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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 17, 2005 23:56:19 GMT -8
this is supposed to be one of Columbia's best serials. i've only read one Spider pulp story, and found it quite dull, actually, so i have no idea how this will turn out. Warren Hull is the Spider/Richard Wentworth.
#1 Night of Terror
a series of accidents is plaguing the transportation industry. the Octopus calls and tells the heads of industry what he will hit and they are powerless to stop him.
at the Octopus' (garden in the sea?) Den he gives his men orders. he also brings a Mr. Roberts in, and plans to take over his company. he wants to control the nerve centers of the country so he can take over the country. then he kills Mr. Roberts, dead. then he plans on having Mr. Richard Wentworth join Mr. Roberts.
Richard and Nita are out flying. Richard claims since they are getting married there is no more Spider. she doesn't quite believe him. he calls his man Jackson at Wentworth Airfield, but Jackson is attacked by the Octo's men. Ram Singh shows up to help Jackson.
the henchlings string wire across the runway, and it strips the plane of it's undercarriage. they bail out and then when Dick lands a gunbattle ensues. good thing the Spider has his guns!
Commissioner Kirk calls Dick to tell him everything i just typed out. Nita and Ram Singh are headed for the bridge the Octo has threatened to blow up. Dick heads out to stop them as well as the police. he's just in time. good thing he has that souped up roadster. Nita complains that it's a fine way to start their honeymoon!
Dick drops Nita off at the hospital. Octo has some words for his failing underling. Dick then visits Kirk, and the gangsters have been killed. Kirk then rails against the Spider, a "murderer who kills murderers". Dick says he's got the Spider all wrong, but Kirk isn't having any of that!
Dick gets kidnapped along with Ram Singh and brought to the Octo's Den until further orders. of course, Dick clobbers 'em and they run off. Dick recognizes the place as an old hangout he's been to before in his "Blinky McQuade" persona. then he turns into Blinky, notorious safecracker.
Blinky gets the info and returns to Ram Singh. the Spider makes his first appearance, and the police are following the speeding duo as they head toward the bus terminal to stop the explosion. Ram Singh fires guns into the air to scare the people, and the Spider tells them to get out! another gunfight ensues.
the Spider gets into a bus and it explodes!
wow, i already like this lots. it's cool that Nita knows Dick is the Spider. i also really like the fact they don't even bother with an origin. wow, the Blinky makeup is good, and Hull is using a different voice. nicely done! this serial is so good, i don't even mind that it took 26 minutes to see him in costume. of course, if Ram Singh is with the Spider, why didn't people figure it out?
next- #2 Death Below
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 18, 2005 23:14:15 GMT -8
we get a nice recap of the Spider's origin at the beginning of this episode.
the Spider wasn't IN the bus that exploded, so he is safe. he runs out, commandeers a car and hops into Ram Singh's car with the police hot in pursuit.
Octo dismisses one of his men- the hard way. the Spider gives Kirk a lead on the case via the phone. he heads toward the old hangout and Dick meets him there. unfortunately Kirk and Dick are trapped and the villains pump gas into the room. they manage to escape through the window and into a gun battle.
Dick goes to a meeting with the transportation bosses. he tells them he has a lead. he tells Kirk that he will be in Adams office to see and hear everything tonight!
he and Jack plant some new fangled electronic equipment- a tv receiver- in Adams' office and they listen in. they see that the Octopus has kidnapped Nita! the Spider goes into action!
Jack uses the winch to get the Spider up the side of the building. but the Octopus knows this and has the metal in the building electrofied- good thing the Spider knocks a henchling into it! he opens the door but uses the dead thug's body as a shield and locks the others in the safe.
four more thugs show up and the battle is on again. Jack is attacked and the winch drops out of control!
next- #3 High Voltage
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Post by Shonokin on Jul 19, 2005 13:33:46 GMT -8
I'll be interested to see how this turns out and what you think overall. The Spider's Web never really called to me but it seems like another fan favorite.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 19, 2005 15:46:35 GMT -8
well, it's pretty cool so far. i like the Spider costume quite a bit. a little more drama in his appearances would be welcome, but all in all, it's quite good so far.
it's pretty violent- henchlings die often, and some pretty horribly! just like in the pulp stories.
