Recap / Spider Man The Animated Series S 01 E 04 Return Of The Spider Slayers

The Kingpin hires Spencer Smythe’s son, Alistair, to recreate the Black Widow Spider Slayer, as well as create new ones. Alistair agrees, seeking revenge on everyone he believes is responsible for his fathers disappearance, including Spider-Man.

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This episode provides examples of:

• Alas, Poor Villain: Alistair, after failing to kill Spider-Man and avenge his father, realizes he's trapped in Kingpin's service.
  Kingpin: A deal's a deal. You promised me Spider-Man's head. You work for me until you do.
  Alistair: (looking on as the hanger door closes the world on him) There's nothing left.
• Book Ends:
  • Peter's opinion about his approaching blind date before facing the Spider Slayers:
    Peter: Blind dates are like the Lottery; the odds are so stacked against you, you're nuts if you expect to ever hit the jackpot.
  • Cue the end after dealing with the Slayers, when he finally meets Mary Jane Watson:
    Mary Jane: Face it, Tiger. You just hit the jackpot.

• Chic and Awe: In this episode, Peter reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with the niece of one of aunt May's friends, Anna Watson, only after everything he planned to avoid it falls through. He hears his aunt talking about the girl and opens the door... only to gasp as he sees a red-headed model, Mary-Jane Watson, for the first time.
• Foreshadowing: Eddie Brock gets fired from another job before he could even begin (see Tempting Fate), once again blaming Spider-Man for his misfortune.
  "I'LL GET EVEN WITH YOU! I'LL GET EVEN WITH YOU IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"
• Hope Spot: For Eddie Brock. Just as Brock manages to another publisher to give a job as a reporter, the Tarantula comes to attack him, destroying his new boss' office in the process. Then his new boss, angry about the damage done, fires Brock.
• Hoist by His Own Petard: Smythe sets up a pair bomb-laced handcuffs on Spidey and Jonah, which Spidey frees them from and later use to blow up the trio of Spider Slayers at once.
• Mythology Gag:
  • Mary Jane is introduced the same way as in the comics, though she was mostly faceless beforehand.
  • "I hate to use someone's line, but... It's clobberin' time!"
• Oh, No... Not Again!: The Black Widow Spider-Slayer comes after Flash Thompson again.
  Flash: Felicia, run! It's after me again! (gets caught) Why do the guy have a thing with me?
• Race Against the Clock: Spider-Man must save everyone Alistair blames for his father’s death, which is made more difficult when Alistair attaches a bomb to Spider-Man set to off in an hour.
• Revenge by Proxy: Not only does Alistair wants revenge on Spider-Man for his father's death, but also on those involved.
  Alistair: (to Spider-Man and Jonah) You are both responsible! And so are your associates: Flash Thompson, Eddie Brock, Norman Osborn.
  Spider-Man: You hate a lot of people, Smythe. Must be rough around the holidays.
• Strange Minds Think Alike: Flash and Eddie have no idea why the Spider-Slayers come after them. Except maybe Norman, who immediately called for security when word got out, not that they do him any good.
• Tempting Fate:
  • The editor of another newspaper business is reluctant to hire Eddie, because he heard about being fired by Jonah for being "bad news". Eddie tells him it was Spider-Man's fault. The editor is in need of a reporter, so he hires him and tells him to stay out of trouble. Eddie assures him he won't get any trouble from him. Then the second Spider-Slayer barges in the building to get him. After Spider-Man saved him and (temporarily) shuts down the Slayer, the editor complains at the destruction of his building.
    "Jameson was right! You're fired!"
• Ungrateful Bastard: Eddie Brock, when Spider-Man saved him from getting caught by the second Spider-Slayer. He thinks Spider-Man is trying to ruin his life again.
  Eddie: You just won't stop until you ruin me!
  Spider-Man: Use your head for once, Brock! I'm trying to save your life!

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