss what's already aired though.)

Response recorded on May 20, 2008

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Alex writes...

Hi Greg!

I just wanted to know when is each arc of The Spectacular Spider-Man supposed to be released on DVD?

Thanks Greg! :)

Greg responds...

I'd like to know that too.

Response recorded on May 20, 2008

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Chimaraz writes...

Is the practice of raising eggs communally based on tradition for Gargoyles, or is it more of an instictual biological imperative? The answer we usually get is that it's the Gargoyle way, but is it the Gargoyle way because they're told they've always done it that way, or is it the Gargoyle way because instinct tells them that if they lay an egg in the rookery, all eggs in the rookery are theirs? It is the most sensible course of action, based on their reproduction, but did the practice arise because of how they reproduce universally as a species, or do they reproduce universally as a species because of how they practice parenting?

... Chicken or egg?

Greg responds...

Egg or gargoyle?

Response recorded on May 20, 2008

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The Spectacular Spider-Man #110

___________________________________________________________________________

The Spectacular Spider-Man
Ep 110: "Persona"
Main and End Title Credits ___________________________________________________________________________
Main Titles
Executive Producers
STAN LEE
CRAIG KYLE
ERIC S. ROLLMAN
___________________________________________________________________________

Developed For Television By
VICTOR COOK & GREG WEISMAN

Created by
STAN LEE & STEVE DITKO

Opening Credits

Card #1
Supervising Producer and Story Editor
GREG WEISMAN

Card #2
Producer and Supervising Director
VICTOR COOK

Card #3
Producer
DIANE A CREA

Card #4
Written By
MATT WAYNE

Card #5
Directed By
DAN FAUSETT
___________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
Closing Credits

Card #6
Starring
JOSH KEATON as PETER PARKER / SPIDER-MAN
__________________________________________________________________________
Card #7
Also Starring

DEE BRADLEY BAKER as CURT CONNORS
XANDER BERKELEY as QUENTIN BECK
STEVE BLUM as DILBERT TRILBY, CHAMELEON
CLANCY BROWN as GEORGE STACY
GREY DELISLE as SALLY AVRIL
BEN DISKIN as EDDIE BROCK
TRICIA HELFER as BLACK CAT

_______________________________________________________________________
Card #8
Also Starring

JOSHUA LEBAR as FLASH THOMPSON
DARAN NORRIS as J. JONAH JAMESON
ALAN RACHINS as NORMAN OSBORN
DEBORAH STRANG as MAY PARKER
BJ WARD as MAYOR WATERS
TOM WILSON as STAN CARTER

Card #9
Voice Casting and Dialogue Director
JAMIE THOMASON
__________________________________________________________________________
Card #10
Music by
LOLITA RITMANIS
KRISTOPHER CARTER
MICHAEL McCUISTION

___________________________________________________________________________
Card #11
Associate Producer
ERIC VESBIT
WADE WISINSKI

___________________________________________________________________________
Card #12
Staff Writer
KEVIN HOPPS

Apprentice Writer
RANDY JANDT

Card # 13
Storyboard Artists
PATRICK ARCHIBALD
TIM ELDRED
JAE KIM
KALVIN LEE
DAVE PRINCE

Storyboard Revisionists
PAUL HARMON
JEFFREY S. JOHNSON

Card #14
Lead Character Designer
SEAN "CHEEKS" GALLOWAY
____________________________________________________________________
Card #15
Character Designers
PHILLIP BOURASSA
THOMAS PERKINS
GREG GULER
JOSE ZELAYA

Assistant Character Designers
JOSH BISHOP
WALTER GATUS
JEFFREY S. JOHNSON
JOEY MASON
KAY PARK

Card #16
Background Supervisor
VINCENT TOYAMA

Background Designers
KENNY McGILL
ART MORALES
BOB KLINE
TED BLACKMAN

Prop Designers
TAE SOO KIM
ANDY CHIANG
ART LEE

Card #17
Background Painters
JOEY MASON
MIKE INMAN
WEI ZHAO
FRED WARTER
LIN HUA ZHENG

Color Stylists
PAMELA LONG
DAVID SVEND KAROLL
CRAIG CUQRO
NANCY ULENE

Card #18

Supervising Timing Director
GORDON KENT

Timing Directors
BRIAN HOGAN
RICK LEON
RANDY LUDENSKY
SWINTON SCOTT

Animation Checker
MYOUNG SMITH
__________________________________________________________________________
Card #19

Storyboard Production Manager BRIAN G. SMITH

Production Art Supervisor JOHN DIAZ

Production Coordinator SHERRIAN FELIX

Episodic Casting Supervisor MATTHEW C. OTOSKI

Production Assistant BEN MALONEY

Retake Coordinator GEORGE COX III

Post Production Assistant JENNIFER L. ANDERSON

Production Accountant NATHAN HARAMOTO

__________________________________________________________________________
Card #20

Associate Producer for Marvel
JOSHUA FINE

Production Coordinator for Marvel
ADAM TOOTLA

__________________________________________________________________________
Card #21

Recorded at
STUDIOPOLIS, INC.

