SPOILERS for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episode 5!
I miss Foggy Nelson man. Episode 5 of Born Again was mostly a flashback, and we got Foggy back for a brief time. I’m telling you, his chemistry with Matt was like riding a bike, for a minute I was back in the Netflix show (the aspect ratio for the flashbacks changed to resemble it and everything!) It’s just… having Foggy makes the distinct lack of Foggy in the present day even more, well, distinct.
It was the Foggy/Matt dynamic that carried the original show. One of the best, most tense episodes was when Foggy figured out Matt was Daredevil, because you cared about the friendship so much, they sold it so well, that you as an audience member were terrified how Matt keeping this from Foggy would affect them. I’m telling you man, killing Foggy in season 1 has to be their biggest mistake. I miss Foggy!
I miss Wesley too man. Killing Wesley in season 1 of the Netflix show was their second biggest mistake. He was the best henchman of all time. There when Fisk needed him, taking care of literally any problem that arose in a timely and calculated manner. Do you remember that scene when Fisk was crashing out and Wesley brought Vanessa to him? Because that’s the kind of guy Wesley was. Then that bum Karen blew him away. I loved Wesley man.
And we got him back in episode 5 as well! For even just a little bit, we had Wesley once again. All of his scenes were in the back seat of a car, and he still left just as much of an impact. When he answered the phone with “This is Wesley.” Chills having my guy back, again, seamlessly sliding back into his role. I will say though, Buck (or, as the internet is calling him, British Wesley) has been growing on me, but the scene in this episode revealing Wesley knew Buck, and relied on him for jobs for Kingpin? It’s almost like, Buck now has Wesley’s seal of approval, in a manner of speaking, and now, I’m completely okay with Buck as Fisk’s right hand guy. I still miss Wesley though man.
I miss Ben Urich man. Killing him in season 1 of the Netflix show was their first biggest mistake. The biggest fumble of the entirety of the Netflix show, in my humble opinion. Not only is he a really big comic character, but he was cast and acted perfectly. Perfectly! I LOVED Ben Urich. And then they killed him.
We have BB now. I like BB, I like this fake Fisk thing she’s doing, and I appreciate her connection to Ben, but man, Ben Urich was a force. Maybe BB will get there one day, but until she gets that “seal of approval” moment that Buck got, I’ll always miss Ben. I hope she does something huge by the end of the show!
I miss Vanessa man. I think… well… she did have Foggy killed, she wasn’t really a good person, it really was a matter of time until she died (like in the comics). But like, without her Fisk is going to set the city on fire. Like, I’m actually scared of what’s going to happen to Daredevil, and all of the other vigilantes in New York. Dang Vanessa drinking her dang pineapple juice then just peacing out, now no one in New York is safe. No one.
Okay, I just wanted to vent. Bring back Foggy, bring back Wesley, bring back Ben, and for the sake of all the superheroes in New York, we should probably bring back Vanessa too. That is all. Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse.
So I was very, VERY, excited about this new Marvel Legends Rivals Spider-Man figure. I was even willing to overlook the outdated articulation, because he looks really good. But… I have another, really big concern. Look.
Do you see it?
Look closely.
For the uninitiated, notice that any picture with an open hand is on his left, and any picture with a Thwipping hand is on his right. He has pictures with two fists though. Exhibit A:
This leads me to very nervously believe that he only has one Thwipping hand and one open hand. Which, for the only Marvel Legends Marvel Rivals figure that’s going to be on the market, is a very, very big problem. I am desperately hoping since we haven’t seen their packaging yet that they include two of each set of hand and this post ages like bad milk. But… maybe that’s just why we haven’t seen the packaging…
The Punisher, Luna Snow, Moon Knight and Venom all look phenomenal! (Jeff is a statue, literally inexcusable for a line that has done Lockjaw, Cosmo and Zabu.) But I’m telling you, if this Spider-Man has an incomplete set of hands… dang, they know I have choice but to buy it if I want a Rivals Spider-Man, but I will be VERY LOUD ABOUT IT!!!!
Let’s hope that’s not the case. Fingers crossed. Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
I’m unboxing the NEW Spider-Man vs. Venom FANDROP Collectible inspired by Marvel Comics, provided to me by Moose Toys! Destined to become the next must-have collectible, FANDROP is Art x Collectibles where its unique execution captures iconic moments throughout the history of the world’s biggest IP. Launching with Marvel FANDROP showcases the most epic moments that all fans will love. Collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today! Collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today at Target.
MV02 in their Marvel series, this FANDROP is based on The Amazing Spider-Man #375, pitting Spider-Man in a desperate fight against his greatest foe Venom in a desperate bid to save his recently returned parents!
This collectible puts Spider-Man and Venom on a city block, battling high in the sky, Venom lunging at Spidey who remains suspended by two highly detailed web lines. Each 2″ figure is painted and sculpted with enormous care a precision.
The Scene Marker in this collectible is a replica of the cover art for The Amazing Spider-Man #375.
And the Artifact is a Symbiotic Sample, where I pulled the 80% option. This gooey, creepy-crawly stalks the scene from below, ready to bond to its next host!
You know I love Spider-Man True Believers, so this particular FANDROP was just for me! And if you’re a Spidey or even Venom fan as well, I suggest you add this to your collection as well. Go and collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today!
I’m unboxing the NEW Wolverine vs. Sabretooth FANDROP Collectible inspired by Marvel Comics, provided to me by Moose Toys! Destined to become the next must-have collectible, FANDROP is Art x Collectibles where its unique execution captures iconic moments throughout the history of the world’s biggest IP. Launching with Marvel FANDROP showcases the most epic moments that all fans will love. Collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today! Collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today at Target.
MV01 in their Marvel series, this FANDROP is based on Wolverine #90, where Logan has a climactic showdown with Sabretooth in the basement of the X-Mansion.
Included are a pair of highly detailed and masterfully painted 2″ figures of Wolverine and Sabretooth locked in battle against a scenic backdrop straight from the comic, with some Easter Eggs to boot!
Next is the Scene Marker, a replica of the iconic cover art from Wolverine #90.
And lastly is the Artifact, Weapon X Wolverine Files, where I pulled the 5% option of Wolverine floating in the tank Weapon X left him in.
This is such a cool collectable for any Marvel fan, but especially if you’re a Wolverine fan! Go and collect all FANDROP iconic team-ups or battles today!
I’m giving away one Marvel Legends Maximum Spider-Man figure to the Ultimate Face Front Fan! This highly sought after Hasbro figure can be yours by simply completing a scavenger hunt I’ve set up across several Face Front videos! Here’s how you can win this figure!
Subscribe to Face Front Blog YouTube Channel
Watch the following videos, and note how many times each of the following phrases are said within the video:
Send an email to Mail@FaceFrontBlog.com with your answers. Format as follows, replacing “xx” with the correct number:
S.H.I.E.L.D. – xx
Loki – xx
Dormammu – xx
Peter Tingle – xx
Fight Back – xx
And that’s it! You have until June 30, 2025 to submit your answers! After that I will gather all correct answers and choose randomly from those. The winner will be notified with an email during the month of July. Good luck True Believers! And may the Ultimate Face Front Fan win!
Some rules:
You must be subscribed to Face Front’s YouTube channel to be considered.
Your answer must be submitted via email. Any answers in the comments of YouTube videos will not be counted and may be grounds for disqualification.
You may only submit ONE answer email, any further entries will be deleted in the interest of fairness. Ensure that you are satisfied with your answer before emailing.
If you are below 13 years of age, please request assistance from a parent/legal guardian.
If you live outside of the United States of America, please notate that international shipping status may delay the arrival of your figure or deter it altogether. Please ensure that your country allows mail from the United States before submitting.
Hey there True Believers and welcome to the Face Front 2025 Showcase! This show is full of updates, sneak peeks, and announcements for some of the things you can expect from Face Front in the year 2025!
The End of the Marvel Universe Part 4: Devourer of Worlds
We’re starting out with the next immediate Face Front Original: The End of the Marvel Universe Part 4: Devourer of Worlds. Ever since fans discovered that Peter’s world, Earth-84061, the original Face Front Universe, had been destroyed, the question on everyone’s mind was: How? The End of the Marvel Universe series set out to explain not only major differences between the Face Front Universe and the MCU, but to answer this question that has puzzled viewers for years. Though it’s been referenced here and there, we will finally see the climactic battle between the last Avenger, Captain Marvel, and the world-eating threat to the entire Marvel Universe, Galactus! The End of the Marvel Universe Part 4: Devourer of Worlds is in development now and coming soon to Face Front.
Rise of the X-Men
Next, I want to address what’s going on with Rise of the X-Men. This was meant to be my next project, but due to the nature of the story, I was running into timeline issues, primarily where to fit it into the Face Front Universe without screwing up the established canon. I’ve since fixed the problem, but it requires a rework of the script to fit the video within the new context. It hasn’t gone completely back to the drawing board, I am still able to keep most of what I had planned, but it will take some time to rework the story.
