Can Octavius continue to pull off the scam?
Creative Staff:
Story: Dan Slott, Christos Gage
Art: Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba
What They Say:
Otto Octavius, the Superior Spider-Man, in a life-or-death struggle against the original Superior Venom!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Having produced twenty-four issues in just about a year, there’s been a lot for Superior Spider-Man fans to enjoy with the series. Giving us a double sized twenty fifth issue is like the icing on the cake, since it does go big, silly and fun while also laying the foundations for how things are going to go down as it barrels towards its end. Octavius’ confidence has been a big part of the appeal with the book, so seeing him being so confident in taking down the Symbiote, only to get smacked around a bit by it and then getting caught up in its power and feeling, really was a lot of fun since it provided a different look at how it would unfold in comparison to Peter and his experiences over the years. The Symbiote is pretty different itself as well, so there’s definitely not a complete sense of deja vu with it.
Octavius confidence has him having to deal with the Avengers now, who have come to put an end to the reign of justice he’s bringing about the city since connecting with the Symbiote, where he’s taken out a lot of very low level punks and is coming across as very dangerous. There’s a lot to like as the team tries to stop him and talk some sense into him, but Octavius is riding so high on the superior aspect that it’s just going over the top, especially as the Symbiote takes control more and more with the chaos of it all. It’s long been a powerful opponent, so seeing it combined with someone like Octavius present a good new prism with which to look through it. The fight is spread throughout the book and it has some great scenes and little bits of humor as well, but it also comes to a close in the kind of whiplash way the book often works, and it has Octavius coming up with a good enough excuse for the whole thing that has him trying to play it cool. Of course, it only looks like it works, but you have to love his arrogance in believing that it does and seeing him attempting to get back on track.
While the fight is fantastic, and takes up a lot of the book, there’s more going on here as well. Carlie has found herself very changed due to what Menace and Green Goblin did to her and she’s now embracing it, apparently, and taking the moniker of Monster in order to work with her sister. There’s a good kind of creepy vibe about all of this as it progresses and it’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out. There’s also a bit with Kingsley in this issue as he sees more of his franchises falling to the chaos of events, so there’s a kind of fun thrill in seeing his plans screwed up like this, especially since so many that bought into it are barely above the level of a punk. I also like that this issue gives us a little time with MJ and others that are part of Watanabe’s questioning as it puts a little more wedge in the door there about what Spider-Man and Peter are like these days, but it all keeps coming back to the same thing. Octavius has been pulling it off with confidence and keeps barely getting away with it. But like we see with the average person on the street, that confidence is starting to work against him and watching as it turns is just as much fun as seeing him getting their praise.
In Summary:
Superior Spider-Man is largely focused on one thing here, and that’s the fight between him and the Avengers while he’s becoming Superior Venom. There’s a lot of good action here that’s well designed with its layouts and detail, giving it a great kind of kinetic energy that keeps the flow going. It also does some good stuff with the banter and the quick thinking that Octavius tries to pull in when he realizes that the Symbiote was gaining control and influence over him and he attempts to bring everything back to a semblance of normal to keep fooling the Avengers. But it’s always the unexpected that trips you up and Octavius has tripped several times and people are starting to notice. It’s a lot of fun and full of the right kind of big action pieces that makes it a very enjoyable read. Especially with the tease about what may really end up throwing him off in the end.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Marvel Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: January 15th, 2014
MSRP: $3.99
