Page 45 Review by Stephen
The second of two halves, this reprints the fourth, fifth and sixth softcover, and for some reason I happen to have copy for the fourth instalment which I reviewed thus:
The premise for SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN was relatively simple but its execution proved surprisingly thorough: in SPIDER-MAN: DYING WISH one of Spider-Man's oldest, ugliest foes - mop-topped minger Otto Octavius PhD - finally won the day by switching his consciousness with Peter Parker's just before his own body expired.
Dr. Octopus has made maximum use of this fitter new body and inflicted maximum abuse on both Spider-Man's villains and Peter's own family and friends. He's been very resourceful, and so it proves here as Peter's employer, Horizon Labs, comes under temporal assault when they attempt to shake off a corporate take-over by Peter's old friend Liz Allan (once married to Norman Osborn's son and now with one of her own) and Tiberius Stone, Horizon Labs' ex-employee and past saboteur. Cue Spider-Man 2099 comin' atcha and possibly here to stay.
It's complicated to describe here, but perfectly clear if you read the book itself, revel in its fireball, nail-biting, game-changing climax so well illustrated in all its time-bubble, eye-popping glory by Ryan Stegman, and then move on to part two involving one of Dr. Octopus' old flames, newly rekindled, who believes he was killed by Spider-Man. Oh.
This is proceeding at a cracking pace and I can finally confirm that this series will be six volumes long before Peter finally wrestles his way back through Marvels' revolving death's-door, as was corporately inevitable. Make no mistake, though: for once this has been no mere gimmick and the journey has proved thoroughly entertaining, rammed to the rafters with dramatic irony and "Why didn't Peter do that?" Plus I wonder what Peter will finally come back to? He can't explain these months away to everyone: not everyone knows he is Spider-Man!
Two people do: Forensics Officer Carlie Cooper whom Peter once attempted to date with all the suave sophistication of a highly conflicted and emergency-afflicted Alice-In-Wonderland White Rabbit (it went tits-up, yeah) and Police Officer Yuri Someone-Or-Other AKA The Wraith. Suspicious of this supposedly superior Spider-Man with his bottomless resources and knowing that Peter was broke, they are following the money trail. Unfortunately Carlie is being followed by somebody else.
And, all this while, the Green Goblin lies in wait, biding his time and building…
