The internet is full of mixed reactions among comic fans in regards to Dr. Otto Octavius taking over Peter Parker’s body and memory, becoming Superior Spider-Man. I have read a countless number of compliments and complaints, but I don’t read too much of why fans either like, love or hate Superior Spider-Man. A lot of fans feel that it was time for a change. Others hate it simply because Peter Parker is dead.

I began reading Spider-Man at Amazing Spider-Man #698. So after reading 20 issues of Superior Spider-Man, I feel that it’s time for me to step up on my soapbox and give my two-cent input on this controversial subject. I’m not going to just say I like Doc Ock as Superior Spider-Man, I’m going to tell you why.

First of all, I have never wished death upon a person, fiction or reality. So I will simply say that I AM GLAD THAT PETER PARKER IS OUT OF THE PICTURE, BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER LIKED PETER PARKER. I didn’t like him when I was child watching him on Electric Company, and I don’t think I have ever read any of his comics while growing up. I never liked Peter because he talked too much. He was too friendly, and should have been pounding the heck out of all those villains over the years. He was also irresponsible. There was no reason for him to not have his Doctorate Degree. I wish I was only one credit and thesis away from a Doctorate. Peter Parker sickens me. I have always been hard on myself, self disciplined and an over-achiever with no time for goofing off. Peter could have, and should have, done better. I know these may be minor reasons to some, but everyone has his or her own perspectives.

Sometime towards the end of last year, a retailer tweeted about Amazing Spider-Man #698. He tweeted several times that comic fans needed to read that issue. He also tweeted that retailers needed to make sure they had an abundant supply. I called my husband and told him that I thought something was going to happen to Spider-Man because of the tweets. I was pretty new to Twitter, so I really didn’t know who to trust, or if it was a false hype. I contacted my comic shop and requested a copy be placed in my pulls.

I was speechless after reading ASM #698. I contacted the comic shop, requested ASM #699, ASM #700 and Superior Spider-Man for my pulls. I remember being anxious at work because I wanted to read ASM #698. I had the book on my desk but I didn’t want to get into trouble. I like my books to remain intact, so instead of peeling off the little sticker to reveal the digital code, I took a 15 minute break and ordered it digitally. Yes, I paid for it twice.

Doc Ock is one of my favorite villains in the Marvel Universe because he’s a brainiac. Genius. Over-achiever. Strategist. He is the perfect Spider-Man in my eyes and here’s why.

Discovered Vulture’s minions were children. Upon this shocking discovery, Doc Ock began to have flashbacks of his abusive childhood by his father. Where some villains would have dealt harshly with these young boys, he turned them over to Children Protective Services.

Anna Maria Marconi. When Otto realized that Peter Parker was one credit and a thesis short of his Doctorate Degree, he became enraged and enrolled in college. Otto met and became a study partner with Anna, a young and pretty graduate student. Otto likes her because she’s assertive and a brainiac like himself. He doesn’t even mind that she’s a little person (I wonder if he really likes her or if he’s using her). When the school jocks, Brad and Justin, teased Anna, they were dealt with, Superior Spider-Man style.

I have always been teased. I am always teased about my name (believe me when I say I’ve heard it all from Creature Feature to LaCROTCHa). I have always been called a nerd, geek, brainiac and goody two-shoes.

The worst tease, and I hate it with a passion, is being told I “talk like a white girl.” I have been dealing with this crap since childhood from classmates and co-workers. But it hurts even more hearing it from my own family members. To this day, I’m still being told this by family members and co-workers. Not one of them has ever told me what a white girl talks like. It hurts like heck, but they don’t know any better. They don’t know that not all black people use slang and curse words in their everyday language (SARCASM INTENDED).

I don’t condone Spidey for what he did to Brad and Justin, but I have to admit that I admire him for what he did. It was also funny!

Cardiac and Spider-Man save the life of a child. Amy Chen, a young girl with severe brain damage, was taking a turn for the worse due to one of Doc Ock’s schemes. There was only one treatment plan for Amy, surgery performed with Doc Ock’s neurolitic scanner. Cardiac stole the scanner, but not without a fight from Spider-Man. When Spider-Man learned the true reason for Cardiac’s use for the scanner, he performed the surgery himself on Amy. This story was, and still is, a tear-jerker.

My 7 year-old son has a rare condition, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC).  Although TSC is genetic, most of the cases are from the result of a spontaneous mutated cell, like my son. This disease causes tumors, called tubers, to form on body organs, such as the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys.  It can cause seizures, loss of speech, autism, and behavior challenges. My son has several brain tumors, a history of seizures, and behavior challenges (aggressive, violent and destructive meltdowns).  He is also autistic (high-functioning) and developmentally delayed.  Currently there is no cure for TSC. But I would give almost anything to get my hands on that neurolitic scanner.

Spider-bots and spider army. My next door neighbor is the city of Flint in the state of Michigan. Although Flint is a small city, it was the most violent city in America for 3 consecutive years, 2010, 2011 and 2012. I also work in the Emergency Department at a Level 1 Trauma Center in Flint. I have seen so many victims of violent crimes enter that department. Some make it out alive, others don’t. A few weeks ago, my co-workers ran past me carrying a 4 year-old child that had been shot. If only Spider-Man was here with his spider-bots, army and attitude. I’m pretty sure this small city would go back to being an unknown dot on the map.

I was attacked on my job three years ago. I am 5’1 and a white man 6’3, 300 lbs. tried to choke me before knocking me upside my head with his fist. He yelled that I was a nigger, nigger bitch, and a fucking slut several times. He also yelled that he hated me, and was going to kill me. I had no idea who that man was. I was sitting at my workstation on a quiet Saturday night when he attacked me out of nowhere. If Spider-Man was real, I know he would have found the attacker and dealt with him. Then maybe, just maybe, my anxiety, PTSD and nightmares would lessen.

Everyone has their own interpretation of a story, so I decided to share why I am enjoying this dark, funny, tear-jerking title. I can relate to several themes in Superior Spider-Man.

Yes, Dr. Otto Octavius is now Spider-Man. He may have blackmailed the mayor,

and he may be a showboat,

but he has a heart, and the will to help others.

Doc Ock is not just Spider-Man. He is SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN. I applaud Marvel Comics, the creative team, and especially writer Dan Slott for such an outstanding, earth-shaking, internet breaking series. All the artists on this title deserve an applause as well, because they bring the stories to life with their amazing, I mean SUPERIOR, visuals.