The Menace of Mysterio
Encyclopedia
"The Menace of Mysterio" is the fifth episode from the 1990s animated Spider-Man
series first season, first broadcast February 25, 1995 by the Fox Broadcasting Company
on Fox Kids
. It was written by John Semper
, Marv Wolfman
, and Stan Berkowitz.
The episode introduces the character of Mysterio
, a villain created by Stan Lee
first introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man
issue #13. Moreover, the title and the majority of the episodes' plot elements are based on that particular issue.
and many others to believe that the wall crawler is a criminal. Peter thus decides to search for clues to prove that these robberies were caused by a Spider-Man imposter. For example, the webs 'Spider-Man' used did not dissolve after an hour, like Spider-man's web usually does. He teams up with Detective Lt. Terry Lee in search for clues. Peter finds web left from the scene of the crime, and suggests to Terry that the webbing is fake as Spider-Man's would have dissolved by that time. Also, using the CCTV footage of the scene of the crime in which Spider-Man robbed the museum, they notice that the viewings of Spider-Man in the video aren't genuine. However, Spider-Man continues to apparently commit more crimes. It later unfolds that an expert in illusion, a villain named Mysterio
has been creating false images in order to frame the wall crawler. Peter also figures out that Mysterio is Quentin Beck, who must be attempting to frame Spider-Man because the hero had landed him in jail previously. At the end of the episode, after a confrontation with Spider-Man, Mysterio is imprisoned and Spider-Man's name is cleared.
's origin from the comics. Writer Stan Berkowitz has revealed in an interview that he considers telling the origin after the first few episodes rather than in the first a "bold move". The writers translated from the comics the villain featured in the episode, "Mysterio
", by using the characters' drafts from the particular issue to analyse the characters voice.
The episode's title was also used as the title to the third episode of the 1967 television series
.
Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
series first season, first broadcast February 25, 1995 by the Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
on Fox Kids
Fox Kids
Fox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002. It was owned by Fox Television Entertainment airing programming on Monday–Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.Depending on the show, the...
. It was written by John Semper
John Semper
John Semper, Jr. is a screenwriter, producer and story editor with numerous credits in animation for television. He has worked for such diverse companies as Disney Studios, Warner Bros...
, Marv Wolfman
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
, and Stan Berkowitz.
The episode introduces the character of Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
, a villain created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
first introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
issue #13. Moreover, the title and the majority of the episodes' plot elements are based on that particular issue.
Plot
The episode opens with Spider-Man apparently raiding a museum. This leads J. Jonah JamesonJ. Jonah Jameson
John Jonah Jameson Junior is a supporting character of Spider-Man in the .Jameson is usually the publisher or editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, a fictional New York newspaper and now serves as the mayor of New York City...
and many others to believe that the wall crawler is a criminal. Peter thus decides to search for clues to prove that these robberies were caused by a Spider-Man imposter. For example, the webs 'Spider-Man' used did not dissolve after an hour, like Spider-man's web usually does. He teams up with Detective Lt. Terry Lee in search for clues. Peter finds web left from the scene of the crime, and suggests to Terry that the webbing is fake as Spider-Man's would have dissolved by that time. Also, using the CCTV footage of the scene of the crime in which Spider-Man robbed the museum, they notice that the viewings of Spider-Man in the video aren't genuine. However, Spider-Man continues to apparently commit more crimes. It later unfolds that an expert in illusion, a villain named Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
has been creating false images in order to frame the wall crawler. Peter also figures out that Mysterio is Quentin Beck, who must be attempting to frame Spider-Man because the hero had landed him in jail previously. At the end of the episode, after a confrontation with Spider-Man, Mysterio is imprisoned and Spider-Man's name is cleared.
Production
The episode was the first of the series to tell the fictional story of Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
's origin from the comics. Writer Stan Berkowitz has revealed in an interview that he considers telling the origin after the first few episodes rather than in the first a "bold move". The writers translated from the comics the villain featured in the episode, "Mysterio
Mysterio
Mysterio is the name of three fictional characters, all of which are supervillains and enemies of Spider-Man in the . The original Mysterio was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #13, although it was later retconned that the aliens seen in Amazing...
", by using the characters' drafts from the particular issue to analyse the characters voice.
The episode's title was also used as the title to the third episode of the 1967 television series
Spider-Man (1967 TV series)
Spider-Man is an animated television series that ran from September 9, 1967 to June 14, 1970. It was jointly produced in Canada and the United States and was the first animated adaptation of the Spider-Man comic book series, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko...
.