Out of Reach Part One

Reflecting on his life, Doctor Octopus recalls how someone once told him that destiny is something one fulfills while fate is something you endure. He thinks about how this is true to his own life. As a child, Otto was incredibly intelligent but suffered bullies at school and an abusive father at home. When his father died, his mother told him that was the end result of a life of manual labor telling her son that he was meant for better things. Otto strived and soon became a nuclear scientist and invented his mechanical arms. Despite his position, he was still shunned by his colleagues, particularly those of the female persuasion. Otto became incredibly lonely when his mother died. Not long after this, Otto was caught in the explosion that turned him into Doctor Octopus. He isn’t sure if this was destiny fulfilled or fate’s hammer, but he believes that on this day he reached out to take his piece of the world and he has been reaching for it ever since.[1]

When Doctor Octopus attacks a local bank, Peter Parker is happening by with a bouquet of flowers having just remembered that it is Mary Jane’s birthday. When he sees the carnage, Peter can’t believe this is happening on today of all days. He briefly considers letting someone else handle this but ultimately goes to find a place to change into Spider-Man. When Spider-Man enters the bank, Doctor Octopus is about to rip the vault off its hinges. As the two battle, Doctor Octopus is prepared for Spider-Man’s usual tricks and uses his mechanical arms to destroy the bank’s support columns causing the roof to collapse. Spotting a customer still in the bank, Spider-Man leaps on top of her to shield her body as they are buried under debris. That’s when the police arrive and attempt to arrest Doctor Octopus. He makes short work of the cops and makes a quick escape. By this point, Spider-Man has dug himself and the lone customer out from under the rubble. Spider-Man then makes a hasty retreat, his mind focusing on how Mary Jane is going to kill him for being late for her birthday.

Later, Doctor Octopus has retreated to his hideout at Pier 75, Doctor Octopus rages because he couldn’t figure out how to break into the bank vault. Turning on the news he catches a report about Brigham Fontaine who created the vault that Otto couldn’t break into. Fontaine is scheduled to give a press conference at Empire State University about his invention, which the media is calling “Doctor Octopus-proof” angering the villain to the point he smashes the television.At that same moment, Mary Jane is upset that Peter missed her birthday lunch, but Peter insists that something important came up.[2] That’s when they hear the report about Brigham Fontaine. Peter used to tutor the youth when he used to go to Midtown High and figure that Doctor Octopus will go after the boy once he hears who bested him.[3] Mary Jane resigns that his make-up birthday dinner will be a birthday breakfast and lets Peter go out as Spider-Man.

Later that evening, Brigham Fontaine is giving is addressing the media when Doctor Octopus comes crashing in through the ceiling to get even with the young inventor. Knocking aside the guards, the Doctor tabs Brigham and is about to crush him until the boy says that Otto was an inspiration for him. This delights the mad scientist until he is attacked by Spider-Man. The web-slinger has the upper hand until Otto begins hurling chunks of debris at the crowd, forcing Spider-Man to stop fighting and save people in the crowd. One chunk is too big for him to pull back with a web-line, forcing Spider-Man to leap out and use his body to shield the two people that are about to be crushed by it. This allows Doctor Octopus to grab one of Spider-Man’s legs and whip him into the walls until he the web-head is knocked out. Otto then tosses the unconscious Spider-Man out a window. Luckily, Spider-Man wakes up in time to save his life with a web-line. Back inside, Doctor Octopus returns his attention to Brigham Fontaine who pleads with the villain not to kill him. Otto assures the youth that he will do no such thing. By the time Spider-Man returns, Doctor Octopus has grabbed Brigham and carried him away.

Recurring Characters

Spider-Man, Doctor Octopus, Mary Jane Watson, Brigham Fontaine

Continuity Notes

1. This flashback recounts the origins of Doctor Octopus in the same way it has been told elsewhere, particularly Spider-Man Unlimited #3. The only difference here is that in this retelling Otto suggests that he was shunned by all women. This is not entirely true as most origins include Otto’s brief relationship with Mary Anders, who his mother forced to break up with. His mother’s death (glossed over here) was over a heart attack when Otto learned she was dating again after telling him to break up with Mary. However, this recounting happens immediately after the events of Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6-10. In that story, Otto was somewhat insane and was having some serious mommy issues, which could explain the ommissions and glossing over of certain facts in this retelling.

2. Mary Jane states that stunts like this is where the couple had their problems before. She is referring to the period between Amazing Spider-Man (vol 2) #1-13 when Peter was sneaking out to be Spider-Man after telling Mary Jane he retired. At the same time there was a stalker terrorizing Mary Jane, who later faked her death. Peter eventually uncovered this ruse and freed her in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #29/Peter Parker: Spider-Man #29, but Mary Jane decided they needed to separate while she sorted out her life in Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2001. At the time of this story, Peter and Mary Jane had just gotten back together in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #50.

3. At the time of this story, Peter is a teacher at Midtown High. A position he started in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 2) #31.

Topical References

• Outdated technology: CRT Televisions