The Superior Spider-Man

The Superior Spider-Man
Cover of The Superior Spider-Man #1 (January 2013). Art by Ryan Stegman.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Schedule	Biweekly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Superhero
Publication date	January 2013
No. of issues	13
Creative team
Created by	Dan Slott Ryan Stegman
Written by	Dan Slott
Artist(s)	Ryan Stegman Humberto Ramos Giuseppe Camuncoli

The Superior Spider-Man is an ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics that debuted in January 2013 as part of Marvel NOW!. The series is written by Dan Slott with artwork by Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli. It features a supposedly reformed Otto Octavius who has taken over Peter Parker's body and, having allowed Peter to die in Octavius' body but being affected by Peter's memories, is determined to be a better Spider-Man than Peter, and a better man than Otto Octavius. The title replaces the long running series The Amazing Spider-Man, after the conclusion of the "Dying Wish" storyline, as the core Spider-Man book.

Publication history

Marvel Comics first teased the announcement of The Superior Spider-Man in September 2012 by releasing an image of the word Superior without the creative team unlike other teasers, but then some days before the NYCC 2012 Marvel released a new Superior teaser, this time with the creative team of Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli. One week later a new Spider-Man centric title was announced called The Superior Spider-Man.

Plot

After the death of Peter Parker at the climax of the "Dying Wish" storyline in Amazing Spider-Man #700, Otto Octavius has implanted his mind into Peter Parker's body and taken over his life, determined to prove himself the "Superior" Spider-Man by being both a better superhero and better at everyday life than Parker ever was. He strives to woo Parker's old flame Mary Jane Watson, while simultaneously developing new technologies in his job at Horizon Labs that will both earn the company millions, and serve to enhance his crime-fighting as Spider-Man, though he struggles to reconcile his accomplishments with the fact that they will forever be credited to Parker, not Otto Octavius. He scores a very public win for his new reputation when he defeats the Sinister Six while they are robbing Horizon, but when he almost kills Boomerang, he finds himself subconsciously held back at the last moment: unbeknownst to Otto, Parker's consciousness still exists within his body, buried underneath Octavius's own, intent on stopping the villain and reclaiming his life. Unfortunately, Peter proves unable to influence Octavius in any more than the slightest of ways; in particular, he can do nothing to stop him from dating Mary Jane. When his amorous intentions are repeatedly thwarted, Octavius takes refuge in Peter's own memories of his time with Mary Jane, only to inadvertently cause himself to share Peter's genuine love for her. Now caring for her, he pushes her away for her own safety.

When his old Sinister Six teammate Vulture resurfaces, Octavius attempts to convince his old friend to give up crime rather than fight him, but the discovery that he is employing children as henchmen raises memories of Otto's own childhood abuse, and he brutally takes the Vulture down. Vulture's remaining henchmen are then approached by Green Goblin. With his new, more merciless reputation growing, Octavius focuses on increased efficiency, developing thousands of "Spider-Bots" that patrol the city for him while he—incensed by the discovery that Parker never completed his doctorate—returns to college, in turn growing close to his short tutor Anna Maria Marconi. With the Spider-Bots, he succeeds in locating escaped killer Massacre, but his decision to execute the criminal sits ill with his teammates in the Avengers, and they bring him in for questioning after he brutally beats harmless prankster villains Jester and Screwball. Their tests fail to expose Octavius's mind-swap, but Octavius observes an irregularity in his brainwaves, and clashes with the anti-hero Cardiac in order to reclaim a Neurolitic Scanner of his own invention so that he can examine his own mind in greater detail. Making peace with Cardiac after discovering he needed the scanner to treat a young girl's brain injury, Octavius helps in the girl's treatment, then uses the device on himself and discovers Parker's presence within his mind. Using the scanner, Octavius confronts Parker in the landscape of their shared mind, where Octavius battles against Parker and the memories of all his friends and family. During the fight, Octavius defeats Parker and succeeds in eliminating him by erasing all of Peter's memories.

