Episode #27 - The Final Nightmare
Original Airdate February 24, 1996

Spider-Man seeks Curt Connors aid to help reverse the aging effects of the Vulture's talons. The Vulture meanwhile sporadically turns into the Man-Spider from the mutagenics he absorbed with Spidey's youth. At the same time, The Scorpion grabs Dr. Farley Stillwell to seek a cure for his own mutation. With Doc Connors caught in the middle, feeling the onset of his own his reptilian transformation, will everyone be cured in time for Peter to meet up with Mary Jane as she confronts her wayward father?

Credits
Story By: John Semper and Sandy Fries
Written By: Sandy Fries
Music Composed By: Shuki Levy and Kussa Mahchi
Animation Services By: Toyko Movie Shinsha (TMS)
Guest Starring: Christopher Daniel Barnes as Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Joseph Campanella as Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard, Eddie Albert as Adrian Toomes/ Old Vulture, and Alan Johnson as Arthur Avis/ Young Vulture, Neil Ross as Norman Osborn and Richard Moll as The Scorpion

Review: Well, after a full season long story, it came to this, the final chapter of The Neogenic Nightmare. It was certainly a surprising one, specifically the scene where The Vulture attacks Osborn, only to become the Man Spider; he learned that when he absorbed Spider-Man’s youth, he also took his disease. I thought that was awesome. I didn't see it coming, I gotta admit. When this series wanted to be, it was completly and utterly unpredictable.

As with most of the season finales, this one was overrun with characters. The Scorpion and Farley Stillwell where added to the mix and Conners became The Lizard again. Scorpion wasn’t really needed, and his story here could’ve easily been translated into another episode on it’s own. The Scorpion was is actually very interesting in some episodes, only wanting to seek a cure and get married (!). In others, he confuses the viewers and pulls a 180. There was no need for him to be in The Wedding or the Six Forgotten Warriors episodes at all. Whether or not The Scorpion wasn't selling is unknown but still, he was a great character, when used right.

The subplot with Mary Jane and her Father was a confusing one; she disappeared within seconds of turning around the corner. For a cliff-hanger we had to wait months for, well…it could’ve been done better. Other than that, this episode was a great finish to a daring and unique storyline, which arguably changed the way Saturday mornings cartoons worked. Before The Neogenic Nightmare, a full season dedicated to one story was unheard of, nevermind executed so well. Unfortuantly, networks rarely allow these stories to be told anymore. The Neogenic Nightmare could very well be one of the last of it's kind.