How Would You Re-Design Spider-Man? with Adam Carnevale
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “How Would You Re-Design Spider-Man? with Adam Carnevale” inside PodZeus.
What if Spider-Man wasn’t a spider at all? In this wildly imaginative episode of *Plumbing the Death Star*, hosts Jackson Bailey, Joel Zammett, and guest Adam Carnevale abandon the classic origin story to re-design Peter Parker from the ground up—literally. They ditch the radioactive spider in favor of a bizarre, satirical origin: Peter Parker is now a Velcro-powered vigilante, born with sticky hands from a chemical accident, rebranded as 'Velcro Man' with a deep-V costume, pubic hair peeking through, and a sponsorship deal with the actual Velcro company. The episode spirals into absurdist worldbuilding: a flamethrower-wielding, cigarette-smoking 'Valentine Crow' who matchesmake couples using trauma bonding on Ferris wheels, a mind-bending 'Citizen Man' who appears as an amorphous blob or a psychic projection of a dead loved one, and even a robot-man version filled with oil and acid. At its core, the episode isn’t just a parody—it’s a sharp critique of superhero tropes, branding, and identity, asking: what if the real power isn’t in the costume, but in the myth-making? The result is a hilarious, surreal, and surprisingly thoughtful deconstruction of one of pop culture’s most iconic heroes.
Rebrand Spider-Man as 'Velcro Man' with a deep-V costume and pubic hair to avoid trademark issues and maximize brand synergy
Use an image inducer to make Spider-Man appear as an amorphous blob or a psychic projection of a loved one to hide his identity
Turn Spider-Man into a superhero matchmaker using trauma bonding to create romantic connections
Replace web-shooters with acid shooters or flamethrowers for a darker, more dangerous aesthetic
Make the superhero’s origin a chemical accident involving Velcro or a robot suit to avoid animal-based tropes
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Origin of the Re-Design: Why Spider-Man Needs a Rewrite
The hosts introduce the episode’s central question: how would we redesign Spider-Man if we ignored the classic spider origin? They mock the idea that a spider bite automatically grants spider-like powers, questioning the logic and cultural assumptions behind the iconic hero.
Velcro Man: The Brand-Driven Re-Imagining
“We go to Velcro. We're like, hey, we got a superhero. And he needs some brand deals. Yeah, okay. A big V on his chest. Big V. Deep V. Deep V showing a little bit of pubic hair?”
The Valentine Crow: A Romantic Superhero
“You should be careful for the next few moments. Life and death situations like that, for some people, can be very bonding, almost even romantic.”
The Amorphous Blob: Identity as a Weapon
“You don't even know it's a person, which is great for Peter Parker because Peter Parker goes... Nobody can be like, I gotta get to Peter Parker through his...”
The Psychic Projection: Saving Lives with Ghosts
The team explores using psychic tech to make Spider-Man appear as a deceased loved one to a citizen in distress. The idea is to manipulate emotion and trust, but the ethical and psychological risks are high.
“I am he come again. Jesus Christ has risen. You can call me come again, I believe. Second coming.”
“We go to Velcro. We're like, hey, we got a superhero. And he needs some brand deals. Yeah, okay. A big V on his chest. Big V. Deep V. Deep V showing a little bit of pubic hair?”
“You should be careful for the next few moments. Life and death situations like that, for some people, can be very bonding, almost even romantic.”
Hosts
Guest
jackson bailey
person
joel zammett
person
velcro
brand
adam carnevale
person
philip morris
brand
green goblin
person
kingpin
person
val kilmer
person
pope
person
swiss guard
organization
Which Green Guy is the Best to Be? with Lauren Bonner
Plumbing the Death Star • 1h 11m • 4/5/2026
What if Harambe was Buried in Stephen King’s Pet Sematary? with Prime Mates
Plumbing the Death Star • 1h 15m • 4/12/2026
How Would You Win Big Brother (The Reality Show)? with Naomi Higgins
Plumbing the Death Star • 1h 12m • 5/3/2026
How Would You Become Batman on the Cheap?
Plumbing the Death Star • 1h 1m • 5/10/2026
If You Could Have Any If YOU Could Have Dinner With Anyone (Historical) Living or Dead Who Would Who Would You Pick?
Plumbing the Death Star • 1h 12m • 5/17/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “How Would You Re-Design Spider-Man? with Adam Carnevale” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime