Summary
Between Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and theSpider-Versetrilogy,Spider-Manhas more movies than any other Marvel character within the MCU. Marvel was clever with introducing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man as they gave fans something new. It wasn’t the traditional origin story already seen in Sam Raimi or Marc Webb’sSpider-Manmovies with the death of Uncle Ben prompting Peter Parker to take on the mantle of Spider-Man and do something good. Marvel would be smart to continue their differentiation ofSpider-Manand give fans something completely new with Tom Holland’s next movie.
Thepopular comic bookwriter Dan Slott gave Marvel the perfect blueprint for at least oneSpider-Manmovie, but only one movie wouldn’t do his story justice. TheSuperior Spider-Manstory would allow Marvel to reinvent a classic villain, which would align with Spider-Man’s treatment within the MCU, while simultaneously telling an intriguing story that gives Tom Holland something new to work with. There are many popular stories from the comics that haven’t been brought to the big screen, butSuperior Spider-Manis by far the most compelling.
Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman
Artists
Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Throughout 2012, Dan Slott penned a story that saw the seemingend of Doctor Otto Octavius, infamously known by the world as Doctor Octopus. Before the events ofSuperior Spider-Manin 2013, Doc Ock was dying. Years of villainy finally catch up to Doc Ock as his body gradually whithers from decades of fighting superheroes, most notably Spider-Man. So, Doc Ock plans one final scheme before he passes to get even with Spider-Man, blaming him for the bulk of his condition.
Otto manages toswap bodies with Peter, putting Peter’s consciousness in Otto’s dying body. Peter attempted to regain control of his body, but failed and died in Doc Ock’s body. This gave the real Doc Ock the strengths and powers of Spider-Man. However, the moment Peter died, his memories flooded Octavius’s mind, filling him with a plethora of emotions, most importantly empathy. This empathy prompted Otto to take on the mantle of Spider-Man and continue the wall-crawler’s mission. He wasn’t going to be the same Spider-Man, though. Otto Octavius set out to be a Superior Spider-Man.
Otto’s actions as Spider-Man were far more vicious and brutal than his predecessor, as he opted to take a harsher stance on crime, going as far as killing several villains. This behavior extended to close associates, such as Black Cat, whom he treated like a common criminal. This had a lasting effect that extended into future storylines even when Peter eventually returned.
With empathy and several situations being relatively new emotions for Octavius, he frequently used Peter’s memories to solve problems. This opened the door for Peter’s return, as every time Octavius accessed those memories, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’s consciousness became a little bit more dominant. Doc Ock eventually returned full control of Peter’s body to Peter when Norman Osborn, now acting as the Goblin King, threatened the life of Doc Ock’s love interest. By the end, Otto returned to his body,which saw a resurrection. However, that hasn’t stopped him from trying to become the Superior Spider-Man again.
Why Superior Spider-Man is Perfect for the MCU
Spider-Man: No Way Homeintroduced Alfred Molina’sversion of Doctor Otto Octavius, giving the MCU a Doctor Octopus storyline that saw the character evolve from a villain into a hero. However, the MCU likely wants its own version of Doctor Octopus. As brilliant as Molina was in the role, it’s time to put someone else in the tentacles. There are a couple of ways theSuperior Spider-Manstory, or a modified version, could work within the confines of the MCU, and it would serve as the best way to introduce the MCU’s Doctor Octopus.
In fact, an entire trilogy could revolve around aSuperior Spider-Manstory while simultaneously introducingnew villains for each installment. The story would highlight how dangerous a villain Otto is, increasing the stakes of an MCUSpider-Manmovie toSpider-Verselevel stakes. Dan Slott’s storytelling tends to be a divisive topic for comic book fans, but it’s undeniable that he produced a fresh storyline that everyone will be talking about for years. Put that on the silver screen and show the cinematic audiences something new.
Spider-Man movies and TV shows are available to stream onDisney Plus
Spider-Man: No Way Homeis available to stream on Starz viaPrime Video
With Peter entirely on his own in Manhattan after the events ofNo Way Home,it would be easy for a terminally ill Doc Ock to manipulate Spider-Man and get close to him. Peter will be vulnerable afterNo Way Home, so it would be easy for Doc Ock to get close to him, appealing to some sense of familiarity with Molina’s Otto. This further enhances the character’s level of cunning and brutality, which proves how dangerous he is. Additionally, Doc Ock exhibiting the same kind of brutality fans know him for while using Peter’s body givesJ. Jonah Jamesonsome credence when calling Spider-Man a menace.
It wouldn’t only be something new for a wider audience to see, it would also give Tom Holland an opportunity to display his talents and play Spider-Man drastically different than he’s accustomed to.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is one of the biggest names in entertainment today. The superhero first appeared in the Marvel comic Amazing Fantasy #15 before becoming a leading figure in the Marvel comic-book universe.Spider-Man has also featured in numerous films and a plethora of video games, most notably Insomniac Games' Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
