Superior Spider-Man #2 - The Peter Principle

I really didn't think that I was going to like this book as much as I do but I love how much they've made me hate Doc Ock

All of the Peter Parker moments are so good! The dialogue was particularly great in this issue.

Ugh I knew this series was going to become like Batman its 5 stars no matter what.....

Ain't gonna lie.... Creeped out by the whole Spidey-Ock going after MJ, with Peter in limbo watching everything unfold. It's a good read, I'm liking how Peter is around. I wouldn't give it five stars, though.

5 Stars? Wow. They get handed around like they're going out of fashion.

I mean, I personally am disappointed with the direction this series has taken. Yes, I wasn't happy with the twist, no, I didn't like the disrespectful way they "killed" Peter, but, if they intend on utilising the twist they have, they should at least have had the balls to keep with it. And yet, the conclusion to just the first issue revealed Obi-Wan Peter. Just, pathetic. Yes, I want Peter back, but it all reeks of desperation bringing him back so soon.

Also, did Ock really... you know. Over Peter's memories?! Slott is one sick f***.

Mediocre writing, throwaway dialogue, horrendous artwork. 2 1/2 Stars from me.

I think its a 5 star series, that's gonna mean a lot of 5 star issues. How many stars would u rate this issue?

I dont think you have to cover up the first part, it is shown in the previews of the issue

This site is starting to lose some credibility with the way it dishes out 5 stars. This series is just plain awful. All it is is Dan Slott living out some sick twisted fantasy vicariously through Doc Ock. We get it Dan, the fat, pathetic, loser gets the girl.

The fun with SSM may just be seeing how wide the discrepancy is between user review scores and staff scores. Currently at 2.9 (from 15) to 5.

you guys are starting to sound really pathetic with the amount of b!tching that you do over the reviews here...they're the OPINIONS of the staff...if you don't like it then review it yourself or find a site that's more in line with your opinions

"Great issue" didn't think id like this series but with Peter's ghost paling around with Spock make's the idea of this series more palatable also Carlie Coopers is a bad character and an idiot no way is she going to figure it out and im mad that the at people Marvel think we like her character and have all the other characters in the book say she's perfect, I wish she would just disappear.

I'm loving this book, it's funny, it feels kind of fresh and even ghost Peter (wich was my biggest complaint about last issue) it's great here. My only complaint now is that I was hoping Doc Ock to be less Doc Ock, sure, he is who he is, but he's hiding in Peter's body, he can't go all mad scientist and talking weird anymore, or at least he can't if he does not want to get caught. It just feels kind of flat that nobody had already questioned him, sure it's been only like a week but nobody changes that much over night without a good reason.

That being said, this book is going in a far more diferent direction I thought it would go, I was actually hoping they let Ock be Spidey a bit more (I think he would make a great, different, Spider-Man) but this crazy take on the series, with ghost Peter and all is awesome.

Man these comments...

@Mucklefluga said:

Man these comments...

Who knew me really enjoying something could be so controversial?

Maybe I should just start hating everything.

All comics get 0 stars from now on.

@inferiorego said:

@Mucklefluga said:

Man these comments...

Who knew me really enjoying something could be so controversial?

Maybe I should just start hating everything.

All comics get 0 stars from now on.

Hmm sounds good until people start saying it's fixed with every comic getting 0 stars! Comic reviewing is a tough job.

@inferiorego said:

The majority of this issue deals with...Doc Ock...taking Mary Jane Watson on numerous dates in hopes of getting a little action.

Sure, it's mainly about Doc trying to "close the deal,"

I was extremely creeped out by Ock accessing Peter's memories of more intimate times with Mary Jane.

Reasons I see no incentive to give Slott the benefit of the doubt, and remain disgusted by this book. Any good that might have been done by postponing "action" is undone by the content of that spoiler. I'm sorry, but while this whole rapey subplot lingers in (let alone drives) the book, my already diminishing respect for Marvel fades fast.

@akbogert said:

@inferiorego said:

The majority of this issue deals with...Doc Ock...taking Mary Jane Watson on numerous dates in hopes of getting a little action.

Sure, it's mainly about Doc trying to "close the deal,"

I was extremely creeped out by Ock accessing Peter's memories of more intimate times with Mary Jane.

Reasons I see no incentive to give Slott the benefit of the doubt, and remain disgusted by this book. Any good that might have been done by postponing "action" is undone by the content of that spoiler. I'm sorry, but while this whole rapey subplot lingers in (let alone drives) the book, my already diminishing respect for Marvel fades fast.

read the book

@akbogert: That subplot ends with this issue.

Don't know why you spoiled out that first part, the previews showed it off.  
I'm liking that their throwing around a bunch of outs for the mess, but honestly I'm still not hearing anything that makes me want to buy. 
Ock is being derailed just as much as anyone else here and it annoys me quite a bit.

I do think the staffs rating should be more accurate i mean i decide from their rating if i should buy this book or not, especially if it is a new series.

When we have staff that rates 5/5 and people comment it's mediocre, staff loses credibility. I still don't if i should buy this issue or not.

Impala, save yourself some money and don't buy this. If anything just read it at your comic book store. You'll be happy you didn't waste your money.

@Dark_Guyver: Yeah, you nailed it. Man, I was thinking the same way, probably saw it on an amine and wants on the comic books over here. I think it some way of the fat guy and stealing the good looking guy body getting the girl or something like that. Some was saying that when otto is done and gets her pregnant MJ, leaves the body and say here you go Peter.

@Impala said:

I do think the staffs rating should be more accurate i mean i decide from their rating if i should buy this book or not, especially if it is a new series.

When we have staff that rates 5/5 and people comment it's mediocre, staff loses credibility. I still don't if i should buy this issue or not.

the only way to know if you're going to like a book is if you read it for yourself....pick up a copy of the first issue and if you like it then keep going and if you don't then drop it....the staff only has 5 stars to work off of....1 is bad, 2 is mediocre, 3 is average, 4 is ok, 5 means they really liked it....there are no half or quarter stars...it's just the way things are....Inferiorego really liked this book...but just because he really liked it doesn't mean that everyone else will...the same goes for any other review on this site and on any other site...just because one review said one thing doesn't mean that a book is bad or great...I'm sure that you've liked a book that others haven't and I'm sure that you've hated a book that others have loved....again...the only way to know is to read it yourself

Doc Ock pleasuring himself to Peter's memories is hilarious/disturbing.

Also even though he currently inhabits the body, isn't the entire process of pleasuring yourself with another man's equipment a little sexually disturbing?

i mean they make it as ambiguous as possible, but there sure are a lot of gay/rape undertones throughout.

5 stars

Just finished reading it. As someone who was against the whole Octospidey storyline, I think it is shaping out to be a far better arc than I had imagined. With that said, I do wonder, though, if Slott is changing things on the fly because of the backlash he received from the final few issues of Amazing Spider-man.

Consider this: If Slott's intention all along was to continue to keep the real Peter - or "Obi Wan Peter" as he's come to be known - prominent in each issue, why did Marvel feel the need to end the Amazing Spider-man series and start this new one? Couldn't the Octospidey storyline be played out in Amazing Spider-man? What was the point of creating a separate title just to find out that the real Peter still plays a prominent role here and all signs show that he will eventually be in control of his body again?

It's obvious this is just a gimmick to get sales back up and I wish they didn't railroad us like they did. But now that I'm reading the story, I'm hooked, and I have to see how this is all going to pan out. So I guess their plan to make Spidey relevant again worked.

And as far as the sleaze factor with MJ is concerned, I wasn't put off by it at all. This is Doc Ock after all and he's never been, nor is he expected to be, an angel (even inside Parker's body). And the whole Octo-Peter/MJ relationship was pretty much resolved by the end of this issue anyway, so it's not like it's going to be some creepy subplot hanging over each new issue that comes out. I think Slott handled it well.

Overall - 3.5 stars.

Too much Peter Parker.

I can't believe I just wrote that. Since the Spider-Man reboot of One More Day, I've never considered the guy in the costume to be MY Peter Parker. It's been better lately so I kinda got over it. So why did I overdose on Petey here?

I think it was just too much. Reading the story with the running commentary from Peter got old pretty quick for me. I don't mind the idea of "Ghost Peter" but there were too many comments from him, too often.

