Why “INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE” is still one of the Best Comic Book Movies of all Time!

Posted by ErikSlader on January 4, 2022

With the recent release of “Spider-man: No Way Home” (see our review on the Comic Zombie podcast), it really got me thinking about another Spider-man movie that also just so happens to deal with multiversal shenanigans: “Into the Spider-verse”! So I recently revisited this groundbreaking animated movie and not only did it hold up extremely well, I’d argue that it’s easily one of the best comic book movies ever made!

2018’s “Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse”, written by Phil Lord (of ‘Lego Movie’ and ’21 Jump Street’ fame), directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman – is about the origin of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as the newest Spider-man in a multiverse teaming with spider-themed heroes!

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Comic Zombie Podcast #10: Ranking the Spider-man Movies!

Posted by ErikSlader on June 22, 2021

COMIC ZOMBIE – Issue #10: Ranking the Spider-man Movies!

Chris and Erik try and rank all the (live action) Spider-man movies! (so far!)

Spider-man (2002)
Spider-man 2
Spider-man 3
The Amazing Spider-man (2012)
The Amazing Spider-man 2
Spider-man: Homecoming
Spider-man: Far From Home
Venom

*Note: Although we didn’t include “Into the Spider-verse” on our lists, we’re planning on covering that one in a future episode. Like our ‘Ranking the X-Men Movies’, this episode was also recorded several months ago.

Also on this episode:

What we’ve been reading (Chris: “The Immortal Hulk” by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett, Erik: Donny Cates’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”)
What we’ve been watching (CW / DC “Arrow-verse” shows, “The Mandalorian” Season 2)
Essential Reads: Spider-man (“Marvel Knights: Spider-man” by Brian Michael Bendis and “Spider-man: Blue” by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale)

(Episode edited by Erik Slader)

For more random shenanigans, check out our blog at ComicZombie.net – Including our Spider-man movie articles!

*Also listen to us on Podcasters Assemble!

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The …um… other Spider-man Movies! (Part Two)

Posted by ErikSlader on April 14, 2015

So we covered the flawed, yet still pretty awesome, trilogy of Spider-Man films here, and while there was still plenty of room for stories to tell with the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man and the universe Sam Raimi crafted, Sony Pictures decided that Spider-Man 3 was to be the last installment in the series. They rebooted the franchise, and drafted director Marc Webb (kind of ironic) and cast Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man for the new series. The new franchise improved on the work the previous group did in a lot of ways, most notably casting and effects, and had some missteps of their own, which we will try to cover below.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)

Directed by: Marc Webb

Starring: Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker / Spider-man), Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy), Rhys Ifans (Dr. Curt Connors / The Lizard), Dennis Leary (Captain Stacy), Martin Sheen (Uncle Ben), Sally Field (Aunt May), and Chris Zylka (Flash Thompson)

Plot: Peter Parker is bit by a genetically modified spider gaining the proportionate strength and agility of a human spider. When his Uncle Ben is killed by a robber he could have stopped, he learns that ‘with great power must come great responsibility’. Now, as Spider-Man he must battle the monstrous Lizard to save the people of New York, and as Peter Parker explore his new relationship with Gwen Stacy while working with Dr. Curt Connors to learn more about the mysterious death of his parents and his father’s work they may have been killed for.

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The Amazing Spider-Movies! – Part One

Posted by ErikSlader on March 19, 2015

Check out our Podcast Episode on ranking the Spider-man movies here!

Because you demanded it, we’re back with more breakdowns of the super hero movies you love, hate, and love to hate! Last time we covered the terrifying highs and gut wrenching, suicide inducing lows of the Batman franchise. This time we’re going with something a bit lighter, the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb Spider-Man franchises. That’s right, five movies of web slinging, cool villains, not so cool villains, great character moments, horrible character misfires, great casting, worst case scenario casting, all of it. From Raimi to Webb, Dunst/Howard to Stone, Maguire to Garfield, we’ll cover it all.

First up, the one that started it all, and really kicked the super hero movie craze of the early 21st century into gear…

Spider-man (2002)

Directed by: Sam Raimi

Starring: Tobey Maguire (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Willem Dafoe (Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin), Kirsten Dunst (Mary Jane Watson), James Franco (Harry Osborn), Cliff Robertson (Uncle Ben), Rosemary Harris (Aunt May), J. K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson), Joe Manganiello (Flash Thompson), Elizabeth Banks (Betty Brant), and Bruce Campbell

Plot: Peter Parker is bit by a genetically modified spider gaining the proportionate strength and agility of a human spider. After his Uncle Ben is killed by a car jacker and he learns the killer is a man he could have stopped before, he tragically learns the lesson ‘with great power must also come great responsibility’. Now, as Spider-Man, he tries to balance fighting crime and the new menace of the Green Goblin with his personal life, which includes his now widowed Aunt May, his best friend (and son of his new enemy) Harry Osborn, and the girl he loves, Mary Jane Watson, as well as a new job taking pictures for J Jonah Jameson and the Daily Bugle.

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RETRO SPOILER ALERT! – First Appearances Can Be Deceiving – BRONZE AGE (3 of 4)

Posted by ErikSlader on June 12, 2012

Continued from Part 2: The Silver Age

THE BRONZE AGE (1970 to 1985)

— “I am fire and life incarnate! Now and forever — I am PHOENIX!!!” – Jean Grey (Dark Phoenix)

This is considered to be the start of the ‘Dark Age’ of Comics, and with good reason, which continued into the late 90’s (the Copper Age). Some very dark twists to many popular characters backstories were first established during this time such as: (Retro Spoiler Alert!) the Green Goblin killing Spider-man’s girlfriend (Gwen Stacy, not MJ), the demise of Jason Todd (the second Robin) at the hands of the Joker, Elektra’s murder by Bullseye, etc… (BULLSEYE was introduced in Daredevil #131 – 1976, and ELEKTRA in #168 – 1981)

Often disputed between comic fans / historians, this Bronze Era is typically said to have occurred sometime between 1970 and 1985 give or take a couple years. This was a time when comic books became more socially conscious and began featuring real-world issues. Comic books were no longer just an escape from reality, but a mirror of it. This is when the legends behind the most acclaimed adult-themed comics started to creep onto the scene. Writers and artists like Alan Moore, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Jim Lee, George Perez, Joe Quesada, and countless others who are still relevant today, most of whom are still actively in the comic industry today!

The Bronze Age was when there was a resurgence in interest for super heroes in general. Following the cheesy campy spoof that was the Batman 60’s TV series was the first serious, live action, depiction of a comic book, on the silver screen with Superman: The Movie in the late 70’s, and in the 80’s there was the Wonder Woman show and the Incredible Hulk became a Smash Hit! (pun-intended)

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