here's the short intro: i like Spider-Man. he's cool. i've liked him since i was a kid. probably one of my favorites. i haven't liked every comic he's been in, nor all the movies, but he's solid. i dig him.
onward. be forwarned: the following contains SPOILERS and extreme nerdiness. now we're in the clear.
Earlier this month, Marvel Comics, who can be damned for a host of sins (as well as praised for many good things as well, mostly on film) in recent years, released the ultimate issue of what is probably their flagship title: Amazing Spider-Man #700. truth be told, Fantastic Four was the first Marvel comic (Marvel Comics #1 from the 1930s was NOT the 1st Marvel comic, despite what some may say, including Marvel. it was published by the company that would eventually become Marvel, which at the time was called Timely Comics. that would become Atlas, which would become Marvel. true facts!), which should probably make it the flagship title, but it has been far surpassed in popularity by Spidey. there's no doubt about that.
The premise of the last several issues of Amazing Spider-Man was basically that Otto Octavius, AKA Dr. Octopus, AKA Doc Ock, somehow transferred his mind into the body of Peter Parker aka Spider-Man, and vice versa. i'm not sure how this was accomplished, as i've not been reading it. the ultimate end of all this, is well, pretty fucking dumb. Peter Parker, in the decimated body of Ock (seriously, it looks like a fucking mummified corps being dragged around by the Mechanical Arms we all know and love), hatches a plan to switch back brains. he fights Ock in Peter's original, spry, and powered body, and loses big time.
Grody, dude.
Doc Ock then plans to continue on in the super powered form, wreaking havoc among the populace as some kind of new vilified evil genius guy with powers and such. BUT... he is stopped from doing so! by a convenient, and frankly idiotic, plot device: the remaining memories/consciousness/moral compass of Peter Parker merges (sorta?) with the brain of Doc Ock, in Spider-Man's body, making him sort of a good guy. um... kinda. i don't know.
the thing is, Doctor Octopus is a pompous asshole. despite the fact that Spidey as Peter Parker did have a great deal of scientific knowledge, he is seen as a dolt by Otto. he thus declares, no more fucking about: he will be... The Superior Spider-Man!
p.s.- Peter Parker as he is known dies, but swears in some incorporeal manner he will return. i'm pretty sure he will. call it a hunch...
let me start by saying: this issue had some promise. the hoary concept notwithstanding, it was interesting to actually sort of let the well known, incredibly beloved hero die, replacing him with another. no big deal, they'd done that in a different Marvel Universe (google "multiverse", or don't! your call, America!) last year some time, where Pete P. died and a young hispanic/black teen took his place. that wasn't the "real" Spider-Man of course, but still and all. this, however, was ridiculous. it was not handled well, not at all. and the whole "merging minds" thing is beyond-beyond for me. i don't know why; generally speaking i am able to suspend my disbelief when reading a lunkheaded actioner comic. but this, this just bugged me. it feels so heavy handed, forced, cliched, whatever else. not a worthy move for such a worthy character. 20 years ago, an average non-comic book reader would probably not have been able to name Nick Fury or Tony Stark, but they sure as shit could name Spider-Man. not a fitting end for an iconic character, i'm sorry to say. my verdict: thumbs down!
as a follow up, Marvel has created an "all new, all different" Spider-Man comic book for your newsstands (are there even any more newsstands?): the aforementioned Superior Spider-Man. holy crap! that oughtta be great, right?! whatta concept! he's gonna be like Spider-Man, but, ya know, Superior! what the?????????
i give you the cover of Superior Spider-Man #1, which to me looks like a comic book from 1997. i'm sorry, but that is probably one of the 90s-est comics covers i've seen since, well, the 90s. the font on the logo, the coloring, i don't know why. it just strikes me that way.
the 90s were a dark time for comics. attempts to make them "mature" failed miserably, as they were written by immature douchebags, without the polish of those who had gone before them. i digress, but i will say, i feel this comic is a step backwards to that time, if only spiritually (an overblown term for what i mean to say, but fitting in this context). this comic, hooooo-boy. this is nonsense on a grand scale. Doc Ock, still in possession of Spidey's form/powers begins his new war on crime and such. as Peter Parker he dresses like a 1930s mad scientist (goggles, lab coat and all) and creates new weapons for use as Spider-Man, using the excuse that the run-off of these experiments are advancements in medicine and things that will help the planet. as Spider-Man, he fights the "new" Sinister Six, angrily defeating them because he (that is Otto Octavius, AKA Doctor Octopus) was in the "old" Sinister Six, and these new losers aren't fit to take over their mantle. doing so for the good of society is merely his front. 2 or 3 times the flickering blue Jedi form of Peter Parker tells Ock it was he who stopped his hand when he would've killed a baddie, and then menacingly states he will be back, oh yes, he will be back! dumb, dumb, dumb.
at one point, Ock as Peter Parker (which is getting tiring having to type, by the way), is at dinner with the much put-upon Mary Jane Watson. he internally muses about how he can start over as Parker with a sweet set-up, and how much he loves "the view" from his new found eyes. the panel, of course, focuses in on Mary Jane's ample chest. for whatever reason, i didn't hear a rimshot. jesus.
i would probably have enjoyed this comic when i was 15, but now, in retrospect, i just find it lame, mishandled all around, and as above, so below: idiotic.
the one thing i can say i do like is the redesign on the spider-suit. the blue and red of the original is awesome, but i do like the Black and red, with a sort of goggle look to the lenses. kinda cool.
however, i cannot and will not recommend these comics. they're just not good y'all. i would say: read at your own risk.
i think this angry nerd has the right idea:
wish i could take credit, but it wasn't my idea.
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