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 Superior Spider-Man, Issue #7

“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 undestands 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.

Jester and Screwball humiliated Mayor Jameson and he requested Spider-Man to take them out. Spider-Man apprehended them. Brutally.

With another violent takedown under his belt, Spider-Man garnered the attention of the Avengers, now questioning his behavior, and they decided to bring him in.“

Now, let’s see if I have this correctly…

Spider-Man has already had two violent take downs: the killing of Massacre, and the brutal apprehension of Jester and Screwball. The Avengers already decided to bring him in. So why did we have to have the Spider-Man versus Cardiac subplot before they actually did bring him in?

Don’t get me wrong. I see more plot movement in this issue compared to the last issue which had more character development. I see that both are important. But, at the same time, I am left wondering–why couldn’t both have happened at the same time. And if it really needed to happen this way–couldn’t the writers have delayed the Avengers decision to bring Spidery in until this issue?

I was actually toying with the idea that maybe the Avengers could’ve brought in Spidey at the start of the issue. And then I realized just how many panels this issue gave them with nothing happening other than talking. That would’ve been very boring. The Spider-Man versus Cardiac thing does provide the much-needed action in an otherwise very talk-y issue. Except, I’m still not completely sold with it.

Had I been writing the script, here’s what I would’ve done differently.

Issue #6 would’ve had the Avengers taking note of Spidey’s murder of Massacre. But the person to actually notice the violent changes in our friendly neighborhood superhero, and the one piecing things together, would be Carlie Cooper. Then when the Superior Spider-Man apprehends Jester and Screwball, that’s when the Avengers start getting concerned–because these are harmless pranksters, unlike Massacre. And that’s when they decide to keep watching him–

And that’s where we lead off into this issue with Cardiac.

Obviously, I’m really curious as to what the writers have done to Carlie. After the take down of Vulture where Carlie reacted to the new Spider-Man, we seem to have lost her. So I ask the writers–where is Carlie Cooper? I don’t even care that we don’t see Mary Jane and Aunt May. At least they have some sort of closure. It’s Carlie with her theories and suspicions that I’m really curious about.

Well–that, and Peter’s strange hold over his own body.

This issue, Peter is able to wrestle control of his body from Otto a few times. The last time we saw this was… well, I don’t actually remember anymore. There was that one time in the first issue, and then Peter seems to have lost the power. So what changed now that he’s able to wrestle control again?

I hope they answer that next issue. But I’m not holding my breath.

Movie: The Avengers

“When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.“

The Avengers is undeniably a Joss Whedon film: with an opening that is reminiscient of how Buffy, the Vampire Slayer ended its television run, and a tragic second act that harkens to all his works. All of them. And, of course, let’s not forget the rapidfire exchanges of dialogues that are very, very Whedonesque.

Being a big fan of Whedon, I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anyone that I completely enjoyed the movie. There was a point, sometime near the beginning, when I just stopped trying to analyze it and decided to just enjoy the ride. And the film does that: it makes you stop whatever critical thinking gears you have from turning, and tells you to just follow whatever happens on screen with fanboy (or fangirl) glee.

Come to think of it, I have absolutely no idea if the story structure was sound. I just know that there was a story, and a structure, to the events of the film.

Then again, having so many superheroes, almost all of whom had their own movies, team up for one adventure would put anyone’s creativity to the test–and Whedon definitely passes with flying colors. Never mind if there were things that were just too convenient. It’s a superhero movie, it’s based on comics logic, we just accept what happens and move on.

And I realize that I’m not really going to be objective about this movie. I loved it, plain and simple. I think the world of it. The action was great, the dialogue were great… Everything was great! I can’t wait for a sequel, if they plan on doing one! So for anyone looking for a reaction that has more than gushing would be wise to look somewhere else. For anyone else who just wants to gush with me, you can do so in the comments. I promise to gush back.

That said, I do have this one teeny, tiny nitpick I want to bring up: Thor’s stylized way of speaking didn’t seem consistent to me. It was very stiff upper lip when he was talking to Loki, but it was immediately simplified when he was conversing with any one of the Avengers and Nick Fury. Or am I overanalyzing this? What did you guys think?