'Return of the Flying Dutchman'.
Spidey investigates reports that sailors are seeing the image of the notorious vessel The Flying Dutchman. It turns out that past villain Mysterio is responsible, projecting the image of the ship for his own nefarious ends. Two things strike me as priceless in watching this segment: first, the assistance that Spidey receives from an old sea dog who looks like Captain Highliner, and second, Spidey's continued ability to make all sorts of shapes and devices out of his webbing. This comes in handy when the web-head is caught on a boat during a storm. I also have to laugh at the old sea dogs' line when encountering Spidey for the first time: "Well, the world's full of strange things."
'Farewell Performance'.
This is somewhat unique for a vintage Spidey segment in that the antagonists putting Spidey through his paces actually have a worthy goal in mind: it's all about nostalgia and respect for history. It involves an unbelievably talented magician & illusionist named Blackwell. The best part of the segment is when Spidey figures out the best way to give Blackwell and his associates what they want is to skillfully manipulate Jameson, who up to this point has been spearheading the effort to demolish old "eyesores" like the theater in which this all takes place. Comedy relief abounds in a sequence in which construction workers find their tools turned into harmless objects.
Good fun overall, if not among the best 'Spider-Man' episodes.
Seven out of 10.
Spidey investigates reports that sailors are seeing the image of the notorious vessel The Flying Dutchman. It turns out that past villain Mysterio is responsible, projecting the image of the ship for his own nefarious ends. Two things strike me as priceless in watching this segment: first, the assistance that Spidey receives from an old sea dog who looks like Captain Highliner, and second, Spidey's continued ability to make all sorts of shapes and devices out of his webbing. This comes in handy when the web-head is caught on a boat during a storm. I also have to laugh at the old sea dogs' line when encountering Spidey for the first time: "Well, the world's full of strange things."
'Farewell Performance'.
This is somewhat unique for a vintage Spidey segment in that the antagonists putting Spidey through his paces actually have a worthy goal in mind: it's all about nostalgia and respect for history. It involves an unbelievably talented magician & illusionist named Blackwell. The best part of the segment is when Spidey figures out the best way to give Blackwell and his associates what they want is to skillfully manipulate Jameson, who up to this point has been spearheading the effort to demolish old "eyesores" like the theater in which this all takes place. Comedy relief abounds in a sequence in which construction workers find their tools turned into harmless objects.
Good fun overall, if not among the best 'Spider-Man' episodes.
Seven out of 10.
