Episode:Attack of the Octobot

Attack of the Octobot is a third-season episode from Spider-Man: The Animated Series. It is a continuation of the plotline from the previous episode Make A Wish (itself being a readaption of the comic storyline The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man).

Plot
The episode begins with Doctor Octopus still holding Spider-Man unconscious from the knock-out gas hostage on top of a building. He then takes Spider-Man away inside his car. Taina, realising Spider-Man is in trouble, climbs in the boot, unbeknowest to Doc Ock. They arrive at Doctor Octopus' hideout where he uses his "neuro neutraliser" to brainwash Spider-Man, Taina waches in shock. Once Spider-Man is brainwashed, Doctor Octopus attempts to take his mask off.

As Doctor Octopus continues to remove Spider-Man's mask, Kingpin interrupts, he asks Octavius about the argon matrix laser, whilst Doc Ock informs Kingpin that he has brainwashed Spider-Man. Kingpin then states that Spider-Man shall serve him for the rest of his life. Once Kingpin stops communicating with Doc Ock, Spider-Man wakes, and Ock explains that he was injured by his neuro neutraliser, that they must use in their next crime. Spider-Man is now confused because he doesn't remember being a criminal, though Doc Ock manages to persuade him that he is allied with him. When he attempts to remove his mask, Spider-Man refuses as he realises that something is wrong as his Spider-sense goes off. Dock Ock also explains that he is a scientist, whilst Taina continues to watch, unbeknowest to either Spider-Man nor Octavius.

Taina runs from Doctor Octopus's hideout and looks for help, but when finally a police officer listens to her, he insists that she gets home to her parents.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man is suffering from the brainwash, but Doctor Octopus reassures him that he's a criminal by showing a newsline that J. Jonah Jameson broadcast after Spider-Man had exploded the medical facility. Once Octavius leaves, Spider-Man removes his mask but doesn't recognise the face, as of his brainwash.

Aunt May is worried about Peter because he is missing dinner, whilst Mary Jane claims he most likely got caught up at work, forgetting the plans, and her Aunt Anna makes menacing protests against him.

The police question Taina but she still refuses to say where she lives. Taxicab driver Mousie is introduced after she reports "James Brown" trying to ride in her cab for free. He is arrested. Taina runs from the police station and climbs into the back of Mousie's parked taxi. When Mousie enters into the drivers seat, she sees Taina in the wing-mirror and accuses her of stealing a ride in her cab, she refuses to believe that Taina has been captured, but Mousie offers her a free ride home. Mousie reveals that Spider-Man had saved her from a mugger. Taina is proved right when Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man leave his hideout in a van together. Taina and Mousie continue to follow them until they arrive at the wellington foundry, in which Doc Ock plans to rob. The security staff is large, as revealed, but Doc Ock is confident that with both Spider-Man and the octobot they will prove no match. Whilst Octavius and the octobot distracts and destroys the security, Spider-Man sneaks above the floors to retrieve the things Doc Ock plans to steal, but he is spotted by Taina and Mousie. Taina runs to help Spider-Man, but sets off the alarm after activating a sensor-beam. Spider-Man lets Taina and Mousie to escape, but security staff arrive and surround him.

The octobot enters and eliminates the security-staff, whilst Doc Ock proceeds in taking the stolen alloy. As Taina and Mousie drive away, Mousie has realised that Spider-Man has turned bad, but Taina reassures her that it isn't his fault.

They takes their case to the Daily Bugle, but J. Jonah Jameson hesitates in believing a little-girl and cabbie as being reliable sources, though he presents the report on the news, worrying Aunt May as she is worried as to whether Peter may be taking pictures of Spider-Man.

As Taina and Mousie listen to Jonah presenting the news on the radio, they realise that they must prevent Spider-Man from getting hurt. Mousie calls the cab company owner, who agrees to send drivers out to stalk Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man. As Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man drive on, Spider-Man begins to see Madame Web's face in the wing-mirror, telling him to "remember", this infuriates Octavius as Spider-Man begins swerving whilst driving. When they arrive back at the hideout, Spider-Man webs Mousie up but Taina escapes after trying to get Spider-Man to remember who he is, but she doesn't succeed. Taina then runs to Mousie's cab and calls for help. Spider-Man asks Mousie for more information. Doc Ock plans to mount his laser on his octobot, before ordering Spider-Man to get rid of Mousie, though he hesitates. As Doc Ock grabs Mousie with a tentacle, a cab crashes the party, saving Mousie. Taina, arriving in the cab, manages to reunite Spider-Man with his memory, but Doc Ock returns and he and Spider-Man fight again, with his memory back. As they continue to fight, Taina grabs hold of the remote to Doc Ock's octobot, grabbing him with his own invention. With Doc Ock arrested, Taina explains that Spider-Man is really her true hero. After Spider-Man agrees with Mousie and th cab drivers to give Taina a lift home, she pleads him to take off his mask for her, after hesitation, Spider-Man reveals himself as Peter Parker. Taina tells him that he is the best friend she ever had. As he leaves, at the end of the episode, Spider-Man encounters Madame Web yet again, who re-informs him of the job they must do, claiming to to be their greatest challenge.

Cast

 * Linda Gary &mdash; Aunt May
 * Sara Ballantine &mdash; Mary Jane Watson
 * Edward Asner &mdash; J. Jonah Jameson
 * Christopher Daniel Barnes &mdash; Peter Parker/Spider-Man
 * Nick Jameson &mdash; Additional voices
 * Efrem Zimbalist Jr. &mdash; Doctor Octopus
 * Joan Lee &mdash; Madame Web
 * Majel Barrett &mdash; Anna Watson
 * Anne-Marie Johnson &mdash; Mousie
 * Stephanie Eustace &mdash; Maria Taina Elizando
 * Anthony Marciona &mdash; Additional voices

Production

 * Spider-Man teaming up with Doctor Octopus comes from a storyline running through Amazing Spider-Man #55 and 56 (1967) where an amnesiac Spider-Man is tricked into helping Doctor Octopus. Together, they steal the nullifier from Stark Enterprises. Throughout the story, Spidey questions why he's teamed with such a person and eventually rebels, not fully regaining his memory. A notable difference in the comics was that Spider-Man's memory doesn't return until issue 58.
 * The episode was selected for release on DVD/VCR for The Ultimate Villain Showdown, along with other episodes.