Night of the Lizard

"Night of the Lizard"
Spider-Man (1994 TV series) episode
Dr. Curt Connors in his lizard form with his wife
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 1
Directed by	Supervising Director - Bob Richardson
Written by	Gerry Conway Stan Lee
Produced by	Supervising Producer - Bob Richardson Producer - John Semper
Production code	101
Original air date	November 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)
Episode chronology
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List of Spider-Man episodes

"Night of the Lizard" is the pilot episode of the animated series Spider-Man produced by Bob Richardson and John Semper based on the Marvel Comics. It was originally broadcast by the Fox Broadcasting Company on their kids block, "Fox Kids", in the United States on November 19, 1994. This air was months before later episodes from season 1 as a special sneak preview.^[1][2] The pilot introduced the character of Spider-Man as well as various of the shows other major characters, such as his first supervillain in the show, The Lizard. During the episode, Spider-Man comments on how his missions often involve him entering the sewer, and he references the Fantastic Four,^[2] Avengers, Defenders, and the Hulk.^[3][4]

Plot

The episode opens with two subway repairmen in conversation. They are then attacked by an oversized lizard and one of them is kidnapped. Thus, Daily Bugle reports show mysterious disappearances throughout Manhattan and rumours of a giant lizard. Publisher J. Jonah Jameson (Edward Asner) subsequently offers a $1000 bonus to any photographer who can capture an image of the beast. Reporter Peter Parker (Christopher Daniel Barnes), despite originally considering the lizard rumours to be a hoax, plans to claim the reward in order to help pay off some of his Aunt May (Linda Gary)'s large debts. Peter subsequently makes his way to interview his science professor, Dr. Curt Connors (Joseph Campanella), a scientist who works with reptiles. Whilst paying him a visit, he and fellow science student Debra Whitman (Liz Georges) witness the Lizard exiting their teacher's lavatory. Peter then recalls an experiment he and Dr. Connors worked on involving the ability to re-grow mammal limbs using reptilian DNA. Peter furthermore suspects that his science professor is the Lizard. After a confrontation with the beast as Spider-Man (his alter-ego), he confirms this prediction when Curt's wife, Margaret, informs him that her husband was transformed whilst attempting to use his scientific technology to re-grow his arm (which he lost during a war). Reporter Eddie Brock (Hank Azaria) eavesdrops on this conversation, leading to Spider-Man webbing him to a lamppost in order to prevent him from revealing the Lizard's identity to the Bugle. Dr. Connors then kidnaps his wife and takes her down into the sewer. He reveals his plan to use the Neogenic Recombinator to transform people of the city into creatures resembling himself. Spider-Man saves him from his condition, however, by shooting the doctor himself with the Recombinator. Once back at the Daily Bugle, Peter successfully claims the reward and gives the money to his aunt, whilst Eddie Brock is unable to prove that Dr. Connors is the Lizard.

Background

Production

The title "Night of the Lizard" bears a resemblance to the first episode of the X-Men animated series, "Night of the Sentinels". Coincidentally, the X-Men show ran somewhat alongside the Spider-Man show.^[2]

Peter Parker's character design

The episode is loosely based on The Amazing Spider-Man issue # 6.^[5][6]

The episode was written by Gerry Conway along with Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee.^[7] Supervising producer and Director Bob Richardson, revealed that Conway's role in the production was lost following the pilot.^[8] John Semper subsequently edited it suitable for the Fox Broadcasting Company to air.

Peter Parker's character design was originally intended to resemble that of his of the comics, which is similar to the clothing worn by the character of Dick Grayson from Batman: The Animated Series. This design, however, was switched towards the final production of the show to view Peter in a muscular,^[9] younger-looking form,^[8] wearing a short-sleeved rugby shirt.^[2]

Media

Following the episode's original air on Fox Kids, it was re-run by networks such as ABC Family and, when the Walt Disney Company bought the show, Toon Disney. Broadcasters as such edited and opted out various scenes in the episode.^[10] On June 19, 2009, the episode was released on DVD along with the rest of the first season as part of Volumes #1 and #2.^[11] The episode was re-adapted and published as the first issue of Spider-Man Adventures in 1994 following its broadcast.^[12] In 1995, Paul Patterson re-wrote a story based on the episode which includes 19 pages each with around three and seven lines of text per page and sound buttons. Regular Marvel artist Mike Wieringo drew the illustrations.^[13] During a review, an editor commented that purchase of the book in new condition is rare. They also added that the books' novelty wore off eventually whilst reading it, however it being enjoyable for children.^[14] Karen Dolby also wrote a 57 page adaptation of the episode in 1995.^[15] Spider-Man film series fans have revealed that they would like the fourth film to be loosely based on the episode as it shows the hero conquering to save a different character other than Mary Jane.^[4]

Reception

The episode ranks as one of viewers' favourite episodes from both the series ^[16] as well as the first season. It received mostly positive and few critical points in reviews. A review of the episode by an editor from Toon Zone described it to be a somewhat good-quality pilot. The review speculated that if production values had kept to the standard of the episode throughout the entire series, the show would have become as well-known as Batman: The Animated Series. A large amount of viewers have reviewed the episode's animation and music as the best quality from the series as well as other shows from the Marvel animated universe. More than one viewer have stated that they consider this episode the highlight of the series, and that it is a dark introduction to the characters of Spider-Man and the Lizard, albeit a likeable one.^[17] Furthermore, the Lizard's character is considered among the public as being wasted in later episodes with the exception of the pilot. The casting of Christopher Daniel Barnes and Edward Asner became popular with fans. However, Peter Parker's design has been criticized.^[18]

Trivia/Goofs

• At the end in the credits the year is listed as 1995, but the episode aired in 1994.

References

1. ^ "Night Of The Lizard". The Big Cartoon DataBase. http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/32835-Night_Of_The_Lizard.html. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} "Night Of The Lizard". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/spider-man/night-of-the-lizard/episode/72755/summary.html. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
3. ^ Caleb Goellner (7 August 2009). "1990s 'Spider-Man' Animated Series Goes Online". MTV. http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/08/07/1990s-spider-man-animated-series-goes-online/. Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b} jman1977 (10 August 2009). "90's Animated Spider-Man Series Goes Online!". ComicBookMovie.com. (Web link). Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
5. ^ Lee, Stan (w), Ditko, Steve (a). "Face-To-Face With...The Lizard!" The Amazing Spider-Man 6 (November 1963), United States: Marvel Comics.
6. ^ Quantz, Daniel (2006). Face-To-Face With...The Lizard!. Spider-Man by Daniel Quantz. Meyers, Jonboy (p), Davidson, Pat (i), Molinar, Larry (c), Gentile, Randy (l). (2nd ed.). United States: Spotlight. pp. 24. ISBN 9781599610146. OCLC 64388387. 
7. ^ "Stan Lee Biography (1922-)". film reference. http://www.filmreference.com/film/93/Stan-Lee.html. Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Stu (4 April 2007). "Bob Richardson Talks Spider-Man". Toon Zone. http://news.toonzone.net/articles/16776/what-a-tangled-web-we-weave---bob-richardson-talks-spider-man. Retrieved 23 November 2009. 
9. ^ Josh on Comics (2 February 2009). "Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994)". http://joshoncomics.blogspot.com/2009/02/spider-man-animated-my-thoughts-part.html. Retrieved 29 November 2009. 
10. ^ DRG4 (HTML). Wario Company.
11. ^ Spider-Man, complete season 1 (DVD). United Kingdom: Clear Vision Ltd. 19 June 2009. 
12. ^ Yomtov, Nel (w), Saviuk, Alex (a). "Night of the Lizard" Spider-Man Adventures 1 (December 1994), United States: Marvel Entertainment
13. ^ Patterson, Paul (1995). Spider-Man, Night of the Lizard. New York: Golden Books. pp. 19. ISBN 9780307709257. OCLC 34284208. 
14. ^ The Editor. "Audio: Spider-Man: Night of the Lizard (Touch 'N' Listen)". SpiderFan.org. http://www.spiderfan.org/audio/reviews/spiderman_audio_buttons/night_of_lizard.html. Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
15. ^ Dolby, Karen (1995). The night of the lizard. United States: Sapling. pp. 57. ISBN 9780752201672. OCLC 34676351. 
16. ^ "List of Best Spider-Man 1994 TV Series Episodes". MyTopDozen. http://www.mytopdozen.com/Best_Spider-Man_1994_TV_Series_Episodes.html. Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
17. ^ Review and media by Stu. "Night Of The Lizard". Toon Zone. http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/nightlizard/. Retrieved 1 November 2009. 
18. ^ TheSpectacularSpidey (15 March 2008). "User Comments". "Spider-Man" Night of the Lizard (1994). Sweden: The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0706840/#comment. Retrieved 1 November 2009. "Good first pilot episode." 

External links

Television portal

• Night of the Lizard at the Internet Movie Database
• Night of the Lizard at TV.com
• Night of the Lizard on Marvel Animated Universe Wiki, an external wiki

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