As Across the Spider-Verse was opening to record box office numbers, Marvel issued a Tweet confirming that Superior Spider-Man will return in his own title. As popular as the character has been, it’s not a huge surprise that the publisher would want to put him back in his own comic. The timing, however, is what should raise eyebrows.
As we have seen in the Marvel Disney era, the comics are occasionally used to tease what’s to come on the screen. Ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the Darkhold was suddenly reintroduced in a major comic crossover event. For that matter, we have seen much more of Kang the Conqueror in the comics after he was announced as the current linchpin MCU villain.
Only weeks ago, ROM: Spaceknight was surprisingly announced for an omnibus and a facsimile edition, and now we have the Superior Spider-Man news. It would seem Marvel is certainly up to something. Where could it be going? Considering the publisher made the Tweet when Across the Spider-Verse made its theatrical debut, it could be a tease that the Superior Spider-Man is coming to Beyond the Spider-Verse.
With all the variants we have seen in both Spider-Verse movies, Superior Spider-Man is a major player that was oddly missing from the Spider-Society. It could be that Phil Lord and Chris Miller were saving him for Beyond.
Any and every Spider-Man variant is fair game for the Spider-Verse films, and that makes Superior Spider-Man’s inclusion all the more likely. At any rate, it is worth rolling the dice on these key issues.
DAREDEVIL #21
This may not be the most popular key in today’s blog, but it should be high on your wish lists. Here you have the first appearance of the Superior Spider-Man in a cameo.
He’s only seen in one panel, and it has the traditional shadowy concealment to give it that mysterious vibe. Make no mistake, it is the first appearance of Doc Ock as Spider-Man.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700
This has long been a favorite of ASM collectors as much for the cover as for the story. Inside the pages of ASM #700, Peter Parker’s consciousness “dies” (I mean, it’s comic books, so no one is ever really dead, at least not for long), and Doctor Octopus transfers his mind into Peter’s body.
This is what creates the Superior Spider-Man, so it is an issue worth adding to your collections.
AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #15.1
Although Daredevil #21 is the first appearance of the Superior Spider-Man, he made his full debut in his cool new costume in Avenging Spider-Man #15.1.
The issue also features the classic line, “Doctor Octopus is dead. Long live the Superior Spider-Man.” That makes AVSM #15.1 a must-have for any Superior Spider-Man collector.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #1
As customary for speculators these days, you will want to add Superior Spider-Man #1 to your long boxes. This issue marks the new-and-improved Doc Ock Spidey’s first self-titled comic, and that is always a boon for collectors. It doesn’t hurt that he’s front and center on the cover art in grand fashion.
SUPERIOR SPIDER-VERSE?
While we haven’t formally met a traditional Doctor Octopus in the actual Spider-Verse movies, his Earth-1610 variant, Olivia Octavius, was a main attraction in Into the Spider-Verse. Viewers also caught glimpses of some classic Doc Ocks and heard Alfred Molina’s voice in Across the Spider-Verse.
Suffice it to say, the character’s presence has been felt in both films, which would make adding a Superior Spider to the mix fairly easy. With Marvel’s sudden urge to bring Doc Ock Spidey back to the comics, that could be the direction things are heading.
