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Spider-Man: Freshman Year Continuity
Alright, so I realize that it keeps being officially stated that Spider-Man: Freshman Year takes place in the MCU. I don’t usually like to speculate, but in order for this to be the case based on the clearly altered history we’ve been seeing, that only leaves one option.
The comic storyline where Peter’s history was altered via magic. Like in No Way Home! It’s called Spider-Man: One Moment in Time. After One More Day, when Mephisto exploded Peter and MJ’s marriage, they had to fill in the stretch of time that spanned, you know, decades where the two were a happy couple.
Now it’s been a few years since I read it but I remember Spider-Man getting into it with a thief, falling off of a roof and getting knocked out, causing him to miss the wedding. Then one thing led to another and Peter and MJ broke up. Thus, no one remembers anything about Peter and MJ ever being married, because they never were.
So, if no one in the MCU remembers Peter Parker, what do they remember in his place? What happened that altered the timeline and made it so that Peter was never a part of their lives? So that he never met the Avengers, or befriended Ned, or started dating MJ? Spider-Man: Freshman Year is probably telling that story. As Uatu says, one decision can shape an entire universe.
I hope this clears up all the confusion! I might be dead wrong, but it’s my best guess, and makes the most sense. Until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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A Sunset with You – A Marvel’s Avengers Story
By Joshua Westbrook
So, for Pride Month, Crystal Dynamics put out a short story that takes place in the world of the Marvel’s Avengers video game. I’ve read the prequel novel and tie-in comics, so of course I was going to read this. I downloaded it and at first was disappointed to find that it was not a comic book, but rather an actual short story. That disappointment quickly faded.
True Believers, I am telling you that this story is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read. I’m not going to spoil it because I want you all to read it for yourselves! But the basic premise is that Kamala is trying to help Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje, express her true feelings for her captain, Aneka. The story primarily follows Ayo and her plan to confess her feelings, and I was truly touched at the dedication of this woman.
Everyone’s had a crush. Everyone has made a convoluted plan to tell that crush how they feel. And everyone has watched that plan burn down in fire. But as a member of the Dora Milaje, Ayo’s determination remained unmatched! I was rooting for her the entire time, and I’m sure you will be too!
Since this is an official tie-in, it’s canon to the Avengers universe! I’ll take any expansion of the story I can get while they try to hammer out more updates for the actual game. Expanding the world in this medium was a nice little surprise, and allowed for a slower, more emotional story that maybe you don’t have time for in a AAA action-adventure video game. I actually, honestly hope they do more of these. I’d love to write one my dang self! (Contact me Crystal Dynamics!)
The story was written by Leyla K., and features several variant covers (also why I thought it was a comic book) from Paulina Ganucheau, Kris Anka, and Derek Charm. Please, please, please read this story! Click Here to download the PDF and Click Here for more information on the story and comments from the artists! The webpage also has downloadable versions of the art for your backgrounds (Although the 16:9 version of the Paulina Ganucheau piece leads to a 404 error! Fix it Crystal Dynamics!)
One more thing True Believers! Make sure to put in the code SUNSETORCHID on your Marvel’s Avengers account to get a Pride-themed outfit bundle! The code is at the end of the story, and it has a lot more meaning if you read it. Please, for the love of Bast, read this story! You will not regret it! If you play the game, if you’re a fan of the characters, and if you enjoy Marvel stories, I promise you you’ll love this.
If you’ve read it, what did you think? Let me know below, and as always, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 8: Web of Shadows
After months of being captured, Venom is finally unleashed! Spidey must work with Peni Parker and SP//dr to stop him before he destroys his one true nemesis: Spider-Man. All of them.
It took a while but it’s finally here! The long awaited next installment of Return to the Spider-Verse! And of course, I’ve packed it with references and Easter eggs to breakdown! So scroll down to get all the behind the scenes from the latest episode of your favorite show!
Emily Tatsumi
I would like to extend a very warm thank you to friend of Face Front Emily Tatsumi for bringing Peni to life in a real and authentic way! The first time I did Peni’s voice, I just recorded the automated woman speaking in Google Translate, and, well, I hated it. I didn’t want Peni to sound like a robot when she was speaking Japanese!
Then I met Emily, who not only speaks the language, but has a history of voice acting! She had a few lines back in Episode 6, but I was so glad to have her for this full episode starring Peni! She made it possible and I am forever grateful! Click Here to find her on Instagram!
Easter Eggs
Web of Shadows
Notice that the name of this episode is Web of Shadows. Longtime fans remember that was the same name of a 2008 video game where Spider-Man battled Venom, who took over New York with a Symbiote invasion! Heroes and villains from across the Marvel Universe were all taken over by Symbiotes, and Spidey had to save them! The plot of this episode was meant to pay homage to the storyline of that game. Listen close, I even have some music from the game in there!
Want it Here
Speaking of music, the song that plays at the beginning is called Want It Here by Xenia Pax. I used it because this was the song playing in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse when Peni was recreating the goober that Miles broke.
3000
In case you didn’t know, Peni is not just from another dimension. In the comics, she’s also from the future, the year 3000 to be exact. That’s where she got a mech as sophisticated as SP//dr!
Spidey in Reverse
You all saw Spider-Man: No Way Home, right? Of course you did. So you’ll recognize the black and gold suit, which is just his normal suit but flipped inside out! I had Gwen say its because they’re rewiring the circuitry, but really it was a clever way for me to give the MCU Spider-Man his own black suit, since he hasn’t had a Symbiote yet.
Cosmic Spider-Man
When Spidey discovers he can fire quantum energy from his hands, he says he needs a new superhero name like Cosmic Spider-Man or Captain Universe. This is in reference to the comics when Spider-Man actually gains cosmic powers via the Enigma Force and becomes the hero Captain Universe.
Another Eddie
As seen in Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six, Venom is still having memory flashes of another Eddie Brock. Particularly the one from Spider-Man 3, as heard in the dialogue from this episode, all lines from that movie! Why? Infinity Stones? Hive mind? We don’t know! (Well, I do, but you don’t). Either way, these memories are what’s driving this version of Venom to hate Spider-Man, even though they’ve never met.
Kill the Lights
Electro is back from the Sinister Six! And he’s not only dropping with that distinct and instantly recognizable Hans Zimmer theme, but he’s got a host of lines from The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and also No Way Home. “I’m gonna kill the lights”, “Don’t make me a murderer Peter”. Did you catch any more?
Snatched from Above
Notice when Venom grabbed OG? That’s directly from Spider-Man 3, when Venom came down from the ceiling and grabbed Spider-Man by the head!
Black Spider-Man
Of course with Electro coming back and seeing Miles without his mask, I had to pay off the Black Spider-Man joke that was set up in No Way Home! Electro finally got his wish!
The Little Guy
When Spidey asks Peni if the “little guy inside is okay”, he’s referring to the spider inside of Peni’s mech, which she has a psychic link to. That’s why she pilots SP//dr in the comics, because with her father’s untimely death, no one else had that psychic link to the spider!
Black Suit Theme
Though it’s mostly heard nowadays only in memes, the Black Suit theme from Spider-Man 3 is instantly iconic, so I made sure that OG was the first hero revealed to be taken by a Symbiote. That reveal coupled with that iconic score was a no-brainer for me! Also, notice the pose he’s in? It’s that famous image of Spider-Man in the black suit against the wall!
Eat Ice
Notice how when Peni blasts Symbiote Spectacular with ice, he shakes it off. That’s because in the Spectacular Spider-Man TV show, Spider-Man tried to destroy the Symbiote with ice, but it didn’t work!
Gwenom
When Ghost-Spider is taken by a Symbiote, she becomes the fearsome Gwenom! Eileen Nestman, as always, brought her A-game, and made Gwenom sound creepier than even I imagined! Fun fact, at a point in the comics, Gwen lost her powers, so she relies on Cindy Moon’s Symbiote to get them back. So technically, she’s always Gwenom!
Spider-Sense
Peter informs Peni that he can’t detect any of the Symbiotes with his Peter Tingle- sorry- Spider-Sense. That’s because in the comics Venom is invisible to Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense! As Peni explains, since the Symbiote bonded with Peter first, it knows about his Spidey-Sense and how to avoid it!
Pork Grind
Traditionally, Pork Grind is a separate character that gives Spider-Ham a hard time. But for the sake of my video, I took a few liberties and made him a Symbiote-infused Spider-Ham! I also thought it’d be funny to see the drastic transformation of a tiny little pig into a hulking monster!
Cocoon of Origins
Spectacular mentions that the first time he tried to separate from the Symbiote, it trapped him in a cocoon and forced him to relive his origin story. That’s exactly what happened in an episode of Spectacular Spider-Man!
Last One Standing
This song was inspired by the movie Venom: Let there be Carnage, so I thought it’d be nice to throw it in the credits. Especially because of what comes next…
Cellmates
I hope you’ve learned by now to stay after the credits! If you did, you’d notice Doctor Kafka holding Eddie with none other than Cletus Kasady in the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane! In the 90’s series, this was their exact predicament, cellmates at Raventcroft overseen by Doctor Kafka. Even in the comics, Eddie and Kletus shared a cell. That’s how Cletus ended up getting a Symbiote of his own.
There’s gonna be Carnage
No need for an explanation. There’s gonna be Carnage.
That’s it True Believers! What’d you guys think? Will Peter and Miles be able to find Prowler? What is the Master Planner going to do with the Symbiote!? So many questions! Stay tuned! I promise, the next episode won’t take nearly as long! So until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Marvel’s Avengers Ms. Marvel Livestream
Marvel Studios Ms. Marvel just dropped on Disney Plus! Eileen Nestman (voice of Ghost Spider) and I had a chat about it while both playing as Kamala in Marvel’s Avengers! Check out the livestream below! And to check out Eileen’s YouTube channel, Click Here!
I truly did enjoy it, it’s so unique and I very much can’t wait for the next one! I think Kamala is just what the MCU needs at the moment! I talked about more details in the stream, but those are my general thoughts.
That’s it for now. Do you want to see more Avengers Livestreams where we discuss new MCU shows? Sound off below! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
Me and Eileen being awesome! -
Spider-Man Haiku
By Joshua Westbrook
Spider-Man is great.
He saves a lot of people.
I love Spider-Man!
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Spider-Man Trilogy Collection
With Spider-Man: No Way Home finally coming to Blu-Ray (even though I was a sucker and bought it on digital first) I have now finally completed my “Homecoming Trilogy” Blu-Ray collection! I’m so happy about it, in fact, that I’m going to share the editions of each movie I have with you True Believers! Let’s get started!
Spider-Man Homecoming
This version of Homecoming was a Target exclusive. It’s a really cool cover that folds out into a display that looks like the inside of Peter’s notebook. It’s got drawings of the spider symbol, Winter Soldier’s arm, the web fluid formula, you name it!
This version also came with an exclusive comic book! It’s about Peter trying to get partnered up in class with a girl named Amy (it’s not Liz for some reason) but then cop cars zoom by, so Peter bails to stop Shocker!
He and Droney take Shocker down, but Peter gets detention for skipping class. Poor Peter. I love my copy of Homecoming, it just feels special with all of the amazing little details they included in the box art.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
This version of Far From Home was a Walmart exclusive that came with what they call a ‘Throwbaction Action Figure’. They also did one of these for the first Venom and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (both of which I own, of course!)
The only thing that upset me about this is that I couldn’t see the card when I bought it, and it turns out it was bent! Anyone following me for even a short amount of time knows that I pretty much open all of my figures, but for the select few I want to keep boxed up, it’s really annoying when something happens to the packaging.
But other than that slight misfortune, I am really happy with my little collectible Night Monkey figure. Best version of Far From Home on the shelves (at the time).
Spider-Man: No Way Home
I had several, difficult options for this one (the first two movies were kind of no-brainers with literally no competition) but I settled on the version with the Walmart exclusive cover art. Underneath the slip case is the standard cover, which I’m actually fine with because I dig that cover as well.
So no foldout, no retro action figure, but still, I’m just glad to have the movie in my physical collection at long last. The exclusive art is also such a powerful image, and I really wanted that in my collection. I wish the 4K would have used the Green Goblin version of that poser, being that he was the more prominent villain, but otherwise, no complaints.
So, which version of No Way Home did you get? Which versions of the first two do you have? Let me know in the comments below. Maybe show it off on Face of the Fan! That’s all for now, until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Spider-Man: Web Warriors Episode 4: Spidey and his Amazing Friends
Gwen has tracked down some new recruits for the Web-Warriors, and they look exactly like her, Peter and Miles! Will Spidey and his Amazing Friends lend their experience as a team to the fight against the Master Planner? Find out now!
This episode of Web-Warriors is special for several reasons. For one, I didn’t write it! It was written, actually, by long-time friend of Face Front and voice of Ghost-Spider Eileen Nestman! Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you the story!
Eileen is my best friend (since the 6th grade!) That’s why she does voice work and set building for me, but she lives all the way in Idaho! A while ago, I sent her son Lewis the little Spidey and his Amazing Friends toys for Christmas. And one night, the idea for this episode just… came to her! She wrote it down and sent it to me, just for fun, but I figured it would be a great Web-Warriors episode.
I had planned on doing one with these little guys, but the problem was that I haven’t seen all the episodes of the show, whereas Eileen (and Lewis) have. So when she came down to Arizona to visit, I bought the Web-Quarters playset and we got to work! Below you’ll find an EXCLUSIVE behind the scenes video of just what that looks like. I also have the usual Easter Eggs section, but I had Eileen write it this time since, again, she knows the show better.
So enjoy the bonus content True Believers, and please Click Here to check out Eileen’s YouTube channel! She does so much for Face Front, so let’s show her some love by watching her vids and subscribing to her channel!
EXCLUSIVE Behind the Scenes Video
Easter Eggs
Written by Eileen Nestman
Web-Quarters
In Spidey and His Amazing Friends, web quarters folds out of the ground and stands obviously above the houses in the neighborhood, yet no one knows about it in universe.
Lesson Learned
Each Episode of Spidey and his Amazing Friends has a cute little moral to go with it.
They’re just… Kids!?
The Web trio seems to be elementary age in this version.
Baddies
All bad guys in Spidey and his Amazing Friends are referred to as baddies in this show, not just bad guys.
Crimes of the Past
Doc Ock stealing Christmas presents, Rhino cheating at carnival games, and Green Goblin wreaking havoc in Central Park all happened in the show, and were mentioned in this episode.
Captain Stacy??
Gwen’s mom in this universe takes the place of the role her dad usually fills but as a detective instead of police captain.
Miles’ Parents
In one episode the trio go camping with Mile’s dad who is a park ranger in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends and Mile’s mom is usually seen wearing scrubs.
Webs Out!
This version of the trio has anime style transformations when they “change” into their suits.
Spin!
In this show Miles goes by spin in universe reason is because of tracy and the computer needing different profile names, but IRL we all know it’s so that the little kiddies don’t get confused.
That’s it for this fun episode of Web-Warriors! Hope to see the little guys again sometime soon! What did you guys think? Let me know below, make sure to check out Eileen’s YouTube Channel, and as always, Face Front True Believers, I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
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Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 3: The 90’s Spider-Man
The 90’s Spider-Man swings into Web-Warriors! Relive his classic adventures, and discover whether or not he’ll be enough to help defeat the Master Planner!
The 90’s Spider-Man animated series is my favorite Spider-Man show. So I was more than excited to bring him into the Web-Warriors. The show ran for 4 seasons, so there was a lot of content to pick from when choosing the story to tell and references to make. So here’s a breakdown of everything from the video.
The Theme Song
All of Spider-Man’s theme songs are instant classics. This one is no different. Everyone recognizes the Spider blood! Spider blood! Radioactive spider blood! I had no choice but to put it in this episode, by cleverly disgusting it as Miles’ latest banger!
Framed
The 90’s Spider-Man mentions that he teamed up with Daredevil to beat Kingpin and clear his name. This is because Richard Fisk framed Peter for espionage, and Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, had to help him out of the situation, as both his lawyer and partner in crime-fighting!
Blade
The 90’s series featured Spider-Man teaming up with many Marvel heroes, including the vampire hunter Blade. When Morbius began terrorizing New York, the Daywalker stepped in to handle matters himself. While they were at odds at first, Spider-Man and Blade ended up working together to stop Blade’s mother, the Vampire Queen.
The Original Spider-Verse
This was our first glimpse at the Spider-Verse! Peter teamed up with several Spidey’s from alternate dimensions, including the Tony Stark-like Spider-Armor Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, a Spider-Man that had kept Doc Ock’s tentacles, the six-armed Spider-Man, and an actor from the real world, that introduced him to Stan Lee!
The Secret Wars
This show adapted the popular Secret Wars comic, but since this is Spidey’s show, they centered the whole thing around him as the leader. He went against the Beyonder with several of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including the Fantastic 4, Captain America, Iron Man, and Storm!
Worst Enemy
Pay attention to Spidey’s words. He asks who is the most relentless, unforgiving opponent the 90’s Spider-Man has ever faced. You may remember that those are the exact words he used after he finally won his fight against Venom. Also, if that image of Venom holding an unmasked Spider-Man in a web net looks familiar, that’s because I lifted it right from the episode!
The Green Goblin
Peter’s fight with Green Goblin in this show was in lieu of the infamous Gwen Stacy death, since the show wasn’t allowed to do that. Mary Jane instead fell through a portal created by the Time Dilation Accelerator. As a matter of fact, whenever anyone “died” in that show, they usually fell through a portal.
Spider-Carnage
Remember that aforementioned OG Spider-Verse? Well, Madame Web assembled them, put Spider-Man through the Secret Wars, and trained him that whole time to prepare him for that one fight. Because Spider-Man’s clone, driven insane and bonded with the Carnage Symbiote, nearly destroyed the entire Multiverse!
Electro
Max Dillion never made it into the animated series. Instead Electro was Red Skull’s doomsday weapon, a being that could manipulate energy, given form by his son. Yeah, sometimes the 90’s got real out there.
Spider-Sense
The Spider-Sense in the 90’s series is one of the most distinct and instantly recognizable versions of Spidey’s sixth sense for danger. So I definitely wanted to include it somehow, and I couldn’t do it in the fight because Venom is invisible to it! So I just had it go off before Madame Web took him. Good compromise I think!
Finding Mary Jane
As I mentioned earlier, Mary Jane was lost to the cosmos. She seemingly came back for a while, but that turned out to be a clone created with Hydro Man’s genetics by Miles Warren, who eventually, well, evaporated. But at the very end of the show, Madame Web and Spider-Man set off through the Multiverse find the real Mary Jane. Unfortunately, the show got cancelled, and we never figured out if they found her. Until now that is!
That’s it for this one True Believers. I’m happy that I finally got to do a video featuring the 90’s Spider-Man. It was so fun bringing to life all of the many great memories I have of that show. And like any of the other Web-Warriors, this is definitely not the last you’ve seen of him! Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!
