"Six Forgotten Warriors" | |||
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Spider-Man (1994 TV series) episode | |||
Captain America and the Red Skull |
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Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 54-58 |
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Written by | John Semper | ||
Original air date | Chapter I: September 19 Chapter II: September 26 Chapter III: October 3 Chapter IV: October 10 Chapter V: October 17 |
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Episode chronology | |||
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List of Spider-Man episodes |
"Six Forgotten Warriors" is the longest story arc and only five-part episode from the fifth season of Spider-Man.
Contents |
Summary
Chapter I: "Six Forgotten Warriors"
The first chapter opens with an elderly man named Keane Marlow meeting Nick Fury at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Fury states that May Parker, someone whom Keane previously known, carries a dangerous secret. Meanwhile in Russia, a man is kidnapped by a white-haired woman named Silver Sable.
Furthermore, Keane Marlow surprisingly visits May, who introduces him to her nephew, Peter, explaining Keane was an old friend of his Uncle Ben. Peter, whilst visiting the attic to pack some things, finds his parents' old passports. He subsequently shows them Aunt May, who orders Peter to replace them. Peter, however, changes to his Spider-Man costume and eavesdrops on his aunt and Keane's conversation. He discovers that his aunt was being forced to reveal something to him sooner or later. Spider-Man then leaves, wondering how the conversation continued.
Meanwhile, the Kingpin and Herbert Landon are considering embarking on a mission to Russia which involves a machine called the "Doomsday Device". The specific device is considered to be unbeknowest to anyone except the Red Skull whom has been presumed dead since World War II. The Kingpin thus hires the Insidious Six for assistance. As of Mysterio's death, Vulture is introduced to replace him.
Spider-Man trespasses into S.H.I.E.L.D. and overhears Nick Fury discussing the fact that Peter Parker's parents were traitors. The Insidious Six then arrive in an attempt to break out the Chameleon. Spider-Man confronts the villains, though is rendered unconscious by Vulture and Chameleon is able to escape. The following morning, Peter appeals to Jameson he has learned that Spider-Man is planning on taking over the world in Russia, in order to receive permission to visit the country himself, however is secretly visiting to discover the truth about his parents. He states to Jonah that he will return with pictures and will be accompanied by Robbie.
Robbie leaves early the next morning followed by Spider-Man. Robbie is then invited in by a mysterious old man after he is shown a ring. He and the man are then attacked and rendered unconscious in the building by Silver Sable and the Wildpack. A bomb is then planted which will supposedly destroy Spider-Man and Robbie.
Chapter II: "Unclaimed Legacy"
The second chapter opens directly following the first. Spider-Man is able to rescue Robbie and escape the explosion. The following day, Peter and Robbie come across a Russian police officer whom claims to have known Peter's parents. When they ask his wife about him, the officer, Rhienholdt Kragov, threatens that Peter and Robbie will be arrested if they don't leave. Spider-Man is subsequently suspicious of Kragov and spies on him, discovering that the Chameleon had tied-up and impersonated Kragov. Spider-Man is then defeated, rendered unconscious, and taken to Kingpin by the Insidious Six. The Kingpin reveals his plans to use the Doomsday Device. Spider-Man, the Six, Kingpin and Landon are then kidnapped by Wildpack who attacks the building.
Silver Sable then reveals that a member of the Insidious Six has betrayed the Kingpin. A masked man then enters the room and is revealed to be Kragov. The building is then destroyed by a bomb, although Kragov, Spider-Man, the Wildpack, the Kingpin and the Insidious Six are able to escape.
Once back in New York, Peter and Robbie are disciplined for their lack of pictures on their return. Peter later reveals evidence to Aunt May that his parents weren't traitors.
Chapter III: "Secrets of the Six"
Peter and Robbie go to the old man's, Omar Mosley's, house, who Robbie says knows the story of the Six Forgotten Warriors. Omar explains that the Six Forgotten Warriors were once called the Six American Warriors. It all started during World War II when a group of American scientists created a formula that would make several superhuman soldiers that would fight against the Nazis. Their first test subject was soldier Steve Rogers, when he took the formula, he instantly became a muscular man, the scientists named him Captain America. But unfortunately, one of the Nazis had blown up the lab and killed a key scientist, so they couldn't continue their research. However, the remnants were enough to create at least five more superhumans. But their powers were temporary. So they were given rings that would keep their powers permanent, as long as they kept them on. They became the Six American Warriors with a little addition to Captain America. Omar's connection to the disbanded team was that he was a sidekick to the deceased Black Marvel, another member of the team.
