The Spectacular Spider-Man/Recap/S1/E05 Competition

"Nah, wait. Revenge is for chumps! I don't care about Spider-Man, all ever I wanted is my big score! And now I got the power to get it!"

- Flint Marko/Sandman

It's another normal night of webslinging when Spider-Man happens upon Flint Marko and Alex O'Hirn making a getaway from a burglary again. Their bail is quickly posted however, by Hammerhead who ominously tells them that they're now part of the big time.

At home, Peter is practicing web targeting until Aunt May knocks on his door. Hastily webbing the mess to the ceiling, Peter impresses Aunt May with the cleanliness of his room. This, coupled with his adherence to the curfew rule prompts May to revert to the old curfew of 10 p.m. A flyer for the Fall Formal coming from the ceiling clutter catches May's attention, and she proposes that Peter goes with Mary Jane Watson, her neighbor's niece.

Marko and O'Hirn are driven to an underground lab by Hammerhead. Hammerhead and Marko get out, leaving O'Hirn in the car. Hammerhead tells Marko that this is a solo job for him from the Big Man.

At school, Peter sits between Gwen and Harry. Although at first it seems that neither are still speaking with him, Harry reveals that he's over Peter blowing off helping him study. An announcement on the PA system from Coach Smith prompts Harry to try out for the football team. Harry invites Peter to join him, but Peter initially declines, only changing his mind after overhearing Flash Thompson and Kong talking about how they look forward to tackling Harry.

In the lab, Dr. Otto Octavius prepares Marko for a procedure using his mechanical tentacles. Octavius explains that the goal is to infuse Marko with silicon particles that will create a sub-dermal armor that will make Marko impervious. Hammerhead assures Marko that that's a good thing since nobody -- including Spider-Man -- will be able to hurt him.

On the football field, both Peter and Harry perform surprisingly well, despite Flash and Kong's attempts to cheat Hobie Brown onto the team. When Kong tries to trip Harry, his girlfriend Glory Grant looks on in disapproval and threatens to break up with him unless he cuts it out.

Back in the underground lab, Octavius voices his worries about the safety of the procedure until silenced by Norman Osborn. The experiment commences, but a magnetic field regulator malfunctions, causing the experiment to rage out of control, turning Marko into a pile of sand. Octavius wonders what they should do now, and is answered by Osborn saying that they'll sweep up and try again. Hammerhead then notices something going on in the test chamber. Sure enough, the pile of sand reshapes itself into the rough shape of a man before refining itself into the likeness of Flint Marko. Marko is not pleased to put it lightly, although Hammerhead points out that he now has the power to take anything he wants and can crush Spider-Man. Marko however dismisses the idea of revenge and sets out to get his big score as the Sandman.

Spider-Man is tossing a football around on a roof, thinking about the day's try-outs when he hears alarm bells ringing. Swinging to the scene, he's frustrated to find Marko, thinking it will be the same old story. Of course, he's in for a rude awakening when Marko reveals his sand powers. Spider-Man and Sandman fight, with Spider-Man unable to harm Marko thanks to his sand body, and runs out of web-fluid. Sandman accidentally drops the name Big Man, prompting Spider-Man's curiosity. Sandman dodges the question of his identity and runs to rob more banks...but forgets to take the money he already stole.

Peter is determined to forget about football in order to chase Sandman, but changes his mind when Liz Allen offers her encouragement. While Sandman continues his crime spree robbing ATMs and banks, Peter and Harry continue to do well at try-outs. When Coach Smith announces he's considering Peter for starter and Harry for second string, Harry points out to Peter that he didn't even want to try out and is already the smartest kid in school. When Randy invites them to go to the Silver Spoon with the other popular kids, Harry accepts, but Peter declines to catch the bus with Gwen where they officially patch things up. Gwen attempts to ask Peter to the Fall Formal, but Peter obliviously goes on about how he doesn't have a date and how he doesn't want to go anyway. They're interrupted by an armored car plowing through traffic. Peter sheepishly excuses himself to take pictures, even though he had just promised he wouldn't put the Bugle first. Gwen assures him it's fine, but asks him to be careful.

Spider-Man follows the car and is attacked by sandy spikes sticking out through the roof. Spider-Man kicks Sandman out of the driver's seat, and they begin tussling, only for Sandman to point out that nobody's driving. The car careens over the side of the road into a construction site. Spidey's helped by the construction workers before Sandman ambushes him again. Spider-Man still has no luck in doing any damage, and to make things worse, his webs don't stop Sandman, who brings down the girders of the construction site on top of Spidey.

At the Silver Spoon, Harry tells a funny story about the woes of being rich. Glory thinks he's hilarious, which prompts a jealous Kong to spill soda all over Harry. Furious, Glory breaks up with Kong and asks Harry to take her home.

The police cordon off the construction site, hoping that Spider-Man will be able to handle Sandman. Spidey digs his way to the top of the girders, only to find Sandman waiting for him. Sandman gives a speech about how he didn't want to come after Spider-Man, but the webhead just couldn't leave him alone. Before Marko can finish him off, Spider-Man webs Sandman's face and yanks the girders out from underneath him. Spider-Man's luck remains the same however, until he spots a concrete machine. Luring Sandman underneath it, Spider-Man yanks it open, coating Sandman with fast-drying cement.

Harry returns home in a good mood, but Norman dismisses his aspirations for the football team. The next day at try-outs, Peter intentionally throws the drills in order to let Harry have his glory, and is rewarded with ice cream from Gwen.

This episode provides examples of:

 * Abusive Parents: Norman's as nasty as ever, and Emily Osborn does nothing about it.
 * Acquired Situational Narcissism: Harry, once he starts becoming more popular. It gets worse over the next few episodes.
 * Big No: Marko when he discovers his new existence.
 * Body Horror: Marko turning into sand.
 * Cannot Spit It Out: Gwen to Peter.
 * Drop the Hammer: Sandman's favorite tactic.
 * Green Eyed Monster: Kong to Harry.
 * Jerk Jock: Harry starts to become one in this episode.
 * My God What Have I Done: Octavius when he thinks his experiment has killed Marko.
 * Marko aslo turns this back on them asking "What have you done to me?!"
 * Oh Crap: Spider-Man when Sandman brings the girders down on him.
 * Taken for Granite: Essentially what happens to Sandman.