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Superior Spider-Man (2023)
Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: Supernova
The Superior Spider-Man returns - but how?! Ten years after the body-swap story that shocked the world, Dan Slott and Mark Bagley spin a new tale of Otto Octavius, the would-be wall-crawler you love to hate - or hate to love! Once known as the Superior Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus has made a life-changing discovery. But the sins of his past will exact a heavy toll on the present, and one of Peter Parker's closest friends must pay the price! With disaster looming, only one flawed hero can step up and save the day! Well, one flawed hero and his army of expendable Spider-Minions, that is. With his former love Anna Maria's life at stake, Otto Octavius seeks not to just be Superior, but to become the ONLY Spider-Man! Collecting SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN RETURNS #1, SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (2023) #1-5 and material from AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #31.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2024
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Dan Slott
1,997 books453 followersDan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 6, 2025
Yes he's back! The Superior Spider-Man returns, as does one of his dark deeds return in the form of Supernova! Personally it was great to read a Dan Slott Spidey volume again, and he has got even better at dialogue! As ever Mark Bagley does a solid job on the artwork; although some of Humberto Ramos' covers were bodacious, see the image below. A Three Star 6 out of 12, not as good as the original two seasons, but better than most Marvel books post 2020.
2025 read
2025 read
October 4, 2024
It was...OK, I guess? I remembered enjoying the wackiness of Doc Ock's inhabiting Spidey's body back when it first happened, not really sure why there was a need to revi$it it here, though.
September 12, 2024
"BRAIN! CALL TAVERN ON THE GREEN. BOOK A TABLE FOR TWO. NOT THE GHETTO WHERE THEY SEAT TOURISTS. TOMORROW, WE BEGIN A NEW SLATE OF EXPERIMENTS. BUT TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE!"
- Superior Spider-Man to his robot "butler," The Living Brain, following a major breakthrough.
Didn't we already get our fill of Doc Ock ruining Spider-Man's reputation by parading around in his body like a meat puppet? Abso-freakin'-lutely NOT!
Sadly, we only get a taste of the Superior Spidey in flashback format.
A victim of science from the past is back to get revenge on Spider-Man, unaware that his body, at that time, was occupied by the mind of Otto Octavius. We get plenty of Otto and Pete collaborating and bickering, but no actual Superior. A Spiderboy story at the end.
Fun. Different. Three stars.
- Superior Spider-Man to his robot "butler," The Living Brain, following a major breakthrough.
Didn't we already get our fill of Doc Ock ruining Spider-Man's reputation by parading around in his body like a meat puppet? Abso-freakin'-lutely NOT!
Sadly, we only get a taste of the Superior Spidey in flashback format.
A victim of science from the past is back to get revenge on Spider-Man, unaware that his body, at that time, was occupied by the mind of Otto Octavius. We get plenty of Otto and Pete collaborating and bickering, but no actual Superior. A Spiderboy story at the end.
Fun. Different. Three stars.
November 3, 2024
Call back to a great run. Otto can truly be a bit much.
Read
May 27, 2024Dan Slott wrote my favourite 616 Spidey run, and the Superior Spider-Man was my favourite part of it, Otto Octavius taking over Peter's body and life and, until the inevitable finger on the scales and ensuing reset, doing a much better job with them. I was sad that it didn't last longer, but comics being comics, what's happened instead is a series of revisits engineered through the usual escape hatches (the multiverse, clones), and now this, in which a hitherto unmentioned incident set during the original Superior story leads to repercussions for Parker and Doc Ock in the present. Which, sure, has entertaining moments here and there, but overall feels like one more desperate squeeze of an exhausted teabag that needs to be given a decent burial. The characterisation has lost a lot of nuance, worn down into stereotypes and old-fashioned superhero bluster, and at one stage we literally get the two leads standing in front of a whiteboard with a diagram of the concept's convolutions, and Peter delivering the line "The story should have been over".
July 18, 2024
Otto and Peter have to work together to save Anna Maria from Supernova.
July 21, 2024
Era necessario questo viaggio nella nostalgia su Superior Spider-Man? No. E' stato così terribile? Assolutamente no!
La storia è molto godibile, Peter e Otto condividono sia momenti divertenti che molto gasanti. Risulta un buon punto di partenza per chi vuole scoprire questa versione dell'Uomo Ragno interpretata da Otto Octavius, e un bel giro sulla giostra dei ricordi per chi non vuole dimenticarsi quel periodo in cui Peter era più edgy grazie al controllo del Dr. Octopus (che poi, qualcuno mi spiegherà come si può provare nostalgia per qualcosa accaduto 10 anni fa).