That said, I would like to reveal this new image above from the project, featuring the team I plan to use. Yes, the X-Men from the 90’s animated series will the primary team in Rise of the X-Men. They are the ones I grew up and had always planned the story for. But this does not mean that some other mutant won’t show up in the video, or in the future of the Face Front Universe! Thank you for being patient, and I promise, Rise of the X-Men is coming this year!
The Secret Wars
Now, I want to talk about a new/old project, The Secret Wars. Longtime Face Front viewers may have seen the motion comics on the channel tying into Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Secret War against Red Skull and HYDRA. The Secret Wars videos are pivitol story points in the grand scheme of the Face Front Universe. However, upon reviewing the videos, I find that they are outdated, somewhat unengaging, and framed to connect to an interactive event that no longer exists here on the website. With the importance of these videos to the overall story, I’ve decided to revisit and remaster all of the original Secret Wars videos. This will include removing the elements linking back to Blog, improving the sound design, the cadence, updating the visuals, and most of all, adding voiceover, a step I’ve regretted leaving out since the beginning.
Old and New art direction for The Secret Wars
The Secret Wars will be a compilation that tells the entirety of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s war with HYDRA, putting one of the most important stories in the Face Front Universe together in on one place with a fresh new coat of paint that will entertain new and old viewers alike. The Secret Wars will drop later this year, and will be followed by The Secret Wars: Dark Dimension getting the same treatment.
Commentary Content
Let’s get into the commentary content on Face Front. Last year I launched Merry Marvel Mayhem, which I used here and there to talk about relevant moments in Marvel pop culture. The thing is, it’s really no fun for me if no one is talking back. When I first pitched this idea to my friend Johnathan, Merry Marvel Mayhem was supposed to be a rant show where I get all my hot takes off my chest about things I’m very, very passionate and opinionated about. I hesitated to do that because I’m generally a guy that doesn’t rock the boat, but more and more I see people online with, let’s face it, stupid takes, and I’m done keeping quiet. Merry Marvel Mayhem will return, this time, with more emphasis on the mayhem!
Then there’s the Face Front Show. I value nothing more than talking with you guys about Marvel. That said, every time I have a topic for the show, we talk discuss it for about 32 seconds before the show goes off the rails. Which is great! It’s fun! I love it! But from now on, I’m not going to choose a set topic. I’ll go live, and we’ll just talk, like buddies in the comic shop.
Marvel 616: Retold
Another project I launched last year was Marvel 616: Retold, which I believe was a thundering success! It gets more action figure videos out to you guys while putting a comedic spin on some classic Marvel stories. Marvel 616: Retold will continue with new stories throughout the year to keep you guys entertained between the big Face Front Originals. Here’s a sneak peek at one of the upcoming episodes of Marvel 616: Retold:
Click Here to watch all episodes of Marvel 616: Retold!
Marvel Vs.
Another comedy series I have going is Marvel Vs. Marvel Vs. pits two characters against each other in a hilarious 1v1 encounter. There’s already episodes for Spider-Man vs. Lizard, Iron Man vs. Captain America, Cyclops vs. Mr Sinister, Thor vs. Ulik, and Dr Strange vs. Dormammu. Go check those out if you haven’t and prepare for more Marvel Vs., including the next one later this month, which will be Daredevil vs Bullseye, just in time for Born Again! Click Here to view all episodes of Marvel Vs.
Shorts
Now, I want to talk about my YouTube Shorts content. Mostly I was using shorts to post clips from my videos, memes, and gameplay, but last year I started experimenting with dedicated Shorts content, and I have to say, I’m quite happy with the results. Marvel Hero Adventures are hilarious short stories featuring Marvel characters in all kinds of wild situations. I love the challenge of telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end in a minute or less. I know that the algorithm is weird about who it shows Shorts to, I’ve had some subscribers say they never see my shorts! So make sure you Click Here to find all of these videos in the Marvel Hero Adventures Playlist!
Another one of my Shorts series that is truly short is Marvel Nemesis, named after the old video game. It has two characters with a history clash and exchange lines, like Mortal Kombat or Injustice. There’s a playlist for Marvel Nemesis videos as well, so Click Here if you haven’t seen them!
Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-VerseOne More Day
Lastly, I want to give you guys an update on what I know you’ve been waiting for. Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse One More Day, The Return to the Spider-Verse finale. I’m going to be completely honest with you guys, this is the big one. This everything and the kitchen sink. My hope for releasing this is honestly just, before the end of the year. It’s going to take time. But I know you guys. I know you love your Spider-Verse content. Web-Warriors was meant to fill the gaps between Spider-Verse episodes, but with The Superior Spider-Man episode and the Turning Point epilogue, Web-Warriors came to its planned end. So what’s next in the Spider-Verse? Well, let me just show you.
