Despite death threats and negative fan reactions to the “death” of Peter Parker, Marvel Now pushes forward with one of the most interesting and original take on the Web Head in his 50 year superhero career in The Superior Spiderman.
By now everyone with a computer knows the ending for Amazing Spiderman #700, but for those who don’t Spoiler Warning. While on his death bed, Otto Octavius (Doc Ock) used technology to map Peter Parker’s brain and eventually override Parker’s conciseness with his own, essentially allowing the two to swap bodies. In a final battle in front of Peter’s loved ones Doc Ock’s body finally gave out and took Peter’s conciseness with it, but not before Peter’s life flashed both his and Otto’s eyes. Otto now knew why Parker was the hero he was and vowed to continue this legacy but to improve upon it, but to improve on it and become a Superior Spiderman.
In the opening issue we find that Otto had kept his word, with cutting edge enhancements to his suit and technology Doc Ock has proven himself a more effective and prepared Spiderman. Creating everything from nanite Spider trackers to power dampening light bulbs, the Superior Spiderman makes short work of a group of Spidey’s rogues.
Dan Slott has built a career on taking forgotten and classic characters and ideas and giving them a modern twist, this scene in his She-Hulk run and with the use of obscure villain The Living Brain in the first issue of Superior Spiderman. The idea of a villain swapping brains with a hero is something we’ve seen on countless comic books, cartoons and tv shows through out our lives, not necessarily a new idea but Slott makes it his own. Questioning the morality of every action Doc Ock takes as Peter Parker and constant ego struggles Otto has about the lack of credit he will now receive for his creations creates this whole different dynamic the character never had.
Ryan Stegman seems to have completely revamped his style for this book. Straying away from his cartoony look in She Hulks but not as a grim as Scarlet Spider, Stegman has found a fun and action packed balance for this series. Hints of Mcfarlane’s work can be scene in the heavy shadowed scenes with “Mad Scientist” Parker.
Although Marvel has said that Superior Spiderman is the new status quo, it’s pretty safe to assume with the events of issue one and a sequel to the Amazing Spiderman movie in the works Peter Parker will be back some time in the near future. Until then, fans will be treated to one of the most interesting takes on the web head and hopefully enjoy the ride as much as I have.
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