Tag: Spider-Man

  • A Very Spidey Christmas!

    A Very Spidey Christmas!

    It’s the happiest time of the year in the Spider-Verse, and the Amazing Friends are celebrating! But unfortunately, there’s a Grinch, or rather, a Goblin that seeks to stop this whole thing! Even if that means he has to steal Christmas! Can Spidey and the team save Christmas? Well check out the 9-Part Spider-Verse Holiday Special below, and see for yourself! And while you’re at it, read about all of the Easter eggs I sprinkled throughout!

    Prelude: How the Goblin Stole Christmas!

    It’s Christmas time, and the Amazing Friends are here to spread holiday cheer! Unfortunately, the Green Goblin will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen… even if he has to steal Christmas!

    Well, none of that seems good. But let’s revisit it real quick to scope out all the details you may have missed!

    -Notice J. Jonah Jameson and Captain Stacy were blindfolded in the beginning. Well that’s so they can attend the Web-tacular without learning the location of the Spider’s Nest.

    -Spectacular Spider-Man was the first to sense the Green Goblin, because of their history. However, Spidey’s never went off because it’s still lost from the gas the other Goblin hit him with back in Episode 9!

    -Tobey meme alert: “No, please, don’t say that…” The words of crushing defeat after MJ dumped him in Central Park in Spider-Man 3. Sorry OG!

    Part 1: All I Webbed for Christmas

    OG and Amazing find a way to replace all of the Christmas gifts that Green Goblin destroyed, but getting them back to the Spider’s Nest might not be so easy…

    -Eagle-eyed fans of Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man games will recognize the woman who came in clutch with those gifts! Gloria, the homeless woman Spidey save who ended up at F.E.A.S.T., and turned her life around so much she wound up getting the run of the place. So she was more than happy to help the Amazing Friends save Christmas. Her handle, SoyGloria, is even the same from the social media feature in the games.

    -Tobey meme alert: That’s right! I squeezed two, count ’em, two Tobey classics into this one! The “Beat an old lady with a stick” and the ever so famous “My back!” Neither of which I’ve used up to this point, if you can believe it.

    Part 2: Joy to the Spider-Verse

    With the boom box busted, Miles and Gwen must find a way to restore fire beats to Christmas! But fear not, Brigadiers, for the Spider-Verse’s resident drummer has an idea!

    -Insomniac’s Miles Morales returns! If you remember, at the end of Web-Warriors Episode 2, he told Miles that if they needed him, he’d be there. And they definitely needed him!

    -The tune Insomniac Miles plays on his phone is the result of completing all of the Prowler missions in the game Spider-Man: Miles Morales. It reveals a mixtape from Uncle Aaron. Unfortunately, it’s a little too old school for the internet, and most people would prefer if Uncle Aaron were never allowed to cook again…

    -This version of Joy to the World Miles sings is from the real-life Christmas album that came out of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which is actually titled A Very Spidey Christmas, same as this little holiday special of mine!

    Part 3: I’ll be Ham for Christmas

    Spider-Ham and Spider-Man Noir set out to replace the food and decorations that Green Goblin destroyed! But last-minute Christmas shopping is never easy, there’s always someone else after the same thing you are…

    -Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, is here to help! Fans will remember that he and Ham met in Episode 10 of Return to the Spider-Verse, and became sort of friends by the end!

    -Several Kingpin Easter Eggs in here. I start him with his back turned because that’s how we were first introduced to him way back in that Netflix show. He also goes into this monologue about when he was a boy, which is something Fisk frequently did. Frequently. And I did flip a line he used in Hawkeye, where he says “The people need to be reminded that this city belongs to me.” Only, you know, turkey instead of city.

    -And of course fans of Into the Spider-Verse will remember Spider-Man Noir being perplexed by the Rubrik’s Cube because he can’t really tell colors apart, which came into play in this episode.

    Part 4: A Light That Won’t Light

    Advanced and Peni need to turn off the dark and get the Christmas lights back on in the Spider’s Nest! Can two geniuses pull off the electric enigma?

    -Firstly, I’d like to thank Emily Tatsumi for being the only woman I know that can speak Japanese. She once again lended her talent to Peni Parker’s voice, and I am grateful. Click Here to check her out on Instagram!

    -Fans of the 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man game will definitely spot the puzzle from Octavius Industries. I lifted it straight from the game using the PS5 capture feature. I almost didn’t get it because what I didn’t recall is that once you complete the puzzles, you can’t replay them! But luckily, I had another save file where I hadn’t done all the puzzles just yet. Close call!

    Part 5: ‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas

    Green Goblin is still on the loose and terrorizing Christmas! But lucky for us, the Spectacular Spider-Man is here to stop him!

    -I mean, of course Spectacular Spider-Man was going to fight his Green Goblin! I know what my fans want! I actually used this version of the Green Goblin because honestly, of all the different adaptations, this one looks the most like an elf. I kind of intentionally misled people into thinking it’d be OG’s version of the Goblin, so I’m hoping this came as a happy surprise to the many fans of The Spectacular Spider-Man.

