This is it true believers! The end of the Superior Spider-Man saga!

(Panini Books)

Warning, spoilers ahead…

So did anyone reading comics really expect Peter Parker to remain dead, and for Otto Octavius to retain permanent control over his body? Of course not, but the fun in storylines like this is always seeing how the change in status quo pans out, the way it is eventually resolved, and what the consequences are for the future.

We’ll see how Parker deals with the events that took place during the reign of the Superior Spider-Man in the forthcoming revival of the Amazing Spider-Man series, as this book is almost totally focused on the downfall of Octavius.

Otto was convinced he could be a better super-hero and a better person than Peter Parker, and for a while it appeared as though he was actually achieving both – winning the war on crime in New York, becoming best pals with long-term opponent Jonah Jameson, falling in love with a fellow scientist and finally obtaining a doctorate for Parker.

And although behind the scenes the Green Goblin was scheming to bring about his downfall, in the end it was Octavius’ arrogance which was to prove his undoing.

He was thrown out of the Avengers, crossed a line and executed a homicidal supervillain, fell out with Parker’s friends and family, and ended up having to blackmail Jameson to maintain his support. After rising so high, the descent was fast and brutal…

The clues as to how Parker regains control of his body were established a long while back in this series, and there’s a certain degree of satisfaction as Slott’s masterplan comes to fruition, with the one-true Spider-Man back at last.

This, then, is the last hurrah for the Superior Spider-Man, a magnificent finale for a controversial, yet ultimately remarkably entertaining saga in the webslinger’s career, the repercussions of which will undoubtedly be felt for a long time to come.