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Sure, a lot of people might like the Superior Spider-Man era, but it’s a controversial period that, from many fans perspectives, totally ruined everything for the iconic web-slinger. It’s been over a decade since Doc Ock stole Peter Parker’s body, but it’s hard to forget this strange period in Marvel history.
In a storyline that left fans stunned, the “Dying Wish” arc saw Doctor Octopus swap minds with Spider-Man and, as seen The Amazing Spider-Man #700, Peter perished in Otto Octavius’ body. After Otto experiences all of Peter’s memories and experiences, he resolves to be not just a hero, but a superior Spider-Man. But for many fans, the storyline that came after was anything but superior.
Superior Spider-Man Put Marvel’s Greatest Hero Through His Worst Lows
Peter’s Been Through a Lot, But Nothing Worse Than This
With Otto’s mind now inhabiting Peter’s body, he fully commits to the idea of being the Marvel Universe’s new Spider-Man. However, despite the best intentions and Peter’s memories serving to guide Otto, Octavius is too much like his old self to be anything like Peter’s take on Spider-Man. Otto brutalizes criminals and cracks down hard, monitoring New York City with an army of Spider-Bots. While Otto tries to improve Peter’s personal life by getting his doctorate and growing close to scientist Anna Maria Marconi, Otto’s actions as Spider-Man raise eyebrows to those closest to Peter.
Worse, Otto also manages to fool Peter’s loved ones, such as Aunt May and Mary Jane Watson.
After savagely beating several criminals and even killing a villain, the Avengers bring Otto in to test him, yet none of them are able to determine anything wrong with ‘Peter’. Worse, Otto also manages to fool Peter’s loved ones, such as Aunt May and Mary Jane Watson. Those he doesn’t completely alienate or fool, he makes enemies out of, such as Black Cat, whom Otto punches in the face before handing her over to the police. The only person who does notice that Spider-Man isn’t himself is the Green Goblin, who begins organizing an army in secret.
The Green Goblin, now calling himself the Goblin King, eventually reveals himself to Otto and offers him a truce and when he refuses, the Goblin King launches an all-out assault on New York. Despite trying his hardest, Otto admits that he’s not the superior Spider-Man he thought he was and willingly allows a copy of Peter’s consciousness to assume control of Spider-Man’s body. Peter defeats the Goblin King and begins the long process of getting his life back in order after Doctor Octopus made a huge mess of it.
Seriously, How Did Almost No One Notice Something Was Wrong with Peter?!
On the surface of it, Superior Spider-Man is an interesting idea for a story that explores the ideas of redemption, heroism and moral complexity. The problem is that for this particular story to work, it requires everyone to be incredibly dense in handling what’s going on with Peter. For starters, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men. All heroes that Peter has worked closely with for years, yet they all seem to chalk up Spider-Man’s situation to a big personality change rather than a bodyjacking.
But aside from Spider-Man’s superhero friends not catching on, it’s even more infuriating that people like Mary Jane not sensing that something was up with Peter. Even though their relationship has had its ups and downs, she’s always been instinctively in tune with Spider-Man, yet she didn’t sense something was majorly wrong with someone who was once the love of her life? Speaking of relationships, it should absolutely be said that Otto striking up a relationship with Anna Maria while pretending to be Peter is without a doubt creepy and quite uncomfortable to read.
And yes, maybe this book is supposed to be odd and disturbing. It is about a villain trying to walk the path of a hero, to be fair. But this book was, for all intents and purposes, the main Spider-Man series at the time of its publication. It banked on controversy and getting fans upset for nearly the entire time it ran. Sure, it was an interesting premise and, admittedly, it does have its fanbase. But it’s far from what people expect from a Spider-Man book and something that really damaged Spider-Man as a whole.
Superior Spider-Man is a Part of Marvel History Best Glossed Over
It Was Only a Year, But One Better Forgotten
Sure, it’s been a decade since this period for Spider-Man and now, it’s mostly a distant memory. But it really is hard to shake how undeniably weird the entire saga was. Otto acting so out of character for Peter, but not causing anyone to press him or ask him questions was just bizarre to see unfold. Thankfully, it only lasted a year and Marvel Comics seems quite content to never dredge up this strange chapter of Spider-Man’s history again.
“}]] One of the darkest times in Spider-Man history. Read More