La storia poi risulta ulteriormente godibile perché non ha tutte queste pretese, se non quella di essere semplicemente una storia e di intrattenere. Quello che fa in più è di risolvere qualche cavolata fatta nel post-prima gestione di Superior (tipo l'ENNESIMO patto con Mephisto nella gestione di Christos Cage) ma niente di così fastidioso: anzi. Dan Slott organizza - come sempre - dei bei "character moment", dove i protagonisti coinvolti parlano e condividono momenti, funzionali poi per rendere le svolte di trama successive più d'impatto. Da segnalare la scena in cui sia Spidey che Doc Ock ricordano gli eventi di Amazing Spider-Man 33 del 1966, visti da entrambi come un successo: ma per motivi diversi.
Alle matite c'è la comparsata degli autori che hanno caratterizzato quella saga - da Humberto Ramos a Giuseppe Cammuncoli - ma per lo più c'è Mark Bagley. Qui più standard del dovuto, è forse l'opera in cui meno si è impegnato - complice anche una colorazione spenta e non troppo brillante, Steve Buccellato riusciva a donare carisma e vibrazione anche alla tavola meno riuscita quando Bagley lavorava alla prima, storica Ultimate Spider-Man.
Non era necessario come revamp, ma vedendo l'odierna gestione di Zeb Wells - una delle peggiori degli ultimi anni - questo ritorno, gestito in questa maniera, è tutto grasso che cola
La storia è molto godibile, Peter e Otto condividono sia momenti divertenti che molto gasanti. Risulta un buon punto di partenza per chi vuole scoprire questa versione dell'Uomo Ragno interpretata da Otto Octavius, e un bel giro sulla giostra dei ricordi per chi non vuole dimenticarsi quel periodo in cui Peter era più edgy grazie al controllo del Dr. Octopus (che poi, qualcuno mi spiegherà come si può provare nostalgia per qualcosa accaduto 10 anni fa).
La storia poi risulta ulteriormente godibile perché non ha tutte queste pretese, se non quella di essere semplicemente una storia e di intrattenere. Quello che fa in più è di risolvere qualche cavolata fatta nel post-prima gestione di Superior (tipo l'ENNESIMO patto con Mephisto nella gestione di Christos Cage) ma niente di così fastidioso: anzi. Dan Slott organizza - come sempre - dei bei "character moment", dove i protagonisti coinvolti parlano e condividono momenti, funzionali poi per rendere le svolte di trama successive più d'impatto. Da segnalare la scena in cui sia Spidey che Doc Ock ricordano gli eventi di Amazing Spider-Man 33 del 1966, visti da entrambi come un successo: ma per motivi diversi.
Alle matite c'è la comparsata degli autori che hanno caratterizzato quella saga - da Humberto Ramos a Giuseppe Cammuncoli - ma per lo più c'è Mark Bagley. Qui più standard del dovuto, è forse l'opera in cui meno si è impegnato - complice anche una colorazione spenta e non troppo brillante, Steve Buccellato riusciva a donare carisma e vibrazione anche alla tavola meno riuscita quando Bagley lavorava alla prima, storica Ultimate Spider-Man.
Non era necessario come revamp, ma vedendo l'odierna gestione di Zeb Wells - una delle peggiori degli ultimi anni - questo ritorno, gestito in questa maniera, è tutto grasso che cola
October 26, 2024
Dan Slott and Mark Bagley bring back the twisted take on Peter Parker and Otto Octavius with Superior Spider-Man: Supernova. Having been reverted back to his classic mad scientist form, Doctor Octopus is plagued by half-formed memories. Determined to crack his energy equation, Ock heads back to a secret bunker in the hopes of triggering his mind. Accidentally unleashing a living battery instead, Octavius directs the so-called Supernova after Spider-Man. Observing the chaos unlocks Otto’s repressed time as a superior Spider-Man, but forces him to team up with his hated adversary in the hopes of rescuing his love Anna Maria from Supernova’s clutches. Definitely presented by Marvel as a way of cashing in on their unexpected success, the Superior Spider-Man’s return is another nostalgic push for the House Out of Ideas. While a fun opportunity to get the true Peter Parker in the costume, the story itself is a rehash of other plots. Dan Slott brings back old catchphrases, liberally adapts movie plot lines of Spider-Man 2, and hits old drum beats of an Otto Octavius that continuity forgot. The art by Mark Bagley is a welcome addition at least, infusing panels with energy, and active character work. Bagley’s unique sense of style harkens back to his acclaimed run on the Ultimate version of the wall-crawler. Superior Spider-Man: Supernova though is just another bright shiny object from Marvel that fizzles due to the corporate need for greed.
May 6, 2024
The Superior Spider-Man returns!
Sort of...
Turns out that Doc Ock used his time as a 'better Spider-Man' and tried to work on a clean energy project. He gathered a growing number of assistants/minions (Spiderlings?) and built a base. One stood out among them and was crucial to Otto's success with his project.
