Book: The Superior Spider-Man, Issue #9

“Otto Octavius is a man who cheated death, but at a price. When he exchanged bodies with Peter Parker, he gained the amazing skills of Spider-Man–and all of Peter’s memories. Otto finally understands Peter’s mission of great responsibility.

But a tiny piece of Peter Parker is still there in the Superior Spider-Man’s brain, watching Otto live out his life and trying to keep the reformed villain in check.

After engaging the Avengers, Spider-Man is forced to undergo a series of tests by them that ultimately do not reveal Ock’s possession of Peter. The Avengers release him on probation.

Spider-Man returns to the H.E.A.R.T. clinic to steal back his neurolitic scanner, but finds himself instead saving a young girl’s life who had been injured during Oc’s global warming scheme.

Ock reveals to Peter’s subconsciousness that he is now aware of him and plans on eradicating every last trace of him from his mind.“

Holy mother of–

When I read online that the ninth issue was the one to watch out for, that it would change everything, I assumed that it meant this was when the team behind the title would reboot the whole thing and have the real Peter Parker back in control.

I was wrong.

I was so very wrong.

The whole issue is basically just Doc Ock and Peter Parker duking it out inside his brain, for the control of his… well, brain. And because all bets are off in fights like these, Peter gets a lot of support from… wait. That might ruin the surprise.

Let’s just say Doc Ock gives as much as he takes in this issue.

My only qualm is the absence of certain characters in the fight.

And the fact that this was basically the whole issue: Doc Ock and Peter fighting.

But the ending.

The ending was–

It really does change everything. Even more so than it already did.

Movie: Iron Man 3

“Marvel’s Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?” (c) Disney

Oh. My. God.

That seems to be a fitting reaction to Iron Man 3. Seriously. Watch it. Then see if that can be your reaction too. And no, that wasn’t the first thing that came to mind while the credits started rolling, but there were certain circumstances that, well, I’d rather not get into. Oh my God is what I’m feeling right now though, some twenty minutes after seeing the tag scene.

Seriously. The movie was epic.

Now, going back a bit, I enjoyed the first Iron Man film. Immensely. I thought it was perfect. But I wasn’t a fan of the sequel. It was a good summer film, sure, but it just wasn’t up to par with the first film. It felt a little unnecessary. And Tony Stark, let’s admit, is way too powerful to be a hero we can root for, and most of the things he was going through were a little, well, shallow.

It’s not a surprise that I’m a little hesitant with the third film. Iron Man, as we saw in the Avengers film, is even more invincible. He’s done so much more with his suits. What can the people behind Iron Man 3 do to make Tony Stark relatable again? How can we root for him again?

Well, the people behind Iron Man 3 certainly knew how.

I think I can safely say that this is the best out of the three Iron Man movies. Hands down. There’s something about Robert Downey Jr.’s acting that really draws you in deeper into Tony Stark’s dilemmas, and Gwyneth Paltrow is just–let’s just say that Pepper Potts remains as my favorite Marvel movie-verse female protagonist.

The movie actually spoils its end-twist from the get go, but the journey that takes us to the reveal is filled with many awesome moments. None of the characters feel tacked on, and everyone is doing something to propel the story forward without it feeling forced. Because, let’s be honest, no one expects Iron Man 3 to be a study on character and the superhero psyche. Though, it does do that a little.

The movie is action after action after action, but it’s the in-between scenes that really make this a really good, and a really memorable movie.

And I really want to talk more about the film, but I fear that I might spoil things that I shouldn’t.

Let me just say this: I want to watch it again. And to those who are apprehensive about the hype: Bloat your expectations. The movie is that awesome.

Now, who wants to discuss the film with me?

Book: The Superior Spider-Man, Issue #8

“Otto Octavius is a man who cheated death, but at a price. When he exchanged bodies with Peter Parker, he gained the amazing skills of Spider-Man–and all of Peter’s memories. Otto finally understands Peter’s mission of great responsibility.

But a tiny piece of Peter Parker is still there in the Superior Spider-Man’s brain, watching Otto live out his life and trying to keep the reformed villain in check.

When the Superior Spider-Man came across the vigilante, Cardiac, attempting to steal one of Doctor Octopus’ old inventions, Octavius began to brutally assault him. When Peter Parker tried to take control and stop Octavius, Cardiac made his mistake. But not before Octavius could tag him with a Spider-Tracer.

The Avengers called in Spider-Man to question his recent brutal attacks. Octavius responded with violence, sparking a confrontation with them.“

I have mixed feelings about this issue.

On the one hand, I did like it. I thought it had a smart progression of events. And I do like how Otto Octavius himself is becoming a better person through Peter’s influence–or at least, the influence of Peter’s life and memories.

I also like the fact that we finally see Carlie Cooper again. Even though it’s only for one page, and for a teaser of something happening off-screen. Will happen off-screen. I don’t know anymore, actually. Who knows, it might take another four episodes before we even get to whatever it is Carlie is planning.

Now, for the things I didn’t like–

The Avengers. Come on. A group of heroes, and none of them is smart enough to realize that the Superior Spider-Man is not Peter? And this after Thor told the others a couple of issues ago that he knows Peter well.

What really frustrates me though is that they have equipment to see that there’s something wrong with Peter. They have equipment that can say if he’s being controlled by an alien race. And they still can’t see that the Spider-Man standing in front of them is not the Spider-Man they know.

And then there’s the ending.

I don’t even know if we’re supposed to hate Otto or to love him.

I guess we’ll find out next issue.

Book: The Filipino Heroes League, Book Two

“In a final desperate move to cling to power amid the scandal of the Opposition Assassinations, President Reyes declares Martial Law.

The Filipino Heroes League beleive that by doing so the president has fallen into a carefully laid trap constructed by Touch and his cronies.

Before the President falls even deeper into the Touch’s schemes, the FHL draw up a desperate plan to save him.

They plan to kidnap him.“

My first reaction after reading the book was this: what the actual f–?!?! It’s been two years since the first book was released, so I was hoping for something more in the second book. More, being the keyword. The book ends way too quickly. I feel like I had just opened the book, and it’s already ending.

Pacing-wise, I like the first book better. It felt like so much more happened there. But the second book isn’t bad. It’s just having a hard time living up to the awesome-ness of the first book–and the two-year wait we had to endure in between books.

I’ve noticed though that this book reads more like a television program than a comic book, an episode of a superhero-based show, to be specific. All the elements are there: the cutaways to scenes that will catch attention, but whose only purpose is to be the outside force pushing the story forward; the dialogue that runs over several scenes, connecting events and feelings and character development to the story arc; there’s even stunt casting in the form of the All-American Girl who doesn’t really do much except provide a much-needed break from the seriousness of everything that’s happening.

Then again, if there’s one media form that’s closest to comics anyway, it’s television.

Character-wise, we’re clearly seeing Vis, the superhero known as Invisiboy, stepping up to the main character role. He’s the one with conflict, and the one who is being set up to face a great betrayal. Kidlat Kid, is being written as a comic relief, and Flashllight has stepped back into the shadows now that the majority of the exposition has already been conveyed.

No one broke character from what was established in the first book. Unfortunately, aside from Vis, no one was really developed either. Which, while reading the book, you wouldn’t mind. It’s when you’re analyzing the book that it begins to be a problem.

Overall, I might have expected too much from the second book of Filipino Heroes League. But during the twenty minutes I spent reading it, I enjoyed the book for what it was: escape with harsh truth peppered in.

I just wish that the next book would have more meat in it. And that it would arrive sooner.

Book: The Superior Spider-Man, Issue #6

“Otto Octavius is a man who cheated death, but at a price. When he exchanged bodies with Peter Parker, he gained the amazing skills of Spider-Man–and all of Peter’s memories. Otto finally understands Peter’s mission of great responsibility.

But a tiny piece of Peter Parker is still there in the Superior Spider-Man’s brain, watching otto live out his life and trying to keep the reformed villain in check.

And Ock has been making some improvements on Peter’s life, such as going back to school, to get his PhD.

But when one of Spider-Man’s enemies, Massacre, went on a shooting spree in Grand Central Station, Peter Parker was unable to stop Doc Ock from using deadly force to end the threat once and for all.“

Holy crap, Doc Ock is unraveling!

So what do you do when your superhero has in him the angst of a super villain? You get the Superior Spider-Man. As Doc Ock continues to take over Peter’s life, and even improve on it, we also unravel the mystery of who Otto Octavius was–when he was younger, when he was bullied…

We learn that Otto Octavius and Peter Parker share the same back story for the most part. The bullying Otto received though was more brutal than what Peter went through. Now, imagine if the circumstances had been different for Peter. What if he was roughed up more, growing up? What if he didn’t have an Uncle Ben or Aunt May?

I’m sure Marvel has already done a what-if scenario featuring that story line, but I never knew about it, never read it–and I’m loving it now in the Superior Spider-Man title.

The Superior Spider-Man is on a path of self-destruction; maybe because there are three consciousness in him (the reforming Otto, the Otto with the angst, and Peter Parker), or maybe it’s because Otto was never meant to be a superhero in the first place. But his actions are calling the attention of outside forces. By that, I mean the Avengers. And they’re not happy with what’s happening.

And I’m not happy that the Avengers are just sitting around in their base discussing Spider-Man. Spidey’s been having a very busy past few weeks–don’t tell me they don’t have just as many villains to face.

That aside, I like where the story is going. I like that Superior Spider-Man’s actions are making ripples that are reaching other characters.

What I don’t like is the fact that they seem to have forgotten Carlie Cooper and her suspicions about Peter.

Now, my question is–do I need to buy and read Issue #6AU? Or do I go straight to Issue #7?