The Good
The Spider-Slayer's execution is set to happen on the Raft. Obviously, things don't go as planned and SSM has to take on Smythe one more time, but Smythe has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Not only has Ock been trying to become a better Spider-Man, he's actually trying to become a better Peter Parker. Parker is now working on his doctorate, and his professor is actually Octavius' old classmate. It's a brief scene, but it really adds to the fact that Otto has taken control of all aspects of Peter's life.
We're at a point where the real Peter Parker is almost out of our minds, and we've come to (at least you should if you're still reading/loving this book) a point where the focus is just on Otto bettering himself as Spidey. I love this book. I might even say I love this book more than AMAZING SPIDER-MAN because it's familiar yet so different. While Dan Slott plotted this issue, Christos Gage wrote the script, and while it's not huge, you can tell the difference. It's a bit more serious, in tone, and the comedic aspect of it is gone. I'll take either version. They're both incredibly talented writers.
Incredibly solid art from the team of Giuseppe Camuncoli (pencils), John Dell (inks), and Edgar Delgado (colors). These guys are consistent and fantastic. Each individual stands out, but none of them overshadow each other. It's a great fusion of the three.
The Bad
It's been well established that Superior Spider-Man truly is the superior Spider-Man, but for me, with this issue, that's the problem. He's too good at being Spider-Man, to a point where he's 5 steps ahead of the guys he's fighting. What I really like about super-hero books, in general, is that back and forth game of cat and mouse where we're not sure if the hero will come out of this unscathed, even though in the back of our minds, we know everything will be ok. However, maybe that's what I like about this book. That it's so different from the rest of the books on Marvel's shelves.
Myself and staff writer Gregg Katzman are very upset with the lack of Cardiac in this issue.
The Verdict
SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN is still awesome. I'm loving this book a lot more now that Peter is out of the picture. Sure, that's blasphemous to some people, but why not sit back and enjoy the ride? Otto continues to show that he truly is superior in this series, and while the comedic elements have been dampened here, the book is still an incredibly fun read. On the down side, I miss the back and forth between Spidey and the rogues. Since SSM is a better Spider-Man, he's always a few steps ahead, so we don't get the old "cat and mouse" game. Also, where's Cardiac? I miss him.
Overall, this was a great issue and I highly recommend it.