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 19, 2005 20:09:21 GMT -8
Ram Singh kills the second hood and he and Jackson slow the Spider and Nita's descent just in time. the Spider sends Nita home and goes back inside.
the police are sent to the Douglas Building while the Spider gets the Adams, the leader of the hoods for a nice quiet talk. a couple of the Octopus' men follow the Spider as they drive off. the Spider sees them, and sends his car off the side of the road before jumping out. Adams didn't make it.
naturally, the Spider gets blamed for killing Adams. the next day, it's all over the papers, and Dick is in a foul humor about it. Kirk's men are also watching the house, so Dick orders his "special flowers" from Roy. NIta loves them, and Dick leaves with a huge bouquet in front of his face. Blinky goes out for some info!
the Octopus wants the Spider destroyed. Blinky gets a job driving the hoods to a warehouse. suddenly the police show up. Blinky rescues one of the hoods from the cops, and they go back to his joint to get the arm fixed up.
Blinky heads to the cornder drugstore and calls Jackson with some work. Jackson shows up as a cop, and takes Blinky away. the Spider is about to strike again!
at the docks the thugs show up and then the Spider does. then a gunbattle occurs and the police show up, but not before a thug knocks the Spider into the dynamo!
next #4- Surrender or Die
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 20, 2005 23:19:57 GMT -8
the charge knocks the Spider out, but before they can kill the Spider the cops arrive. the Spider revives and gets away as the cops arrest the thugs.
Nita is happy Dick is alright after she finds out about the power plant escapade. they try to figure out what the Octopus is up to. Dick figures out it's control the Octopus wants, control of the nation. Dick then gets word his new radio system is picking up strange signals. Charlie can't figure it out, but Dick writes it down. sounds like a code to me.
Dick and Jackson try to decipher the code, while the Octopus sends men out to destroy the other radio. and they do!
Dick cracks the code using the dictionary. Dick leaves, but gets shanghaied again, and has to battle his way out of the situation. he races back to his room but all he finds is a note saying to await a message from the Octopus. Ram tells him that Jackson and Nita are safe, and he must await a message tomorrow morning.
the Octopus sends a message about the power plants being destroyed at 8 PM. Dick and Ram find out where the messages are coming from (via triangulation). the Spider prepares to strike again. he also explains why he is a vigilante.
at the hideout, Ram gets clocked right away and brought in with the others. the villains start filling the room with water. the Spider arrives and kills three hoods right away. then they chuck a gas grenade in and fill the house with steam!
next- #5 Shoot to Kill
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 21, 2005 23:07:47 GMT -8
short intro this time. the Spider opens the window and falls outside. he recovers quickly, goes back inside and destroys the radio. he then rescues his comrades from drowning. he tells Nita she is going to stay home from now on, but we know that won't happen!
the Octopus is upset (again) that the Spider foiled his plans. getting the Spider is priority. Blinky found that out. Dick plans on drawing the Octopus out into the open. there's a benefit for the bus drivers families, and Dick will do his old magic act.
Dick goes to see Kirk, who wants his help- the Spider is his top priority. they get a note from "the Spider" that threatens the show if Dick appears.
the night of the show Dick sets his plan into motion. a couple thugs are given special seats, but one goes and takes over the spotlight.
the show starts and so do the guns! the Spider appears and guns down a few, while the spotlight thug drops the spotlight ON the Spider!
next - #6 Sealed Lips
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 23, 2005 23:17:16 GMT -8
it's funny the ads above now are all for various types of spiders!
the Spider flattens himself against the wall and the spotlight misses him. the Nita explains how Dick wasn't shot- it was a trick with a projector. Kirk wants to know where Dick is, and they find him trussed up in his dressing room.
the thugs don't leave quick enough, and the cops give chase. a newsboy, Johnny, gets grazed by the car and Dick takes him home.
the Octopus doesn't seem as upset as he could be, and plans to rob an armored car. meanwhile, Dick and Kirk go over some leads. Blinky heads into action again. Dick pinches Miss Sands (Johnny's sis) and they try to get info on the Octopus' plans from her. Nita goes in as a replacement switchboard operator to get more information.
the Octopus sends #10 to find out what happened to #13 (Miss Sands). Dick shoots him just in time! but the raid happens anyway, and a gunbattle breaks out. the gang gets away in the car. Johnny gets knocked down. that makes his sis decide to spill the beans.
the Spider goes into action after the gang, and they hurl grenades at him. he leaps into their car and it runs into an electrical fence!
next- #7 Shadows of the Night
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 24, 2005 12:37:29 GMT -8
the Spider leaps clear of the transformers before the car runs into it. he then brands the driver and leaves.
the Octopus makes a new plan to get the half million dollars in the bank, and sends his men to take care of Johnny. they drive by and Johnny sees "Frank" and goes and reports to Dick.
the Spider strikes again (after giving his spiel about police being hampered by laws and such)- but Johnny is being roughed up! then the cops show up and the Spider can't shoot the good guys! he climbs out the window and tricks the boys in blue to get away.
