It’s nearly impossible to discuss this issue without spoiling the events of “Amazing Spider-Man” #700. Though, if you aren’t aware of them by now you are either incredibly strong willed or live in a cave, and therefore probably won’t read this review in the first place. Just in case, if you have not read and plan to read “Amazing Spider-Man” #700 and still have not seen spoilers, stop reading here.
Long time spider-villain Otto Octavius thwarted impending death by playing ‘Freaky Friday’ with Peter Parker. Now, with the world believing the villain to be dead, Octavius pledges to use his new lease on life to be the titular “Superior Spider-Man.” If the events of this issue are any indication, he’s going to need a lot of help to reach that goal.
Written by Dan Slott
Illustrated by Ryan StegmanTHEN!…Peter Parker spent a lifetime living up to the responsibilities his powers foisted upon him but his Amazing story finally ended dramatically in the historic Spider-Man #700. NOW!…The new Amazing Spider-Man has arrived and he is better in every single way. Smarter, stronger…Superior.
While some fans claim this book is here to perform disturbing sexual acts on their childhoods, it’s actually here to tell an intriguing, if slightly uneven, new tale of web-slinging heroics. “Superior Spider-Man” is unique among the majority of its Marvel NOW! brethren in that it brings the character into a radical new status quo, rather than returning him/her to a more reader-friendly and recognizable one. However, while the main character is different, there’s little else that differentiates this series from the issues of “Amazing” that precede it. The supporting cast of characters remains the same, as do the colorful villains and the comic pseudo-science. Even the art from Ryan Stegman is eerily similar to “Amazing” artist Huberto Ramos. Clearly, this is just the next step in Slott’s overarching Spider-story, much like how “Batman and Robin” and “Batman Incorporated” continued out of Grant Morrison’s early “Batman” work.
By showing how Octavius interacts with this familiar environment, the differences between the “Amazing” and “Superior” Spider-Men are hyper-accentuated. Sometimes Otto’s villainous ways are hilarious, such as his mad scientist lab coat, or when he announces attacks (“Plan: Omega Three”), in the same way as the members of the “new” Secret-Six (“Electro-rang!”). This leads to super skirmishes with a fun, campy vibe. Unfortunately, Otto comes off as a major jerk for the majority of the issue. Ranging from a violent anti-hero type towards villains, an arrogant jerk towards co-workers, and a downright sleazeball towards the girl next door, this isn’t a character anyone will want to root for. While it’s quite a leap to expect Otto to become a hero on the level of Peter Parker overnight, the way he acts in this issue and the statements he makes at the end of “Amazing” #700 don’t quite match up, creating cognitive dissonance for the reader. While he doesn’t seem to have a clear handle on Otto’s exact motivation or state of mind, Slott is very clearly setting the character up for a redemption arc. In the meantime, with Otto acting so oddly as both Peter and Spider-Man, one can only assume that someone will soon sense that things aren’t as they should be.
With zipping web lines, lighting bolts, flying boomerangs, as well as general mayhem and destruction, this is densely packed issue in the art department. Ryan Stegman recently had a terrific run of issues on “Scarlet Spider” and his work on that title carries over fantastically. As mention earlier, Stegman’s art bears a striking resemblance to Humberto Ramos, mainly due to the sketchy, cartoon-esque line-work. However, Stegman’s work is slightly more accessible thanks to a more realistic take on human anatomy. Stegman displays a wide range of emotional expression in his character’s faces, to the point that the a reader could follow the story beats of the issue without reading a single word. That’s an incredible ability to have in a graphic story-telling medium, but sadly one that many artists lack. Based on solicitations for upcoming issues of Superior Spider-Man, Stegman’s stint on the title will be limited to just a few issues. This is a shame, as the artist is a perfect fit for the title.
Continued belowSpecial mention goes to artist Ed McGuinness for the spectacular design of the new “Superior” spider-suit. The new protruding lenses on the mask are a nice call back to Dr. Octopus’ goggles, and the shrift from blue to black fits with the tonal difference of this new “darker” direction. The claws and the ninja tabi-styled foot are strange additions for a character who can already walk on walls, but this issue shows that there’s a reason Otto included them, and perhaps we’ll see more uses in future issues. The one design change that doesn’t sit well is the updated spider logo on the back, which looks more like a bloated tick than any kind of spider.
The levels of fan-groaning this series has garnered are absurd (death threats? really?), but there’s no denying this will be a tough issue for long time Peter Parker fans to stomach. Still, with established villains like Magneto and Sinestro playing on the side of angels, to the delight of fans, the possibilities of a Doc Ock turned hero story are pretty exciting. Dan Slott clearly has a deep love for the Spider-Man mythos, he included the Big Wheel for goodness’ sake! Add in the fantastic character work he’s become known for over the course of his “Amazing Spider-Man” run, along with the brilliant cliff hanger ending, you’ll find there’s plenty to enjoy, even if it isn’t the lead character.
Verdict: 7.7-A solid start marred only by an unlovable protagonist. Don’t make uninformed judgement calls until you’ve at least given it a shot.