Spider-Man: Edge of Spider-Verse
Based on the comic of the same name, Spider-Man: Edge of Spider-Verse is an anthology series, each story focusing on one of the Amazing Friends, taking place between different episodes of Return to the Spider-Verse. These are all-new stories that will feature new and returning characters, fleshing out what the Spidey team is up to when you don’t see them in an episode of Spider-Verse. Length-wise, they’ll be similar the Christmas special episodes, and they’ll release at a steady pace while I work on One More Day. Edge of Spider-Verse is an exciting new Spider-Man project, and I can’t wait for you guys to see the episodes!
Thank you for joining me today, and thank you for watching Face Front. Honestly, I always say this, but I do this for you guys. Keep watching the channel, keep commenting and tuning into the lives, keep being fans. 2025 is an exciting year for Face Front, and I hope you all are ready for what’s to come! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
We’re back with Issue #2 of the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man prequel comic! (Click Here if you missed the write-up for Issue #1!) Now we didn’t get as many reveals about this universe’s lore as we did in the first issue, but we got to see Spider-Man in action for more or less the first time. Without anymore delay, let’s get into it Brigadier!
We begin with the well known wrestling match between the new masked figure Spider-Man (in his OG wrestling outfit from Amazing Fantasy #15) and Crusher Hogan. But as we established last time, Uncle Ben is already dead and gone. So the placement of this historic match is definitely off course from the usual canon.
It’s being run by a rich kid named Trip in his parents’ backyard, who so aptly named it Trip’s Tournament of Titans. Peter reveals that he specifically wanted to be called Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man because people are scared of spiders, and he’s trying to be ‘approachable’ and ‘local’. Good to know they’re actually working the title into the plot as opposed to the fact that every other Spider-Man TV show and movie have taken all of the usual adjectives!
Peter mentions he’s fighting for back rent, remember last ish we established he’s dirt poor in this universe. After getting walloped by Crusher, Peter, determined to win the cash, decides to go all out and chucks the poor guy into the stratosphere.
Peter does catch Crusher, thankfully, and informs Trip to wire the winnings to an account he gave them, which is smart because that’s a problem Peter faced in the original books. Spider-Man once got a check he couldn’t cash because it was made out to Spider-Man, and the bank can’t do anything with that. After Crusher accuses the match of being rigged, Spider-Man deposits him into a trash can, and declares that until he figures out exactly how strong he is, it’s “Spider-Man no more”, leading to a clever little callback from the famous scene.
So after tossing around a couple of water heaters to test his strength and stick ’em powers, Peter brainstorms he needs a way to snag things out of reach, like Crusher was, and take down bad guys without hurting them. This of course leads him to developing the Web Shooters, with his chemistry nerd knowledge and a little left over cash from the match. First try is an explosive bust, which then gives him the idea for the self-dissolving agent…
… which he quickly discovers needs to dissolve faster than two hours because he hilariously ends up stuck to a criminal he takes down. I know it varies from iteration to iteration, but typically Spider-Man’s webs dissolve in one hour.
The next day Peter catches up with Nico at their new school. It’s called Rockford T. Bales High. Now I’m not sure if this is where he’s going to be in the show, but Midtown was destroyed in that mysterious battle, so if it isn’t repaired, this is where Pete and Nico are going to school. Peter already ends up on Trip’s bad side for no reason, he goes to the same school apparently. But Nico gets him to back off and the two agree that they’ll be unstoppable if they stick together. That was a sweet little moment solidifying their friendship, I think.
That night, Peter perfects the Web Shooters and hits the town, preventing a car accident and declaring himself officially Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Which doesn’t make Silvermane very happy at all. So he makes good on the threat from last issue and calls in the infamous classic Spidey villains: The Enforcers! They more or less resemble their comic counterparts, and they fit very well with the 60’s-inspired aesthetic they say the show is going for.
Peter switches up his outfit a bit to the hockey jersey we see in the show, no emblem yet but he’ll figure out something that ‘says Spider-Man’ later. He finds that the web tank’s a bit big, having trouble fitting through the window, so that’s probably why he eventually goes for the horizontal design on his lower back we’ve seen in the trailers.
While on patrol he happens upon The Enforcers shaking down a shopkeep, noting he’s got an instinct, maybe a sense (get it?), to find people in danger. He gets into it with Ox and Fancy Dan, and I really like this fight. He starts strong, but Fancy Dan easily registers Spider-Man’s Thwipping gesture as a ‘tell’, and gets the drop on him, while Ox joins the walloping.