Otto rejoices at the fact that he has gotten rid of Peter Parker's consciousness. The Spider-Bots notify Otto about a new White Dragon and his thugs fighting Owl's gang in the streets. The Superior Spider-Man takes down both gangs and brutally beats up White Dragon and Owl. Some of the thugs escape and are rescued by men who bear the Green Goblin insignia. As Otto returns to Empire State University for his exam, he bumps into Mary Jane and shrugs her off. Mary Jane wonders why "Peter" left her like that. Meanwhile, Police Captain Yuri Watanabe returns to the precinct to question the police officers who were present the day Spider-Man killed Massacre but all of them defend Spider-Man's position, then it's revealed that Carlie Cooper was watching the questioning from behind and explains to her that she performed the autopsy of Massacre, revealing that he was harmed enough to prevent from using a gun and the shot was point blank, confirming her suspicions about how changed Spider-Man is, but she still needs further proof. Inside Green Goblin's lair, Green Goblin hacks the Spider-Bot technology while explaining his plans to recruit the urchins that worked for Vulture. Otto completes his exam and arranges a date with Anna. Mary Jane worries about how "Peter", sensing that there was a spark of his old self (a reference to the ghostly presence Peter had inside Otto) but now she sees nothing. Mary Jane doesn't realize that Green Goblin's urchins were sent to survey Mary Jane's nightclub to test the hacked Spider-Bot. Once they see they now can bypass his detection, they decide to strike the club in revenge for their failed attempt. During his dinner with Peter's family, Otto reveals his progress in earning his doctorate, but then Aunt May asks "Peter" to stay away from Spider-Man due to his now ruthless attitude, which also sparks an argument between J. Jonah Jameson and J. Jonah Jameson Sr. Otto leaves to his date with Anna where during their conversation, she accidentally trips causing Otto to catch the dry ice that almost fell over her. Thankful for saving her, Anna embraces and kisses Otto, but he's later warned by his Patrol App. Meanwhile, the lines to Mary Jane's nightclub were cut allowing the Goblin Urchins to strike the place setting it on fire. With all exits sealed, the fire consumes the nightclub while Mary Jane believes that Peter will arrive to save her as he always has done, only to be rescued by a firefighter who resembles Peter and casually goes by the name of "Pedro". After another patrol taking down street thugs, Otto leaves musing that now everything is under his control and everything else is beneath him. While underground, Green Goblin declares himself as the self-proclaimed Goblin King where he is building his growing army.

Otto is seen listening to a class at Empire State University reflecting about how in spite of defeating Peter Parker once and for all, he now has to endure the hardships he faced since he failed to get his doctorate. While conversing with Anna Maria Marconi, Otto receives an alert on his cell phone prompting his teacher Don Lamazze to burst into anger because of "Peter's" arrogance. Otto answers the phone call which was from his direct line with Mayor J. Jonah Jameson who asked Spider-Man to supervise the execution of Alistair Smythe the following day believing that he will have an escape plan. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson arrives at the Raft for a final inspection before Alistair Smythe's execution. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson is told that all of the Raft's inmates will be transferred once the Raft is shut down, highlighting the infirmary where Boomerang, Vulture, and Scorpion are being attended. Meanwhile, Otto prepares all the tech he has prepared for his supervision, but his arrogance manages to irritate his boss Max Modell. Otto reflects that while he has become a Superior Spider-Man than Peter Parker, he still has to endure the limitations of his life. The Superior Spider-Man arrives with all of the NYPD Enforcers and a small army of Spider-Bots to prepare the place and then decides to confront Alistair Smythe, who tries to taunt him by mentioning Marla Jameson's death. Since Alistair Smythe is unaware of the mindswap and that Otto wasn't paying attention due to he remembering his time locked up during his final days as Doctor Octopus, the Superior Spider-Man brushes him off. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson alongside the Superior Spider-Man, his assistant Glory Grant, and Bugle reporter Norah Winters watch the procedure of Alistair Smythe's execution while he claims to be a "better person". The Superior Spider-Man tries to reply that no one would buy that, only to stop himself once he remembers that HE just pulled that trick. Just as Alistair Smythe's execution begins, a swarm of mini Spider-Slayers attack the place allowing Smythe to move freely. However, they are counteracted by Otto's Spider-Bots. Alistair Smythe attempts to escape, but he finds out that Otto has prepared himself for every method of escape he may try, prompting Alistair Smythe to shift his plan to kill Spider-Man for which he was also prepared. The mini Spider-Slayers enter the infirmary where they surround Boomerang, Vulture, and Scorpion. The mini Spider-Slayers heal and enhance them where they get one request from Smythe: Kill Spider-Man. Scorpion quotes "You don't have to ask, Smythe. Killing the Spider's always been my idea of fun. But after what he did to me--to us--we won't leave enough of him to bury."