Dick and Ram Singh get hijacked again, but a gun battle breaks out. one of the thugs gets hit, and gives Dick some info.
the Octopus gives out new plans, and then gets rid of a failing henchman. they start causing chaos on the East Sii-ide. the Spider figures out the plan, and heads into action. but he gets clocked as he walks into the bank, with the police are headed his way- and the bank doors (complete with jagged edges) are closing!
next- While the City Sleeps
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 24, 2005 23:09:26 GMT -8
the gates are electrically charged as well. the Spider comes to just in time to escape the gates and the police. he and Ram go home. later, Dick confers with Kirk. Dick is sure the Octopus is getting info from someone in the business community. they plan a trap.
at the dinner, Dick tells the men about a new plane. a coded dinner roll is transported to the Octo's men so they head to the airport, but the police blow it before they can capture the gang.
Dick gets shot at, and is pretty unfazed. but he and Kirk know that someone is in league with the Octopus. the Octo plans to spread false info now as well, through Steve Harmon, who is to be breaking with him. Blinky finds out about it as well.
then the Spider makes plans to meet ol' Steve. hope he made plans in case of a trap... Steve meets the Spider and shoots him, but it's a dummy. naturally a gun battle breaks out.
Kirk wants Nita to establish social connections with the businessmen. Kirk and Nita are tailed as they head to a party, and Kirk's car is driven off the road, after Kirk makes Nita get out. she gets in the trunk of the gang's car.
Dick knows it's the Octopus who took Kirk. he plans on going after Steve Harmon. they are to meet again on a bus. the Spider swings onto the top of the bus and battles a hood. they fall into a car and drive off the pier!
#9- Doomed
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 25, 2005 23:08:54 GMT -8
actually, the Spider knocks the villain onto his car, then leaps down- a great stunt!
Ram and the Spider leap to safety sa the thug crashes into the water. Jackson picks them up and they head for home for a good night's rest.
Dick is worried that he hasn't heard from Nita- no word from Kirk either. Blinky goes out for a lead. he goes to a local hangout and all the gang gets pinched. he gets all the info he needs.
after coming home Nita phones Dick to tell him where Kirk is being held. the Spider and Jackson hijack a car. Jackson drains the radiator so he can case the house where Kirk is being held. of course he gets caught and thrown into a pit with a ray gun! they call the Octopus, who says to give Jackson a dose of the truth serum.
the Spider makes his entrance, and traps the gang in the basement. he then gets in the back way and rescues Jackson. he then goes to get Kirk, but both get caught before they can escape, and the gang is about to unmask the Spider when Jackson douses the lights.
Jackson leaves the unconscious Kirk where the police can find him. the Octopus is again upset, and wants Dick dead. Kirk calls Dick, unaware that his phone is bugged. the gang shoots the cable of the elevator!
those consarned ray guns!
next- #10 Flaming Danger
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 27, 2005 20:26:42 GMT -8
stupid browser. short one this time.
the emergency brake saves our heroes.
Dick finds out what is going on with the crashing planes. Nita is kidnapped and the Spider saves her.
Dick takes his private plane up to save the mail plane from the Octopus' death ray. Ram and Nita go to Riverdale. as Dick's plane approaches it gets hit by the death ray and down he goes!
next- #11 the Road to Peril
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 27, 2005 23:15:32 GMT -8
Dick puts out the fire and bombs the ray gun into pieces. Dick takes a small piece of the wreckage and finds the name Mason on it. Dick also sees that they are being spied on. Dick wants the spy to warn Mason.
the Octopus' men go to Mason's place. he yells for help, gets shot and falls out the window. Dick and Singh get there too late. the Spider plans on striking while the thugs are in the building.
the police arrive and chase the Spider up the outside stairs. he drops down and changes back to Dick. he is found talking to Mason's secretary, and Kirk accuses Dick of being the Spider- but then is told how the Spider escaped.
later, Dick and Kirk compare the Octopus' notes, and the name Joseph Crane comes up. they go call on Crane. Kirk arrests Crane, for his protection. Crane figures out the Green Valley RR station is the one.
the Spider heads to the construction camp at Green Valley. the thugs plan to let the Spider in to the blast area and take care of him and the train!
next- #12 the Spider Falls
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 28, 2005 23:09:38 GMT -8
the Spider leaps to safety as the rubble covers his car. the train doesn't heed Jackson and Ram and runs into the rocks. Dick returns to the camp and finds one of the Octopus' men. while grilling him more of the Octo's gang shows up, and so do the police, which ends in a gunfight.
while Dick and Kirk discuss the Octopus, Mr. Chase comes in with the Spider's hat and cape and tells them that his detectives saw Dick show up. Dick calls his "lawyer" and makes some arrangements.
as they head to the judge's chambers the Spider shows up and retrieves his clothes.
Nita tells Dick that Mr. Chase has been involved in some suspicious activity. Dick and Nita go to Chase' office and snoop around. Blinky decides to take up the trail.
the Spider shows up, and helps Chase out. naturally, a gun battle breaks out and the Spider gets shot! he is escaping over a tension wire, but the thugs cut them!
next- #13 the Man Hunt
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 29, 2005 23:08:50 GMT -8
the Spider hits the wall and slides down the electrical wires to safety. the Octopus brings in Mr. Grey to serve an example to Dick. they take him to the Vibration Room and turn the machine on full force.
Grey, Gordon and Frank are the leading suspects, but Grey is brought to Dick's house. he can't stand sound now. Dick visits him in the hospital, as does the Octopus' gang. they grab Ram Singh and throw some firecrackers into the window to kill Grey.
an orderly lets the gang in and tells them where Dick is- naturally, a gun battle breaks out AND the police arrive, but head thug tells Dick that Ram has been kidnapped.
they use a fake sound machine to get the info from Gorman, and he blabs where Ram Singh is. the Spider must strike again! Ram Singh is battling the thugs as the Spider arrives and doing pretty well, considering he is handcuffed. they knock him out and put him in a hot shower. the Spider appears and rescues him, but then Jackson has disappeared.
Kirk phones Dick with a lead. his cops are going to investigate the bus terminal. the Octopus plans a surprise for them, as does the Spider. the Spider shows up, and a gun battle breaks out. these thugs later on became Storm Troopers, their aim is atrocious.
a thug lets a huge chain go and it heads right toward the Spider!
#14- the Double Cross
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 30, 2005 23:40:19 GMT -8
the block misses the Spider and he escapes as the cops show up and arrest the gang. he hides in the trunk of the getaway car which takes him to the thugs HQ.
Dick leaves the trunk of the car. the Octopus is planning on blowing up the waterworks, the dastard. Dick steals the car and takes off. the Octopus is desperate to kill Dick, and plans to use Jackson to do it. he'll use the ol' "write a note and trick him" trap.
two thugs easily break into Dick's place and leave him the note. they attack him and Ram knifes one when he shows up. then Dick finds the note asking him to stop fighting crime, but Jackson has warned Dick about the trap.
Dick makes an antidote to save Jackson and then heads to Kirk's office. two thugs trick Nita by pretending to be officers. she phones Ram and tells him that.
the councilmen all meet in Kirk's office. he plans to follow up on Jackson's note. Dick tells Kirk it's a trap, but makes sure Kirk is covering the water plants.
Dick then finds out Nita has been taken as well. the Spider goes into action! he gets caught in the trap!
last chapter- the Octopus Unmasked
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 31, 2005 15:33:22 GMT -8
the Spider falls into the basement, but shoots his way out. the Octopus gloats about Jackson being poisoned. one of the underlings reports to the Octopus the Spider intervened, and he has to go through the "door of death". he tells Jackson and Nita they will suffer the same fate soon.
Dick thinks he knows who the Octopus is, so Blinky goes out after some info. and he does, which involves a short gun battle. he returns with a special tube set. the place is 413 First Avenue in a technical school.
the Octopus calls Dick and tells him this is his last warning. Dick and Ram go down to case the place before they go into action. they plant some smoke pots in the office building. naurally the firemen show up.
then the Spider goes into action! the Octopus is about to send Nita through the door of doom and the Spider bursts in. he shoots the Octopus and finds out it is... Chase! Dick meets Kirk outside and they go in together.
Dick promises Nita they will go on their honeymoon, and the Spider is retired. Nita hopes for a "permanant retirement!"
thoughts- overall, i can see why this is considered so highly. it kept my attention, and i wanted to see what would happen next. if there were clues as to who the Octopus was, i missed them completely (no surprise). the actors are all very good at their roles as well, especially Warren Hull as the Spider/Blinky/Dick.
we get to see LOTS of the Spider, and his costume is well done. whatever his cape was made of, it looked cool.
MAN this is a violent serial. the Spider and pals kill thugs without a second thought. i guess Columbia got into a bit of hot water with all the killings. the sequel is supposed to be a bit tamer.
a very good serial!
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Jul 19, 2015 8:55:13 GMT -8
I'm going to repost some of these on my blog. This place sure died...
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Post by Xenorama ™ on Mar 20, 2018 10:57:00 GMT -8
This is still one fun serial.I'm glad I have it in my collection. I sure have forgotten how things work around here.
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