The Invisible Hand (The Spectacular Spider-Man)

Last updated
"The Invisible Hand"
The Spectacular Spider-Man episode
Invisible Hand Spider-Man.jpg
Rhino interrogates J. Jonah Jameson on Peter Parker's location. A deleted scene which never made it into the final draft of "The Invisible Hand" featured Rhino searching for Parker by looking his name up in the phone book before going to Jameson.
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 6
Directed byDave Bullock
Written by Matt Wayne
Production codeS1E06 [1]
Original air dateApril 12, 2008 (2008-04-12)
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Competition"
Next 
"Catalysts"
List of episodes

"The Invisible Hand" is the sixth episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man , which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The episode follows Spider-Man as he faces the Rhino, who has an indestructible rhino-like suit and super strength. In his personal life, as his alter ego Peter Parker, Spider-Man tries to ask out Daily Bugle worker Betty Brant to the upcoming fall formal at his high school.

Contents

"The Invisible Hand" was written by Matt Wayne and directed by Dave Bullock. Wayne had written one other episode for The Spectacular Spider-Man before, and Bullock had directed the direct-to-video superhero film Justice League: The New Frontier. Clancy Brown voiced Rhino for the episode and was cast because the creators felt he could gracefully transition between the character's personalities. It originally aired on April 12, 2008, on the Kids WB! block for the CW Network and received generally positive reviews from television critics.

Plot summary

Dr. Otto Octavius is preparing to attach a titanium resin exoskeleton onto Alex O'Hirn's body, modeled after that of a rhinoceros. Though Octavius is wary about going through with the experiment, Hammerhead forces him to activate it. O'Hirn's body is surgically attached to the suit and is given immeasurable strength. Meanwhile, Peter Parker is at the Daily Bugle trying to ask out Betty Brant to his school's fall formal, despite their four-year age difference; she finally agrees to consider it and Peter hurries homeward, exhilarated, until he realizes he will need money for the date. He tells his best friend Harry about his plans at school the next day. Peter then receives a text message that his Aunt May is having lunch with Betty at the Bugle. Flash Thompson then gives Peter a noogie just before Peter runs off.

O'Hirn dubs himself the "Rhino" and storms through the Bugle main office, where Aunt May and Betty are having lunch, and demands that J. Jonah Jameson tells him where Peter is, as he knows Peter photographs Spider-Man. Jameson spots Peter hiding after just arriving and lies to Rhino about not knowing where he is. Peter sneaks off and dons his Spider-Man costume, then engages Rhino in a fight. He wonders what the "Big Man" has been up to with all the supervillains, like Rhino, he has been organizing. Spider-Man has a large scale brawl through the city and soon realizes that Rhino needs to be constantly hydrated in order to fight. He lures him into a steam tunnel and breaks all the pipes, dehydrating Rhino into unconsciousness. As he passes out, Rhino accidentally mentions that "Big Man" is really a man named Mr. Lincoln.

Peter goes back to the Bugle and claims to have been hiding the whole time. Betty pulls him aside and tells him that she is simply too old to date him and is sorry; Peter, still downtrodden, remembers what the Rhino said and asks a reporter named Frederick Foswell if he knows about anyone by that name. Foswell tells him about L. Thompson Lincoln, a philanthropist who is rumored to be a dangerous crime lord for years. That night Peter goes to Lincoln's office as Spider-Man to find out if the rumors are true. Lincoln prefers to be called "Tombstone" and wields incredible strength; he pins him down and suggests that he work for him, fighting crime like usual but turning his head when it comes to his crimes. Spider-Man refuses to do so and runs off.

When Peter gets home, he is depressed. Aunt May insists that he gets dressed for the formal and explains that she has arranged for him to go with Mary Jane Watson. Peter thinks that she will turn out to be a plain girl due to the descriptions Aunt May has given him, but when she arrives he learns that she is an attractive girl and is flabbergasted.

Production

Clancy Brown portrayed Rhino. Brown based his voice on the character's simplistic thought process. Clancy Brown.jpg
Clancy Brown portrayed Rhino. Brown based his voice on the character's simplistic thought process.