    -Spectacular is able to confirm that this is indeed still his Norman Osborn under the mask when he confirms that he never apologizes. Since episode 1 of that show, Norman stated he’d never be forced into an apology (which got him into some trouble with the Vulture!) And it was even how Harry outed the Chameleon posing as his father in the last episode of the show.

    Part 6: Secret Santa

    Green Goblin has made sure that Santa Claus is not coming to town! Can Peter B. Parker help save Christmas for two kids before it’s too late?

    -Remember Peter B’s “Let’s do this from the beginning one last time” spiel in Into the Spider-Verse where he mentions he made some dicey money choices and to never invest in a spider-themed restaurant? Yeah, he’s learned his lesson about frivolous spending, and a $300 hazard fee is a bridge too far!

    -Peter B. had Mayday Parker in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, but did you know that’s not the only kid he’s had in the comics? He had a daughter in another universe named Annie Parker, in a series by Dan Scott call “Renew Your Vows”. So, since Mayday hasn’t happened yet in my universe, I named this little girl Annie (voiced by my awesome sister) to help nudge Peter B. over the edge on having kids. Let’s hope that spoiled little boy didn’t ruin it!

    Part 7: Silent Nights

    Spidey is on a quest to repair Aunt May’s broken angel! But he’d better bundle up, because this mission may take longer than expected! Unless he gets help from some new friends…

    –In Fisk’s voice When I was a boy… I collected a comic series called “Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man”. It was the first comic series I collected on a regular basis. I sent off for it with a little slip inside of a Rhino action figure and then I started getting them in the mail monthly. Issue #46 was a story called “Silent Nights”. It was a Christmas issue about an angel Uncle Ben got for Aunt May shattering, and Peter searching for a way to fix it. Sound familiar?

    Now, the sculpting artist for this special, Ashley Cazier (also the voice of Nico Minoru in Doctor Strange: Battle on Bleecker Street) sent me a whole bunch of goodies, but the angel arrived with the wing broken off. This was a while ago, and I was bummed about it, but serendipity is a funny thing. I was able to use the broken angel to adapt Issue #46 of Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man! Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario.

    -Alicia Masters. You know her? She’s not a Spider-Man character, but a Fantastic Four one! The Thing’s girlfriend, blind, but able to see past the superficial, and into one’s true heart. She literally singlehandedly convinced Silver Surfer that Earth was worth saving from Galactus. I based her more on Kerry Washington’s portrayal in the first two Fantastic Four films, just to make her that much more unique in my universe. Also, my mom voiced her (thanks mom!) Now she mentioned her father, Phillip Masters, was the ‘Puppet Master’. A villain to the Fantastic Four, to be sure. But in this universe, he was a simple man, who spent his life making toys for children and raising his daughter in a happy, and loving family.

    Epilogue: So This is Christmas

    The Spider-Verse has saved the holidays! It’s finally time to celebrate a very Spidey Christmas!

    -Tobey meme alert: The “Oh boy, yeah” from his backyard conversation with MJ in Spider-Man 2!

    -You’ll note that Advanced claims the Amazing Friends are simply greater together. This is a nod to the tagline for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, “Be Greater. Together.”

    -“Merry Spidey Christmas” is a song by Patrick Stump from the Spidey and His Amazing Friends Disney Jr. show! Thanks to Eileen (whose son LOVES this show) for alerting me to its existence, it was the perfect song to close out the holiday special, copyright claim be darned!

    -I mean… you all know me by now, right? You know to stay after the credits of a Face Front Original by now, right? RIGHT!?

    That’s it for now! Man, I gotta say, this was so fun to make. I want to thank friend of Face Front and voice of Ghost-Spider Eileen Nestman for sitting down with me one night as we hashed out the outline of this story and made it possible. Please Click Here to go to her YouTube channel and show her some support! Last thing, if you want to watch A Very Spidey Christmas in its entirety, then I’ll drop it right below for you Marvelites!

    Thank you all for watching, sharing, interacting, and just supporting Face Front through 2023. This is all for you guys, and none of it would be possible without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you all! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in 2024!

  • Coming to Face Front in 2024

    Coming to Face Front in 2024

    Hey there True Believers! 2023 is almost over and it’s been a heck of a year for Face Front! In March I had the 2023 Showcase and presented to you all what was to come this past year. And you know what? We hit most of it! And I’m super proud of that. It’s your support that keeps me going! As for what we still have for December and what’s happening next year, well, keep scrolling!

    A Very Spidey Christmas!

    First up is a perviously unannounced project that I’m actually super excited for: A Very Spidey Christmas! I’ve been wanting to do a Spider-Verse holiday special forever, but every year that passed I said I’ll do it next time, I’ll do it next time. Well, next time is here!

    Titled after the tie-in Christmas album from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, A Very Spidey Christmas is a multi-part series that will release between December 24-25. My Christmas present to you guys! Eileen Nestman (voice of Ghost-Spider) and I got together one night and bashed out ideas for this video that are going to make it the greatest holiday special of all time! And the best part: It is completely canon! So not only are you getting a fun Christmas adventure, but we’re also advancing the story of Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse! It’s a Christmas miracle!

    Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 11: For the Love of MJ

    Return to the Spider-Verse, uh… returns… with an all-new episode! Peter B. Parker must face new challenges when the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson, shows up on his doorstep! The problem is, he hasn’t spoken to her since before the fight with the Sinister Six! Will Spidey be able to help his Amazing Friend mend this contentious relationship, or will he be facing frightening problems of his own?

    The End of the Marvel Universe Part 4

    The series that chronicles the destruction of Earth-84061 concludes in the explosive final part of The End of the Marvel Universe! In Part 1, we figured out where the Face Front Universe diverged from the MCU. Falcon survived the Blip and was able to stall Thanos long enough for Thor to eliminate him, and reverse the effects of his snap mere moments after it happened.

    In Part 2, we discovered why the Avengers worked for Face Front. Young multimedia manager Joshua Westbrook (that’s me!) set out to show the world that the Avengers, and heroes in general, would always be needed. This resulted in Spider-Man hosting the Face Front News Flash (what he was about to do before being swept into the Spider-Verse) and the Falcon getting his own TV show, Sam Says…

    … Which got canceled after 2 episodes, causing him to unleash the power of the Infinity Gauntlet. In Part 3, we finally answered the question fans have been asking since 2019: What happened after Falcon snapped? Turns out, he ended up in the year 2099. Tony Stark and Captain Rogers set out in a time machine to go retrieve Sam and the Gauntlet, but unfortunately, found themselves stuck in the future.

    And at last, Part 4 will reveal the answer to the final question, the one everyone wants to know: How did the Marvel Universe end?

    Rise of the X-Men

    The X-Men have been hidden too long. Now, they finally rise. Not much I can say about this project, but Rise of the X-Men will be coming in 2024, and it will at last introduce the world-famous Marvel team to the Face Front Universe.

    Nick Fury: The New Initiative

    So remember waaaaay back when when I announced four new Face Front Originals? Well, I’ve completed 3 of them, those being Doctor Strange: Battle on Bleecker Street, Spider-Man: Return of the Sinister Six, and recently Loki: Realm of the Dishonored Dead. The final one was to be a Nick Fury video, and to take place before Falcon’s snap. Well, I’m finally doing it! And it’s got a new title too:

    Nick Fury: The New Initiative. Following the devastation of Thanos, Director Nick Fury, Captain Marvel, General Talos, and all of S.H.I.E.L.D. must band together to ensure that something like that never occurs again. However, new challenges await the Director, as he’s faced with the return of a villain long thought dead, and the beginning of a Secret War… This video finally arrives next year!

    Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 10: The Superior Spider-Man

    This is it, Marvelites. The titanic finale to the show that spun out of Return to the Spider-Verse. The 10th episode of Web-Warriors marks the most cunning and sinister one yet: The Superior Spider-Man. I won’t say much, but I’m definitely going into this episode of Web-Warriors with big finale energy!

    Now does this mean that Web-Warriors is over forever? I can’t tell you that. But I know there’s a lot of Spideys you guys want to see, and I intend to make most of you happy, so do with that knowledge what you will. That’s why I do this, to make you guys happy. Because I personally cannot stand the Superior Spider-Man! But there’s a lot of you that love him, and I’m going to make sure you all get a kick out of this episode!

    So there you have it! We’re ending big with the holiday special, and going into 2024 with a whole slew of new Face Front Originals for you all to sink your teeth into! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with me through 2023! The channel crossed 4,000 subscribers! More and more people are discovering the Face Front community, and I only want it to get bigger! So keep watching! Keep sharing! Keep nerding out! Because this is a new Marvel Universe, and it’s here for you! Thank you all again, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in 2024!

  • Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 9: Zombie Hunter Spider-Man

    Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 9: Zombie Hunter Spider-Man

    Next on Spidey’s list of Web-Warriors is a Spider-Man who hunts the creatures that destroyed his world: ZOMBIES!

    Well, much like the What If…? episode, that was heartbreaking! Poor Zombie Hunter Spider-Man ended the team-up the same he began it… alone. Unless you count a body-less Ant-Man making constant head puns and a sentient cloak, but I don’t think he does…

    This episode was actually requested by a surprising number of people. And who am I to deny the fans? Web-Warriors, after all, was created to showcase the different Spidey’s that you all wanted to see! Now I chose to do this episode a bit differently. Instead of Zombie Hunter Spider-Man going in for an interview, I had Spidey go to him, like the gang did in Episode 4 of the series.

    This allowed me to set the episode after the events of What If…? and create a brand new narrative for both Spiders to engage in! Of course, however, this didn’t come without my usual order of callbacks and references!

    Easter Eggs

    Zombie Hunter HQ

    One of the coolest parts about the What If…? episode was the Zombie Hunter HQ! A bunch of subway cars suspended in the air by a giant spider web!? Ignoring the fact that Spider-Man’s web fluid dissolves in an hour, this is such a cool concept and I love it so much. So when it came to designing the inside for the set, I made sure to build longer instead of wider.

