This is not exactly a review on the The Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie. So here I’m will compare characters on film to the one in the comics. So if you have yet to see the movie, do not read! Image heavy. Except spoilers ahead. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My relationship series with the Spider-Man movie has been a love-hate one. I grew reading my brother’s comics and loved the animated series. I really loved first movie in the Sam Raimi movie trilogy. I, like many comic book nerds look for the following things in a comic book movie: it’s accurate to the comics, looked good and well-acted.
The 2002’s Spider-Man met that criteria. It was somewhat accurate to the comics, it looked good and was well-acted. Then Spider 2 happened. The actions scenes were great but dear lord why is everyone so mopey looking in this film? The Mary Jane in the comics was sassy and flirty. Kirsten Dunst’s version of Mary Jane Watson had a constant sad puppy dog look on her face. I shouldn’t blame her. She did her best with what was written. Then Spider Man 3 happened. That movie left a bad taste in my and many other Spider-Man fans’ mouth. Obligatory horrible dancing scene gif.
At first I thought it was too soon for a reboot but after seeing The Amazing Spider-Man it was necessary. It gave the series a fresh start it sorely needed after Spider-Man 3.
I like Andrew Garfield’s version of Peter Parker. Tobey Maguire’s version became was too mopey and whiney in the end. Garfield’s version captures Peter Parker’s nerdy side on top of his sarcastic smartass side that was prominent in the comics but missing from the previous films. Everyone talks about Spidey though. Let’s take a look at the other characters in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Electro/Maxwell Dillon
Jamie Foxx plays Max Dillon, an Oscorp employee that is constantly push around by his superiors and ignored by his co-workers.
Spider-Man saves Max from being crushed by a taxi flying through the air while he pursuing a criminal that stole an Oscorp truck.
Being elated that the famous Spider-Man saved him and acknowledge his presence, he developed an obsession with the superhero.
He gains the power to generate and control electricity after a freak accident at Oscorp. I could go further but then I’ll just give away a lot of the plot of the movie.
This what Electro originally looked like in the comics:
This costume will be considered very silly in today’s standards. For this movie Foxx’s version was based of Electro’s look in the Ultimate Spider-Man series.
Now that’s a much better look compared to a yellow and green spandex suit. Though he does kinda look like Dr. Manhattan from The Watchmen.
In the comics, Max Dillon never met Spider-Man much less had an obsession for him. He was just some guy that worked for an electric company until he got struck by lightning while touching power lines still connected to its spool. His criminal actions were motivated by his greed. He is one of the many reoccurring villains in the Spider-Man comic.
Though a bit caricature, Jamie Foxx did a good job with the role. The movie strayed from the comics version but for a good reason. Max Dillon is here to garner sympathy from the audience. You can’t help but feel sorry for the guy. Seeing his transition to a villain is understandable.
It’s unclear what exactly happened to Electro at the end of the movie. However in the comics Electro come back. A lot. He’s even part of the Sinister Six. I don’t think we seen the last of him. Oh, speaking of the Sinister Six…
The Sinister Six
Screenshots and the trailers hinted the Sinister Six but they have yet to see them as a fully form group.
The line up of the Sinister Six varies depending on the comic arc. The original line-up was: Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, the Sandman, Electro, Mysterio and Kraven the Hunter.
SPOILER!
At the of the film we see Harry Osborn talk to a man in a long trench coat and a hat but he obscured by shadows.
We also see him walking past a couple Oscorp experiments.
This hints at the appearance of the Vulture and Doctor Octopus.
The images at end credits hinted on the possible line-up Kraven the Hunter, Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Rhino, the Vulture and a six image that is being debated. Some say Chameleon. Some say Mysterio.
I guess we have to wait and see until The Sinister Six spin-off movie.
Rhino
Real name Aleksei Sytsevich. We first see him the guy driving the stolen Oscorp truck. We don’t see him as Rhino until very the end of movie. As Spider-Man starts to fight him it cuts to the credits. The next Spider-Man movie just might pick up from where it left off.
In the comics Rhino was a Russian immigrant that came to America to earn money for his family. With little skills or education, he wasn’t able to find a job. He could only get jobs working for criminal organizations due his great strength and huge build.
He was subjected to intense chemical and radioactive experiments in change for big sum of money. As a result, a strong polymer bonded to skin and enhanced his speed and strength.
Here’s what he looked like:
The movie decided to forgo all his backstory, made him a regular sized, common Russian mob criminal complete with track suit and tattoos and put him in a giant robot suit.
I do admit putting a guy in a Rhino will look ridiculous so I understand the change. Looking at it, makes me want to play Titanfall though.
Green Goblin
Harry Osborn is the son of billionaire Norman Osborn, co-founder of Oscorp Industries, and Peter Parker’s childhood friend. They finally meet again after many years apart when Harry moves back to New York after inheriting his father’s company. He learns that he is dying from same heredity illness that his father died from. Desperate for a cure, he is convinced that Spider-Man’s radioactive blood can cure him.
In the comics, Peter and Harry first met while both were attending Empire State University. Due to a misunderstanding, they didn’t get along at first but eventually became good friends and roommates. Harry spent most of his life seeking his father’s approval.
One day Harry sees a battle between his father as the Green Goblin and Spider-Man not realizing that Peter is Spider-Man. Norman Osborn died from being impaled by his own goblin gilder that was meant to kill Spider-Man. Harry hides father’s costume and blames Spider-man for his “murder”. He soon learns that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. He adopts his father’s old persona and seeks revenge.
Since the Sam Raimi series already done this story, the new movie had to take liberties with story.
In Amazing Spider-Man 2, this Harry is still rich but has less daddy issues and more menacing.
Richard and Mary Parker
Though rarely seen, Peter’s parents play an important role in the In Amazing Spider-Man series. Peter’s father is a scientist that worked for Oscorp. Richard left Oscorp and had to flee the country taking Mary with him. However, they left their young son Peter with Richard’s brother Ben and his wife May. Peter’s parents then died in a plane crash.
The comics provided a much cooler back story that unfortunately can’t be used in this series. Richard and Mary both worked for the C.I.A. They meet on the job, fell in love and got married. They leave Peter with Ben and May when they are on assignment. They later died on in a plane crash after a mission involving the Red Skull.
Fun facts: Richard Parker was recruited by Nick Fury. Yup, as in Nick Fury the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. They also worked with a Canadian operative agent who later become Wolverine.
But since the Spider-Man series doesn’t belong to Marvel Studios due to stupid licensing rights I doubt their story will make it to the big screen anytime soon. I do appreciate Marc Webb giving Peter’s parents a bigger role in his movies series. Peter’s parents were barely mentioned in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies.
Last but not least…
Gwen Stacey
Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacy, Peter’s first love and the first person to know about his secret identity. Gwen is a smart girl with a knack for science. Her father was police captain George Stacy, who was killed by The Lizard. Gwen’s knowledge in science helped Spider-Man many times.
In the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movie Peter’s relationship with Gwen was short-lived and was only to make Mary Jane jealous.
In the comics, Gwen first meet Peter at Empire State University. She dated Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn before dating Peter. She is a science major and is seen as Peter’s intellectual equal. She never learns that Peter is Spider-Man.
If you ever read the comics then know about Gwen Stacy’s fate. If you haven’t, I’ll leave at this: it doesn’t end well.
MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD
Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin hold Gwen hostage and lures Spider-Man to the George Washington Bridge. She is thrown off the bridge and Spider-Man catches her with a web string. He believes that he saved as he was pulling her back up the bridge. He soon realizes that she died. He cries over her death and swears revenge.
Aside from a couple of details, the scene from the movie was no different. After his fight with Electro, the Harry Osborn in his Green Goblin suit finds out that Peter is Spider-Man. He kidnaps Gwen Stacy and dropped her from a building. Spider-Man was able to catch her, leaves her in a clocktower for safey while he fights the Green Goblin. During the fight she falls off a high place, Spider-Man tries to catch with a web string but she suffered a fatal whiplash at the same time her body hit the ground.
I knew that Gwen Stacy was destined to die but it was still hard watching that scene. Even photos released to media sites, hinted her death. Savvy comic book fans noticed her outfit is the same as the one from the comic where she died.
Comic fans also know that Gwen Stacy does come back but as a clone. Will Marc Webb, adapt this to the big screen? Personally, I doubt it but you never know.
Even though I wish that the Spider-Man series should go to Marvel Studios so it can tie with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I like Marc Webb and his teams have done with this new Spider-Man series so far. They know they are competing with the X-Men and the Avengers for viewers’ attention so they made it just an entertaining as those films.
