Partners (Spider-Man)
Encyclopedia
"Partners" is the fifth episode from the fourth season of the animated series Spider-Man
, originally airing on May 3, 1997, on Fox Kids
in the United States
. As Martin Landau
was overwhelmed with work following his Oscar award for his role in Ed Wood
, Richard Moll
was re-cast as Scorpion.
, currently working as Silvermane
's top scientist, kidnaps the Black Cat
. He then bribes Spider-Man
into capturing either the Scorpion or the Vulture
, whom both have unique DNA samples which are essential for Silvermane if he is to restore adulthood, in exchange for her release. Meanwhile, Mac Gargan is in grief over his permanent condition as a superhuman, and has been keeping the Vulture captive as is capable of producing the necessary technology which can restore Mac human. Scorpion eventually decides to resort to robbery in order to afford to undergo an operation for his condition, against his girlfriend, Sarah's advice. Spider-Man is then able to capture him to fulfill his and Smythe's bargain. Silvermane then trades his DNA with Scorpion, before attempting to trade his stature with Spider-Man. The bound and gagged Black Cat tries to warn Spider-Man, but by the time she has removed her bonds Spider-Man has been captured. Silverman then tries to drain Spider-Man's powers, though Vulture interrupts the operation and permently makes himself youthful, though in the process Silvermane is aged back.
. Also, scenes associating Spider-Man
and the Black Cat
have been criticized, somewhat predictably. The episode is considered to be among those in which Black Cat lacked interest, partly as she is featured outside her origin. However, viewers have commented that aspects of the episode such as Scorpion reforming, and the Vulture
being unable to control de-aging, noticing that he is missing the mutation disease he absorbed from Spider-Man during Neogenic Nightmare
, are somewhat interesting. Scorpion resorting to robbery only in order to afford to cure himself has been described to "flesh the character out more".
Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
, originally airing on May 3, 1997, on Fox Kids
Fox Kids
Fox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
was overwhelmed with work following his Oscar award for his role in Ed Wood
Ed Wood (film)
Ed Wood is a 1994 American comedy-drama biopic directed and produced by Tim Burton, and starring Johnny Depp as cult filmmaker Edward D. Wood, Jr. The film concerns the period in Wood's life when he made his best-known films as well as his relationship with actor Bela Lugosi, played by Martin Landau...
, Richard Moll
Richard Moll
Charles Richard Moll is an American actor and voice artist,best known for playing Bull Shannon, the bailiff on the NBC sitcom Night Court from 1983 to 1992...
was re-cast as Scorpion.
Plot
Alistair SmytheAlistair Smythe
Alistair Smythe is a comic book supervillain, owned by Marvel Comics and existing in that company's Marvel Universe. He was one of the main foes of Spider-Man...
, currently working as Silvermane
Silvermane (comics)
Silvermane is a fictional Marvel Comics character. He is a supervillain and a prominent figure in the Maggia, a fictional organized crime syndicate that is analogous to the Mafia. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1 #73...
's top scientist, kidnaps the Black Cat
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
. He then bribes Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
into capturing either the Scorpion or the Vulture
Vulture (comics)
The Vulture is the name of six comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The best known Vulture in the Marvel Universe is Adrian Toomes, an elderly enemy of Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 .-Golden Age Vulture:In Young Men #26, a scientist...
, whom both have unique DNA samples which are essential for Silvermane if he is to restore adulthood, in exchange for her release. Meanwhile, Mac Gargan is in grief over his permanent condition as a superhuman, and has been keeping the Vulture captive as is capable of producing the necessary technology which can restore Mac human. Scorpion eventually decides to resort to robbery in order to afford to undergo an operation for his condition, against his girlfriend, Sarah's advice. Spider-Man is then able to capture him to fulfill his and Smythe's bargain. Silvermane then trades his DNA with Scorpion, before attempting to trade his stature with Spider-Man. The bound and gagged Black Cat tries to warn Spider-Man, but by the time she has removed her bonds Spider-Man has been captured. Silverman then tries to drain Spider-Man's powers, though Vulture interrupts the operation and permently makes himself youthful, though in the process Silvermane is aged back.
Reception
The episode has received criticism during a review, which speculates that an excessive amount of characters appear, notably an unnecessary appearance of SilvermaneSilvermane (comics)
Silvermane is a fictional Marvel Comics character. He is a supervillain and a prominent figure in the Maggia, a fictional organized crime syndicate that is analogous to the Mafia. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1 #73...
. Also, scenes associating Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and the Black Cat
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
have been criticized, somewhat predictably. The episode is considered to be among those in which Black Cat lacked interest, partly as she is featured outside her origin. However, viewers have commented that aspects of the episode such as Scorpion reforming, and the Vulture
Vulture (comics)
The Vulture is the name of six comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The best known Vulture in the Marvel Universe is Adrian Toomes, an elderly enemy of Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 .-Golden Age Vulture:In Young Men #26, a scientist...
being unable to control de-aging, noticing that he is missing the mutation disease he absorbed from Spider-Man during Neogenic Nightmare
Neogenic Nightmare
"Neogenic Nightmare" was the name of the 14 part episode story arc in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which consisted of the entire second season. Executive producer John Semper said in an interview that he wanted to do a long story arc for Saturday morning TV exactly what Stan Lee did for comics...
, are somewhat interesting. Scorpion resorting to robbery only in order to afford to cure himself has been described to "flesh the character out more".