"The Invisible Hand" was written by Matt Wayne. [3] [4] Wayne had previously written the episode "Natural Selection" and went on to write "Persona". [5] Dave Bullock, who directed the animated feature film Justice League: The New Frontier , directed the episode. [3] [4] [6] The title of the episode follows the "Education of Peter Parker" scheme Greg Weisman, a developer and producer for The Spectacular Spider-Man, created. The naming scheme for the second story arc of season one refers to economics. [7]

There was a scene cut from the episode after it was written, recorded, and storyboarded. The scene featured Rhino looking in a phone book for individuals named "Peter Parker" in the tri-state area. He storms into a "Peter James Parker" (Kevin Michael Richardson), a blind, elderly African-American bassoon player, accusing him of being the Peter Parker he is looking for. The man is outraged and asks him, "Do I look like I'm a photographer?" Rhino himself is furious as there are several Peter Parkers in the tri-state area. Weisman was upset that it was removed and called it "just hilarious". [8]

Weisman and casting director Jamie Thomason each easily picked out Clancy Brown for the role of Rhino. Weisman explains, "We knew Rhino would require a voice with strength and menace, but Rhino also isn't the brightest bulb on the marquee, so we knew whoever we cast would also have to have the acting chops and comic timing to take the character beyond the usual dumb goon." They each had worked with Brown previously and knew he would be able to "nail it", as he is able to give a "tough, low voice" and "turn on a dime between dangerous and comedic characterizations." [2]

Brown sought to reflect the Rhino's simplistic thinking style in his voice. He believes "the quintessential 'thug' was played by William Bendix in The Glass Key . The simpler the character, the simpler the thought process. That means Rhino's 'motivation' is never too complicated[...] he's very elemental. He's mad or happy or angry or sad or hungry or whatever. And it never gets beyond his appetites or ego." Brown considers that Bendix's performance perfectly portrayed this type of character. [2]

Release and reception

"The Invisible Hand" was originally broadcast on April 12, 2008, on the Kids WB! block for the CW Network. [3] A two-week hiatus of The Spectacular Spider-Man followed the airing. [9] It is available on the DVDs The Spectacular Spider-Man: Volume I, where it is paired with "Market Forces" and "Competition", [10] and The Spectacular Spider-Man Animated Series: The Complete First Season. [11]

The episode received generally positive reviews from television critics. Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode an 8.0/10, ("Impressive") writing, "For an episode that began ho-hum, things certainly got interesting in the last half, with two surprise introductions." Goldman praised the fight sequences as well as the unveiling of Tombstone and Mary Jane. Goldman concluded his review by writing, "It's a testament to this show that it has it exactly right that Peter Parker's everyday, unmasked persona is so integral to the story, and that I actually am very curious how this dance goes." [9]

Sean Elliot of iF Magazine gave the episode a "B+" and wrote that it was a "well-thought out premise". Elliot was "pleased" with the portrayal of Rhino as an unintelligent brute; he also enjoyed the change of the "Big Man's" identity from that of the comics - where he was a Bugle reporter named Frederic Foswell - and found it humorous to have Foswell be the reporter to tell Peter who the "Big Man" is rumored to be. [12] Ultimate Disney reviewer Luke Bonanno did not include the episode among his top five episodes of The Spectacular Spider-Man's first season, but "feel[s] obligated to point out that the uniform excellence of the lot [makes] this a challenging task." [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Jonah Jameson</span> Marvel Comics character

John Jonah Jameson Jr. is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the superhero Spider-Man. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man issue #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uncle Ben</span> Marvel Comics character

Benjamin Franklin "Ben" Parker, usually referred to as Uncle Ben, was a supporting character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually in association with the superhero Spider-Man. He was the husband of May Parker and the paternal uncle and father figure of Peter Parker. After appearing in Strange Tales #97, Uncle Ben made his first full appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15, and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He was modeled and named after American founding father Benjamin Franklin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhino (character)</span> Fictional character appearing in Marvel Comics

The Rhino is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita Sr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41. The character is a Russian thug who underwent an experimental procedure that gave him an artificial skin covering and superhuman strength. Rebelling against the scientists responsible for his transformation, Rhino used his newfound powers to become a successful criminal, and soon clashed with superheroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk. The character is typically portrayed as a dimwitted brute, capable of great destruction, but ultimately easily deceived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Brant</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Elizabeth "Betty" Brant-Leeds is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually in stories featuring the superhero Spider-Man. She is the personal secretary of J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle, and served as both a supporting character and love interest for Peter Parker. She later became a reporter for the Daily Bugle and the girlfriend of Flash Thompson/Agent Venom, later marrying Ned Leeds/Hobgoblin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ned Leeds</span> Comic book character

Edward "Ned" Leeds is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A supporting character in stories featuring the superhero Spider-Man, he has been a reporter for the Daily Bugle, and husband of Betty Brant. Leeds is one of the characters that appears under the mantle of the supervillain Hobgoblin, for a long time believed to be his true identity. However, ten years following his assassination, he is retroactively established to have been brainwashed to serve as a stand-in for Roderick Kingsley and later left to be killed when he was no longer deemed necessary. The character was revived in a 2018–2022 storyline, with both Ned and Roderick brainwashed again by the Queen Goblin to serve as Hobgoblins once more, in service to her. Synergetic with his MCU adaptation, Ned's Hobgoblin was revealed to be a sorcerer, having trained under Baron Mordo in the art of reality-altering chaos magic in Symbiote Spider-Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbie Robertson (character)</span> Fictional character

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually in association with Spider-Man. Created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #51, and has since endured as a supporting character of the wall-crawler.

Frederick Foswell, also known as the Big Man and Patch, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enforcers (comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional group

The Enforcers are a team of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually as adversaries of the superheroes Spider-Man and Daredevil. The original Enforcers consisted of Montana, the Ox, and Fancy Dan.

<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i> (TV series) American animated television series

The Spectacular Spider-Man is an American superhero animated television series produced by Sony Pictures Television based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, and developed by Greg Weisman and Victor Cook. In terms of overall tone and style, the series is based primarily on the Stan Lee, Steve Ditko and John Romita Sr. era of The Amazing Spider-Man, with a similar balance of action, drama and comedy as well as a high school setting. However, it also tends to blend material from all eras of the comic's run up to that point in addition to other sources such as the Ultimate Spider-Man comics by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, as well as Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montana (character)</span> Character in Marvel Comics

Montana is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is depicted as the leader of the Enforcers, a team of assassins usually employed by other villains such as the Big Man, the Green Goblin, and the Kingpin, which often places them in conflict with the superheroes Spider-Man and Daredevil.

Interactions (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 2nd episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Interactions" is the second episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, based on the comic book character Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The episode sees Spider-Man confronting the supervillain Electro, whose body was corrupted with electricity after a freak lab accident.

Survival of the Fittest (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Survival of the Fittest" is the pilot episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The episode was written and directed by the series developers, Greg Weisman and Victor Cook. In the episode, Spider-Man faces the evil Vulture as he begins his junior year in high school.

Victor A. Cook is an American film and television producer and director best known for his work on the animated series The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009), Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010–2013) and Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters (2017–2018), and as an executive producer of Disney Junior's T.O.T.S.

Natural Selection (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 3rd episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Natural Selection" is the third episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In the episode, Spider-Man must face the scientist he was working for, Curt Connors, who has been mutated into an anthropomorphic lizard by a serum designed to regrow his missing arm.

Market Forces (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 4th episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Market Forces" is the fourth episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In the episode, Spider-Man is hunted by Shocker, whose suit allows him to fire intense sonic blasts.

Competition (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 5th episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Competition" is the fifth episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In it, Spider-Man must face the Sandman, a former petty thug who now can manipulate his sand body at will.

Reaction (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 8th episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Reaction" is the eighth episode of the American animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The episode originally broadcast in the United States on the Kids WB! block for The CW on May 3, 2008.

Catalysts (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 7th episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"Catalysts" is the seventh episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The episode sees Spider-Man trying to stop the psychotic supervillain Green Goblin from bombing a dinner party filled with high-class New York citizens on the night of his school's big Fall Formal.

The Uncertainty Principle (<i>The Spectacular Spider-Man</i>) 9th episode of the 1st season of The Spectacular Spider-Man

"The Uncertainty Principle" is the ninth episode of the animated television series The Spectacular Spider-Man, which is based on the comic book character Spider-Man, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. It originally aired on the Kids WB! programming block on The CW Network on May 10, 2008.

References

  1. "The Invisible Hand". Marvel.com . Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  2. 1 2 3 "Clancy Brown voices the Rhino on "Spectacular Spider-Man"". Comic Book Resources. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  3. 1 2 3 Cochran, Jay (2008-04-08). "Rhino Revealed in an All-New "The Spectacular Spider-Man"". Entertainment News International. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  4. 1 2 "The Rhino makes his "Spectacular Spider-Man" debut". Comic Book Resources . 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  5. "Spectacular Spider-Man's Matt Wayne Talks Black Cat and Black Costume". Major Spoilers. 2008-05-15. Archived from the original on 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  6. "Rhino charges into 'The Spectacular Spider-Man'". Mania.com. 2008-02-05. Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  7. Weisman, Greg (2008-08-11). "Ask Greg". Gargoyles: A Station Eight Fan Web Site. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  8. Liu, Ed (2009-03-22). "Marvel Animation Age & Toon Zone Interview Greg Weisman on "Spectacular Spider-Man"". Toon Zone. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  9. 1 2 Goldman, Eric (2008-08-14). ""The Invisible Hand" Review". IGN . Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  10. Felix, Justin (2009-03-10). "The Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 2". DVD Talk . Retrieved 2009-10-24.
  11. 1 2 Bonanno, Luke. "The Spectacular Spider-Man Animated Series: The Complete First Season DVD Review". Ultimate Disney. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
  12. Elliot, Sean (2008-04-17). "Review: The Spectacular Spider-Man - Season 1 - 'The Invisible Hand'". iF Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2009-10-24.