Superior Spider-Man #1 Review

Going into this review I am assuming most people have either read Amazing Spider-Man #700 or at least have checked the articles online about what the big shocker was at the end of the issue. So from this point on prepare to be spoiled if you are still in the dark about what happened to everyone's friendly neighborhood hero.

So this is the big first issue where Spider-Man is actually Otto Octavius as Peter Parker. Yep, Doc Ock switched brains with the web head right before he died and now we have Octavius stepping in as Spider-Man while we wonder if the real Parker will ever return. Admittedly I am not a huge fan of Spidey, but I have been following the book on and off since the controversial Brand New Day storyline changed the status quo. The last issue of Amazing Spider-Man was very well written with great art to accompany it so I wanted to give this new title a chance.

What we get is a really fun book with a lot of action and a Spider-Man that moves around and looks just like what is the norm, but the personality is quite different. I believe that's where the fun of the book will strike most people willing to let this storyline play out. Right from the get go Otto Parker breaks up a group of villains attacking a science building and makes no bones about how embarrassing they are to use the name of Sinister Six. Instead of the wall crawler that usually spews out witty quips to his enemies, this version is very self righteous. His inner thoughts even become frustrated that Peter Parker is going to be the one to get the credit for all of the brilliant discoveries and works of science that truly should belong to Otto Octavius. There is also an uncomfortable scene while Peter and Mary Jane are out for dinner, that makes you feel a bit dirty which helps drive a different side to this new take on Spider-Man.

The lingering question is how will the real Peter Parker return and how long is the wait? At the end of Superior Spider-Man #1 Otto Parker begins viloently thrashing the villain Boomerang close to the point of death, but stops moments before ending him while wondering why he didn't finish the job. We see ghost Peter holding his arm back and it's obvious that something is brewing to make everyone happy again.

I have zero complaints with this issues art. Ryan Stegman knows how to make an action scene pop off the page and when Otto lets loose on Boomerang he shows off close ups of fists and eyes which works fo well for such a hard hitting moment. His style is a bit similar to Humberto Ramos which will help the transition for fans who loved the Amazing Spider-Man title. That's not to say he is a carbon copy of Ramos though, he certainly has his unique style that helps this book stand on its own.

This was a strong first issue and surprised me throughout as I was reading it. I'll be coming back for issue #2 with joy and maybe even hoping Peter stays gone for a while so we can have a little fun with a new Spider-Man.

Comments

[Russman]

You KNEW he'd be back some how. So far, a weird, cheesy way to do it, but let'im invent some cool stuff and then bring Pete back. (He's gonna build an Otto-bot or clone and put his brain in that and let Pete have his body back. IN fact, their gonna work together to do it. And they could fight crime while they're at it.-just my first thoughts...)