    Comparing Notes

    Spider-Man Attacks Giant-Man in Concept Art for CIVIL WAR — GeekTyrant

    Zombie Hunter Spider-Man is the same as the MCU Spider-Man up until Infinity War. Which, if you’re watching the Face Front Original Series The End of the Marvel Universe, you know is where my universe also takes a different path. So when figuring out about his life, Spidey finds that he and Zombie Hunter Spider-Man are essentially the same person, who went through all of the same events in life! Except for, you know, the Zombie Apocalypse…

    The Plan

    RECAP: WHAT IF...? S1E5 — Dawn of the Marvel Zombies!

    Peter states that King T’Challa is in Wakanda lining up a satellite array to broadcast the Mind Stone cure worldwide. If you’ll remember, that’s how the episode ended. With the survivors of the team on the way to Wakanda. The second array at Stark Industries was made up by me, but I thought it would make for a good ultimate goal/challenge for our friendly neighborhood Zombie Hunter Spider-Man! Also… there was a zombie Thanos waiting for them, and that’s game over, so I definitely didn’t wanna go that route!

    Return of the Marvel Zombies!

    25 What If Easter Eggs Episode 5

    I had two wonderful zombie figures with Iron Man and Captain America! The two key Avengers! But they died, like, almost immediately and quite easily in the show. So to use them, I had to find a way to bring them back! Which led to the 3rd zombie…

    The Hulk Couldn’t Stop Her

    Wanda Maximoff! If we recall, she was probably the most powerful zombie, being fed by Vision, and destroying anyone that got in her way with her undead Chaos Magic! Last we saw her, she was fighting the Hulk, but since The Watcher pulled her out of the a portal to use against Infinity Ultron, I’m gonna assume she won that fight. If anyone can revive dead zombies, it’s an undead Scarlet Witch!

    Remembering the Team

    What If...?" What If... Zombies?! (TV Episode 2021) - IMDb

    After Wanda revives Cap and Iron Man, Zombie Hunter Spider-Man realizes that it’s basically a lost cause. Looking at Peter ready to fight reminded him of his old team. Happy Hogan, Okoye, the Winter Soldier, Sharon Carter, and of course, Hope VanDyne. Zombie hunters that fought to the bitter end. Unable to stomach losing another friend, he sends Peter on his way, hoping he’ll got on to a better world.

    Smile for Me

    What If…?' Episode 5 Analysis, Marvel Horror, and Zombie Superlatives - The Ringer

    “If we don’t keep smiling when they can’t, then we might as well be gone too.” Something Zombie Hunter Spider-Man told Hope that Aunt May said to him. Which is why in the episode, when Hope sacrificed herself, she told Peter to smile for her. Wanting to carry on the feeling of, well, hope, Zombie Hunter tells Peter to smile for him. Even as he stays behind, mirroring Wasp’s sacrifice. Hope would be proud.

    Merch

    Is Zombie Hunter Spider-Man your favorite Web-Warrior? Do you want people to know that everywhere you go? Then don’t forget to stop by the Merch Store and grab this awesome Zombie Hunter Spider-Man T-Shirt! In cosmic purple or shadowy black!

    Remember, once we hit 100 Merch sales, anyone that purchased even a single piece has a chance to win the Marvel Legends Spider-Man: No Way Home 3-Pack! Click Here for more details on that!

    That’s a wrap on the Zombie Hunter Episode! This one was a lot of fun to make. From the destroyed Stark Industries lobby to the throat-destroying zombie grunts (yes, that was all me). It’s definitely probably the saddest ending to a Web-Warriors episode. But Peter made Zombie Hunter promise to stay alive, so he has to! Right? RIGHT!??

    We’ll see. And the next episode is a big one. Bigger than the rest! Maybe even superior to all that came before it! But who is it? Well, you’ll have to wait and see! Anyways, that’s it for me, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5

    My setup just got a major upgrade! True Believers everywhere, I present to you the Limited Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5! I’ve taken several pictures, so let’s get into it!

    Here’s the console itself and the controller, with the Symbiote creeping in on the now-iconic white spider symbol.

    This is the back side of the console, where Spider-Man has given in to the power of the Symbiote!

    The front of the box, showcasing Peter and Miles from the game’s box art.

    The back of the box, with the concept art of both Spider-Man facing down with (the honestly pretty terrifying) Venom!

    The DualSense controller, with the Symbiote once again taking over, as well as the side of the box.

    Here it is with both of the Marvel Legends and the Free Comic Book Day Prequel Comic.

    And here it is next to the Marvel’s Spider-Man Limited Edition PS4 Pro.

    Check out my new setup, including both of the Marvel Legends, and my copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales signed by Nadji Jeter, the voice of Miles!

    I can’t wait for October 20th True Believers! This console is so cool, and I’m gonna have a blast playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on it! Let me know if you got the console, or the controller or the plates, down below! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • I Met Miles Morales!

    I Met Miles Morales!

    Well, I met the voice of Miles Morales. Nadji Jeter, who voices Miles in both Marvel’s Spider-Man and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, was at the Game On Expo in Phoenix this past weekend.

    He’s also done Miles in the 2017 Spider-Man show, a few other games (including Ultimate Alliance 3) and will voice him once more in the upcoming and highly anticipated Marvel’s Spider-Man 2! And I got to meet him!

