A Spider-Verse Hangover: Is this the Superior Spider-Man Renaissance?
Reading time: 3 minutes
Marvel’s Spider-Verse has now officially come to an end, for the most part the series was a rousing success and all around win for author Dan Slott, Marvel, and all the artists that participated in the project. The last issue of the saga, #14 left me feeling slightly out to dry with the storyline, but it truly was The Amazing Spider-Man #15 epilogue issue that nailed the landing in a truly distinctive manner with one brilliant inclusion: the last stand of the Superior Spider-Man. The Superior Spider-Man was never a character that I thought Slott utilized in a meaningful and unique manner, until this most recent issue of the series, which see’s Otto Octavius’s last crusade to hold onto his stolen Spider-Man identity. The play was a passionate brawl between the group of characters, and ends with a finale that’s heartbreaking. Otto never deserved Peter’s body, but he doesn’t quite deserve death either, and Slott was definitively exploring a new side to the character that did ultimately want to do the right thing.
Unfortunately, these last couple of moments with Otto as Spider-Man aren’t pretty. Octavious wisely attempts to crack the strands of destiny with a knife of Morlun himself. The web of destiny controls that Spider-Man future, and with certain strands being cut, this could possibly allow for a different version of Otto to finally come forth from this storyline. It’s a petty move, but one that doesn't open up the possibility for more storytelling. Unfortunately, the character ends up losing a large portion of his own good will when he draws blood off of a punch from Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) and attempts to kill the Spider-Girl. He tries to rationalize the move based on flimsy logic, but alas, this is the last stand for Otto.
Peter doesn’t feel a whole lot of remorse over his imminent death either “But it’s your bed. You made it. And you’re gonna lie in it.”
Unfortunately, the plot sizzles out from there. The strange Spider totem agenda pushed by the comic can function too thick at times, and the tale end of this issue and crossover hits the great web and madame Spider with too much enthusiasm. The Web Warriors and Weavers are all laid across too thick here, however, this crossover always seemed to be grounded by one thing in particular; the human drama of the Superior Spider-Man. The way that Otto took charge in the crossover previously was a great springboard for the rest of the jokes to fly off. Also, it was hard not to be impressed by some of the other writers who were using the characters besides Slott back when he was a character rotating the consciousness of the Superior Spider-Man character.
Some have talked about how the smaller characters in the series have gotten little opportunity to truly shine. With so many Spiders popping in-and-out of the story, Slott and the writing staff can’t be blamed to a certain extent.
Do we want the Superior Spider-Man back after all the chaos that brought him to his story? Perhaps, but Otto still might need some time before he comes back and join the fray. Getting his personality in a team dynamic really shows off what he can add to a series as well. Still, anyone seeking out a crossover worth it’s own salt will find something to love in Spider-Verse. Hardcore Spider-Fans will find something here for them.
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