After recalling on how Alistair Smythe killed his wife, Mayor J. Jonah Jameson vowed not to leave the Raft until Marla's dying wish is made. After Alistair Smythe's escape, Jameson, Glory Grant, Norah Winters, and the remaining civilians are surrounded by Spider-Man's Spider-Bots and then are informed by Spider-Man (in a pre-recorded holgoram) that he has taken measures to counteract any attempt of escape so his Spider-Bots will safeguard them in a force field while the reinforcements arrive, but J. Jonah Jameson refuses to stand still inside the force field, willing to go and help Spider-Man against Alistiar Smythe. The Superior Spider-Man is seen fighting Alistair Smythe and is mocking him for being weak in comparison to his father Spencer Smythe. When the Superior Spider-Man says that he has called the Avengers for backup, Alistair Smythe states that he has his own backup as Boomerang, Scorpion, and Vulture show up. The Superior Spider-Man admits that the Mini-Slayers were clever but inadvertently reveals that his countermeasures are being powered by the Raft's Power Generators distracting him at the revelation. Alistair Smythe takes the upper hand until he's narrowly shot down by Mayor J. Jonah Jameson disguised as a Raft guard. The Superior Spider-Man accuses Mayor J. Jonah Jameson of leaving the force field, but Mayor J. Jonah Jameson confronts Spider-Man to tell him he brought him to ensure that Smythe gets executed by any means necessary (implying that he's giving permission to Spider-Man to directly kill him). The Superior Spider-Man accepts and tells Mayor J. Jonah Jameson to go back to the force field with the others. Meanwhile, Glory Grant, Norah Jones and the remaining civilians discuss that the Avengers should be warned of what's happening but Norah replies that before she arrived, the Bugle made a report about them marching into space as well as commenting that if Spider-Man made sure no one leaves the Raft, no one might get in as well, asking what would happen if they're still alive in the event that the force field's power runs out. The Superior Spider-Man hunts Alistair Smythe through his comm system only to discover that he did the same trick and informed his allies (all heading for a full front assault against the Superior Spider-Man) who tries to convince them that Alistair Smythe is using them and will take back their enhancements once he's out. All of them agree that even though that might happen, they'll make the best of the situation against him. Alistair Smythe manages to reach the Raft's generators, destroying them to shut down the power in the entire island, allowing Lizard to escape. Once Alistair Smythe tries to escape, the Superior Spider-Man reminds him about the emergency generators. Alistair Smythe warns the Superior Spider-Man that just like he does with his Spider-Bots, he can see through his Mini-Slayers catching up on Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and the trapped civilians sending their locations to the group. Scorpion rejects it at first, but is easily convinced once Alistair Smythe tells him that one of his targets is Mayor J. Jonah Jameson himself. Scorpion heads for Jonah, Vulture aims at the civilians, and Boomerang stays to fight against Spider-Man who stops him by blocking his Bomb-A-Rangs with his webbing escaping the resulting blast in the process which incapacitates Boomerang. Alistair Smythe warns him that he's still caught in a predicament since Scorpion is heading to his personal vengeance against Jameson and Vulture is ready to kill the group of civilians so he must make a choice only to be surprised when Otto replies that he won't follow any of them. Instead, the Superior Spider-Man is determined to complete his mission of slaying the Spider-Slayer.