    That’s me, with him. He’s obviously the one that actually looks cool. I told him that I’ve been watching him since back in the 2017 show and that he’s the voice I hear when I read Miles comics. I mean, no disrespect to Shamiek Moore, but Nadji’s been on Miles longer and more often, so I’ve had more exposure to his version of the character. He seemed very appreciative of my praise!

    That’s not all though, Marvelites! I had him sign the front of my copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales! The art side, because that looks cooler. And then, unprovoked, he said “Lemme see your phone!” And signed my phone case too! I mean, I can never use it again because I have to preserve it now, but I needed a new case anyways!

    After that he had a panel at the expo with Daisuke Tsuji, the voice of Jin from Ghosts of Tsushima. I let them know I did voice acting on my channel and asked how to improve (because I’m always looking for ways to make the vids better for you guys!) I explained that I sometimes struggle with consistency, and I’ll have a perfect take and then another that’s trash.

    Daisuke told me that voice acting is just a form of acting, so to improve my base acting skills will also improve my VO skills. Nadji said he was gonna blow my mind, then told me that sometimes the trash takes are the ticket! He said there were takes he did that he thought sucked but everyone outside of the booth loved. He said not to be so hard on myself and to keep going!

    There were a lot of interesting facts revealed on the panel. The first scans for Miles were done in Serbia!? Nadji is currently listening to the same thing I am, Metro Boomin’s Spider-Verse soundtrack. He kept saying they got something real good coming for us on October 20th (the release date for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2). He’s really excited about that. His favorite character to voice is Miles. His favorite character in his game was Phin. His favorite scene from the first game was when Spider-Man taught Miles how to fight. And the hardest scene for him to do was after Jefferson Davis died in the first game, because he had to act out being sad about the death of his father, but unfortunately Nadji never had that father figure. So instead he thought about his (thankfully still alive) uncle.

    I had so much fun, and I’m so glad I got to meet him, get his autograph (twice) and hear about stories from his voice acting adventures as Miles Morales! I can’t wait to see what he’s so excited about in the next game! Can it be October yet!? That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 SDCC Panel

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 SDCC Panel

    Insomniac just did their Symbiotic Relationships San Diego Comic-Con panel and, boy, was it a success.

    Okay, so first, can we talk about this trailer?

    Because, wow. This game looks massive. In size, scope, just big. A few things, in no particular order:

    – Who knew Martin Li was coming back? Because I sure as shock didn’t!

    – Venom looks completely terrifying. Tony Todd and the design definitely help with that.

    – Miles and MJ rocking fresh new cuts. Miles looking 92+8, and MJ favoring her comic counterpart a little more with the gorgeous flowing red hair (as many of you may know, I’m an MJ guy, leave me alone and let me have this!)

    – Did you catch those Coney Island ride names? Hydro Bench (Hydro Man’s real name is Morris Bench), Speed Demon, and Big Wheel!

    – The scene where both Spider-Men flip off the roof and start swinging… like, dude, just take my money already.

    – So is that Grizzly, or just a bear-themed Kraven goon? Because it’d be pretty cool if it was Grizzly.

    – I think I saw Wraith. I don’t know, did you guys see Wraith? Standing menacingly in front of the fire at around 1:07?

    – Lizard’s sonic scream was definitely affecting the Symbiote, so they’re keeping sound as a weakness.

    – MJ hiding from Symbiote Spider-Man… just… dang. Is it that bad?

    – I have a bad feeling about Harry…

    They don’t need to do anymore marketing. I’m sold. Like I said, take my money!

    Oh, and speaking of taking money, they announced a limited edition PS5! With a controller, launching September 1, check it:

    THANKFULLY, they are also selling the plates and controller separately, so I don’t have to buy an entirely new PlayStation just because they put a Spider-Man logo on it… again…

    They confirmed some things on the panel. This is 9-10 months after Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Peter and Miles have their thing down to a science. Peter is trying to balance a new job and keep May’s house from foreclosing. MJ’s job is on the line because JJJ is back at the Bugle and cleaning house. Miles is procrastinating on college prep because he wants to do more Spider-Man. Stuff established in the prequel comic basically.

    They also said that this is a human story about a man giving in to the darkness and what that does to his friends and family. Like the old Spider-Man 3 teaser trailer adage, “How long can any man fight the darkness before he finds it in himself.” Truly great stuff. I’m still very concerned about that shot of MJ hiding from Peter. I mean… they said this joint was going to be dark, but dang.

    Tony Todd was very excited. Especially about the Collector’s Edition statue. Yuri Lowenthal did the Bully Maguire dance. Nadji Jeter is a professional hype man. They all love each other and I’m here for it. Be Greater. Together.

    The long and short of it, I’m excited, and I wish I could play it now. But what did you guys think? Let me know down below! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 10: It Can Get Weirder

    Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 10: It Can Get Weirder

    Spidey and Spider-Ham must team up against the vicious Kraven the Hunter! And maybe with a cameo or two?

    Big shout out to Eileen Nestman pulling double duty in this episode! She always glows as the glamorous Ghost-Spider. But this time she was able to flex those vocal skills and play a completely different tone as the psychotic White Rabbit! Truly, there is no end to Eileen’s talent. To get more of Epic Eileen, check out her YouTube and her Instagram.

