The Superior Spider-Man has returned, sort of, in Dan Slott and Mark Bagley’s new series. I say sort of, because Doc Ock is still in his own body, and most of the Superior Spider-Man sightings are in flashbacks. It’s tough to put the genie back in the bottle, and while I’m dying to know if Doc Ock gets back into Peter Parker’s body, it’s also interesting to see new villains being created and new complications for Peter to manage. In the second issue, things get complicated before they get…surprising.
Superior Spider-Man #2 picks up where we left off, as Supernova is wreaking havoc on New York City. Peter had the bright idea to get out of his costume, but it only made her madder and rained hot fire on innocent people. This also puts Spider-Boy in harm’s way, but before Peter can do anything to help him, Doc Ock enters the fray. Oh, and he now remembers he was inside Peter’s body, and he’s super pissed about it.
Fans of Mark Bagley are going to love this issue. There’s tons of Peter vs. Doc Ock action, and Doc Ock looks great in his new costume. He’s weirder and a bit more aquatic-looking, which suits his theme. The action is great, but also the character acting. If you grew up with Bagley like I did, it’s nostalgic just to see how close Peter looks to how Bagley drew him in the early ’90s. Heck, there’s even a great half-Spider-Man mask, and half-face shot right out of the classic comics.
Epic page!
Credit: Marvel
Regarding stories, writer Dan Slott gets key characters in the right place at the right time. Supernova is a bit of a conundrum. One minute, she seemingly wants to kill innocent people and Spider-Boy, and the next, she regrets her actions. It doesn’t add up to how she was written in the last and first half of this issue. It seems convenient to the story. What Doc Ock does in the end is also a bit expected, albeit it’ll be fun to see where that’s going.
If you were a fan of the original series, you’d love Anna Maria to join in on the adventure. She’s a solid character well written by Slott in the past and here. She adds an interesting wrinkle, especially since she’s Doc Ock’s kryptonite. Spider-Boy also gets some choice moments, which shows this book lives and dies by Slott’s supporting character creations.
If you love superhero comics, you’ll love Superior Spider-Man #2. It has cool full-page splashes, plenty of action, and a surprising twist.
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