Superior Spider-Man #3 Review

 

Writer: Dan Slott

Penciler: Mark Bagley

Inker: John Dell

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Mark Bagley & Edgar Delgado; Rafael Grassetti; Betsy Cola

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 24, 2023

 

Doc Ock loved Anna Maria when he was Superior Spider-Man. So, guess who Otto turns to when Supernova takes her hostage? Can Peter Parker and Doc Ock rescue Anna Maria from a living fusion reactor? Let’s thwip into Superior Spider-Man #3 and find out!

 

Story

The would-be rescuers sneak into Oscorp via the air ducts. In Peter's lab, Doc works on a device to rescue their fiery foe. Doc claims they’re building something together, yet he stands with his back to Peter, who draws a chart on a whiteboard. Although Peter has gone this far with Otto, detailing Otto's history from villain to Superior Spider-Man and back to villain helps Peter decide to continue the partnership.

 

Peter pilots a submarine to the Master Planner undersea base. Clad in Otto's Superior Spider-Man suit, Peter must convince the employees he's Otto to secure a crucial element. They'd better hurry! Anna Maria is determined to escape her captivity, but Supernova is impatient for Superior Spider-Man to arrive. If anything infuriates the living nuclear reactor, Supernova might lose control and incinerate Anna Maria in a heartbeat!

 

Dan Slott delivers a delightful story that harkens back to Peter Parker and Doctor Octopus’ earliest battles in Superior Spider-Man #3. Doc Ock’s sorrow over endangering Aunt May is poignant. The touching moment suggests that—despite his insecurities and massive ego—Otto still possesses a shred of a conscience. The nostalgic plot takes a while to get going and may not bear scrutiny, but Peter and Otto's banter--and Slott's whimsical story--delivers laughs and leaves you smiling.

 

 

Art

Penciler Mark Bagley and inker John Dell impart an Old School appearance to characters and situations in Superior Spider-Man #3. The undersea base—which we first glimpse as a hologram in Oscorp—and Otto's Octo-Sub transport us back to an earlier era. Camera angles change height and direction as Otto's Spider-Ling Strike Units snap into action. The privileged few belong to the Arachnaut Units and drive mechs. Tracer fire explodes from rifles like suns and streaks across panels. The Superior Spider-Man leaps above the soldiers before tearing into them on the ground.

 

There's one odd moment as Peter follows Otto's directions yet walks out of the wrong side of the panel. I also wish the artists had sacrificed splash pages for better transitions between laboratory and submarine scenes, as it took several readings before I realized Otto didn't accompany Peter. Mark Bagley and inker John Dell pair shots of Otto and Peter side-by-side, each looking proud and indomitable as the soldiers bow before the Superior Spider-Man. I also like the little touches, such as the varying reflections on the eyes of Peter's mask and how Bagley and Dell overlay Spider-Man against Steve Ditko's art.

 

Although uncredited on the inside front cover, Edgar Delgado lavishes bold, vibrant colors upon Superior Spider-Man #3. Green dominates Doc Ock’s scenes in Peter’s lab, as Oscorp walls and equipment blur blue-green behind Otto's green suit while he gazes at a light-green hologram of his Master Planner base. Red energy bars prevent Anna Maria from leaving her cell, while Supernova blazes with blue-white fire. The Spider-Warriors, clothed in red and blue, carry green-tinged rifles, while the red Arachnaut Units ride their red mechs above their fellows.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips black and colored uppercase dialogue in white balloons and color-edged narrative boxes in Superior Spider-Man #3. Despite the eye-catching sounds of battle, I enjoyed the yellow-and-red sounds of their mobilizing more. Word sizes vary from giant to tiny. Among the latter, I wonder at Otto's contrition. Is he sincere or merely trying to put Peter off his guard?

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy of this superior issue for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

In this homage to the storytelling genius of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Doctor Octavius grows closer to grasping his former mantle. Superior Spider-Man #3 ponders how much a hero can trust a villain and asks: "Do people become evil because they can't trust others?"

 

Rating 8.4/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.