    And of course we can’t forget my boy Xavier Hernandez as the spine-tingling Spider-Man 2099! Playing it cool and cryptic as always, make sure you check out big X over on his Instagram.

    And now, you know what time it is. Time for Easter Eggs! And there’s a lot in this one Marvelites, so strap in!

    Breaking the 4th Wall

    That’s right! Similar to heroes like Deadpool and She-Hulk, Spider-Ham has the unique ability to break the 4th wall! It was actually teased that he could do this in episode 1 of Return to the Spider-Verse when he told Peter he read the subtitles to understand what Peni was saying. The logic is that he’s basically like a Looney Tunes character, and those guys shatter the 4th wall with reckless abandon!

    The Bombastic Bag-Man

    After Peter gets knocked out by Sp//dr, Ham covers his head with a paper bag so that no one realizes he’s out cold. This is a reference to one of Peter’s suits from the comics, the Bombastic Bag-Man! When Spider-Man first took off the Symbiote in the comics, he did so with the help of the Fantastic 4. But being that he had nothing to wear, Human Torch found it funny to hook him up with a spare FF costume and a paper bag over his head.

    A Really Good Lawyer

    When Spider-Ham nearly brings in a hero from the “Distinguished Competition”, he’s stopped by none other than Daredevil himself! Those who remember Matt Murdock’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home will recall that he described himself as a really good lawyer when Peter asked how he caught the brick. Also, fun fact, the role of Daredevil was played by Ben Affleck in the 2003 movie, who also played Batman in several DC Universe movies. So I thought having them share the screen for a second was a fun little nod.

    Captain Stacy

    If you’ve watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, or read Ghost-Spider’s comics, you know that Captain Stacy is dead-set on figuring out the identity of the Ghost-Spider. Believing she killed Peter, he makes it his job to hunt her down and stop her. This was alluded to back in episode 6, when Gwen mentions that everyone, even her own father, was trying to stop her. Also notice the musical cue when Captain Stacy says Ghost-Spider’s name, from Daniel Pemberton’s new Across the Spider-Verse score! I timed it that way intentionally, same with the now famous Spider-Man 2099 score earlier.

    Suicide Squad

    Did White-Rabbit remind you a bit of Harley Quinn? How about Armadillo, a little like Groot? Lines like “We’re some kind of Suicide Squad” and “We’re bad guys, it’s what we do” Sound familiar? That’s because episode 10 was my first attempt at a parody in Return to the Spider-Verse! Since Ham was teaming up with a ragtag team of villains trying to be heroes, I figured I’d take little nods and jabs here and there at movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Suicide Squad. It definitely made writing this episode more fun!

    The Savage Six

    There’s a team from the Spider-Man comics known as the Savage Six, which includes animal-themed villains such as Vulture, Stegron, Scorpion, Rhino, etc. When giving Ham a team, I wanted them all to be animal-themed, since he’s a pig. This also ties in thematically to Kraven being the villain, but I’ll circle back to that in a sec.

    Jonathan

    Ham introduces the sixth member of the Savage Six as his mallet, Jonathan! This is actually a nod to an interview with Paul Rudd from Ant-Man and the Wasp, where the interviewer asks the cast what the name of Thor’s hammer is. And while everyone is trying to pronounce Mjolnir, Paul Rudd simply says Jonathan.

    Hammerspace

    As Ham mentions, his mallet fitting inside of his pocket is a concept that’s called Hammerspace. As viewers of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will know, it’s defined as “an infinite extra dimensional storage area for cartoon hammers and the like”. Vulture uses it later to stash Kraven’s spear, which I thought was a neat callback to the DaVinci Universe Vulture using it in the movie!

    A Problem With Cartoons

    Those who remember Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse will recall a moment in the final showdown where Spider-Ham comes face to face with Scorpion. Scorpion laughs, asking if Ham is some kind of silly cartoon, to which Ham replies “You got a problem with cartoons?” before wrecking Scorpion, just like he did to Kraven in this episode!

    Cluvin is Ivory

    The element “Cluvin” that the team is looking for is actually another word for ivory. As Spider-Ham mentions, this was a callback to an episode of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends called “Spidey Meets the Girl from Tomorrow”. A girl named Ariel and her brother crash on Earth from the future, and Spidey becomes absolutely smitten with her! He does anything in his power to help her repair her ship, and one of the things she needs is something called Cluvin. Spidey has no idea what it is, but while hanging out with her at the zoo, Ariel spots an elephant’s tusk and claims that it’s Cluvin, leading to the conclusion that Cluvin is ivory.

    Rabbit Season

    A classic Loony Tunes gag is one where Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are trying to get Elmer Fudd to shoot one another by claiming it’s either rabbit season or duck season. It usually ends with Bugs outsmarting Daffy by saying it’s rabbit season, causing Daffy to shout “Duck Season, FIRE!” I thought with Ham basically being a Looney Tune himself, it’d be a fun gag to implement. Another one was the mid-credits scene with the “That’s all folks!” I’m pretty sure everyone caught that though.

