While we’re on break from our coverage of The Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, we’re releasing our Patreon episode on the recent comics by its creator Greg Weisman that team up Peter Parker and Miles Morales! We talk all about what makes this comic feel like Weisman's work immediately, what makes Weisman's stories so appealing to us, and where we think this virtual reality-focused mystery may (or may not!) go. Reading list: The Spectacular Spider-Men #1-4 by Greg Weisman Listen to the rest of our...
Jul 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min
The first season of The Spectacular Spider-Man comes to a conclusion when Peter has to face his angry ex and cook a Thanksgiving dinner! As Venom stalks Peter’s loved ones, we take one last conclusive look at our revisit of this season – from tracking Eddie Brock as a DEEPLY messed up guy, to the use of Tombstone, to Gwen hanging from a gorilla balloon (and getting the big ending kiss), to the final lesson Peter learns. Also, Aunt May is publishing a cookbook?! We’re watching The Spectacular Spi...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 45 min
A battle inside the mind gives us a surreal, beautiful take on the classic Spidey origin while turning the symbiote story into a poignant metaphor for depression and mental health! We’re talking about The Spectacular Spider-Man ’s most creative and emotionally affecting episode, including Ed Asner as Uncle Ben, Flash Thompson’s big moment of depth, a brilliant use of black and white, and a great example of this show finding clever ways to retell familiar stories. We’re watching The Spectacular S...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 57 min
The Sinister Six ushers in one of the most intense and jaw-dropping episodes of The Spectacular Spider-Man , which includes a full symbiote takeover of Peter’s body and mind, a heart attack, and THAT frightening motorcycle sequence with Mary Jane and a monstrous Eddie Brock before he’s even become Venom. We talk about the incredible action from the returning villains alongside the eerieness of a silent symbiote Spidey, and how it comes together to deliver one of the show’s best. We’re watching T...
Jun 10, 2025•2 hr 7 min
It’s the black-suited Psychology arc of The Spectacular Spider-Man, and boy is that title meaningful! We get into the head of Peter Parker and his new inner voice when the alien symbiote joins with his costume, just in time for him to encounter Tricia Helfer’s ultra sexy take on Black Cat and Chameleon impersonating the old red and blue Spidey! We dig into the psychology behind Eddie Brock’s dark turn – and why his character arc is frighteningly realistic – and all the smart choices in this jam-...
Jun 03, 2025•2 hr 4 min
Spidey is shrunk down teeny tiny and has to face cats, spiders, action figures, giant pay phones, and getting stepped on by J. Jonah Jameson! We loom over one of this show’s best episodes, and get into how fun and sympathetic the villain Gadgeteer is – and how monstrous his boss (and maybe dad?) is – along with all the creative situations the increasingly dwindling Spidey is shoved into. We’re watching Spider-Man (1981): Season 1, Episode 15: “The Incredible Shrinking Spider-Man”. Website | P...
May 27, 2025•1 hr 11 min
This is the one! The Green Goblin mystery might be the biggest reason we’re doing the spoiler-filled revisit of The Spectacular Spider-Man , and we are in the thick of its complex long game as the Chemistry arc ends! We walk through what was REALLY happening in this episode despite what sociopath Norman Osborn tells us, and get into its brilliant use of audience expectations, and whether it all makes sense once you’ve seen the finale. Plus…space shuttle drama! We’re watching The Spectacular Spid...
May 20, 2025•2 hr 8 min
OUR BOY IS HERE! We love this round verbose flamboyant Doc Ock, whether he’s meek and good in his lil bowtie or sporting a tanktop and out for blood, and even when he’s in his ugly eye-pieces and kidnapping all three of Peter Parker’s love interests. We talk the Peter/Liz romance, a great Coney Island setpiece, and more! We’re watching The Spectacular Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 8: “Reaction”. Website | Patreon | Discord Part of The Glitterjaw Queer Podcast Collective Contact us : @Wallo...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 53 min
It’s two fancy parties and a Green Goblin to begin the Chemistry arc… and one of the most fluidly animated episodes of the whole show! At a charity gala, Green Goblin unloads his screaming pumpkin bombs and finger guns while he holds Tombstone and the Jamesons hostage. And at the school dance, we get our proper introduction to social butterfly Mary Jane, Peter continues alienating his friends, and we continue tracking Harry’s geography during his disappearances. We’re watching The Spectacular Sp...
May 06, 2025•1 hr 34 min
Drink your Mountain Dew jungle potion and take your allergy meds, because Kraven is kidnapping a saber-toothed tiger to be the Daily Bugle’s new mascot! Chris Cummins ( Sci-Fi Explosion ) steps in while Doug’s away, and we’re talking Kraven the Hunter’s unfortunately lackluster first appearance in a Spider-Man cartoon. We get into why this episode does every character dirty – including Marvel guests Ka-Zar and Zabu from the Savage Land – along with diving into the queer history surrounding Krave...