But Spider-Man adapts mid-fight. As he says, they’re pros, but he can do things they can’t. He relies on his Spider-Sense. He adjusts the kind of web he uses to catch Fancy Dan. He packs a bit more of a punch to pummel Ox. It’s really great stuff that makes watching Spider-Man fight so amazing!
Unfortunately, Montana gets involved, severing Spider-Man’s web tubes and letting The Enforcers get the upper hand once again.
The issue ends with poor Spider-Man, defeated, in the middle of the street, surrounded by The Enforcers. An honest-to-goodness “To Be Continued!” if I’ve ever seen one!
And that’s all we’ve got for this one. Big takeaways are notably designing the webs, the wrestling match, and his new, maybe permanent school. I didn’t mention earlier, but Aunt May shows up a few times, who Peter is becoming uncomfortable with lying to, the ease of it bothering him more than anything. But that fight between a novice Spider-Man and The Enforcers was the highlight of the issue for me. It was such a good comic book battle that took me back to the old days of reading Spider-Man! More of that, please, in the comic and the show!
Next issue the fight obviously continues, as he’s featured on the cover taking on the three troublemakers. Solicits have it dropping February 19, which is well after the show’s January 29th premiere date.
I don’t know if this was planned and coordinated with the show’s release schedule to add context or if it’s still supposed to be filling in that time gap they mentioned this story takes place in. But either way, I’ll probably still do a write-up. For the show itself I plan on doing a Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Aftershow on Thursdays, so stay tuned to Face Front’s YouTube channel for more info on that. I hope you guys are enjoying these, I can’t wait for the next issue, and of course the show! Until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
Whatever happened to Gwen Stacy? Watch below, and find out. But ONLY if you’ve seen every other episode of Return to the Spider-Verse! If not, please Click Here to watch those first. If you have, then proceed…
Well, that was a lot, wasn’t it? The twists, the turns, the reveals, the heartbreak! Oh my, it was nearly too much to bear! I hope this was as worth the wait for you as it was for me!
A lot of dots have finally been connected. All of those post credits scenes (you have been sticking around for those, right?) have been tied together. Gwen’s rise, or rather fall, to become the Master Planner revealed at last.
Bringing Gwen to life is the always incredible Eileen Nestman. Have I praised her enough? The answer is a big NO! I haven’t! Because I literally can’t for the heavy lifting she did in this episode. My goodness, Eileen always comes to play but I’ll tell you, True Believers, I think this was her BEST performance to date. She really sold Gwen’s descent into the Master Planner. Such raw emotion, I am so grateful every day that she’s my friend.
And a few months ago, you all helped thank her for her contributions to Face Front by voting her for Super Mom! She unfortunately didn’t win, but we helped get her up to 11th place! And as promised, I put the names of everyone who voted in the credits of this video. Let’s see them again:
The_Graytforever Wars the Marvel MrMisterMelon The Amazing Gamer Djmc Anselmo Gutierrez Pérez/SemISkUIZ King VA Productions
Thanks again guys! Eileen and I really appreciate your support.
Rounding out the cast was Emily Tatsumi who never fails me as Peni Parker, and my sister Jaelen Westbrook, who gave me Lyla’s lines literally the night before the episode went live. Lyla’s role was so small I forgot she was in the video and had no one to voice her! Thank goodness Jaelen always comes through for me in a pinch.
Now, this video had a ton of references, homages, and Easter Eggs, so let’s not waste anymore time and get right to them.
Let Her Go
The video begins with some eerily familiar dialogue during the logo which then transitions into a recreation of the death of Gwen Stacy from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, everything down to the score. A cold open to be sure, but, I feel like from even the video thumbnail, you guys knew what you were in for.
The New Goblin
I put up a Friend or Foe poll a while ago and you guys voted to reveal a friend, after which I revealed Harry Osborn, the New Goblin, would be making his debut in the Face Front Universe. Harry arrives in Loomworld referencing the events of Spider-Man 3. From confusing Gwen with Bryce Dallas Howard’s version to the final battle of the movie, Harry makes it evident that he remembers everything up to his death. And look, his face is fine too! (I always personally believed the Goblin serum would fix that eventually.)
