It's been a long time since I've actually appreciated a Spider-Man story, let alone a tale that signifies the end of an era as we know it. When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko introduced "puny" high school nerd Peter Parker into the world back in the 60's, who could have imagined that the once scrawny teenaged boy would become a hero endowed with the strength and powers proportionate to a spider, let alone be named THE World's most famous superhero? With continuous soaring popularity in comics and thanks to countless appearances in all forms of media that includes cartoons, video games, and films, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone around the world who didn't know your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Yet here we are... A turning point in the character's life ended just as 2012 closed with THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700, and the new year ushers in a brand NEW direction for the character... Something that claims to be better and "Superior" than the amazing webslinging hero that we've come to know and love through the decades.
So as we usher in the new year of 2013, I make my return to comic book reviews at the same time... And we start things off by reviewing one of the new books Marvel has released in its "Marvel NOW!" campaign... THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1!
SPOILER ALERT for those who don't know the big changes that have happened in Spidey's life. If you wish to find out for yourselves, best turn back at this point... NOW.
Still here? Good. On to the reviews.
Before getting to the main book at hand, here's a mini-review for the previous and final issue of the preceding series... The Amazing Spider-Man #700.
Review: The Amazing Spider-Man #700
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Release Date: December 26, 2012
As it stands, The Amazing Spider-Man era has ended with a bang... And quite the controversial ending it seems. The Peter Parker we all know and love is gone... Replaced by a new and far more arrogant "version" that's equally brilliant but with sinister intentions that's both unbridled and unpredictable for readers to imagine what happens next. I'm talking about none other than Otto Octavius... Better known to the world as Doctor Octopus, who was slowly dying with a frail and decaying body and managed to pull off his greatest triumph yet - switching minds with Spider-Man and leaving his webbed foe to rot in his own collapsing shell. Writer Dan Slott planted the seeds of this "Switch-A-Roo" way back in issue #600, and Peter unwittingly allowed himself to be one-upped by Doc Ock when he tried to save the world from one of his nefarious schemes against the world. It only came to a head 98 issues later, and by ASM #698 Ock had the last laugh and became Peter Parker/ Spider-Man both in mind and body. Peter of course wouldn't stand for this, and did his absolute best to fight and take back what was his.
Amazing Spider-Man #700 is the final chapter of that three-part story arc, which resolved the Spidey/ Doc Ock grand-finale battle and turned over a new leaf for the legacy of the web-slinger. As a $7.99 book, it packs one hell of a whallop, and Dan Slott's amazing writing is further complimented by the amazing Humberto Ramos, who specializes in adding excellent dynamic artwork that's very much Spider-Man. There's further material and stories that supplement and give this epic collector's item issue its money's worth, and by now it should be a rarity to find the first printing of it in stores, let alone for regular price. If you've been a Spidey fan for the longest time and needed a reason to come back and pay tribute to the character in some way or some form... This is the issue to do that, which sets up the next stage of the webslinger's life in the Marvel NOW! era.
On a personal level, I was at first hesitant to pick it up since I stopped collecting ASM for some years now. Curiosity brought me around otherwise, and I haven't regretted my decision since.
Rating - 5/5
With the Amazing era over, and Doctor Octopus now Peter Parker/ Spider-Man, the new status quo is reflected with a brand new relaunched flagship Spidey series that sees a new kind of Spider-Man taking his fight against crime to another kind of level. Will it bode well for the hero's legacy, or does it spell doom for all the sacrifices Peter made during his career? We'll find out soon enough, as the era of the Superior Spider-Man begins!
Review: The Superior Spider-Man #1
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Release Date: January 9, 2013
New Spider-Man. New Costume. New Rules.
Well, that's not entirely true, but what you're seeing here is indeed a very different version of Spidey... One that retains all of the memories and powers of the original, but has the brilliant and arrogant mind of Doctor Octopus in the driver's seat. It was a controversial move to pull off by writer Dan Slott... But it's won my vote as something that drew me once again to collecting a Spider-Man title... And you're looking at it right here and right now just in time for the new year.
While I certainly don't think that it's all that "Superior", there's a whole lot of "stellar" and "intrigue" to the first issue of The Superior Spider-Man that makes it quite the draw for comic readers of this day and age to pick up. Unlike the death of the Ultimate Universe's Peter Parker and Miles Morales succeeding him as the Spider-Man of that world, our new Earth-616 Spidey is still recognized as THE Pete known to all. He's now got a great career as a scientist in Horizon Labs; Reunited and dating old beau and flame Mary Jane Watson once more; And is highly respected and loved by New York City as the hero Spider-Man... EVEN by his former eternal rival, Mayor J.Jonah Jameson! Yes, things are going so well for "Peter Parker"... But readers know that it's really Doc Ock under that mask, and that's what makes the tale so appealing. It's a new tangled web weaved and pulled together by Slott that's earned him both the admiration and ire of so many Spidey fans, and it's certainly paid off considering that the book's nearly sold out as of this writing and well underway to another printing! He's got my ok on this one, and no matter how revolting the idea may be to see Otto Octavius AS Spider-Man, Pete's memories and values have made sure that the former villain stays in track to be the hero this city needs... Hopefully.
Another reflection of the changes made to Spider-Man in the Marvel NOW! era is another new costume that reflects his "Superior" status quo. Ock has retained the basic look of Spidey, albeit a variation of his traditional Red/ Blue costume that's very much Red/ Black and full of gadgetry. Among these devices is a new HUD system incorporated into the lends/ eyes of the mask, as well as talons on his legs and feet. It's more than pure cosmetic changes at this point, as Ock's penchant for tinkering and using gadgetry is fully incorporated into the suit, enhancing his skills and powers as Spider-Man considerably. Artist Ryan Stegman does well to illustrate this fact, and his work here is reminiscent of Humberto Ramos' run, albeit a bit more sketchy than usual. It's fun to see this Spider-Man dish out his own form of "heroism", but it leaves us readers wondering just when Ock will slip and let the proverbial "cat out of the bag", giving anyone in Pete's life a reason to suspect that not all is what it seems. That's the main reason why this is such an appealing series, and one has to wonder if Spider-Ock's road of redemption may have some potholes along the way.
All things considered, the Superior Spider-Man is a great follow-up after the events of Amazing Spider-Man #700. While it will confuse newbies in terms of narrative if they aren't aware of the changes, the action is quick to jump into and will delight anyone looking for a very different Spider-Man who's not holding any punches back. Time will tell if this will bode well for Spidey's career long term, but for now sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride for all it's worth.
Rating - 5/5
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