artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
As everyone knew must happen when the Doctor Spider-Man era began, Peter Parker officially reclaims his identity/body from Otto Octavius, the erstwhile Doctor Octopus. This is the issue where that happens.
It's actually kind of disappointing. Maybe it's because I've read precious little of the Doctor Spider-Man arc (my coinage) but I would've thought Otto might get a bigger denouement. As it is, it's basically Peter figuring out that he can control his own body even with Otto's mind running the show, Otto deciding that only Peter can resolve the current crisis, and then voluntarily sitting himself down to the device that can undo what he did.
And what's most disappointing is that Otto's emotional goodbye, which in theory is very affecting, is completely undercut but severe brevity. Otto's happiest memories flit by. And basically, he's gone. Peter's back. Swaps costumes. That's it. The end. Issue done.
What somehow even more embarrassing is that half the issue is given over to Black Widow #1. Not because it's Black Widow or anything. It's a decent read and all, as far as I know drawing heavily from the character as depicted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
I just don't see why one of the pivotal moments, a truly historic Spider-Man occasion, after a long arc, plays like a glorified prelude to a character who has nothing to do with him, the arc, the series, anything. I understand that Marvel probably included this in other comics as well, but I don't see why it should have been done with this one. I mean, seriously? Really?
And so that's the underwhelmed reaction to an event that ends up played off more as a shrug than a milestone.
 |
| via Inside Pulse. Imagine if this were his permanent headgear! |
It's actually kind of disappointing. Maybe it's because I've read precious little of the Doctor Spider-Man arc (my coinage) but I would've thought Otto might get a bigger denouement. As it is, it's basically Peter figuring out that he can control his own body even with Otto's mind running the show, Otto deciding that only Peter can resolve the current crisis, and then voluntarily sitting himself down to the device that can undo what he did.
And what's most disappointing is that Otto's emotional goodbye, which in theory is very affecting, is completely undercut but severe brevity. Otto's happiest memories flit by. And basically, he's gone. Peter's back. Swaps costumes. That's it. The end. Issue done.
What somehow even more embarrassing is that half the issue is given over to Black Widow #1. Not because it's Black Widow or anything. It's a decent read and all, as far as I know drawing heavily from the character as depicted in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
I just don't see why one of the pivotal moments, a truly historic Spider-Man occasion, after a long arc, plays like a glorified prelude to a character who has nothing to do with him, the arc, the series, anything. I understand that Marvel probably included this in other comics as well, but I don't see why it should have been done with this one. I mean, seriously? Really?
And so that's the underwhelmed reaction to an event that ends up played off more as a shrug than a milestone.
Probably shouldn't have read that since I have read the first 4 volumes (I think) of the series. I'm waiting until the last couple go down in price to finish it.
ReplyDeleteThat does seem lame to take a big final issue and stuff it with an unrelated title, though I suppose that harkens back to the old days when you had several series crammed all into the same book--like Spidey's origin story in Amazing Fantasy.
Anyway, the idea that Dr. Octopus would just say "No mas" and give his body back to Parker doesn't seem in character from what I've read. I mean the reason it's the SUPERIOR Spider-Man is because he believes he's superior!
ReplyDeleteTechnically, he nobly (finally) acknowledges that Peter does have something superior to him. And again, maybe the full impact of this sudden awareness is lost on someone who hasn't experienced the whole journey, but it's just disappointing that this issue doesn't carry the full weight it should. And it should be noted that the story concludes in Superior Spider-Man #31 before the new Amazing Spider-Man #1. But this is a very good argument for keeping defining moments one issue at a time.
Delete