Superior Spider-Man #5 Review

I said this when I reviewed #4, but it really does feel like Slott is settling in with this series. I don't think it is just Slott who is settling in though, as I think the readers are finally starting to understand what this new Spider-Man is all about. This issue focused on Doc and his search for Massacre; which after last issue I could not wait to see how it was going to end. So how did it end for the baddie? Was he sent to the authorities or did Spider-Man cross a line he promised never to cross?

I thought the overall story telling in this issue was tremendous. The reasoning behind Massacre wearing a certain attire during his shoot out at Grand Central was brilliant. Touches like that are not normally found in comic books, as they are not expected to be there, however I loved the added detail found here.
We all knew going into this issue that Spidey would have a choice, and ultimately he did. I was desperate for him to go a certain way, and that is exactly the route that he took. I am loving the freedom that Slott has with the character, which I am sure he does too, so I am glad that we are still treading a fine line between good and bad. It suits the character as well as making an awesome tone for the book. However, he is not always doing bad, as at one point in this issue he was saving lives which he would not normally have attempted to do. The line is getting thinner!

Earlier on in the issue we were shown how the new and improved Spider bots have a face recognition system installed into them. This is something very worrying, and I am glad it got touched on at the end of this issue too. Doc Ock is now watching everyone at all times, which led to the final page of this issue. His last words in this were chilling; and I certainly cant wait for more development in this particular area in the future.

On a side note of this story we saw the introduction Anna Maria Marconi. I am not aware of this character, so I assume that it is a totally new one, which I am already wanting to see more of. Her and Doc seem to be hitting it off; so I wonder if these two may be getting even closer in the near future?

So, this little story has come to an end, and I really can't wait to see where we will be going next in the forthcoming issues. When this series first arrived it seemed like options going forward were limited, but now that has definitely reversed. I am loving the way Doc is developing as Spidey, and I am also very much enjoying Peter being there on his shoulder, which is surprising as I thought that this would ruin the whole "new" Spider-Man thing; which is has not done at all. If you want to read some great comic action then pick up #4 and #5 and I have a feeling you will be sticking with Superior for a while after.

Rating: 9.1 / 10

Superior Spider-Man #4 Review

Dan Slott kicks off his second story arc on this title in quite some style in this issue. We saw even more development for Octavius as Spider-Man, as well as the reintroduction of a villain  We also got a very well known character make an appearance in the last couple of panels; which was something I was just not expecting at all. This was a fantastic issue, which once again showed us why we should trust Slott and the team.

The start of this issue showed Otto using his newly created spider-bots  to help him see crimes that were happening throughout the city. I absolutely love this new system that he has going, and hope to see a lot more of it in the future.
This directly led on to some interesting conflict that showed another difference between Otto and Peter. I like the way Slott has blurred what is right and wrong here. In one way, Otto is not doing much wrong, and is actually doing things which Peter probably should have done. On the other hand though he is also not doing things that Peter would have done for sure. The writing here is very clever, as there is enough of a difference between these characters, but you still can't say that Otto is being a "bad" version of Spidey.

We saw the reintroduction of "Massacre" here, who I can say I have actually never seen before. Considering I have never seen him before, I was very very impressed with the scenes he was involved in. It gave the book a darker edge, and the content was actually something I was not expecting from a book such as this. It impressed me and made Massacre look pretty awesome at the same time.

I also enjoyed the way Otto has now returned to college due to his outrage at Parker for not officially being a doctor. This looks like it is could be quite an interesting development, especially if it something that is going to continue for a while.
As well as that, I am also very excited to see what is going to come from the character involved in the big reveal at the end of this issue. I am sure there will be a massive story arc just round the corner; which, by the way, has the potential to be brutal.

The art was superb in this issue. I really could hardly fault it. Good to see that the art is still improving in this book, which is something I feel that had to be done. In total, I can honestly say I can hardly fault this issue. Slott is really starting to feel comfortable here, and I think this is now the time to really start to get behind this title.
This issue really felt like a proper Spider-Man book, and I can't wait to see how the threat of Massacre will be dealt with in the next issue. Otto may have to do something that Peter would never do, and I for one am expecting fireworks if things progress like I think they will.

Rating: 9 / 10

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