If I had a nickel for every time Josh Keaton voiced a variant of Spider-Man in another comic universe, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s strange it happened twice.
Loved how the season finale for Invincible was handled with ONE lil exception... So I did an edit of Agent Spider so he scratches my very specific Spider-man brain itch without crossing that legally distinct area 😁♥️🖤
Everyone's talking about how they have a "Spider-Man" cameo in Invincible with Agent Spider, but I would like you all to remember if it wasnt for the constant pushing back on public domain laws, Spider-Man WOULD be public domain rn.
I know people are not loving this “legally distinct from Spider-Man” design in the new Invincible episode, and I get where they’re coming from. But I went and watched the clip myself and personally, Mark’s reaction to Agent Spider fighting Prof Ock being “What are you doing? Are you trying to hurt this old man???” makes up for it 100%. If you can’t use the classic Spider-Man look, then having a third party assume that Ock is an innocent old man and Spidey is a creep who’s wailing on him for no reason is the most Spidery thing you can do. Plus they got Josh Keaton!
That being said…
LOOK AT HOW THEY MASSACRED MY BOY!!! THE “P” IS FOR “PISS POOR ATTEMPT AT A DOC OCK DESIGN.” WHY THE GIANT HELMET? WHY THE CAPE?? HE’S GRAY??? And worst of all, if that’s Josh Keaton Spidey, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A VERSION OF TSSM OCK AKA ONE OF THE MOST SLICK AND STYLIZED OCK DESIGNS OUT THERE??? I’m SO much more offended by megamind here than by Agent Spider
Well, everyone that has read Invincible knows that during his fight against Levi, Mark gets thrown into the Marvel universe, bumping into a fight between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. Let's be sincere, Amazon getting the rights to add Spider-Man was an almost impossible idea... But not entirely impossible. Yet still, we had to brace ourselves for small cameo in which the Marvel character would seem recognizable for the fans, yet ambiguous enough for lawyer teams. I was lowkey expecting that, but they decided to go further and have a more elaborate encounter... So... That's the thing: The either payed for those juicy Spider-Man rights or they made a legally distinct Spider themed superhero. Of course they went for the second option.
So... Introducing...
Agent Spider! Ugh...
Look, I think it's unfair to be disappointed by them not being able to add Spidey. I get it, but it was a pipe dream...
... However...
This legally distinct character looks quite awful and unappealing, which is weird considering how generally good Invincible designs are (specially for the pastiche characters). I'm no rabid MCU hater, but this guy looks like the worst MCU design trends in an original Spider-Man design, minus all the basic Spider-Man elements.
Like, I get not making him look too close to Spider-Man — stuff like changing the colors or composition — but this looks WAAAY too tacky. And what's with that "agent" motif? Who came up with that random ass bullshit? "Agent" Spider? Why? That motif actually add the worst elements to the design. Like the stupid "A", or the harness, or the pouches, or the "tactical" lines of the... Is that a fucking helmet? Jeez.
What irks me the most is that making a good looking Spider-Man parody/pastiche is not really that hard, you don't have to overdo it. Look at the Brown Widow from Venture Bros.
The theme makes more sense, as this chatacter is based on a specific type of spider and there is a comedic motif that doesn't take over most of the design. Yet still, it retains the simple siluette of Spider-Man and a basic notion of detailing and distribution of elements on the suit. Most importantly, THE EYES! The eyes scream Spider-Man, yet they give it their own spin to fit into their own motifs.
Whatever Spider-Man knockoff they would have added to the Invincible season 2 finale, it should have been something more like the Brown Widow, not that awful Agent Spider.
Status Post #10985: Invincible is the only animated show to date to have crossed over into the Big Two universes as a result of the second season finale, when Mark encountering a variant of Spider-Man called Agent Spider (voiced by none other than Josh Keaton) in one universe and meeting Batman (well, the back of him) in another universe.