Apr 29, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Peter faces a big man called Rhino and The Big Man called Tombstone in the finale of the Economics arc! We get into the Daily Bugle staff – from a heroic J. Jonah Jameson to the conclusion of the awkward Betty Brant crush – along with Aunt May as a master manipulator, Harry Osborn’s nonsensical sinister asides, and the perfect introduction of Mary Jane Watson. We’re watching The Spectacular Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 6: “The Invisible Hand”. Website | Patreon | Discord Part of The Glitt...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 58 min
Flint Marko gets naked and Peter Parker gets into football as our spoiler-filled revisit of The Spectacular Spider-Man continues! We get sand in all the unmentionable places as we dig into the body horror of the Sandman transformation, the cringe horror of Peter continuing to alienate all his friends, and the psychological horror of Harry Osborn’s dead-eyed, silent, possibly disassociating mother sawing her steak. We’re watching The Spectacular Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 5: “Competition”. Web...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 53 min
Throw on your cowboy hat and call us hoss! The Economics 101 arc of The Spectacular Spider-Man begins its parade of street-level villains and pulls one of the show’s cleverest moves – putting rootin’ tootin’ Montana in the Shocker costume, and turning two “meh” villains into one very fun one. We talk about the Daily Bugle cast (and Peter’s awkward teenage flirtation with 20-year-old Betty), Shocker as a true sociopath, Harry’s start of darkness, and more. We’re watching The Spectacular Spider-Ma...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 56 min
For the SERIES FINALE of Spider-Woman, author Shawn Pryor ( Kaiju Unleashed ) joins us to talk about one last alien invader, one last Star Wars villain, one last bizarre plot, and one last instance of Jeff being the worst! As our beloved heroine faces her first woman villain–a Darth Vader/Freddy Krueger combo who puts people to sleep and attacks them in their dreams!--we bid adieu to the most fun show we’ve ever covered. Good night, Spider-Woman! We’re watching Spider-Woman: Season 1, Episode 16...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 13 min
Dr. Connors took The Substance, and it results in a body horror-filled creature feature and one of The Spectacular Spider-Man ’s best episodes! We get into why the simple character designs allow for more grotesque and violent sequences (The Lizard almost bites off Spider-Man’s head…twice!). Plus, yet another banger train fight, the true debut of depressed death-seeker Eddie Brock, and Peter Parker alienating all his loved ones so early in the show. We’re watching The Spectacular Spider-Man: Seas...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 34 min
The sparks are flying as our spoiler-filled revisit of The Spectacular Spider-Man sees the origin of two electrifying, tragic, and surprisingly compelling stories reinvented for this series – Electro, and Liz Allan’s crush on Peter Parker! We talk about this rightfully-resentful Electro, what makes the Peter/Liz relationship so fascinating, how Spider-Man learns not to kick first and ask questions later, along with all the setup and foreshadowing for Eddie Brock’s sanity, Curt Connors’ negligenc...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 57 min
Tell us there’s something better… than The Spectacular Spider-Man ! We’re revisiting the entirety of our favorite Spider-Man show again from the beginning with full spoilers, and it begins with this whirlwind of a premiere! We talk about the show’s origins from creators Greg Weisman and Victor Cook, along with how this episode elegantly interweaves every element of Peter Parker’s life – from the high school drama with Gwen, Harry, and the bullies, to an internship with Dr. Connors and not-yet-ev...
Mar 11, 2025•2 hr 18 min
The Loch Ness Monster! Subterranean spider creatures who look like ants and brainwash Spider-Woman into being their queen! A dragon tank! Jessica falling out of a helicopter! Jeff being a horrible misogynist! This episode of Spider-Woman truly has everything. We’re watching Spider-Woman: Season 1, Episode 15: “Return of the Spider-Queen”. Website | Patreon | Discord Part of The Glitterjaw Queer Podcast Collective Contact us : @WallopingWebPod on Bluesky and Instagram Email: wallopin...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 4 min
WE WERE WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING! This finale brings the season full circle with a huge rug-pull that makes us happily eat our words and declare this to be the best Spider-Man cartoon since Spectacular. As Spidey and Lonnie get entangled in a gang war and Norman Osborn’s plans are revealed, we talk about this show’s inventive long-term storytelling, Jeff Trammell’s keen awareness of Spidey’s current place in pop culture, and all those set-ups for next season. We’re watching Your Friendly Neighborh...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Spidey fights Daredevil and Scorpion and loses to both, Nico and Harry bond over a drag race, the gang war comes to a fiery head, and Doc Ock does a gay little dance in an exciting cluster of episodes! We talk about how the parallel storylines converge in a surprisingly brutal and violent fashion, along with secret identities, Goblin gliders, gamma radiation, and more. We’re watching Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 6: “Duel with the Devil”, Episode 7: “Scorpion Rising”, ...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 25 min
Three whole episodes dropped of the newest Spider-Man cartoon, and all deal with Norman Osborn as Peter’s “man in the chair”, a slew of new suits, and Lonnie Lincoln’s continued slide down the slippery slope. We talk about the beautifully freakish Ditko/Kirby-style designs in future-Rhino, future-Chameleon, and their weird-looking friend, all the tech-based villains, getting Harry involved quickly and how that instantly changes the classic Osborn dynamic, and of course… our first look at Otto Oc...
