The Good
This series continues to be a mix of some familiarity along with a whole heap of the unknown. As we sit back and enjoy Doc Ock's tenure as Spider-Man (come on, we all know this won't be forever, right?), we're seeing Spider-Man in a way we haven't seen him before. Under Otto's guidance, this Spider-Man is determined to live up to the "superior" moniker he's been throwing about. That means he's taking things to a more...extreme level when it comes to dealing with his foes.
Currently on his target is Hobgoblin. More specifically, Phil Urich. Urich believed he killed the original Hobgoblin (he didn't) but now is forced to pay tribute to the original in order to keep using the identity. As Phil, hungry to gain infamy as Hobgoblin and fortune at the Daily Bugle by getting exclusive scoops on Hobgoblin's activities (sound familiar?). Unfortunately for Phil, he has earned the wrath of Superior Spider-Man. Things are going to get ugly, especially when Otto figures out Phil's secret identity.
Dan Slott continues to deliver these big crazy scenarios. This is definitely not the Spider-Man you used to know. It's not supposed to be. We never know what's coming next and that's part of what makes this such a fascinating read. With hints of the return of the Green Goblin, we can be sure things are going to be getting even crazier.
Humberto Ramos' art fits so well with Spider-Man stories. While the art is mostly split with Ryan Stegman, we can be thankful we don't have to be the ones to select who gets to do the art. We get to be the ones to sit back and enjoy it.
The Bad
Octavius is setting out to show how "Superior" he is but some things almost go too easily for him. It could just be Slott building up Otto's "successes" for the inevitable big fall. It just seemed like some events happened too easily here.
This two-part story does feel like it's a lead in to a bigger one. That's not necessarily bad but even though there's an ending, it's not quite over just yet.
The Verdict
Get ready for Superior Spider-Man vs Hobgoblin round 2. Otto Octavius is determined to do things in what he views as an efficient end to crime. The action escalates and Phil Urich, as Hobgoblin, is going to have some fancy footwork to do in order to make it out of this one. Dan Slott continues this wacky (and sometimes deadly) adventure with a different sort of Spider-Man. That means we never know what to expect as there's no telling what SUPERIOR Spider-Man will do. Humberto Ramos pours fun and excitement into the art making the action feel even bigger and more spectacular. There is more to the story than this conclusion. Slott definitely has me hooked for the long haul.