    “Has to do with Spider-Man I think”

    If you’ve seen Morbius, I’m sorry. If you stayed for the post credits scene, then again, I’m sorry. But you’ll recall Vulture’s interaction with Morbius is the exact same as the meeting with the Sinister Six in the episode. I thought it’d be a story Vulture came with on the spot because honestly that’s about as much thought as Sony put into it. Notice how when he describes the story he told to Prowler, he uses the words “offensively bad”. Yeah, my cringe tolerance is actually really high, but I just couldn’t with this scene! I thought it would be even funnier to have Ham repeat it to the Savage Six and actually have it work.

    Hunted

    A recent story in The Amazing Spider-Man comics was called “Hunted”. In this story, Kraven gathers all of the animal-themed villains and Spider-Man into Central Park, and with the help of Arcade, creates this big, elaborate hunting ground, where the hunters (millionaires that Kraven duped) and the villains are all at risk! So thematically, having the Savage Six do their final showdown with Kraven in Central Park was kind of the perfect set piece.

    I was Happy

    When Leap-Frog makes his incredible leap to the tune of “I Believe I Can Fly”, he nearly nabs Vulture, but comes up just short! Just before he falls, he says “I was happy, floating in the pond, staring at the lily pads”. This was another The Suicide Squad reference, when Starro is defeated, he claims that he was happy floating through space, staring at the stars. The “Spider-Ham, what a joke line” comes from that movie as well. Also, when Rabbit asks if Leap-Frog is dead, the tune that plays is the haunting death/game over music from the first Spider-Man movie game. I apologize to anyone I triggered by playing that traumatizing tune! I mean, seriously, what were they thinking! It’s like, yeah, okay, I died, I get it, no need to rub it in with a whole orchestral symphony!

    Hey Pedro

    In Spider-Man: Homecoming when Peter goes to pick up Liz, and figures out that her father is the Vulture, Toomes has problems remembering Peter’s name. He mocks him with this in the final battle by calling him Pedro. I thought it’d be a nice way to reference Vutlure’s history with MCU Spidey.

    That’s it for this episode! It was really fun doing a comedic parody, and I hope you all really enjoyed it. Also, no, slipping on a banana peel was not fun, thank you for asking. I can’t wait for Episode 11: For the Love of MJ! After all this Paul nonsense in the comics, I think a classic Peter/MJ story is sorely needed! Until then, Face Front True Believers, I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • The End of the Marvel Universe – Part 2: True Believers

    The End of the Marvel Universe – Part 2: True Believers

    In this universe, the Avengers became something more. Witnessing their heroics, a young man by the name of Joshua Westbrook approached the heroes, with an idea.

    Part 2 of The End of the Marvel Universe answers a question that goes back to some day-one Face Front videos: Why did the Avengers work for Face Front? If you came into Face Front on Return of the Sinister Six (and I know A LOT of you did) then you’ll remember MJ dropping Spidey off at the Daily Bugle to do what he called the ‘Face Front News Flash’. Longtime viewers of the channel will remember the News Flash videos that Spider-Man hosted in the Daily Bugle Newsroom.

    Another question later viewers might have is what is Sam Says? Well, some of you may remember the first 2 episodes of Sam’s documentary series, which got canceled by Spider-Man because Face Front didn’t have the budget. Which led to the snapping incident.

    See where this is going? The Avengers on Earth-84061 worked for Joshua Westbrook (aka me!) at Face Front to create superhero content and inspire a new generation of heroes, while showcasing the good deeds of the original ones.

    Part 2: True Believers, has now revealed the story of just how Joshua recruited the Avengers to his cause and set off the events that eventually led to the Infinity Showdown! But hold fast, my virtuous viewers, for this is only half of the story! Part 3: Whatever it Takes, is next! And this one goes into what happened after the Infinity Showdown! What happened after Falcon snapped! Check out the guide below to keep track of what’s happening in the series!

    Well, until then friends! I’ll be working hard to get Part 3 to you guys as soon as possible! So Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Prepare for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse!

    Prepare for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse!

    Hey there True Believers! Are you about to go watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse? Or maybe you already did, but want some more Spidey action? Face Front’s got you taken care of!

    Below you’ll find a Face Front viewing list to either go into the movie with the knowledge of a pro, or get that extra dose of Thwip-ery you’ve been craving since the credits rolled!

    1. Gwen’s Origin

    Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Gwen, aka Spider-Woman, aka Ghost-Spider (that’s a lot of aliases there, Gwen) has an even bigger role in this movie than she did in the first one. Lucky for you, Brigadier, the Face Front Original Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 6: The Ghost, lets you know everything you need to know about Gwen’s beginnings as a Spider hero in the Spider-Verse!

    2. Spider-Punk’s Origin

    So you all have definitely seen the punk Spider-Man with the spiky head and the guitar. But do you actually know Hobie Brown? Even after leaving the theater, there’s still a bit to be desired about this character’s origin. Well, good ‘ol Face Front’s got you covered with Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 5: Spider-Punk! Discover Hobie Brown’s origin, and how he became the one and only… Spider-Punk!

    3. Miles and his Family

    As the main character of the movie, Miles Morales gets the most play on screen. But Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 9: Leap of Faith, will remind you why you love the character, and how far he’ll go to protect his family! Trust me, Miles’ relationships, familial and otherwise, are a key part of this new flick!

