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Recap / Spider-Man: The Animated Series S01 E03 "The Spider Slayer"

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In order pay back a powerful crime boss known as the Kingpin, Norman Osborn hires robotics inventor Spencer Smythe to create a robot known as the Spider Slayer to capture Spider-Man, who has unknowingly been interfering in the Kingpin’s business.

This episode provides examples of:

  • Actually Pretty Funny: Peter finds someone dressing up like Spider-Man and hassling him to be rather funny. He can't stop smirking, at least until the giant robot breaks in.
  • Biting-the-Hand Humor: This line from J. Jonah Jameson:
    Jonah: The other networks are laughing at me, Brock! Even Fox! Can you imagine the humiliation?!
  • Confronting Your Imposter: Peter Parker quickly denounces "Spider-Man" as an imposter but changes his mind when Felicia asks how he can be so sure.
  • Crazy Jealous Guy: Flash isn't taking well on Peter dancing with Felicia.
  • Deadly Prank: Flash dresses up like Spider-Man to hassle Peter out of jealousy he went to the dance with Felicia. It's harmless fun at first, and Peter finds it Actually Pretty Funny... until the Spider-Slayer attacks the party and mistakes Flash for the actual Spider-Man, forcing the real deal to rescue him. Once the crisis is resolved, Felicia wastes no time chewing Flash out over what a stupid move that was on his part.
  • Didn't See That Coming: Jonah is stunned that Peter and Felicia already know each other.
  • Dramatic Irony:
    • Peter recognizes the dramatic irony in saving Flash Thompson, who has a habit of bullying him.
    • Jonah remarking he'd fire Spider-Man for the damage to his place if he could. Felicia also remarks that Peter isn't half the man Spider-Man is.
  • Fake Identity Baggage: Flash Thompson in a misguided attempt to stick up for Spider-Man dresses up as the Web-Slinger and tries to intimidate Peter Parker to make him stop taking pictures of Spider-Man that Jameson will use to slander his hero. Unfortunately for Flash, this results in him being captured by Spencer Smythe who mistakes him for the real Spider-Man. After rescuing Flash, Spider-Man tells Flash "Now you know what kind of trouble this costume attracts
  • First Kiss: Peter and Felicia share theirs in this episode.
  • Forceful Kiss: After Peter and Felicia share a dance together Felicia surprises Peter by jumping forward and locking lips with him. Though Peter is surprised at first he quickly closes his eyes and returns the kiss.
  • Gone Horribly Right: Flash dresses up as Spider-Man and ends up being targeted by the titular slayer.
  • Imposter Forgot One Detail: Jonah is surprised that the Spidey imposter is captured and unmasked, but when he and Aunt May spot the real Spider-Man, he recognizes him as the real deal due to his abilities and snarkiness.
  • Irony: "Yeah, somebody's gotta save the guy who hates Peter Parker. Guess who? Talk about dramatic irony."
  • The Man Behind the Man: Spencer Smythe built the Spider Slayer for Norman Osborn without knowing The Kingpin was involved.
    Spencer: The Kingpin?
    Norman: Spencer, I swear!
  • Miles Gloriosus: Flash is ashamed to find he behaves this way in a crisis rather than like his hero.
  • Oh, Crap!: Flash's reaction upon seeing the Spider Slayer.
  • Noodle Incident: Alistair was crippled in a explosion back at an old laboratory of his father's, something Spencer blamed himself for.
  • Properly Paranoid: Upon Norman insisting Spencer should trust him, Alistair remarks he always gets a bad feeling when people talk like that.
  • The So-Called Coward: Felicia now believes Peter Parker to be a coward. He tries to tell her he had to get Aunt May to safety but she cut him off before he could explain.
    Peter: I was only—
    Felicia: You abandoned me! Spider-Man had to save me! If you're only half the man he is.
  • Spanner in the Works: Flash dressing up like Spider-Man as a prank derails the villains' plot, with the Black Widow robot retrieving the wrong guy.
  • Throw the Dog a Bone: Spider-Man keeps his mouth shut about Flash's cowardice, as he feels this experience has been humiliating enough for him.
  • To Be Continued: The Kingpin offers to bankroll new Slayers for Alistair.
    Alistair: Why would you do that?
    Kingpin: So, you can destroy the man who's responsible for your father's disappearance: Spider-Man!
  • Unknown Rival: Starting from this episode, the Kingpin begins working to get rid of Spider-Man, for unknowingly interfering with his criminal organization, while the latter remains unaware his existence at first.
  • Villain Team-Up
  • What the Hell, Hero?: Felicia, to Flash about dressing up as Spider-Man. And to Peter (see The So-Called Coward)
  • Wrong Genre Savvy: Jonah can't believe the idea that Spider-Man is really some college student.
    Jonah: You're telling me Spider-Man is just some goofy kid? That's unbelievable!
  • Xanatos Gambit: The Kingpin intends to collect on the debt Osborn owes him one way or another.
    Osborn: Something occurs to me. Either Spider-Man's destroyed or you get Oscorp; whatever happens, you win.
    Kingpin: That's why I'm the Kingpin.

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