I really don't need to see that much from Peter when Ock is now the lead. I get it. Peter is trapped inside. I don't need the constant reminder.

I hope that the future issues will continue with the concept, which I like, but dial back the Peter-ness by at least 50%.

Three stars. Good, not great. Slightly above average art.

@danhimself said:

@Impala said:

I do think the staffs rating should be more accurate i mean i decide from their rating if i should buy this book or not, especially if it is a new series.

When we have staff that rates 5/5 and people comment it's mediocre, staff loses credibility. I still don't if i should buy this issue or not.

the only way to know if you're going to like a book is if you read it for yourself....pick up a copy of the first issue and if you like it then keep going and if you don't then drop it....the staff only has 5 stars to work off of....1 is bad, 2 is mediocre, 3 is average, 4 is ok, 5 means they really liked it....there are no half or quarter stars...it's just the way things are....Inferiorego really liked this book...but just because he really liked it doesn't mean that everyone else will...the same goes for any other review on this site and on any other site...just because one review said one thing doesn't mean that a book is bad or great...I'm sure that you've liked a book that others haven't and I'm sure that you've hated a book that others have loved....again...the only way to know is to read it yourself

If a review serves any purpose at all, it's to recommend or dissuade prospective readers. If a review is not written with the aim of advising hesitant buyers, then it's completely useless; I'd go so far to say it isn't a review, but just a blog/statement of thoughts. Obviously every review is subjective because people aren't computers, but to say that a review is merely a measure of whether the reader likes the book sort of undermines the entire purpose of reading and writing reviews.

I am a hesitant prospective buyer. I have refrained from buying the book because the rape potential subplot deeply disturbs me. The previews and cover of this book did nothing to assuage my concerns. And then I read this review, and I see nothing to suggest that my fear has been misplaced. I still see the most disturbing aspect of the story as the one Marvel is using to market it. Based on the three things I quoted, the message I got from this review was a confirmation that Slott is doing bad things here. It may well be that the conclusion of the book should put my mind at ease, but nothing of that sort was in the review.

@Sampsman said:

And as far as the sleaze factor with MJ is concerned, I wasn't put off by it at all. This is Doc Ock after all and he's never been, nor is he expected to be, an angel (even inside Parker's body). And it was pretty much resolved by the end of the issue, so it's not like it's going to be some creepy subplot hanging over each new issue that comes out. I think Slott handled it well.

This, on the other hand, at least speaks to the resolution. Granted, I still feel like Slott's playing up that side of the takeover is in poor taste, but the suggestion that it is in fact going to go away (however the book happens to suggest that) is precisely the sort of thing that I did not read in the review, and thus why I responded as I did. I still have questions, like how my new objection (accessing intimate memories) could have been easily explained away by the end of the issue, but that's not the point of the review. If I want to know that, I'll have to pick the book up myself (or just ask someone to tell me...haha).

@akbogert:

It's not the job of the CV reviewers to assuage anyone's fears. If you absolutely have to know what will happen with a particular story line because it is so disturbing to you, then it is your responsibility to read multiple reviews, to check with friends or others online who have read the book, or to find reviews that tell you the actual plot of the story. The reviewers on this site don't try to give you the full plot of the book... that would cause problems with the publishers for one thing!

The staff at CV happen to get a lot of choice in the books they review, so they are often commenting on books they already like or that have creative teams they enjoy. So the star ratings on this site happen to be kind of high. That's not the same as giving great reviews to every book so that the publishers love your free advertising. If you listen to the podcast on Fridays, then you already know that G-Man and Sara and the rest can throw a lot of hate (a lot of hate!) at a book. Or at Greg Land.

Soooo, to deal with this, you can read reviews from other sites to get a better gauge of any particular issue. OR... take some time to find reviewers on this site who share you sensibilities. The podcast is a good place to start. Then try to read the reviews of the staff members who you like, rather than just reviews for the books/characters you like. You might find some new treasure you never even heard about!

@LemmyCaution said:

@akbogert:

It's not the job of the CV reviewers to assuage anyone's fears. If you absolutely have to know what will happen with a particular story line because it is so disturbing to you, then it is your responsibility to read multiple reviews, to check with friends or others online who have read the book, or to find reviews that tell you the actual plot of the story. The reviewers on this site don't try to give you the full plot of the book... that would cause problems with the publishers for one thing!