Dialogue Recording Engineer
ERIC LEWIS, C.A.S.

Dialogue Editor
TERRY REIFF

Track Reading
SOUND BYTE, INC.

__________________________________________________________________________
Card #22
STUDIO POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
JHG BOYAN

Editors
RALPH A. EUSEBIO
BRUCE A. KING

Assistant Editors
MYRA OWYANG
CHUCK SMITH

Digital Effects Supervisor
ULYSSES ARGETTA

Card #22

Music Engineers MARK MATTSON
MAKO SUJISHI

Post Production Sound Services ADVANTAGE Sound Services

Sound Designer ROBERT POOLE II

Dialogue Editor ROBBI SMITH

Foley Artist CRAIG NG

Foley Mixer MARY ERSTAD

Digital Audio Transfer ROBERT PRATT

Re-Recording Mixers MELISSA ELLIS
FIL BROWN
Card #23
Main Title Theme by
THE TENDER BOX

Main Title Directed by
VICTOR COOK

Main Title Storyboard by
PHIL WEINSTEIN

Main Title Color by
JOEY MASON

Main Title Animation Production by
HANHO HEUNG-UP CO. LTD

___________________________________________________________________________
Card #24
Animation Production by
DONGWOO ANIMATION CO. LTD

___________________________________________________________________________
Card #25

This Motion Picture is protected under the laws of the United States and other countries, and its unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution. Many of the characters and incidents portrayed and the names used herein are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character, or history of any person is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

"The Spectacular Spider-Man, the animated series (C) 2008 Adelaide Productions, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Spider-Man and all related characters TM & (C) 2008 Marvel Characters, Inc."

Adelaide Productions, Inc. is the author of this film/motion picture for the purposes of Article
15(2) of the Berne Convention and all national laws giving effect thereto.

___________________________________________________________________________
END LOGOS

MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT CULVER ENTERTAINMENT

SONY PICTURES TELEVISION


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p-tri writes...

are there any gargoyles in elkton maryland

Greg responds...

Don't turn around.

Response recorded on May 16, 2008

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Kenneth Chisholm writes...

I've read that you imagine your character on the ideal voice actor for it such as Morgan Freeman for Quincy Hemings.

I was wondering, what are the criteria for the voices you imagine. Do they have to be living? If not, have you ever imagined characters appropriate for major Star Trek actors that did not appear as voice on the series such as James Doohan, DeForest Kelly, George Takei, Grace Lee Whitney and Walter Koenig?

Greg responds...

Character comes first, so casting in the comics is much more to type than in the television series, where we were free to cast someone who didn't physically look anything like the character. I could -- in theory -- do the same now, but it's just less likely.

Response recorded on May 16, 2008

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Kenneth Chisholm writes...

How much of Anton Sevarious was inspired by the Nazi scientist, Josef Mengele?

Greg responds...

Not at all specifically, other than the general that Mengele became part of that archetype.

Response recorded on May 16, 2008

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Todd Jensen writes...

I enjoyed the latest episode of "The Spectacular Spider-Man" this morning.

Rhino, despite being not all that bright, still proved himself a challenging adversary; points to Spidey for figuring out a clever way of finally taking him down.

The meeting with the Big Man/Tombstone was also a great scene. Not only is Tombstone himself tough, but he's even able to convince the police that Spidey's the bad guy, adding to his menace even more than sheer physical prowess can do. I also liked Spidey's comment that he's not looking the other way again (I assume that's another reference to the same incident as, in the first episode, "...the way I lost Uncle Ben").

Another touch I liked: Norman Osborn making a profit out of incarcerating the super-villains as well as making them, and his altercation with Hammerhead (which Harry overhears - I look forward to seeing how that develops). And it seems that Dr. Octavius is going to be in trouble soon.

And Peter's personal life (Aunt May, Betty Brant, and the introduction of Mary Jane) was well-handled too. Fine work on another fine episode.

Greg responds...

Thank you.

Response recorded on May 16, 2008


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