Estrella Lopez
She took a job working for Peter Parker @ Horizon Labs and provided key data that made the energy project possible. Otto/Peter then took all the credit...(insert retribution angle and energy overload). The Superior Spider-Man managed to contain Estrella (now as hot as a...supernova) in a containment vessel.
Fast forward to modern day with Doc Ock back in his own body and having no memory of what's inside the containment field.
What could go wrong?
This is a job for..Superior Spider-Man 3.0(?)
=====
Bonus: Hey, look! It's a Slott title so we've got Spider-Boy wedged into the story
Bonus Bonus: Even better? We get some more glimpses of the life of Peter WITH Ben Parker alive
Sort of...
Turns out that Doc Ock used his time as a 'better Spider-Man' and tried to work on a clean energy project. He gathered a growing number of assistants/minions (Spiderlings?) and built a base. One stood out among them and was crucial to Otto's success with his project.
Estrella Lopez
She took a job working for Peter Parker @ Horizon Labs and provided key data that made the energy project possible. Otto/Peter then took all the credit...(insert retribution angle and energy overload). The Superior Spider-Man managed to contain Estrella (now as hot as a...supernova) in a containment vessel.
Fast forward to modern day with Doc Ock back in his own body and having no memory of what's inside the containment field.
What could go wrong?
This is a job for..Superior Spider-Man 3.0(?)
=====
Bonus: Hey, look! It's a Slott title so we've got Spider-Boy wedged into the story
Bonus Bonus: Even better? We get some more glimpses of the life of Peter WITH Ben Parker alive
January 26, 2025
Dan Slott's time on the original Superior Spider-Man was one of the best time's to read Spider-Man. It was an original take that dealt with a lot of my frustrations with Peter Parker not living up to his potential for over 40 years. Slott had to jump through a whole lot of hoops to make this happen though. I read his explanation and it had so much Spider-Verse stuff in it that I could barely follow. The basic thing I got from it is this Doc Ock is from an earlier point in his timeline and he's still an asshole. Anyway the gist is that due to an unseen time from when Doc Ock had taken over Peter Parker's body, he created a new menace with the powers of a Supernova. Now she's back and out for Spider-Man's blood. Also back is Anna Maria who Supernova kidnaps leaving Spider-Man and Dr. Octopus to team up to save her. Of course, this short volume ends midstory, leaving one to pick up volume 2 to finish this thing out because Marvel is sometimes infuriating in how they collect stories.
May 4, 2024
What? But how? This doesn't make sense! He can't be- Yes, yes, I hear you, but hear me out: read it first, then see.
Dan Slott returns to the Superior Spider-Man in the only way he knows how, and it's a smash hit from the first page. All of the past continuity is intact, and the banter between Peter and Ock remains top notch as always, while the ever-plucky Anna Maria Marconi adds some much needed spice to this mix too. New villain Supernova's a little one note, but I'd be pissed if I was in her shoes too.
And of course, inimitable Spidey artist Mark Bagley is along for the ride, so the book looks great too.
Slott's been a little hit and miss with Spidey stories since his return to the title, but Superior Spider-Man's much more what I've come to expect from him. Great fun, full of heart, and doesn't tarnish the legacy that the previous book created for itself.
Dan Slott returns to the Superior Spider-Man in the only way he knows how, and it's a smash hit from the first page. All of the past continuity is intact, and the banter between Peter and Ock remains top notch as always, while the ever-plucky Anna Maria Marconi adds some much needed spice to this mix too. New villain Supernova's a little one note, but I'd be pissed if I was in her shoes too.
And of course, inimitable Spidey artist Mark Bagley is along for the ride, so the book looks great too.
Slott's been a little hit and miss with Spidey stories since his return to the title, but Superior Spider-Man's much more what I've come to expect from him. Great fun, full of heart, and doesn't tarnish the legacy that the previous book created for itself.
August 25, 2024
Slott is back rerunning his redemption arc on Doc Ock, and it needs rerunning because Doc Ock died and then rebooted from a past backup before he was redeemed? Or something like that?
Honestly, this doesn't have the heft of the original. Mainly because instead of focusing on Ock as Spider-Man, we get an Ock and Spider-Man team-up. I mean, it's believable with Anna's life on the line, but it seems more like a foes-may-team-up-for-the-common-good sort of thing instead of the amazingness that was the original.
Maybe it'll improve? Because shockingly this isn't just a limited series, in fact it's not even a complete story. The darned thing ends right in the middle of the plotline.
Honestly, this doesn't have the heft of the original. Mainly because instead of focusing on Ock as Spider-Man, we get an Ock and Spider-Man team-up. I mean, it's believable with Anna's life on the line, but it seems more like a foes-may-team-up-for-the-common-good sort of thing instead of the amazingness that was the original.
