Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: Doctor Octopus wins his life-long battle with Spider-Man, trapping Peter Parker’s mind in a dying body, and taking control of Peter’s body for himself. Ock is now the Superior Spider-Man, and life couldn’t be any better. However, his behavior has been erratic, and his violent methods have attracted the attention of the Avengers, who now have him on a short leash, despite not being able to uncover anything on his test results.

Ock has been noticing some anomalies himself recently – when he was attempting to punch Boomerang, his arm stopped of its own accord. Also, he has begun hearing voices, and has on more than one occasion lost control of his limbs at the most inopportune moments. Ock discovers the source of these disturbances – a remnant of Peter Parker, living deep down inside his psyche. Now Ock has decided that it is time to be rid of Peter Parker, once and for all.

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: The new Spider-Man has been garnering attention that he should probably be avoiding. After slamming the Vulture into a spotlight, murdering Massacre in cold blood, and now thrashing Screwball and Jester within an inch of their lives, the Avengers are concerned that Spidey’s methods of dealing with his rogues gallery is getting out of hand.

And in the revitalized FEAST headquarters, now home to HEART and secretly run by the vigilante Cardiac, the medical marauder set his sights on one of Otto Octavius’ most innovative inventions – a brain mapping device that originally allowed Ock to control his mechanical arms, and now could be the key to saving a little girl’s life. But all Spider-Man sees is a theft, and battles Cardiac to a standstill. Before he can pursue, the Avengers call Spidey in for questioning, but Spidey declines – unfortunately the Avengers won’t take no for an answer.

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: Otto Octavius is living life as Peter Parker, and has been doing his best to do a better job as both Peter and Spider-Man than Peter ever could. He has returned to school in order to earn his PhD, is working hand in hand with Mayor Jameson, and has a network of Spider-Bots patrolling the city at all times to monitor for crimes worthy of his attention. Everything’s been coming up Otto.

However, in recent days Otto’s plans have been drawing unnecessary attention. Despite the ghost of Peter Parker (now trapped inside his own psyche and forced to watch as Doc Ock lives his life) attempting to stop him, the Superior Spider-Man murdered the psychopath Massacre in order to stop him ever killing again. And in a fit of rage at being humiliated mid-battle, Spidey beat Screwball and the Jester within an inch of their lives. Now, the Avengers feel the need to step in – Spider-Man has gone too far.

There are big things planned for Superior Spider-Man, apparently. Marvel has been teasing all sorts for what will happen with this title, what with the webslinger looking set to be fired from the Avengers, and the teasers for #9 leading to some big changes.

It doesn’t look like those changes will entail Pete coming back just yet, however, with Marvel today announcing that the Superior Spider-Man will wage a one-man war on Shadowland and the Kingpin, starting with Superior Spider-Man #14 in July.

For the press release, hit the break.

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: The increased popularity of the internet has given rise to a brand new range of supervillains, such as Screwball, who live-streams her heists and battles with Spider-Man in order to rake in ratings on her website and sponsorship deals. Spider-Man has defeated her on numerous occasions, but Screwball continues to return to annoy him, if not menace him.

The new and improved Otto Octavius, now living inside the body of Peter Parker, has attempted to improve his life in ways that Peter had previously never thought of, such as returning to school in order to gain his PhD, and the creation of a spider-bot surveillance system that allows him to monitor the entire city for crime. The Superior Spider-Man’s outlook on crime isn’t entirely the same as before either – when subduing the escaped psychopath Massacre, Spidey shot and killed the villain in cold blood.

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Inkers: John Dell and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Colourists: Edgar Delgado and Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: Doctor Octopus is now living inside the body of Peter Parker. A ‘ghost’ of Peter lives on, however, and acts as an unseen conscience to stop Ock from doing anything too rash. Ock’s life as Peter has been going very well up until now. Having discovered that Peter does not have a doctorate, Ock has decided to rectify that by re-enrolling at school, and he has even begun working side by side with Carlie Cooper and Mayor Jameson in pursuit of criminals.

The psychopath known as Massacre has escaped from Ravencroft Asylum, killing numerous guards and psychiatrist Doctor Ashley Kafka along the way. The last time Peter faced Massacre, he swore that no one would die whilst Spider-Man was on the scene, never again. Now, the Superior Spider-Man has sworn something different – for his crimes against humanity and to stop anyone else dying at his hands, Massacre must die!

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Inker: John Dell
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: Before the madness of Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man battled a villainous serial killer known as Massacre, a deranged madman who had lost all empathy for the human race after an accident left him with brain damage. Spidey stopped the villain from killing anyone else, and also stopped the police from killing him, swearing that whenever he was around, no one would die, even criminals.

Now, there’s a new Spidey in town. Doctor Octopus now resides in Spider-Man’s body, and has sworn to be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker ever was. Ock’s rigorous planning and technological mind have allowed him to excel wherever Peter has failed, and has even allowed himself to stop fawning after Mary Jane Watson, keeping her out of harm’s way as a result. However, Ock’s more vicious means of dispatching criminals, such as crashing the Vulture into an over-sized Spider-Signal, have other people more wary of the changes that have overtaken ‘Peter’.

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: Otto Octavius, in the body of Peter Parker, is the Superior Spider-Man. With a new lease on life, Otto has decided to dedicate himself to being the best superhero, boyfriend, and scientist that he can be. His new approach to Peter’s life has led to innovative new ways to defeat his longtime enemies, and brand new inventions at Horizon Labs to win him critical acclaim. No one seems to suspect ‘Peter’s’ new identity either… except perhaps ex-girlfriend Carlie Cooper.

However, his attempts to woo Mary Jane Watson are failing miserably; Otto has decided not to pursue the relationship since the danger his double life places her in is too great – something that Peter has often tried to do, but never quite managed. During one of their disastrous date attempts at MJ’s nightclub, minions of the previous owner, the Vulture, attacked and tried to kill Mary Jane and steal a briefcase. They succeeded in the theft, but Ock’s quick thinking saved Mary Jane’s life. Now, he must track down the mini-Vultures and their master.

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Superior Spider-Man: After having his mind trapped in Doctor Octopus’ failing body, Peter Parker died. Now, Otto Octavius lives in Peter Parker’s body, and attempts to be a superior Spider-Man. In his first real outing as a superhero, Spider-Man battles the new Sinister Six and is soundly defeated. His personal life doesn’t fare much better, as Mary Jane Watson rebuffs Peter’s advances when they go out on their first real date in months.

Using his vast intellect and extensive planning, Spider-Man is able to easily defeat them in a rematch. But, as he attempts to pummel Boomerang to death, the spirit of Peter Parker returns and stops Spider-Man’s hand before the fatal blow falls. Peter swears that he will stop Octavius from doing anything too outlandish whilst he is in Peter’s body, and that he will do anything he can to return!

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Note: This review contains spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #698-700, and Superior Spider-Man #1.

Previously…: In a last ditch effort to triumph over his nemesis, Doctor Octopus used his sinister technology to transfer his mind into Peter Parker’s body, essentially making himself Spider-Man. Peter’s mind was trapped in Ock’s failing body, and despite his best efforts, Peter was unable to regain his true body before he perished in Ock’s withered form.

Before his death, Peter used the link between his and Ock’s mind to show Ock everything that Peter had lived through, and how his life was shaped. Finally realizing exactly what Peter had been through, Ock vowed to be the Spider-Man that Peter would want him to be. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to follow Peter’s footsteps exactly. He’s going to do it better –- he will be a Superior Spider-Man.

Writers: Dan Slott, J.M DeMatteis, and Jen Van Meter
Pencillers: Humberto Ramos, Guiseppe Camuncoli, and Stephanie Buscema
Inkers: Victor Olazaba, Sal Buscema, and Stephanie Buscema
Colourists: Edgar Delgado, Antonio Fabela, and Stephanie Buscema
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Amazing Spider-Man: Doctor Octopus has enacted his final plan; finding himself on death’s door with only hours to live, Ock uses a golden octobot to exchange bodies with Spider-Man. Now, Peter is trapped in Ock’s dying body, whilst Ock is out in the world doing who knows what with the great power at Spider-Man’s fingertips. 

Finding himself at his wits end, Peter manages to manipulate the golden octobot into contacting outside help, orchestrating a jailbreak from the Raft for Ock’s body with the help of the Scorpion, Trapster, and Hydro-Man. At the same time as Peter’s escape from the Raft, Morbius, the Living Vampire, also takes the opportunity to flee and seek redemption once again for his past actions. Now Peter must find a way to swap his personality back into his own body, before Doc Ock does something unspeakable as Spider-Man.

I feel that sometimes, comic fans can become jaded. Event fatigue, multiple books starring the same characters — there are many reasons why comic fans can get bored of the same old stuff happening, and it’s been the reason why lots of people have dropped comics for a while, even if they return to them at a later point in life. And yet, I get the feeling that whenever any of the big comic companies try something different, they get nothing but flack for it, and this irritates me to no end.

Writers: Joe Keatinge, with Dan Slott
Artists: Valentine De Landro, and Marco Checchetto
Colourist: Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Amazing Spider-Man: Peter Parker’s mind has been trapped inside Doctor Octopus’ decrepit, dying body. Using his mental control over Ock’s octobots, Peter is able to call for help from the Trapster and Hydro-Man, who break Ock’s body out of the Raft super-max prison.

Also an inmate of the Raft is Dr. Michael Morbius, also known as Morbius the Living Vampire. Morbius was until recently a member of the Horizon Labs think tank alongside Peter Parker himself, but events conspired involving the Lizard that lead to Morbius going on an out-of-control blood frenzy, and subsequent defeat at the hands of Spider-Man. But Morbius is, as ever, looking to atone for his past, and Ock’s jailbreak gives him ample opportunity to escape the Raft and seek redemption.

Writer: Dan Slott
Penciller: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colourist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Previously, in Amazing Spider-Man: Doctor Octopus is dying, his body ravaged by his numerous battles with superheroes such as Spider-Man, as well as the radiation from the experiment that grafted four metal tentacles to his body years ago. Ock attempts to take over Manhattan with only his mind and an army of Octobots, and then holds the world ransom when this scheme fails. Both times, Ock and his Sinister Six are defeated as Ock edges closer to the end of his life.

In his most despicable act as a supervillain, Doctor Octopus has managed to transfer his mind into Spider-Man’s body, giving him all of Spidey’s abilities and memories, whilst trapping Peter Parker in Ock’s own decrepit, dying body. Ock/Spidey visits Peter/Ock at the Raft, and reveals his plan, but not how the mind-switch occurred. Ock’s body goes into heart failure, and medics rush in to try and resuscitate the dying doctor as Ock, in Spider-Man’s body, leaves to enjoy his new life as Peter Parker.

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Rich Elson
Colourist: Antonio Fabela
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy’s Chris Eliopoulos

Note: This review will contain heavy spoilers.

Previously, in Amazing Spider-Man: As a result of the numerous beatings he has received over the years, Doctor Octopus’ body has been ravaged and he is now slowly succumbing to brain damage. After holding the world ransom and using his Sinister Six to defeat the Avengers, Doctor Octopus was finally defeated and captured by Spider-Man and finds himself an inmate of the Raft with only hours left to live.

Peter Parker battles a pair of Hobgoblins and with the help of his Horizon Labs co-worker Max Modell, defeats them both as well as destroying a cache of incredibly dangerous goblin weaponry. In other areas of his life, Aunt May now walks with a cane after sustaining injuries during a superhero battle, and Mary Jane Watson has opened a nightclub in the heart of downtown Manhattan.