Entertainment
Disney Should Give The X-Men '97 Treatment To A 90s Hit Butchered By Studio Interference
By Jonathan Klotz
| Updated
X-Men ‘97 Season 2 is in the middle of its run on Disney+ and its improved on the first season by so much, fans are now offering up suggestions for other Marvel classics that should get the same revival treatment. These range from Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to one person suggesting the 90s Iron Man series, but if anything deserves a second chance, it’s Spider-Man: The Animated Series from 1994. Next to the X-Men, it was the most successful animated adaptation but rules for kids show in the 90s kept it from reaching its full potential, and besides, who doesn’t want to see a modern retelling of the death of Dr. Octopus, Green Goblin vs. Hobgoblin, or a second take at the full Clone Saga?
Spider-Man Never Reached Its Full Potential
Alright, so Spider-Man’s run of 90s stories don’t have the same sort of historical value as X-Men ‘97 diving into “Inferno”, “Age of Apocalypse”, “Fatal Attractions”, and Onslaught (Who has to be coming up, right?), but dipping back into the 80s a bit would allow for “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” while “Maximum Carnage” and anything with the Sinister Six deserves a better adaptation. Go back and watch the Fox cartoon now, and you’ll notice a few things that you didn’t pick up on during its original run.
For starters, “sinister” couldn’t be used, so the writing team replaced it with “Insidious” which doesn’t have the same ring to it. Secondly, Spider-Man doesn’t punch anyone. That one was, oddly enough, not a note from the network or the studio, but a choice made by Lead Writer John Semper, who felt Peter Parker was smart enough to find other ways to solve his problems. That makes sense, as Fox was showing Batman: The Animated Series and on that show, Batman’s fists were rated E for Everyone.
No blood, no vampires (Morbius had butthole hands instead), no death/killing (hence the line, “Shocker’s blast should have creamed me”), no blades even though they did include Blade, no realistic guns outside of flashbacks, and the list goes on and on. In interviews, Semper said fans have blown the censorship out of proportion and that it was standard for kids shows at the time, though all you have to do is again, point to Batman.
90s Spider-Man Deserves A Redo
Spider-Man: The Animated Series was such a success that the world it established for Spider-Man was adapted into its own comic book, video game, and ride at Universal Studios Orlando. Like the X-Men, it’s what a whole generation thinks of when they think of Spider-Man. Younger kids had Ultimate Spider-Man and Spidey And His Amazing Friends, once they’re old enough that getting out of bed hurts, expect a push for them to be revived as well.
X-Men ‘97 managed to pull off the impossible and adapt “Inferno” for Season 1, while in Season 2, it turned Apocalypse into the baddest villain in history, while giving Kang a better moment than he had in his entire MCU run. Imagine how horrible the Jackal and Hobgoblin (Kingsley version) could be in an updated Spider-Man ’98, or how cool seeing Spider-Island would be. Now that Marvel has a winning formula, it should go beyond the X-Men to the 90s other most popular hero.
Entertainment
This educational kids app gives parents a much-needed break — and now it’s $60 for life
TL;DR: Lock in a lifetime of educational fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99 (reg. $250).
Have you had a sip of hot coffee this summer break? If not, you might want to check out Pok Pok. It’s an educational app that offers a guilt-free screen option for kids ages 2-8, so you can get a little break when you need it.
Right now, you can lock in a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for only $59.99.
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Pok Pok is an award-winning app that gives busy parents everywhere a chance to cook dinner, answer some emails, or just enjoy a hot cup of coffee in the morning while their little ones enjoy some educational content. It takes a Montessori approach to learning, so kids can navigate it independently.
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Montessori-inspired learning means there is no winning or losing and no rules, levels, or objectives. Kids can just open Pok Pok, tap a toy, and start exploring categories like space, dinosaurs, numbers, and shapes. This open-ended play setup can grow with your kids, so they can enjoy the app for years.
As your kids play, you can rest easy knowing the app was developed in collaboration with early childhood experts and designed to be calming and non-addictive, featuring hand-drawn animations and in-house-made sound effects.
Pok Pok is COPPA-certified, ad-free, and GDPR-compliant, so they won’t be tricked into making any purchases. A lifetime subscription also includes access to regular updates, so kids will always have something new to explore. This subscription also includes an exclusive surprise gift that will show up at your address.
Let your kids explore while you take a break thanks to this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for just $59.99.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
This $145 ASUS Chromebook is a laptop and tablet in one
TL;DR: Get two gadgets in one with this ASUS Chromebook CM30, on sale now for only $144.97 (reg. $369.99) through July 19.
$144.97
$369.99
Save $225.02
If you’re in the market for a laptop and a tablet, you have a pretty steep price tag ahead of you. The ASUS Chromebook CM30 solves for that, giving you two devices in one thanks to a detachable keyboard.
Right now, you can bring home this multitasking device for less than you would pay for just one of those items — $144.97 — until July 19.
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The world asks a lot of us these days. Since we’re all used to multitasking, our devices should be able to do it too. This ASUS Chromebook CM30 is up to the task — offering an easy way to switch from a productivity laptop to a relaxation tablet in just a few seconds.
The ASUS Chromebook is a 2-in-1 device powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, delivering smooth, efficient performance. 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage let you multitask, save files locally, and have enough room for your favorite apps.
The 10.5-inch touchscreen delivers crisp visuals and intuitive touch control and easily detaches from the keyboard to provide a sleeker user experience. There’s also a garaged stylus with fast-charging technology that lets you change things up when you’re tired of tapping.
This Chromebook arrives running Chrome OS, an efficient operating system for today’s busy world. There are also dual 5MP front and rear cameras for capturing images and hopping on video calls.
You’ll enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and plenty of ports for your connectivity needs. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 help you connect anywhere, and you can rest easy taking this ASUS Chromebook along with you thanks to its military-grade aluminum chassis that offers rugged protection on the go.
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You’re saving over $200 thanks to this model’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition with minimal to zero scuffing on the case.
Bring home an ASUS Chromebook CM30 for just $144.97 today.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Microsoft Office is finally a one-time purchase, and it’s only $30
TL;DR: Instead of paying for Microsoft 365 every month, get a Microsoft Office lifetime license while they’re on sale for $29.97. Sale ends July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
$29.97
$219.99
Save $190.02
You might not want to keep paying for Microsoft 365 anymore. At its absolute cheapest, Microsoft 365 is $99.99 per year, and that’s if you pay for the full year up front, but it’s also not your only option anymore. Instead of paying for the same software year after year, now you can get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office installed directly onto your PC, and it’s only $29.97 (reg. $219.99) on sale.
You don’t have to pay a monthly fee to get the core Microsoft apps anymore.
This version of Microsoft Office comes with
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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Publisher
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Access
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OneNote
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Teams (free version)
Just keep in mind that Microsoft is ending support for Publisher in October, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use it. It just means it won’t be changing anymore, which may actually be a good thing if you like your apps to look the same tomorrow as they were yesterday.
This license is a little different from Microsoft 365. It doesn’t come with extras like cloud storage, or the new AI integrations, but for many users, that’s actually a good thing. The AI integrations are still being worked out, so sudden updates can totally change your workflow. If you want a simple, reliable set of tools to work with, this is an excellent option for a great price.
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Through July 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT, it’s only $29.97 to get a Microsoft Office lifetime license.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
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