The staff at CV happen to get a lot of choice in the books they review, so they are often commenting on books they already like or that have creative teams they enjoy. So the star ratings on this site happen to be kind of high. That's not the same as giving great reviews to every book so that the publishers love your free advertising. If you listen to the podcast on Fridays, then you already know that G-Man and Sara and the rest can throw a lot of hate (a lot of hate!) at a book. Or at Greg Land.

Soooo, to deal with this, you can read reviews from other sites to get a better gauge of any particular issue. OR... take some time to find reviewers on this site who share you sensibilities. The podcast is a good place to start. Then try to read the reviews of the staff members who you like, rather than just reviews for the books/characters you like. You might find some new treasure you never even heard about!

You win. I should get you a prize of sorts.

@LemmyCaution said:

@akbogert:

It's not the job of the CV reviewers to assuage anyone's fears.

Oh, I didn't say it was their job to assuage fears. But when my response to the review is shot down on the basis that if I read the book, I'd see how unnecessary my response was, I feel compelled to bring it up. It's one of the biggest discussion points of the book and is suggested by the cover. Every mention of the subject within the review confirmed the perspective I had, but when I quoted the review saying I still had that perspective, I was told that reading the book would change that perspective. That suggests to me that that point -- that this book should put the skeptics at ease -- should have been part of the initial review. My subsequent comments merely addressed the idea that a review is nothing more than an opinion.

I was not the first person to bring the subject up, in this thread or elsewhere. It's a relatively common objection to the book, so while I agree that addressing my particular worries isn't the reviewer's job, I think that addressing this particular one, as it's a big one, actually is the reviewer's job. And the subject was covered, just not in a way as to suggest anything beyond status quo creepiness. I appreciate that not all reviewers will agree on things and such, but when my response to a review is criticized on the basis of information absent from the review, I don't think I'm out of place to take objection.

Good god people. You got what you wanted! Peter and MJ won't be a thing. Yes Peter isn't really Peter, but jesus h. christ grow up. If you really don't like it, don't buy it, don't read it. I swear if Slott gave you everything you ever wanted, you'd still bitch and complain about something. I like SSM. Yeah its a bit different and weird having Ock in Peter's body, but its something that Peter hasn't experienced. Its a fun story that is different. He'll be back in time, but for now I see no reason to change it just because fans got butt hurt.

I was impressed with how this issue ended and how Ock reacted once he did see the dynamic of Peter and MJ's relationship. I wonder if Carlie will figure everything out. Maybe when Miguel comes into play (that is a definite) Peter will be saved and we'll see him in good ol' black and white by the end of the year or early next year. For now....Chill out and read/don't read. Also...please be respectful to the staff, they just work here. There isn't any reason to attack the reviewers.

@akbogert:

I understand. But there are readers on this site who will not have the same depth of feeling about this (or any other) particular issue. The reviewers don't want to spoil things for them either! They have a responsibility to them as well.

But hey, you did exactly what you needed to do, which was look for help from the community. You eventually got your answer. I just wish that the staff didn't have to take a hit when they are trying to play fair with everyone.

Peace. Unity. Love. Having fun.

@LemmyCaution: Hey, I can get behind that, for sure. I didn't even bother calling anyone out (save Slott) until I was directly criticized (to be fair, I wouldn't call @inferiorego's response criticism, and my remarks are about reviewing in general, not necessarily this one).

But I've got enough bones to pick with Marvel lately. This is, all things considered, a relatively mild one. Certainly not worth starting a fight over :)

I'm kinda disapointed in how heavily involved Peter is in this series. I really wish it was more focused on doc ock w/o Peter's voice all over the place.

But other than that this has been a great series and boy I love reading the haters comments. God forbid people change the status quo and try something new.

Lol I come here just for the comments. Always a funny read.

@Dark_Guyver said:

This site is starting to lose some credibility with the way it dishes out 5 stars. This series is just plain awful. All it is is Dan Slott living out some sick twisted fantasy vicariously through Doc Ock. We get it Dan, the fat, pathetic, loser gets the girl.

First rule of good trolling is to familiarize yourself with the material. Read the books?

