The new animated Spider-Man movie does a lot of things you don't see other comic book movies doing.

It opens with a superhero playing in a punk band,

and imagines what Manhattan would look like if it were mashed up with Mumbai,

it acknowledges the existence and importance of Jamaican beef patties.

The most important of all, it looks really good.

I looked at my uncle and...

Let me guess, he died.

Like, the movie looks astonishingly good.

It shifts visual styles as its characters moods shift.

It reminds you the comic book movies come from comic books, a visual art form.

It reminds you how easy it can be to forget that fact.

Why can't I understand you?

Oh, great, that's the who's.

Hey, everybody, it worked. Who's worked?

Coming up on today's explain, why so many big special effects,

laden blockbusters don't look very good anymore?

Today's explain, Sean Ramas firm, but today we're bringing you something a little different.

I recently had the privilege of guest hosting another show in the Vox Media Podcast Network

into it with Sam Sanders. You might remember Sam from Public Radio, if you're a listener.

It's been a minute.

Now he's hosting into it the pop culture podcast from Vulture and New York magazine.

So while guest hosting, I want to talk to someone from Vulture who could help me understand something that often leaves me scratching my head.

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