Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Peter Parker once tried to capitalize on his newfound powers by becoming a television star and marketed himself as “The Amazing Spider-Man”. His first appearance in a wrestling match proved to be his big break as a promoter noticed him. His life was becoming beter as he was making some serious money. However, it all changed one day when he didn’t stop a robber and let him escape. That came back to haunt him later on as the very same robber murdered his Uncle Ben. From that point on, Peter vowed to use his powers responsibly to fight crime.

But what happens when Spidey gets an offer from Hollywood to make a movie? It’s a page out of the past in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: Spidey Goes Hollywood as Spider-Man, Iceman and Firestar take a trip to Tinseltown for their closeup.


Spider-Man: Actor and Superstar

Mysterio is scheming to bring down Spider-Man and blackmails big Hollywood producer Stan Blockbuster to help him. Blockbuster's job is to lure Spider-Man to Hollywood by stating that he wants him to star in a movie. To make matters worse, Mysterio has created a robotic version of the Incredible Hulk that he plans to use against his arachnid foe.

Blockbuster makes an announcement on television to Spider-Man and offers him the starring role in his next movie. Peter declines until he sees that Aunt May is having problems making house payments. Spidey and friends decide to go to Hollywood, so they take a road trip in a bus and in full costume, no less. Talk about eccentric Hollywood types!

Along the way there is commotion on the way as the Hulk has been sighted in the area. There’s not much the three can do as the Hulk has disappeared but they do pick up a hitchhiker along the way. His name? Bruce Banner. The four continue to Hollywood. Spidey even offers Banner a job on the set of the movie.

But weird mishaps occur since day one to all three heroes. Banner gets suspicious about the whole thing. Things get even uglier when it’s revealed that Mysterio is behind the entire thing and sets his mechanical Hulk loose on Spidey. If that isn’t bad enough what happens when Banner finally gets mad enough to bring out the jolly green giant? It’s a Hollywood smash waiting to happen.


The Green Goliath Makes an Impression

It’s always good to see Spider-Man villains used in some capacity and Mysterio has always been an underrated one at best. Even though his gimmick is to use tricks and mirrors he can be quite deadly if written properly. Plus, I just love his classic costume and the fishbowl for a helmet.

This episode was fun in many ways but it lacked that witty dialogue from previous episodes. Keep in mind that this was a first season episode so I’m sure things were still being worked out to iron out all the chinks. I’m glad the animation started to improve because this was average at best, even for a 1980s cartoon.

This was also the first appearance of the Hulk on television since his live-action show ended in 1982. I guess network executives felt the Hulk was still a known commodity to many that the gamma-radiated giant received his own animated show the next season. His show was combined with Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends to give the NBC network a powerful hour-long program on Saturday mornings.

I still can’t understand why only one episode was featured on this videotape. Usually two or more can be squeezed but alas, this didn’t happen. It makes matters worse when not all of the episodes were released as well. Here’s hoping a DVD set will be coming out in the near future.

Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: Spidey Goes Hollywood wasn’t anything spectacular. On whole it was average at best even with an appearance by the Incredible Hulk. I was hoping for more “Hulk Smash” and damage by the big guy, but it can be safely assumed that the network needed to keep the green guy toned down for television. Too bad. It would have been more fun seeing the Spider-Friends take on the Hulk.

An even better idea… the Hulk vs the Hulk with Spider-Man caught in the middle. Now that would have been a blockbuster movie. The question remains: would Tobey Maguire be the stunt double?


Related Spider-Man Reviews
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: The Origin of the Spider-Friends
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: A Firestar Is Born
Spider-Man: The Ultimate Villain Showdown

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8