Amazing Spider-Man #700
The final battle (Marvel means it this time) between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus is finally here and nothing will ever be the same again (ya ya ya).
The Team
Written by Dan Slott, J.M. DeMatteis & Jen Van Meter. Illustrated by Humberto Ramos, Giuseppe Camuncoli & Stephanie Buscema. Published by Marvel Comics.
The Pros & Cons
Spoiler Alerts! Spoiler Alerts! After months of anticipation, the final issue of Amazing Spider-Man is finally here and how do I feel about this issue? A little disappointed. I’m not really surprised on how it ended, to be perfectly honest Amazing Spider-Man #698 had a much bigger impact with its jaw dropping revelation than anything happening with this one. So let’s break down the ending a little bit and look at it in 2 ways :
1st way:
Through an explanation in AMS #698 and as a result of the events that unfolded in the Spider Island saga & the Ends of the Earth fiasco, Doc Ock’s mind is in Peter Parker’s body and vice versa. Ock, in Peter’s body, retains all of Peter’s memories and Peter, in Ock’s body has all of Ock’s memories. Are you following so far? Let’s move on. Doc Ock (Peter) with the assistance of the Trapster (Paste Pot Pete lol), Scorpion & Hydro Man and with his last remaining breath throws everything he’s got at Spider-Man (Doc Ock). But Spider-Man (Doc Ock) seems to be always one step ahead of him and in a last desperate attempt, Doc Ock (Peter) through his mechanised “octobot” transfers his years of guilt and responsibility into Spider-Man’s (Doc Ock) conscience. Doc Ock (Peter) dies and Spider-Man continues to be Spider-Man. So what does that mean? Meet the new Spider-Man, same as the old Spider-Man. Except he’s no longer amazing, he’s superior (oooohh!).
2nd way:
Or you can keep it simple by sort of disregarding everything I mentioned above and what do you have? The amazing Spider-man being the hero he’s always been by saving the day and defeating his arch nemesis Doctor Octopus once and for all. That’s it. End of story.
So if you think that this is the end of Peter Parker’s “soul” if you want to call it that, then you don’t know Marvel. They’ll find a way to bring back the true Peter Parker, keep in mind that Doc Ock (Peter) could’ve beamed his brain patterns into the octobot at the very last minute, just as easily as Doc Ock’s brain patterns were beamed into Peter’s body (I'm geeking out big time). If you think outside the box and more into a comic book frame of mind, it works. It’s silly, but it works. Also Doctor Strange could help out with the whole transfer of Peter’s soul thing.
The 2 filler stories are simply that. Cute fillers that don’t really offer anything at all. I’ve always hated these. And those cover galleries? Way to small to be appreciated. For future references, they should get rid of one or two filler stories and make room for bigger cover galleries so we can actually see them is what I say.
The Outcome
If you collect this series, what are you gonna do? Not buy it? Of course you will, because like me, you might be a completist or is it a completionist? Whatever. The thought of having a gap in a series or not having the final issue is unacceptable. Now I’m actually looking forward to Superior Spider-Man, this new Spidey (Doc Ock) seems more bad-ass & brutal than the old Spider-Man. Just look at what he did to the Scorpion’s jaw and you’ll get the gist of it. Dan Slot still writes and ex-Scarlet Spider penciller extraordinaire Ryan Stegman takes over the illustrating duties. Looks fantastic. Until next time Peter Parker and thanks for the great comic book moments & memories.
BTW, you might want to check out Avenging Spider-Man #15.1 which comes out the same week. It`s supposed to be a direct sequel to this very issue.
A Look Inside
