Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge

The third of these Spider-Man omnibus movies, The Dragon's Challenge,  happens to the first one I ever saw. I can still remember seeing the cassette cover when I was just a child, and getting excited about the discovery of a live-action Spider-Man. This was at least five years before Toby Maguire made his on screen debut so it felt like a big deal.

The cover to this video cassette was a little misleading.  It features the arresting image of Spidey in combat with Chinese martial artists in the Streets of Hong Kong. While Spider-Man does fight martial artists in China, there are rarely with more than two adversaries at a time and Spider-Man beats them fairly easily. The title on the box is also misleading. The Dragon's Challenge was originally broadcast as a two part story titled The Chinese Web. The original title certainly suits the story more, which is places greater emphasis on industrial espionage than on martial arts and dragons.

The story begins when J Jonah Jameson is receives a visit from an old friend, Min Lo Chan, Minister for Industrial Development in China. Min is suspected of having robbed and murdered a Chinese schoolteacher who was working for the American forces in the Second World War. Min needs Jonah's help to find three ex-marines who know that Min is innocent. However, Min has been followed to New York by goons working for Chinese industrialist, Mr Zaider. This Mr Zaider wants
Min imprisoned or killed so that he will get a contract to build a steel mill in Shan Thung. He sends his American goon, Evans, to go to New York and kill Min.

The first half of this story, has Peter searching New York city for the whereabouts of the three Marines while as Spider-Man he holds off Evans' assassins, who are working to kill Min. Events are complicated when Min suffers a heart attack. Peter is able to find and convince Jonathan Flemming to testify with him to  China. Flemming has a convenient letter of confession written by the murder of the Chinese schoolteacher.

In order to testify that Min is innocent, Peter, Emily and Flemming have to travel to China, the setting for the second half of this story. You can tell the production team really enjoyed filming here because
the plot literally grinds to a halt so that Peter , Emily and Flemming can hang around temples and enjoy the local culture. While it's nice to get a bit of background on China. There is no threat or tension, save for a couple of Evans' spies tailing them. It's more like a travelogue than a superhero show.

The plot starts to move again when Evans hires some Karate Masters to kidnap Flemming. These Karate Masters succeed in ambushing Flemming in a marketplace and make off with him, evading a short and dull boat chase with Spider-Man. Fortunately Peter had earlier managed to place a Spider-tracer in Flemming's pocket and uses it to track him down. We then get another paceless scene of Peter Parker chasing after Flemming while he sits around. There's no time limit on Flemming's life, so no reason for us to worry for his safety.

Spider-Man traces Flemming to a building where Evans, Zaider and the Karate Masters are waiting with the kidnapped Flemming. The video blurb promised a "duel with various Karate masters"And how does Spider-Man deal with this dangerous fight? He webs them up....Yeah. That's it. That's the solution. A lot of build-up for very little payoff.

The previous two films didn't have any costumed super villains, but at a least a brainwashing scheme or a terrorist threat felt like big enough threats for a superhero. Plans involving contracts and espionage feel unworthy of Spider-Man.

6/10