Yes, I read them. And they were terrible. The writing is terrible. I think it's funny when someone expresses a negative opinion they are automatically labeled a troll. Oh well I guess.

5/5? No no.. Thats just... Ughhh... Anyway im really disgusted bout this and it pains me to see peter go through that utterly disgusting moment. The only good thing is that knowing that pete's still alive.

Terrible Terrible

@inferiorego: No Prize@inferiorego said:

@LemmyCaution said:

@akbogert:

It's not the job of the CV reviewers to assuage anyone's fears. If you absolutely have to know what will happen with a particular story line because it is so disturbing to you, then it is your responsibility to read multiple reviews, to check with friends or others online who have read the book, or to find reviews that tell you the actual plot of the story. The reviewers on this site don't try to give you the full plot of the book... that would cause problems with the publishers for one thing!

The staff at CV happen to get a lot of choice in the books they review, so they are often commenting on books they already like or that have creative teams they enjoy. So the star ratings on this site happen to be kind of high. That's not the same as giving great reviews to every book so that the publishers love your free advertising. If you listen to the podcast on Fridays, then you already know that G-Man and Sara and the rest can throw a lot of hate (a lot of hate!) at a book. Or at Greg Land.

Soooo, to deal with this, you can read reviews from other sites to get a better gauge of any particular issue. OR... take some time to find reviewers on this site who share you sensibilities. The podcast is a good place to start. Then try to read the reviews of the staff members who you like, rather than just reviews for the books/characters you like. You might find some new treasure you never even heard about!

You win. I should get you a prize of sorts.

Give him a good old fashioned No Prize.

@Sampsman said:

@inferiorego: No Prize@inferiorego said:

@LemmyCaution said:

@akbogert:

It's not the job of the CV reviewers to assuage anyone's fears. If you absolutely have to know what will happen with a particular story line because it is so disturbing to you, then it is your responsibility to read multiple reviews, to check with friends or others online who have read the book, or to find reviews that tell you the actual plot of the story. The reviewers on this site don't try to give you the full plot of the book... that would cause problems with the publishers for one thing!

The staff at CV happen to get a lot of choice in the books they review, so they are often commenting on books they already like or that have creative teams they enjoy. So the star ratings on this site happen to be kind of high. That's not the same as giving great reviews to every book so that the publishers love your free advertising. If you listen to the podcast on Fridays, then you already know that G-Man and Sara and the rest can throw a lot of hate (a lot of hate!) at a book. Or at Greg Land.

Soooo, to deal with this, you can read reviews from other sites to get a better gauge of any particular issue. OR... take some time to find reviewers on this site who share you sensibilities. The podcast is a good place to start. Then try to read the reviews of the staff members who you like, rather than just reviews for the books/characters you like. You might find some new treasure you never even heard about!

You win. I should get you a prize of sorts.

Give him a good old fashioned No Prize.

Those are the only prizes I can afford.

Is anyone else really enjoying phantom-parker?

@Manbehindthewires: by the way now that Star Wars and Marvel are under the same company. Can we say Parker is one with the force?

@ThePRez: aha! the thread unravels! you're onto something there, won't be long before spider-island 2:ewok island!?? All of Manhattan Island gain Ewok powers and commence to cook visitors from Brooklyn in a giant cauldron...

@inferiorego:

But they're rarer than gold!

I loved this issue. THough, I thought I was going to see the Spider-Signal and the small vulture characters were creepy and kind of lame.

So...that's it right? We can agree that any promise this book showed was false hope?

I mean... the ghost of Peter Parker was literally forced to watch Doc Ock masturbate to the memories of MJ....

i guess i enjoyed it. i still don't think this warrants a new series. this is still "amazing". when peter gets his body back, they will almost certainly revert it to the original name and numbering.

@Sampsman: I'm pretty sure Slott isn't "changing anything on the fly. This book was not written and drawn last month. The script would have been handed in months ago. It was probably written in november or october and Stegman was probably drawing it in November and December. This is probably how he intended the series to go

What I really like about this edition of SSM is the fact that Peter wanted Dr. Oct to stop a petty crime, and that if he had stopped it then Mary Jane would of possible died, or been critically hurt.

It's little things like that shows the flaws of Spidy, and Oct.