Spider-Man is renowned for his quick wit and smart remarks. It's what makes the character so iconic, and nowhere is this more prevalent than in the show The Spectacular Spider-Man. These quips often appear during times when Spider-Man is fighting one of his deadly foes or facing a regular hardship. It's often a way to break the tension and it provides some laughs, since ultimately this is a kid's show.
Each episode of the two-season series has multiple one-liners and quips, and some episode's quips in particular stand out amongst the rest.
Season 2 - "Blueprints"
"Seems To Me Mysterio Is The Master Of Talking About Himself In The Third Person."
Spider-Man villains always think very highly of themselves. They see themselves as the most powerful beings in all of New York City, and they thus have a right to treat its inhabitants as awfully as they do. Spider-Man always makes sure to put these villains in their place, however, before he beats them to a pulp.
When he is fighting Mysterio, Mysterio states that "Mysterio is the master of the Arcane Arts," a statement which Spider-Man quickly mocks. The quip also seems to be quite meta, as it is mocking how supervillains usually talk in comics and movies. Ultimately, it's hilarious to hear.
Season 1 - "Market Forces"
"I Mock, I'm A Mocker. I'm Also A Puller, A Tugger, A Yanker."
One of the ways that Spider-Man is so funny is his awareness that quipping is part of his identity. This appears when he is fighting Shocker, a villain with a fun behind-the-scenes fact. Shocker warns Spider-Man not to mock him, and the web-swinging hero comes out with this line.
The quip is also great since it becomes literal. Spider-Man mocks Shocker, while he pulls, tugs, and yanks the pillars of the building they are fighting in, in order to send it crashing down on Shocker. In fact, Spider-Man mocked Shocker specifically so he would blast the pillars, weakening them. Ultimately, this quip shows how Spider-Man's remarks often aid the battle itself.
Season 1 - "Catalysts"
"I Make It A Rule Not To Partner With Anyone Green."
When the Green Goblin asks Spider-Man if they wish to team up together, Spider-Man refuses, and states the above quote. While this quote is the beginning of one of the greatest rivalries in Spider-Man history, it's very funny to hear, because voice actor Josh Keaton states the line so nonchalantly, as if he is just chatting to a work colleague.
Furthermore, this quip shows how moral Spider-Man is, because he is able to stand his ground against evil, even when siding with evil would be an easier option for him. Being able to do what's right while cracking jokes is exactly what makes Spider-Man Spider-Man.
Season 1 - "Reaction"
"Oh, You Sweet Talker You."
Spider-Man's quips often don't go down super well with his opponents. In fact, they often cause his enemies to attack him even more. For example, when he is fighting one of Spectacular Spider-Man's best villains, Doc Ock, the villain yells "You pathetic, four-limbed excuse for a spider!" But Spider-Man isn't fazed by this insult, instead joking that his enemy is sweet-talking him.
Spider-Man's lack of concern for how much his enemies hate him is one of the most charming things about the hero. Spider-Man also proceeds to throw a bunch of sweet candied apples at Doc Ock, making his quip quite literal.
Season 1 - "Competition"
"Didn't Know You Had Any Style."
Spider-Man's quick wit is one of his best traits, and this is shown by his ability to easily cut into what the villains are saying. When Sandman and the Rhino break into a bank through the sewers, they gloat that Spider-Man isn't there to cramp their style. As if summoned, Spider-Man appears, joking that the other two men don't have any style to begin with.
It's one thing for Spider-Man to make up quips of his own, it's another to build off of what other people are saying. He manages to do both things flawlessly, which is what makes him so great to fans, and annoying to his enemies.
Season 1 - "Survival Of The Fittest"
"You Are Celebrating Halloween In September, Right? Or Am I Not One To Talk?"
Spider-Man doesn't just throw insults at others, he is also able to make fun of himself, which shows his more humble side. When he is fighting the Vulture, this is the first time he has seen a costumed supervillain. Spider-Man is actually surprised by the baddie, and wonders if he's wearing a Halloween costume.
But of course, since Spider-Man wears a costume himself, he refuses to be hypocritical, and proceeds to make fun of himself for dressing up in a similar way. Spider-Man is always able to poke fun at everything and anything, which is what makes his battles so fun to watch.
Season 1 - "The Invisible Hand"
"What's The Big Man's Next Move? Turn Flash Thompson Into The Belligerent Bug Zapper?"
When Tombstone turns Alex O'Hirn into the Rhino, Spider-Man is shocked, to say the least. But he takes it in stride, and wonders who else will be turned into a supervillain by the Big Man, AKA Tombstone. This quip infuses both sides of Spider-Man; his superhero life of fighting bad guys, and Peter Parker's regular life of being bullied by jock Flash Thompson.
The quip shows why people find Spider-Man so compelling, which is that he has to balance both his regular and superhero life at the same time, and the two worlds often collide. It's part of the reason why the cartoon is so highly rated on IMDb.
Season 1 - "Catalysts"
"Yoo-Hoo! Excuse Me, Can I Come In This Way, Or Do I Have To Break My Own Window?"
In one of Spectacular Spider-Man's best episodes, the Green Goblin crashes in through a window and attacks a party, terrifying all of the party guests. The green menace has cornered a lot of them, and it seems like there's no way out. The situation is dark. Until Spider-Man appears at the broken window and jokes if that's the only way he can get into the room.
Spider-Man's quips often aren't just for him, they are made to put innocent civilians at ease while Spider-Man is saving them from danger. It shows how good of a hero Spider-Man is since he is able to prevent civilians from being harmed both physically and emotionally.
Season 1 - "Group Therapy"
"Only Six, Huh? What Happened, Lizard And Goblin Had Knicks Tickets?"
When the Sinister Six first appear and attack Spider-Man, the hero quickly takes it in stride despite his sticky situation. He ironically jokes about how there aren't enough of them to deal with. Six is too small a number, and he wonders where his other foes may be. Since Spider-Man is a New York native, he guesses a classic New York situation, a Knicks game.
This quip is special because there's an underlying hint of fear in his joke. By this point, the Sinister Six is the greatest threat that he's faced, and audiences may wonder if Spider-Man is using humor to quell his worries.
Season 1 - "Reaction"
"My Fans Expect A Certain Amount Of Quippage In Every Battle."
Spider-Man is fully aware that he is a mean quipping machine, and he makes sure that his opponents know this as well. When he is fighting Doc Ock for the first time, the villain is infuriated by Spider-Man's jokes, yelling, "Do you ever shut up!?" Spider-Man apologizes but states that he is obligated to mock his opponents purely due to his superhero branding and fans. Because of this, he will never shut up.
Spider-Man is hilarious because he has branded himself as such. He takes pride in his quipping, which is what keeps the jokes coming every episode. And viewers love to see it.