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A review by adelaidemetzger_robotprophet
The Superior Spider-Man, Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy by Dan Slott
4.0
"You get it now, Doc? That's why we don't kill. Because there's always hope..."
--The Ghost of Peter Parker
Disclaimer: If you're interested in this Superior Spiderman series by Dan Slott and co., hopefully you know the spoiler that brings it to life. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read the description and go check the comic out first.
As much as I absolutely hate the personality of this "Peter Parker"/Spiderman, having such a despicable person in Spiderman's body is what makes this interesting and possibly one of the best decisions ever for the franchise.
I say this because if you got a villain forced to try and play the hero part, he will eventually either become that hero in a narrative of positive poetic justice I severely want to see happen, or he will fight with all of his being to use Spiderman's powers for evil. By the end of this volume, so far, the results are a complicated mix of both as Doctor Octavius struggles to keep up the facade that he is a good man by the name of Peter Parker but is also driven by his own selfish and maniacal endeavors. He is one mind with two sets of memories in the same brain and body giving him double-vision on his personal beliefs--hence the title of this volume being My Own Worst Enemy.
Imma preach a little bit here. The decision to highlight the two points of view with Peter's ghost and Doc Ock looking into each other's memories also brings up important themes of judging others without considering what they've been through or what kind of life they had that might have influenced their decisions to become who they are in the present. Peter transplanting Ock's face in all of his own memories and emotions leading up to the birth of Spiderman is the reason Ock decided to continue helping people and becoming a hero in his own way after Peter died. The same happens for Peter when a trip into a memory of Ock's abusive childhood gives insight on where some of Ock's hatred but also mercy towards children comes from. "Everyone comes from somewhere" is one of the most important things we humans could learn, and we could even be heroes in our own way if we practice remembering that very important insight into others' lives. You don't know what life someone’s had and they don't know yours. Practice understanding others and change will start to happen.
This series is complicated, it's weird, and passively frustrating to see the thoughts and actions of a villain in a hero's body with practically no one taking notice (or do anything about it when they do notice). But it also gave me the incredible tension and rich conflict that I'm always looking for in fiction and writer Dan Slott knew that from the beginning. The concept alone isn't going to be for everyone, but if you're looking for some high quality drama and you love you some Spiderman, I recommend this series 100 percent.
--The Ghost of Peter Parker
Disclaimer: If you're interested in this Superior Spiderman series by Dan Slott and co., hopefully you know the spoiler that brings it to life. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read the description and go check the comic out first.
As much as I absolutely hate the personality of this "Peter Parker"/Spiderman, having such a despicable person in Spiderman's body is what makes this interesting and possibly one of the best decisions ever for the franchise.
I say this because if you got a villain forced to try and play the hero part, he will eventually either become that hero in a narrative of positive poetic justice I severely want to see happen, or he will fight with all of his being to use Spiderman's powers for evil. By the end of this volume, so far, the results are a complicated mix of both as Doctor Octavius struggles to keep up the facade that he is a good man by the name of Peter Parker but is also driven by his own selfish and maniacal endeavors. He is one mind with two sets of memories in the same brain and body giving him double-vision on his personal beliefs--hence the title of this volume being My Own Worst Enemy.
Imma preach a little bit here. The decision to highlight the two points of view with Peter's ghost and Doc Ock looking into each other's memories also brings up important themes of judging others without considering what they've been through or what kind of life they had that might have influenced their decisions to become who they are in the present. Peter transplanting Ock's face in all of his own memories and emotions leading up to the birth of Spiderman is the reason Ock decided to continue helping people and becoming a hero in his own way after Peter died. The same happens for Peter when a trip into a memory of Ock's abusive childhood gives insight on where some of Ock's hatred but also mercy towards children comes from. "Everyone comes from somewhere" is one of the most important things we humans could learn, and we could even be heroes in our own way if we practice remembering that very important insight into others' lives. You don't know what life someone’s had and they don't know yours. Practice understanding others and change will start to happen.
This series is complicated, it's weird, and passively frustrating to see the thoughts and actions of a villain in a hero's body with practically no one taking notice (or do anything about it when they do notice). But it also gave me the incredible tension and rich conflict that I'm always looking for in fiction and writer Dan Slott knew that from the beginning. The concept alone isn't going to be for everyone, but if you're looking for some high quality drama and you love you some Spiderman, I recommend this series 100 percent.