When they infiltrated Red Skull's hideout near the end of the second World War, Captain America and the Red Skull accidentally got stuck in a vortex machine at the same time, in which no one knew how to get them back. The team decided to retire, whereas the Black Marvel died. Meanwhile, the Kingpin sends Insidious Six on a mission to steal the five rings the five members in the Six Forgotten Warriors used, so they could be used to activate the Doomsday Device. At Bob Frank's house, who was formerly the Whizzer, the fastest member in the Six Forgotten Warriors, was showing his presumed grandson how to draw a superhero, the Rhino came in to attack and find out where the Whizzer's ring was. Meanwhile, the former Thunderer, a superhuman who had a super loud screech to throw off his enemies, was attacked by Dr. Octopus and the Chameleon so they could find his ring as well.
Spider-Man was swinging away to make sure another ring wouldn't be stolen, as 2/5 of them have already been stolen. The superhero sees Miss America, also known as Madelyne Joyce and another member in the Six Forgotten Warriors, being chased by the Vulture. Unfortunately, the Vulture caught Miss America off guard and takes the ring. Madelyne was falling down towards the ground. Luckily, Spider-Man caught her and promised he will get her ring back, referring to her as Miss America before swinging off.
At Aunt May's house, while Keane Marlow was visiting again, the Scorpion and Shocker attacked, knowing the Destroyer's ring, another member in the Six Forgotten Warriors, was somewhere in May's house. Spider-Man eventually battles Scorpion and Shocker. The Destroyer then appeared and joined on Spider-Man's side. Unfortunately, the Scorpion and Shocker took it while the Destroyer and Spider-Man were off guard and escape. Destroyer, then revealed himself to be Keane and explained his origin. Before he became the Destroyer, Keane was best friends with Peter's deceased Uncle Ben. Keane was selected to be one of the only five superhumans to be in the Six American Warriors with Captain America. Keane was also married to someone who knew he was a superhero. What the former superhero didn't understand was that Ben wasn't a hero and yet, he married May Reily. And finally, during a bank robbery, the Destroyer was there to witness it with his wife. He went to stop the crooks but the thugs used gun fire to try to stop the person who would put them to justice. Unfortunately, his wife was caught and killed in the crossfire.
Despite the fact that Keane wasn't an official superhuman, his powers would turn on and off occasionally without the rings, along with the rest of the four superhumans. He agreed to help Spider-Man get back the 4/5 rings that were stolen...
Chapter IV: "The Six Fight Again"
As former sidekick of the late Black Marvel, Omar had hidden the Black Marvel's ring after his death. Now aware of the Insidious Six's theft of the majority of the rings, he was sure that they would search for it. Robbie then arrives, aware that the ring would be stolen. Omar shows Robbie where the ring is hidden. However, it unfolds to be Chameleon impersonating Robbie, and snatches the ring whilst the real Robbie, the Kingpin, the Insidious Six, Spider-Man and the Destroyer arrive. The Black Marvel also appears as Omar leaves. Spider-Man and the five members of the Six Forgotten Warriors fight the Insidious Six and Kingpin for the last ring. The Kingpin wins custody of the ring and escapes with it. Spider-Man and the five other heroes meet up on a building and the Black Marvel reveals himself to be Omar. Omar reveals that when the original Black Marvel was taken away by his father, Omar replaced him and when the Six American Warriors age was over, the Black Marvel was confirmed to have died.
Spider-Man, most of the members of the Six Forgotten Warriors and the Wildpack appear at the same time to prevent the Doomsday Device from activating, although the Chameleon puts on a gas mask and releases a gas which renders them unconscious. Rhienholdt Kragov later appears, revealing that he and the Chameleon are stepbrothers who wanted their father, the Red Skull, out for the last fifty years. They then activate the vortex machine that Captain America and the Red Skull were trapped in, freeing the Red Skull and Captain America (who haven't aged at all since they were trapped.) Red Skull then forces Captain America to battle a large robot while Kragov, the Chameleon and the Red Skull set free everyone else who are trapped in the room to assist in defeating the robot.
