Here it is, the series that comic book fans have been talking about for months, The Superior Spider-Man. Since The Amazing Spider-Man ended two weeks ago, I wasn't sure if I was going to pick this issue up, so I purchased the digital copy instead of buying it in print. This way, if I didn't like it, I could just delete it from my tablet. But to my surprise, I actually enjoyed this issue. I didn't know what to expect, but the creative team that worked on this issue did a great job.
The issue starts off with Peter Parker visiting Otto Octavius' grave, ergo, Otto saying goodbye to his old life and starting his new life as Peter Parker. Peter then hears that officers are down at Empire State University, through his police band, on his Bluetooth device. The setting shifts over to the crime scene, where the readers see Overdrive, Boomerang, Speed Demon, Shocker, Living Brain, and Beetle, the new Sinister Six, stealing a barometric oscillator. Boomerang announces to us that they're the new Sinister Six, and enter The Superior Spider-Man, not too happy with the new Sinister Six, considering Otto Octavius is a former member of the original team. The Superior Spider-Man fights the Sinister Six, but when he has problems with Speed Demon, he has enough, and swings away from the fight. It's not like Spider-Man to run away from a fight, but Otto can't believe that Peter Parker put up with this.
As he's swinging away, Spider-Man helps a cop who's about to get hit with one of Boomerang's "Nitro-Rang's," and he doesn't know why he stopped to help him out. As Spider-Man's down, Boomerang gets up close and attacks Spider-Man with a "Razorang." As he puts it against Spider-Man's neck, Spider-Man retracts these small, razor-like spikes from his fingers, and slashes Boomerang across the chest. At first I wasn't sure what to think of this, because it's so unlike Spider-Man to do this, but this is a new, different, and darker Spider-Man. The villains retreat, leaving the Living Brain behind, and Spider-Man asks an officer if he can have the Living Brain delivered to Horizon Labs, for an associate who can put it to good use, and the police chief agrees to his request.
The scene shifts over to Horizon Labs, where the readers see Peter Parker talking to some associates and Max Modell. Then Mary Jane calls Peter to see if they're still on for dinner, and Peter confirms that they're still on for their date. During dinner, Peter still has the Bluetooth on, and as MJ's talking to him, he's listening in on the Sinister Six. Peter then explains to MJ that he scratched one of them, and during that moment, he was injecting him with eighty nano-spider tracers. After reading this, I understood exactly why he slashed Boomerang across the chest earlier in the fight, and it all started to make sense.
The Sinister Six arrive at Horizon Labs to steal an atmospheric condenser, and The Superior Spider-Man has traps set for them, depending on their strengths and weaknesses. The climactic fight scene is a great one, and Spider-Man comes out victorious. But nothing prepared me for the last page, the very last panel. It made me clap once and throw my fist up in the air and say, "Yeah!" What a great ending to issue 1. I won't spoil it here, but this issue is definitely worth picking up. It'll be interesting to see what happens next. The story is good, and the artwork is amazing. What a creative team this is, for this new series. I wasn't crazy about the artwork in Amazing Spider-Man #700, but it is so much better here. I hope they keep Ryan Stegman around for awhile, if this creative team continues on, then I will continue to read this series. I give this first issue 4 out of 5 stars, it really is a great read, do not pass this issue up. The Superior Spider-Man is available now in print or digital apps for $3.99, and is written by Dan Slott, drawn by Ryan Stegman, and colored by Edgar Delgado.
Comments