Maybe it'll improve? Because shockingly this isn't just a limited series, in fact it's not even a complete story. The darned thing ends right in the middle of the plotline.
July 24, 2025
I was recommended Superior Spider-Man as one of the best Spidey comics, so I got this from the library not realizing it was a sequel of some sorts.
It made NO sense (definitely would have helped to read the original), and jumped around in the beginning and end, so it was hard to tell when specific events occured in relation to one another.
spoiler: it ends with Spider Boy and Mr. Negative "some time ago" like what?! it didn't even resolve the Supernova plot, just "to be continued" and then a flashback to Spider Boy. I don't know. Maddening for someone who doesn't regularly read comics I guess
It made NO sense (definitely would have helped to read the original), and jumped around in the beginning and end, so it was hard to tell when specific events occured in relation to one another.
spoiler: it ends with Spider Boy and Mr. Negative "some time ago" like what?! it didn't even resolve the Supernova plot, just "to be continued" and then a flashback to Spider Boy. I don't know. Maddening for someone who doesn't regularly read comics I guess
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
The original Superior Spider-Man run was amazing, but there has been some pretty great stuff since then. This brief series brings back Dan Slott (original writer on SSM) and tries to get Ock and Spidey to work together against Supernova, a scientist turned powered villain while Ock was Spidey. All the tricks and stuff you'd expect is here, but having them work together is a nice touch.
Looks like next Volume, Ock is going to try to be himself to save Anna Maria.
Overall, an alright story. I'll read the next Volume, but holds no candle to the original run.
Looks like next Volume, Ock is going to try to be himself to save Anna Maria.
Overall, an alright story. I'll read the next Volume, but holds no candle to the original run.
June 27, 2024
COLLECTS SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN RETURNS ISSUE #1, SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (2023) ISSUES #1-5 AND MATERIAL FROM AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) ISSUE #31
When I first heard about this series, I thought it might be a flashback story, or, if it was set in present day, Otto would have figured out some way to mimic his past spider skills. As a giant fan of the original "Superior Spider-Man" run, what we ended up getting from this collection pleased me. Dan Slott may be my favorite Spider-Writer.
When I first heard about this series, I thought it might be a flashback story, or, if it was set in present day, Otto would have figured out some way to mimic his past spider skills. As a giant fan of the original "Superior Spider-Man" run, what we ended up getting from this collection pleased me. Dan Slott may be my favorite Spider-Writer.
August 12, 2025
Una historia para nostálgicos. Dan Slott continúa sus nuevas andaduras con Spiderman para traer de nuevo al Spiderman Superior.
La caracterización de Slott de los personajes es estupenda, diferencias fácilmente al antiguo Doctor Octopus del más actual, así como identificas a Spidey, Spider-Boy y Anna María. El dibujo de Bagley a veces es bueno y otras no me llega a convencer. Los invitados del primer número son muy buenos.
La caracterización de Slott de los personajes es estupenda, diferencias fácilmente al antiguo Doctor Octopus del más actual, así como identificas a Spidey, Spider-Boy y Anna María. El dibujo de Bagley a veces es bueno y otras no me llega a convencer. Los invitados del primer número son muy buenos.
July 5, 2024
Dan Slott continually proves that he just GETS Spider-Man. Nowhere is that more clear than in this run in which he revisits one of his most iconic arcs that he's written for Spider-Man: Superior Spider-Man.
I often go back and forth as to who is the more of the archnemesis for Spidey: Doc Ock or Green Goblin.
Having said that, I liked how Spidey and Ock teamed up to be the Superior Spider-Man this time around.
I often go back and forth as to who is the more of the archnemesis for Spidey: Doc Ock or Green Goblin.
Having said that, I liked how Spidey and Ock teamed up to be the Superior Spider-Man this time around.
June 14, 2025
This is why I got into comic books.Spiderman needs to be refreshed.The old Uncle Ben responsibility does not ring true in our amoral society.What if spiderman unleashed his true genius onto the world.He could be even greater than Doc Oc himself! Can't wait to read more of this series.This is what might finally bring me back to Marvel after all these years.Comics at its very best.
November 13, 2024
A great revival of Slott's previous run. I love how Slott is alwaysable to recreate the soap opra-like feeling of the Lee/Ditko Spider-man, but for the modern era, and Bagley's artwork is a great match for that tone.
June 27, 2024
This is pretty good, though I'm not sure why it couldn't have ended in, say, five issues. There appears to be another volume coming to wrap things up...
November 2, 2024
Yeah, there's some retread of old ground here, but it's done in a fun, character-driven way with plenty of call backs for the long-time Spidey fans like me.
March 12, 2025
Didn't appreciate the Daredevil cheap shot. I know it was Doc Ock talking, but c'mon.
August 11, 2024
2.5/5
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews