There have been countless versions of the world’s favorite web head–well, actually, only 40–but few got the arachnid underroos bunched up as much as “Superior Spider-Man“ in 2013. And, on its 10th anniversary, Marvel Comics is bringing it back!
Creators Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman are putting the band–and the octopus–back together for a bewildering story about Doc Ock himself dying. So? Well, in a long, detailed, what-in-the-actual-eff plotline, Dr. Otto Gunther Octavius takes over Peter Parker’s body.
Yes, if you missed it, that really happened. And it was pretty dang good comic reading! The news release from Marvel shares that, in addition to Slott and Stegman, “superstar artists Mark Bagley, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Humberto Ramos” will join them “to deliver a Spider-Man story SUPERIOR to all others in this giant-sized one-shot.”
Once Amazing, Now Superior, Always Spidey
If you are a Marvel Comics enthusiast, you know Peter Parker died in 2012 with the storyline “Dying Wish.”
Dr. Octopus was given a year to live, his body and brain in terminal decline after a lifetime of brutal battles with his arch-foe Spider-Man. First, he mobilized an army of Octobots to take over Manhattan. Then, he assembled six sinister super villains to abduct Norman Osborn’s child. Finally, he pursued Spider-Man to the ends of the Earth while threatening to burn the planet to a cinder. With Dr. Octopus just hours from death, Spider-Man is about to learn the answer, as one of his oldest enemies turns the tables on him with a dying wish that spells doom for Peter Parker and everyone he loves!
And then, yeah, Otto takes over. If only Uncle Ben could see Peter now… well, he wouldn’t recognize him because he’s kinda’ leading the Sinister Six. And that sucks for the fam who were counting on Peter being the friendly, neighborhood type.
When this idea hit newsstands back in 2013, “Superior Spider-Man” became a scorching topic and one of the most polarizing titles placed on a newsstand in years. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the shelf-life fans would have wanted, but Slott believes there is another life for this mechanical red and black recluse.
“The challenge Marvel gave me was: for the 10th anniversary, how can we revisit Superior, without repeating ourselves, and while telling a story that impacts Spider-Man’s world today?” Slott explained. “SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN RETURNS is going to take an untold Superior tale, and drag it kicking, screaming, and violently exploding into the present. It’s going to give you everything you liked about Superior but in new surprising ways. No time travel. No clones. And no way we’re telling you how. Read the book!”
The next chapter in this modern Spidey masterpiece starts now but is available October 11! The cover is above and more “Superior Spider-Man” news is promised to be revealed later this week at San Diego Comic-Con!
Since he saw ‘Dune’ in the $1 movie theater as a kid, this guy has been a lover of geek culture. It wasn’t until he became a professional copywriter, ghostwriter, and speechwriter that he began to write about it (a lot).
From the gravitas of the Sith, the genius of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, or the gluttony of today’s comic fan, SPW digs intelligent debate about entertainment. He’s also addicted to listicles, storytelling, useless trivia, and the Oxford comma. And, he prefers his puns intended.