The Superior Spider-Man battles Alistair Smythe and after a long battle disarming him. Meanwhile, Mayor J. Jonah Jameson is confronted by Scorpion who attempts to kill him. Scorpion is stopped by the Lizard. Jameson and Lizard flee, with Lizard revealing Conner's mind within the Lizard from which J. Jonah Jameson acknowledges. As Alistair Smythe admits defeat and ask Superior Spider-Man for the terms of surrender, The Superior Spider-Man replies by stabbing Alistair Smythe with his own blade, killing him. This also disables Boomerang, Scorpion, and Vulture's upgrades preventing them from killing Jameson and the leaving them injured once again. As the three are subdued, Superior Spider-Man and the others exit the Raft only to be attacked by Alistair Smythe (whose body is being moved via his miniature Slayer robots). Alistair Smythe effortlessly disposes of the guards explaining that his mind is still alive for a few precious moments. Superior Spider-Man tackles Alistair Smythe, leading to them falling off the Raft and only to shore below. As they struggle, Smythe reveals his final plan to transfer his consciousness into Spider-Man and takeover his life. However, Doctor Octopus had already done this as he had encased his head with armored plating (as seen in Amazing Spider-Man #700) making Alistiar Smythe unable to initiate the transfer. As Alistair Smythe expresses confusion on why it did not work, Superior Spider-Man (out of the ear shot of anyone else) tells Smythe he did it before him and revealing his true identity as Otto Octavius. Superior Spider-Man taunts Alistair Smythe as he dies stating Smythe has no legacy as in his final battle he wasn't even fighting the real Spider-Man. Alistair Smythe dies as Superior Spider-Man moves away from the body with his secrets still intact. Later as Superior Spider-Man and the hostages leave the Raft on a boat, Superior Spider-Man blackmails J. Jonah Jameson with the recording of Jameson ordering Spider-Man to execute Alistair Smythe in exchange for the Raft as his new headquarters renamed "Spider-Island 2". Superior Spider-Man later is seen ordering uniforms for "Henchman." He even builds an unknown device as he declares this will be his legacy and no one will stand in his way.

Hell's Kitchen inhabitant Jamie Maldonado worries on how nobody is doing anything to stop Kingpin and shut down Shadowland. Just then, a quake shakes down the place. Kingpin states that by the Superior Spider-Man's ruthless methods, most of the crime families were taken down with a vacuum to fill. Just then, Shadowland is assaulted by the Superior Spider-Man in a giant Spider-Mech (which he dubs "Arach-Nauts") and his army of mechs as part of his plot to take down Shadowland. While in a new costume, the Superior Spider-Man leads his henchmen called "Spiderlings" to attack the Hand ninjas while the Superior Spider-Man goes after Kingpin and Hobgoblin as they try to escape. The rest of the Spiderlings assist the civilians to clear the area until the work is done. During the battle, the Superior Spider-Man is called by Mayor J. Jonah Jameson who argues about why he's assaulting Shadowland. The Superior Spider-Man replies that it was about time someone did it and then "asks" Jonah to express his support or he will reveal their conversation from the Raft. The Superior Spider-Man also knows that Kingpin is tampering with his communications line hoping he heard his intentions of taking him down for good. Kingpin acknowledges that he's not the same Spider-Man he once fought and then takes Hobgoblin with him to a secret room where he introduces Smedley Kornfeld, a man Kingpin hired as a doppelgänger to use as a decoy for events like this. Kingpin snaps his neck and takes his escape leaving Hobgoblin to fend for himself. Hobgoblin escapes, but he's detected by a Spider-Bot. But to Hobgoblin's surprise, the Spider-Bot engages the Goblin Protocol and ignores him. After the assault on Shadowland, Spider-Man is surrounded by the citizens who thank him for his work, and then he reveals to the media that his work was approved by Mayor J. Jonah Jameson (who is extremely angry by Spider-Man's manipulations). The citizens are relieved that Shadowland is gone and with it, the Kingpin's grasp on the people, but a new thug appears making deals in the alleys carrying the Goblin insignia tattooed in his arm. One of the Spider-Bots detect him and again engages the Goblin Protocol and passes by. Afterwards, a group of Hand ninjas arrive to the sewers to be recruited into the Goblin King's new group. They are rejoiced by the news that thanks to Spider-Man's assault, he now owns over the half of New York's organized crime, claiming that he now owns New York City.

Collected editions

Title	Material collected	Year	ISBN
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy	Superior Spider-Man #1-5	June 2013	978-0785167044
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 2: A Troubled Mind	Superior Spider-Man #6-10	September 2013	978-0785167051
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 3: No Escape	Superior Spider-Man #11-16	December 2013	978-0785184720