Amazing Spider-Man #699 – 700 by Dan Slott and Humberto
Ramos
A few weeks ago I reviewed Amazing Spider-Man #698.
Back then I was excited about the possibility of his friends and colleagues
figuring out what had happened and restoring him. But #699 – 700 put the nail
in that coffin. While the two issues are Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus’ most
intense fight in their long history a new era is ushered in.
GOOD: The stakes have never been higher. With Doctor Octopus
parading around as Peter Parker, the real Peter Parker worries that he can hurt
one of his friends or worse, his family. How Peter, trapped in Doctor Octopus’
failing body, held in a prison under the sea breaks free to take on his old
enemy one more time was great. Peter Parker dies but does outsmart his enemy
one last time by using the mind link Otto used to swap minds to make Doctor
Octopus not just relive but experience firsthand all of Peter struggles. In
that moment Doctor Octopus dedicates himself to being Spider-Man. I did like
how each man was starting to act like the other as though the brains inside
those bodies were asserting their original personalities.
BAD: While the storytelling is brilliant and Dan Slott has
done a lot to put his mark on Peter Parker in the Spider-Man title in general,
he may have painted himself into a corner with this one. Peter’s death, and the
affirmation of it him in heaven, seems like a permanent state. The fans have
already had a really bad reaction to this news. Dan Slott has gotten death
threats. While I think it’s super stupid to make death threats to a writer… I
get it. I was around when it turned out a clone was the real Peter Parker and
then the writers quickly reversed that and when enough time passed, they
brought the clone back as the Scarlet Spider.
But I think Peter Parker isn’t going to be the only casualty
this time. Just like with the clone storyline, I think the readers will leave
in droves. For Spider-Man, Marvel NOW begins with the fans’ betrayal. At least
that’s how the readers will see it. Peter Parker is dead and no one knows it
and we don’t get any chance to say goodbye or grieve with his family and
friends. Instead his life is simply been hijacked by his greatest enemy and no
matter how well he does as Spider-Man people may never catch on to the fact
he’s not the real Peter Parker. At least in the Ultimate title, we got to see
the grieving and watch the family and friends say goodbye – but here someone
simply takes over.
Yes eventually some writer will find a way to bring Peter
Parker back but the issue seems to indicate that his soul is in heaven which
means that it is at peace. One of the only frames of reference I have for this
is Buffy the Vampire Slayer once died and was brought back to life but the transition
from heaven to life was painful and jarring. Or some writer could just suggest
that Peter was always in his own body but cut off from his mind so he didn’t
truly die. I don’t know where soul goes in the Marvel Universe or if brain
swapping also means soul swapping, but somehow Peter’s soul also inhabited Doctor
Octopus’ body. So if a writer suggests that, it dishonors Peter’s soul going to
heaven.
And I’m a little disappointed in the supporting cast. Back
in issue 698, Captain America asks Spider-Man if you’ll be okay and he says he
won’t give Doctor Octopus a second thought. In hindsight I’m surprised no one
questioned him on that comment or even traded a look. I’m disappointed that he
talked out of character couple of times to Mary Jane and she never caught on.
In a world that includes aliens, gods, and a liberal amount of mind control,
Mary Jane never thinks to herself, “Something is very wrong with Peter.” Also,
I understand Peter’s plan but he could’ve guided the robot straight to the
media and simply announced, “Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus’ minds have been
switched.” At least he could have done that as a backup plan. That way, at
least the thought would be on his friends as well as the Avengers’ radar.
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