    4. The History of Miles Morales

    Miles is the hottest Spider-Man right now! But where did he come from? How long has he been around? What role did actor/rapper/comedian Donald Glover play in his creation? Well, with Donald Glover being a close personal friend of mine (talking to him once 12 years ago qualifies, right?), I asked him myself! And you can get that answer in The Night I Met Donald Glover: A Miles Morales Story! After all, if you love the Spider-Verse movies, and you love Miles, then I know you’ll appreciate his origin story, off the page, as it were.

    And there you have it fellas! I hope that you are now walking into Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as a pro, or that I’ve scratched that itchy spider bite for ya! Either way, hope you enjoyed this little viewing guide, keep it on Face Front for more stuff like this! That’s all for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Spider-Verse!

  • Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 7: Ultimate Spider-Man (Part 1)

    Spider-Man: Web-Warriors Episode 7: Ultimate Spider-Man (Part 1)

    The Spidey team is about to get the Ultimate upgrade! Ultimate Spider-Man swings into Web-Warriors ready to prove why he’s the best in the Spider-Verse! But not everyone seems to share this opinion…

    Ultimate Spider-Man is an episode I’ve been waiting for because I thought it would be a fun challenge to capture the chaotic nature of the show. With the cutaways and the crazy noises, I really wanted this to feel like an episode of the 2012 TV show. Of course, that included throwing in a whole bunch of references!

    Easter Eggs

    The Spider-Cycle

    After Ultimate Spidey lands on the bike in the Spider’s Nest, he says “I had one of these!” Fans will remember the Spider-Cycle that Spidey rode throughout most of the series. I, like a lot of fans, and even Spidey in the show, questioned why he needed a motorcycle to begin with. But wouldn’t you believe it, the dang bike grew on me as the show went on!

    Fourth Wall Cutaways

    Notice how Ultimate Spidey pauses the episode to talk to the audience. It’s something he did frequently in the TV show! It was a unique feature of this show, whilst every other Spidey show had Peter’s thoughts as an ethereal voice, this one tried something new. Spidey pausing the show to tell the audience what was going on really became one of the defining staples of Ultimate Spider-Man!

    Spidey Teams

    Of course you’ll all remember Spider-Man’s main team in the show, Power-Man, Iron Fist, White Tiger and, ugh, Nova. But one thing I loved about this show is that they put Spider-Man in several leadership roles, including the New Warriors, the Web-Warriors, and yes, even a crossover episode with the kids from the Disney Channel show Jessie!

    Doom Demands a Banana Split

    Spider-Man and his team tackled Dr. Doom early in the show, as he mentions in the episode. It turned out to be a trap, as Doom used them to infiltrate the Helicarrier, which I kind of drew from for Beetle’s attack. The banana split line was just a quite hilarious cutaway gag.

    Nova

    Spider-Man and Nova had a pretty contentious relationship throughout the show. At the end of the day, they respected each other as heroes and teammates, but that didn’t mean they didn’t throw jabs at each other. Bucket-head, get your webs out of a bunch, all things they’ve said to and called each other. Of course, I tapped my buddy Xavier Hernandez to voice Nova, not only because he’s a fan of Sam Alexander, but our relationship is kind of similar, always ribbing each other.

    Fun fact: When Nova says “Work on your material”, that was Xavier talking to me. Because the original line, in hindsight, was super cheesy, even for an episode imitating the Ultimate Spider-Man TV show! Recording this with him was super fun, even if it took us a while because we kept messing around. Make sure to check out more of Xavier on his Instagram @shatter24wolf!

    Wall of Shame

    Nova mentions Spidey said he’d end up on the Wall of Shame for dying 5 minutes after joining S.H.I.E.L.D. That was a direct gag from Episode 2, and probably my favorite joke in the entire show. I don’t know why, I just thought it was hilarious.

    Chibi-Spidey

    One of the cutaway gags used often in the show was a little scene acted out with chibi versions of the characters. I simply couldn’t do an Ultimate Spider-Man Web-Warriors episode without including some Chibi-Spidey!

    Character Cards

    Another unique feature of the show were title cards they used to introduce villains or new characters. I definitely wanted to pay homage to that when I showed Beetle for the first time!

    VS!

    Along with the title cards for the villains, sometimes when a confrontation took place, they put the opponents on either side of the screen and threw up a giant “VS!” with an announcer shouting it to hammer the point home! Real fighting game vibes.

    That’s it for this one guys. What’s that? Oooh, you wanna know about the Symbiote-suited Spidey claiming to be the real Ultimate Spider-Man? Well, friends, that is going to have to wait for Part 2 of this Web-Warriors episode! That’s right, the first Web-Warriors 2-parter! Because how am I going to do one version of Ultimate Spider-Man without doing the other? The one who, mind you, was the original from the comics! Clearly he’s not too happy about the TV show version running around calling himself the Ultimate Spider-Man!

    So keep your eyes peeled for Episode 8, coming soon! Until then, thank you so much for watching. Truly, you guys are what makes all this hard work worth it! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!