Unfortunately he freaks Gwen out, so he has to take off. But that just means that he’s out there somewhere in Loomworld. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see him again…
The Rose
While Gwen is wondering through the Noir portion of Loomworld, she bumps into a rather polite masked man in a suit, who gifts her with a rose before leaving. Spidey fans know this man as Wilson Fisk’s son, Richard Fisk, aka, the Rose. What was he doing there, though? Who knows? Well, I do. Maybe you will too. Eventually…
Lyla
As mentioned earlier, Miguel O’Hara’s AI assistant Lyla makes an appearance in this episode. She collects a Spider-Bot that appears to be gathering data and reports to Miguel that there are quantum anomalies everywhere. A mysterious little cameo, that perhaps holds something further? Only time will tell.
Loomworld
Gwen names this new patchwork world she’s found herself in “Loomworld”. Fans with a sharp ear will have heard this before in Spider-Man: Web-Warriors episodes 3, 10, and Turning Point. But what exactly is Loomworld? Well, in the comics, it’s Earth-001, and HQ for the Inheritors, made up of worlds they conquered and pieced together. It was the location of quite a few battles in the original Spider-Verse comic, way back in 2014, and was at one time an access point to the Web of Life and Destiny. It’s been home to the Inheritor-turned-Master Weaver Karn, and the Web-Warriors from the comics.
In my series, Loomworld is this new world that’s been created out of pieces of different Spider-Man universes, apparently pulled together by our one and only MCU Peter. There are still many mysteries behind this world’s conception, but that is, at least for now, the gist of it.
Sandman
Flint Marko, aka Sandman, appears in Loomworld, confused and using familiar lines (No Way Home anyone?) This is indeed the Spider-Man 3 version of Sandman, as noted by his demanding where his daughter Penny is. Yes, that also means that Marko is hiding out there somewhere as well! By the way, Sandman was the Foe option for the Friend or Foe poll, in case you were wondering.
Daughter of Captain Stacy
Gwen mentions that she studied Captain Stacy’s suspects boards and knew how to get into the minds of criminals. This was a little tidbit I got from the Giant-Size Gwen Stacy comic book, which tells the story of Gwen before she meets Peter Parker. Surprisingly, that hadn’t been explored until that 2022 comic. Technically it began in 2020, but COVID paused it 2 issues in and they put out the Giant-Size two years later, finishing it. Which I was very grateful for, because I really wanted to know how that story ended. Doubly grateful, actually, because it was reading this comic that got me past a serious writer’s block I had writing this episode. Seriously guys, if you ever need inspiration for your stories, read the comics!
The Prowler
Prowler’s been working for the Master Planner since literally the post credits scene of episode 1. Now we finally see how that team-up came to be. Having just died saving Miles, Prowler’s now unemployed, and back in an unfamiliar world. Gwen’s offering him a chance to not only return to normalcy, but to save the nephew he gave his life to protect. Harry Osborn’s black card doesn’t hurt either.
The Web of Life and Destiny
When attempting to explain how Loomworld will inevitably be destroyed, Gwen uses a metaphor, a web that controls the life and destiny of all living beings in the multiverse. A not-so-subtle reference to the Web of Life and Destiny, the great web that connects all the Spider Totems in the Spider-Verse!
Amazing Spider-Man #121
When running failed Super Collider trials, Gwen gives up after 129. But the first number I have listed up there is 121, which is a reference to the issue of Amazing Spider-Man where Gwen Stacy was killed by the Green Goblin.
The Sinister Six
The “Special Projects” file on Oscorp’s computers is from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The mystery man in the end of the movie who approached Harry in his cell was Gustav Fiers, someone called “The Gentelman”, as I subtly have Gwen state. They talk about turning a small group of men in to super criminals, stating everything they need is already at Oscorp. It doesn’t seem like their plan ever came to fruition, but Gwen dug it up, and reactivated it to form the Sinister Six.
Also note that a lot of the members, when being recruited, use lines from the previous movies. Mysterio’s capes and lasers rant from Far From Home. Electro’s “I got my body back” from No Way Home. Vulture’s comment about the food from Morbius (yeah, I know). And Doc Ock’s “NOOOOOO” from Spider-Man 2. Remember how in episode 7 Doc Ock said he heard the Master Planner’s voice on repeat, telling him to destroy Spider-Man? Yeah, now you know what that’s about. In addition to that, the same alarm sound was used in episode 2 to flip Connors into the Lizard, who Gwen finally got revenge on for killing her father.
Another callback, when recruiting the Spectacular Green Goblin, is from the Christmas episode, where he tells Spectacular Spider-Man he was approached by the Master Planner but refused, stating it would be “The end of everything”. The Dafoe Goblin, on the other hand, uses a line from the Spider-Man movie video game. When he kidnaps Mary Jane in a cutscene, he tells her “Put your heart into the screams my lovely girl! The better to bait my trap!” Of course, this is because he kidnapped Mary Jane to lure Spider-Man.