Chapter V: "The Price of Heroism"
Spider-Man and Sable finally track down Kragov, the Chameleon and the Red Skull, but are caught in a force field. Apparently, the Doomsday Device the Skull created in the past was made to have his son, Rhienholdt, turn into a "god". Kragov is injected with electricity which allows him to create and manipulate electricity into doing his bidding. He wears a green suit and a lightning bolt mask, dubbing himself Electro. He then betrays his father instead of remaining under his control. He then controls the worlds entire electricity on the top of a roof. Spider-Man and the complete Six American Warriors confront Electro, after defeating the robot, though Mary Jane arrives. She is struck and wounded by one of Electro's bolts, repeating a similar incident in what happened to the Destroyer's wife, although the Destroyer's wife was killed. MJ is shipped to a hospital and Captain America informs Spider-Man this is what happens when he is a superhero. Spider-Man was aware of this Destroyer explained this to him. While Spider-Man and Cap battle the Chameleon and the Red Skull, Electro becomes so powerful that he is able to destroy S.H.I.E.L.D. Captain America then confront the Red Skull and they both re-enter the vortex. Electro then enters the building to rid Spider-Man, however, he tricks Electro and has him trapped in the vortex.
Production
This story arc is based heavily on The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5. The Red Skull's name is revealed to be Kragov, However in comics, his real name is Johann Schmidt. In the comic, Electro had no connection to Red Skull, but in this 5-parter Electro is revealed to be his son. In the episode, Rheinholdt Kragov is transformed into Electro by the Red Skull's Doomsday Device. However, in the comic series, Electro's name is Maxwell "Max" Dillon, and gained superpowers when he was struck by lightning.[1]
John Semper was originally forbidden to introduce either of the characters Electro or Sandman to the series because James Cameron was at the time writing a Spider-Man live action movie and was planning to feature both characters. Semper eventually resorted to using Electro for the story arc when it became clear Cameron's movie would not be produced. [2]
John Semper revealed in an interview that after he'd thought up the idea of featuring a group of heroes in the arc, he used old comics such as those on microfiche for ideas. [2]
A large continuity mistake was noticed by viewers in the final chapter, "The Prince of Heroism". [3]
Reception
The first chapter of the saga was described by a review published by Toon Zone to run slightly slower than the majority of the shows episodes, however it introduced the story arc well. The actor who provided the voice for The Vulture's character, whom featured as a member of the Insidious Six as of Mysterio's death, was considered good casting by the review. Positive points in the review included likeability of the fight sequence in S.H.I.E.L.D., and J. Jonah Jameson's scenes in The Bugle. The review revealed viewing Spider-Man set in Russia as strange. [4] The "Secrets of the Six" episode was described in a similar review of that specific chapter to be more likeable than the first two. [5] The same reviewer found Kingpin's appearance in the arc strange as the character was involved in the action. The fight sequence in the "Six Fight Again" chapter was described to be censored to a ridiculous point. The reviewer liked the aspects of Captain America's return and Chameleon being the traitor. [6] They thought the fact that how Electro betrayed The Red Skull quickly somewhat confusing, and considering how the character did not have time for development was described as a "powerful presence" when he destroys S.H.I.E.L.D. [3]
Cast
- Christopher Daniel Barnes - Peter Parker/Spider-Man
- Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - Dr. Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus
- Jack Angel - Nick Fury
- Mira Furlan - Silver Sable
- Roscoe Lee Browne - Wilson Fisk/The Kingpin
- David Warner - Herbert Landon
- Jim Cummings - The Shocker
- Richard Moll - Mac Gargan/The Scorpion
- Don Stark - The Rhino
- Alan Johnson - The Vulture
- Earl Boen - Red Skull
- David Hayter - Steve Rogers/Captain America
- Phil Proctor - Rhienholdt Kragov/Electro
- Roy Dotrice - Keene Marlow/The Destroyer
- Dee Bradley Baker - Keene Marlow/Young Destroyer
- Walker Edmiston - The Whizzer
- Cain Devore - Young Whizzer
- Kathy Garver - Miss America
- Paul Winfield - Omar Mosley/Black Marvel
- Hansford Rowe - The Thunderer
- Brett King - Young Thunderer
- Rachel Davies - Agent X
- Julie Bennett - Aunt May
References
- ^ Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5
- ^ a b "10th Anniversary Interview with John Semper". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/interviews/semper10/. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
- ^ a b Amazing Spidey. "The Prince Of Heroism". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/sfw5/. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ Amazing Spidey. "Six Forgotten Warriors". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/sfw1/. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ Amazing Spidey. "Secrets Of The Six". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/sfw3/. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ Amazing Spidey. "The Six Fight Again". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/sfw4/. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
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