Superior Spider-Man #3
Everything You Know is Wrong
Mayor J. Jonah Jameson has had the NYPD install a spotlight on the roof of police headquarters to summon Spider-Man. Present, is Carlie Cooper who doesn’t think this is going to work to summon the wall-crawler. Jameson, however, is still riding high on his newfound truce between himself and the web-slinger, reveling in the idea of being able to have the hero do his bidding.
When Spider-Man does arrive, he uses one of his spider-bots to destroy the device. Jameson is furious, but Spider-Man spins this into a test that Jameson was running, pointing out that the signal would point all his foes to the one place where he was going to be. At first, Jameson is furious at the waste of tax payer dollars, but is forced to accept this reasoning in order to save face. Spider-Man then offers to give Jonah a shielded phone number he can call in the future.
They soon get down to business, with police chief Pratchett ask Spider-Man for any insight he might have on the trio of Vultures that have been committing crimes across the city since the wall-crawler encountered them the day before. Spider-Man points out that the bar that the bar that was attacked — MJ’s, owned by Mary Jane Watson — was previously owned by Adrian Toomes, the original Vulture.[1] Pratchett wants Spider-Man to work with Carlie Cooper on the case since they worked on it previously. Cooper finds this a surprise because the chief had previously come down on her for working with Spider-Man in the past. He tells her he had a change of mind, something Carlie thinks is going around a lot lately.[2]
The two get to work, and Spider-Man makes a stop in a supply room to make adjustments to his lenses to key in on the energy signature of the Vulture’s wings.[3] Watching this scene is the spirit of Peter Parker, who is still alive and a prisoner in his own body. He can’t understand how Otto has been fooling his friends and loved ones so easily and is surprised when it appears that Otto hears something he said for once. Carlie has questions of her own and asks why Peter is going out of his way to bully and manipulate the mayor. Thinking about the night when she encountered a dying Doctor Octopus who claimed he was actually Spider-Man, she points out that such behavior is not like him. Otto points out how “he” always messes with Jameson, which ends the conversation. Peter is relieved because he fears for Carlie’s safety. Once Otto has finished adjusting the lenses on his mask he tells her that he doesn’t need her help, vowing to deal with the Vulture once and for all, the sound of which Cooper doesn’t like at all.
Soon, Spider-Man is on the hunt and is looking forward to going after the Vulture. Peter tries to remind Otto that Adrian Toomes is an old man but this only causes Otto to think back to his past relationship with Toomes.[4] Peter Parker suddenly finds himself reliving the memory of Doctor Octopus, dating back to the organization of the Sinister Six. After seeing the rest of the team off, Octavius asked the Vulture to remain behind. While Otto and Toomes saw the rest of the group as brutes, they find a mutual appreciation for one another due to their mutual interest in science. The pair then begin talking about their future after they destroy Spider-Man. While Toomes wanted to make one big score before retiring, Otto tells him he has loftier ambitions. However, before Peter can hear anymore the memory suddenly stops as Otto picks up the Vulture’s trail and begins focusing on that. Peter decides to remain in the memories of Doctor Octopus, hoping he can find something that might lead to his freedom.
Not far away, a bunch of youths in Vulture costumes return to their master, Adrian Toomes, with their latest haul. Toomes is proud of his boys and suggests that they order pizza to celebrate. That’s when Spider-Man arrives and instead of fighting him, he offers Toomes the opportunity to earn that nest egg he always wanted. However, Adrian refuses to listen to what Spider-Man has to say — as he is unaware that Otto Octavius possess the body of their mutual foe — and orders his minions to attack. As Spider-Man is swarmed by the children, he assures the Vulture that he’s not joking and tells him that he has millions of dollars hidden on offshore accounts all over the world and offers to give it to him as an way out of his life of crime. In the struggle, Otto knocks one of the pint-sized Vultures aside causing his wooden helmet to shatter. That’s when Otto discovers that the Vulture’s minions are actually children.
This revelation sends Peter Parker flying into a memory of Otto Octavius’ childhood. In it, Otto’s father, Torbert Octavius beats his son for not turning off the lights scolding the boy for wasting money.[4] Watching this child abuse, Peter contemplates interfering, and even wonders if this could change the past.
In the real world, Otto is horrified that Toomes made him hit a child and demands to know why Adrian is using children. The Vulture explains that he has always preyed on people as well as employed minions before. However, this is the first time that Adrian has used children and when Otto demands answers, Adrian says that this is what he is. Spider-Man concludes that Adrian is a monster that has to be stopped and lunges at him. Toomes tries to fly away but Spider-Man is hot on his tail. Otto surprises the Vulture by catching up and trying to choke the life out of him. Be breaks free and hearing that Spider-Man’s web-shooters are out of fluid decides to take his enemy higher into the air where he turns things around on the web-slinger.
As Adrian is asking Spider-Man how he would like to die, Otto sends an order to his spider-bot that turns the spider-signal back on. The Vulture is suddenly blinded by the blazing spotlight. With his own eyes protected by polarized lenses, Otto forces Adrian to look into the blinding light. Telling the Vulture that there is no room for him in this new world, Otto then steers Adrian so he crashes into the spotlight. Carlie Cooper rushes to the roof and is horrified by the sight, she scolds Spider-Man for acting in such an uncharacteristic way. Realizing that Cooper might stumble upon the truth about the situation, Otto quickly thinks about how he can respond, and by digging through Peter Parker’s memories, he brings out the spirit of Peter Parker who is also shocked to see the state he has left the Vulture in.
Otto quickly reminds Carlie of what she said the last time they faced the Vulture and he risked her life. She remembers how the Vulture dropped her from the sky knowing Spider-Man would save her because that was the man he was. He then tells her that tonight he found out that the Vulture was using children and he had to stop him at all costs. Cooper finishes his thought by saying he wanted to show the Vulture what kind of man he is now. Otto is pleased that she is seeing things his way, however Peter Parker is left thinking that Carlie might be onto what is going on.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Vulture, Peter Parker, Carlie Cooper, J. Jonah Jameson, Chief Pratchett,(in flashback) Sinister Six (Electro, Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, Sandman)
Continuity Notes
The Vulture operated out of the Wake night club in Amazing Spider-Man #674-675. It was later bought by Mary Jane Watson and re-opened as MJ’s in Amazing Spider-Man #686.
Carlie Cooper is suspicious of Spider-Man and has ever right to be since Otto Octavius has taken over Peter Parker’s body. She has been suspicious after encountering a dying Doctor Octopus who claimed he was Spider-Man. See Amazing Spider-Man #698-700.
It should be noted here that Carlie Cooper has known that Peter Parker is Spider-Man since Amazing Spider-Man #673.
Spider-Man mentions that Octavius has worked with the Vulture many times and that they were teammates in the Sinister Six. This dates back to Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. The flashback that follows takes place behind the scenes of that story. Per the Sliding Timescale this flashback takes place roughly 13 years prior to this story.
Tobert Octavius was very abusive towards his son. For more on this see Spider-Man Unlimited #3 and 18, as well as Web of Spider-Man (vol. 2) #9, and Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One #1.
