Spider-Man (1981) Season 1 Episode 5 The Sandman Is Coming

In Spider-Man (1981) season 1 episode 5, titled "The Sandman Is Coming", viewers are introduced to one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. Flint Marko, a small-time thug, accidentally falls into an experimental particle accelerator at an atomic research lab during a failed heist, causing his body to merge with the sand that surrounds him. This event, coupled with Marko's already formidable criminal abilities, transforms him into the Sandman, a superpowered criminal with the ability to transform his body into sand and manipulate it at will.

Meanwhile, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, is investigating a series of robberies that have taken place across the city. The only clue left at each crime scene is a trail of sandy footprints. Spider-Man quickly deduces that the Sandman is responsible and sets out to stop him before he can cause any more damage.

Spider-Man's investigation leads him to an abandoned construction site, where he battles the Sandman for the first time. Although Spider-Man puts up a good fight, he quickly realizes that his webs and punches have little effect on Sandman's sandy body. In a desperate move, Spider-Man uses a nearby cement truck to douse Sandman in wet cement, encasing him in a temporary prison.

However, Sandman isn't down for the count just yet. When the police attempt to transport him to prison, he breaks free and goes on a rampage across the city. He attacks a building site, a bank, and even a hospital, causing chaos and destruction wherever he goes.

As Spider-Man hunts down Sandman once again, he comes up with a plan to defeat him. Using his scientific know-how, Spider-Man is able to create a chemical solution that reverses the effects of the particle accelerator, causing Sandman's body to revert to its human form. With his powers gone, Sandman is no longer a threat, and Spider-Man is able to apprehend him and turn him over to the authorities.

"The Sandman Is Coming" is a thrilling and action-packed episode that introduces one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains. The animation is bright and colorful, and the fight scenes are dynamic and exciting. The episode also features strong characterization, particularly for Sandman, who is shown as more than just a mindless brute but as a sympathetic character whose criminal ways are a result of circumstance and desperation. Overall, "The Sandman Is Coming" is a must-watch episode for any Spider-Man fan.