The Master Planner
Now in the comics, the Master Planner was an alias Doc Ock used to lure Spider-Man to his doom. I of course made it clear from early on that the Master Planner was someone completely different in this series. We finally got the reveal last episode, but now we know how she came upon the name! Granted, it was more or less an accident, but she owned it. Especially later in the video…
What the Heck was That!?
Okay, so Gwen definitely saw something here. What is it? Zoom and enhance! Turn up the brightness! Look closely.
Got a Minute?
Now, in Across the Spider-Verse, they recreated this moment where Gwen comes to get Miles. He’s listening to Hummingbird, she’s got a pink sweater, they’re both a bit older. But in Into the Spider-Verse, he’s clearly listening to Sunflower, and it’s not much longer after the first movie ends. And even back in 2020 when I made Return of the Sinister Six, I had always imagined that this is where Gwen picked up Miles before they arrived to help. So that’s when my version of the “Got a minute?” scene takes place.
Vanessa67
The Kingpin’s password to access the encrypted Collider file (which we never actually discovered in episode 4) is Vanessa67. This is a reference to his wife, Vanessa Fisk, and the year of Kingpin’s first appearance, 1967.
Christmas Records
When Prowler mentions he has some Christmas records from his brother, this is actually a reference from the Insomniac game Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. At one point in Miles’ apartment, you can play his father’s Christmas records. In the next game, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Miles hears the records playing downstairs and rushes down to find that Uncle Aaron is now in possession of them. While it’s technically a different version of Aaron Davis, we know from Into the Spider-Verse that he does own a record player, so it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility he got some Christmas record from Jefferson!
One More Day
When Prowler asks how close they are to completion, Gwen states that she needs one more day. This is a direct reference to the (universally hated) comic One More Day, where Peter infamously makes a deal with Mephisto and dissolves his marriage to Mary Jane, a decision that’s affecting Spider-Man comics nearly two decades later. Unfortunately. It’s also revealed after the credits of this video that the finale of Return to the Spider-Verse will be called One More Day! Now I’m not arrogant enough to state that I’m gonna do a better job than the House of Ideas, but I promise my One More Day at the very least won’t be universally hated!
The Night Gwen Stacy Died
Notice how this episode doesn’t have a title? That was intentional! In Amazing Spider-Man #121, they don’t have the title at the beginning of the book like they usually do because the story was called “The Night Gwen Stacy Died”, which was obviously a spoiler. So, as an homage to that, I gave episode 12 the same name, and revealed the title at the very end!
So there we have it. Answers, at long last! But more questions yet have arisen from this chapter in our tale. Why was Spidey in that void? What the heck happened around the 34:30 timestamp? What will happen to Loomworld now that the Master Plan has been initiated? Will the Amazing Friends be able to reconcile before it all goes boom!? All good questions. And they will be answered in Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 13: One More Day. The finale. The end. Man, it’s frightening and exciting! I’ve had this planned for years, and to be so close… Thank you all for coming on this journey with me. Thank you all for watching, for supporting Face Front, I do this for you guys. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and I can’t wait for the next. Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
Hey there True Believers! While we impatiently await Marvel Animation’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, coming to Disney+ January 29, Marvel has so graciously decided to satiate us with a prequel comic series (by Christos Gage), of which I’ve read the first issue! What makes this special is that this is the first glimpse into the world of this new version of Peter Parker! I learned quite a bit from this issue, and there seem to be quite a few differences in the Spider-Man lore we all know. So, let’s break it all down.
We open with poor Peter getting tossed off a building by a man I immediately clocked as Man Mountain Marko (I was right, by the way, but I’ll get back to that). Pete’s in his Mk1 Spidey suit we’ve seen in promos and on the cover of this very comic. But before he meets his doom, we flash back…
… To Midtown High. Which has been destroyed. (This is probably the result of a battle between Dr. Strange and -maybe- Shathra, as described in the D23 footage.) The comic doesn’t tell us because the scene is clearly going to be in the show, we’re told as much in an author’s note. But in the aftermath, Peter meets Nico Minoru (from the Runaways), gets bitten by a spider, then passes out for a second.
Now here’s what caught my attention. Peter doesn’t want to go to the ER for money concerns (he’s broke, broke in this universe) and because he and May “spent enough time in hospitals”. After which May insinuates Ben is already dead (before Peter was bitten!), and that he would be upset if he was the reason Peter couldn’t take care of himself.
