It is important when following something that is serialized like comic books not to jump to conclusions. There are stories planned out many issues in advance, so things can veer into directions fans never expected. When "The Superior Spider-Man" No. 1 hit newsstands, it proved to be the perfect example, and writer Dan Slott spoke to Newsarama about that twist on Jan. 9.
Slott seemed to be happy in his opening statement to Newsarama because of all the uproar over him killing Peter Parker in the pages of "Amazing Spider-Man" #700. While people were angry that Slott eliminated Peter Parker from the Marvel Universe, the joke was on the fans who jumped to conclusions.
"All of these people who have been so angry for two weeks — 'How can you possibly do a Spider-Man comic book without Peter Parker?' — we didn't! We just didn't tell you," Slott said. "Peter Parker is still in the book."
Here is the way it all went down.
In "Amazing Spider-Man" #700, Peter tried to switch his mind back with Doctor Octopus, but failed. However, all Peter's memories and sense of responsibility flooded into Ock all at once. Then it looked like Peter died.
What really happened was that Peter pretty much jumped back into his body, but Doctor Octopus still controls it. However, in "Superior Spider-Man" #1, it turns out that Peter has some control as well. It was hinted at early in the book, when Spider-Man was fighting the new Sinister Six.
Doc Ock was tired of getting beat up, so he just chose to leave. Boomerang tried to launch a razor sharp boomerang at him, but it veered towards a police officer. Suddenly, Spider-Man swept down and took the brunt of the shot and saved the cop's life. Ock seemed surprised that he did this.
There was a reason.
At the end of the comic, Spider-Man had beaten all the members of the Sinister Six. Ock's bloodlust took over and he began to beat Shocker to death. However, an invisible hand grasped Spider-Man's hand and stopped him from finishing Shocker off. That was when it was revealed that Peter Parker was still there, and could exhibit control over his body.
He then said he would never let Octopus kill anyone in his body, and swore he would find a way back.
Dan Slott said this was the plan all along, Peter Parker was never going away for good, and his journey is to find his way back. This also isn't a response to the backlash, because this comic was written and planned long before "Amazing Spider-Man" #700 hit the stands.
Fans just need to be patient and let the stories play themselves out.
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Shawn S. Lealos is a member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, the professional film critics’ organization of Oklahoma. He is also working on a book about the Stephen King dollar babies called “Dollar Deal.” To read more of his writing, visit shawnlealos.net.
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