Feb 11, 2025•1 hr 18 min
For our podcast anniversary, we're releasing one of our favorite Patreon episodes -- our immediate reaction to the Pepsi-holding, taxi-stealing, bad CPR-delivering, low energy legend herself, Madame Web ! If you want to hear us yell more about this beautiful trainwreck of a movie, we'll have a brand new Patreon commentary on February 14! Website | Patreon | Discord Part of The Glitterjaw Queer Podcast Collective Contact us : @WallopingWebPod on Bluesky and Instagram Email: wallopingwe...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 29 min
We’re covering the newest animated Spider-Man as it airs, and we like it! The premiere offers us a new Spidey origin, a hockey costume, Norman Osborn as a mentor, and a slew of deep cuts and unexpected characters. We talk about the pros and cons of the unique Romita-inspired visual style, along with the exciting shades of Spectacular Spider-Man, the unnecessary multiversal opening (and why it’s good that this show is freed from the MCU), Colman Domingo’s beautiful voice, and more! And yes, this ...
Feb 04, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Season 1 of Ultimate Spider-Man ends as Spider-Man leaves S.H.I.E.L.D. for good… and then promptly returns a few minutes later! Among all the fun Green Goblin/Venom action–and a good Harry Osborn story–we talk about some of the frustrating narrative cul-de-sacs this show takes, the bizarre reveal of Luke Cage, White Tiger, Iron Fist, and Nova’s home lives (and how the show has utterly failed all of them), and why Phil Coulson needs to be off the show. We’re watching Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 1...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 26 min
The season finale of Ultimate Spider-Man begins just as Derek returns–along with a new hairless, armless, cat-mechless Doc Ock! We talk about the effectiveness (or lackthereof) of Spidey’s team and how the show tries to sell an friendship arc we never saw, how Venom/Spider-Man DNA could Norman Osborn into a mutant Green Goblin monster with a weird metal arm, and this show’s flawed approach to season-long storytelling. We’re watching Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 25: “Revealed”. Website ...
Jan 21, 2025•1 hr 21 min
The Beetle is back! …sort of? And he’s ruining Agent Coulson’s date with Aunt May! Glitterjaw’s own Merrilee (Fear Coded) returns to untangle the messy continuity of Ultimate Spider-Man’s Beetle story. We also chat about parent teacher conferences and drop some Doug and Merrilee high school lore, delve into the realm of ancient Roman goddesses, and break down what works and doesn’t work about Coulson and Spider-Man’s respective histories with the world’s deadliest mercenary. We’re watching Ultim...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 14 min
Spider-Man accidentally gives Captain America’s shield to the most dangerous man in the world, and Glitterjaw’s own Merrilee (Fear Coded) steps in to break it down. We dig into the extremely brief Aliens homage at the start, get a lesson in the make-up of Captain America’s shield, and try desperately to figure out exactly which lesson we’re supposed to take away from this story. We’re watching Ultimate Spider-Man: Season 1, Episode 23: “Not a Toy”. Check out Fear Coded ! Website | Patr...
Jan 07, 2025•1 hr 2 min
There are only a few episodes of Spider-Woman left, and Glitterjaw’s own Katie (Novel Gaming) joins Doug to break down this time travel tale! Unsurprisingly, we create a rich backstory for another pre-90s one-off animated supervillain icon, do our best to unravel Spider-Woman’s time travel mechanics, and pose the question: what if the Wookiees-not-Wookiees were actually correct to invade the futuristic Domed City of Peace? We’re watching Spider-Woman: Season 1, Episode 14: “A Crime in Time”. Che...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Doc Ock is back, and this time he’s more menacing than ever, because he’s got… a huggable robo-cat suit? Glitterjaw’s own David Arnold is back to cover an episode that definitely shouldn’t be anyone’s first, because all the returning players are adults with ongoing capital-D drama. We talk all about Harry’s daddy issues, Spider-Man’s lack of MCU-like daddy issues surrounding Iron Man, and what it would take for us to issue a daddy card to this Otto Octavius. We’re watching Ultimate Spider-Man: S...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 34 min
Mary Jane Watson writes a Spider-Man musical for Midtown High, and Flash is the star! Glitterjaw’s own David Arnold steps in to break down Ultimate Spider-Man’s version of the classic “Flash Thompson gets mistaken for Spider-Man” tale. We talk about how this episode handles its in medias res opening, how to build a mid-season episode that could be anyone’s first, and how this show managed to tell a story that involves two teenaged boys sharing a spandex suit in the context of musical theater wit...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 11 min