Not only this, but Peter later confides in Nico that at his old school, before High School (remember, the show was once called Freshman Year) he came to be known as “the poor kid whose uncle died”. So I’m guessing that Uncle Ben wasn’t murdered. I think he got sick, was hospitalized for a long time, costing the Parkers a lot of money, then died.
This is obviously a major departure from your standard Peter Parker Spider-Man fare, so I’m quite curious to see how this shakes out in forming his identity as a hero. Moving on, Peter and Nico decide to investigate the explosion at Midtown, which they discover happened after the chaos that brought the spider bite, and deduce it was likely caused by Silvio Manfredi (aka Silvermane), who’s been trying to buy up Midtown’s land.
I’m not sure if Silvermane’s going to carry over to the show, or be dealt with in the comic, but it’s good to see him included in some new Spidey media. After that, some cleanup guys show up to get rid of all traces to Manfredi, and end up chasing after Peter. He’d used his Spider-Sense and reflexes earlier to save a cat and catch Nico sneaking up on him, but now he really gets to use his powers.
First of all, I love how Silvermane’s guys are like, unabashed mobsters. Like, “shuddup” and “so long, sucker” mobsters. And second, Peter kind of fumbling through the fight but handing it to Silvermane’s guys was a good sequence. I can’t explain it, but Peter Spider-Manning in civilian clothes is always something I love to see.
After a narrow escape, he and Nico decide to keep quiet about Manfredi as not to endanger their families. Nico has a foster mom because I’m guessing she’s already run away (she mentions LA a lot) and the whole ‘Mom is a supervillain with the Staff of One’ is a lot of baggage to bring into what is ultimately Peter’s story.
So Peter decides that if he wants to pursue Silvermane, he’s got to be someone else… Spider-Man? Perhaps? The symbolic mask on the floor beneath Pete there seems to indicate so.
Meanwhile at Silvermane Hair Products for Men Inc. (which is a hilariously perfect front for Silvermane’s operation) Silvermane is appalled at the idea of a superhero in Queens. He mentions the Avengers stick to, essentially, Avenger-level threats, meaning they exist in this universe already (Peter is shown to be fond of Captain America). Then he mentions that he doesn’t want what’s happened in Hell’s Kitchen to happen on his turf. We know Charlie Cox is back and voicing Daredevil for the show, so not only is his reputation already up and running, but he’s become a problem for criminals by this point as well.
Silvermane then tells the man, the size of a mountain, named Marko (told you) that he needs Peter dealt with in a very public “send a message” kind of way. And he orders him to summon The Enforcers. The lasso wielding Montana, the dapper Fancy Dan, and the brutish Ox, for the uninitiated. So I’m pretty excited to see what they’re like in this new Spider-Man universe!
That’s where the issue ends, and we get a tease for the next issue of Peter in his wrestling outfit reminiscent of the one worn in Amazing Fantasy #15, fighting against presumably Crusher Hogan, but so many things have changed I don’t want to assume anything!
Uncle Ben dead before the spider bite. He’s best friends with Nico Minouru. He may not be going to Midtown (if Silvermane isn’t stopped and they can’t rebuild). So much to wrap my head around! Not having context for a lot of this made the story a little jarring, but this isn’t strictly a prequel. Christos Gage said on Twitter that they’re filling in a time jump that takes place in episode 1 of the show.
Word is Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1 will get a second printing! Thanks to everyone who picked it up yesterday! Eric Gapstur, Jim Campbell, Joe Caramagna and I had a blast doing it. BTW it’s not entirely a prequel…there’s a time jump in episode 1, and we fill it in. https://t.co/qDyAhKCK7F
As our first little glimpse into this new Spider-Man world, I definitely have a lot of questions and am very curious to see the story they’re telling. I’ll let you guys know what I find out in issue #2 when it drops, and I can’t wait to watch the show when it comes out! Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
Venom’s final movie is out, but is this truly the end for Eddie Brock and his Symbiotic pal? And what’s this I hear about an Agent Venom movie? Is Knull still a threat!? Find out in today’s Merry Marvel Mayhem!
Venom: The Last Dance definitely could have been a lot better. As the final installment in this Venom trilogy, I feel like it just didn’t deliver on that big finale feeling. With attention divided between too many new characters, a reason for the title character to be absent most of the movie, and the lack of real connective tissue to the first two movies, The Last Dance just couldn’t stack up to the rest of the trilogy. Rumors of an Agent Venom movie are swirling, I personally think Sony needs to stop, but I guess we’ll see. I mean, Knull has to fight someone…
What’d you think True Believers? Am I wrong? Is this actually the best of the three movies? Vote in the poll below and let me know what you thought in the comments! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
